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Gulf

Largest Yemeni Consultations Since Coup Kick Off in Riyadh

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)
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Largest Yemeni Consultations Since Coup Kick Off in Riyadh

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf addresses the gatherers in Riyadh. (GCC)

The intra-Yemeni consultations kicked off in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The consultations, the largest since the coup by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in 2014, are being sponsored by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). They are bringing together Yemenis from across the country to discuss peace and are set to conclude on April 7.

Present at the opening were GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, United Nations envoy Hans Grundberg, United States envoy Tim Lenderking and Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Ibrahim Taha.

The Houthis have not attended the talks in spite being invited. Al-Hajraf renewed his invitation on Tuesday.

Addressing the gatherers, Al-Hajraf said the Riyadh Agreement represents a roadmap for Yemen. "The peaceful solution is the only way to resolve the crisis," he added.

The consultations are a platform to "diagnose the situation in the country so that it can move from war to peace," he went on to say.

"The Yemeni solution lies in Yemeni hands," he stressed.

"The success of the consultations is not a choice, but a reality that must materialize," urged Al-Hajraf, while thanking the Saudi-led Arab coalition for declaring a ceasefire, which started Wednesday, to ensure the success of the Riyadh talks.

Taha echoed the praise of the coalition, while hailing the efforts of the GCC in ending the crisis.

"We are keen on ending the crisis and the suffering of the people," he declared. "Dialogue is the only option to resolve the crisis."

Grundberg underscored the pressing need to support a comprehensive solution in Yemen.

He noted that Riyadh had led Yemeni dialogues that had led to positive results.

The Yemeni people want fair and lasting peace, he added. They have stressed to the UN their desire to end the war.

Grundberg described the ceasefire as a "step in the right direction."

For his part, Lenderking said the US supports the Yemeni parties in reaching a comprehensive peaceful solution.

The consultations are an international commitment to make the situation more stable, he remarked.

The consultations are set to discuss a number of military, political, humanitarian, relief and social issues. They also aim to open humanitarian corridors.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Affirm Continued Joint Efforts to Confront Attacks

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh. SPA
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Affirm Continued Joint Efforts to Confront Attacks

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh. SPA
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Riyadh. SPA

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz said early on Saturday that he had affirmed with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Riyadh continued joint efforts to confront attacks against the Kingdom in accordance with the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement.

The pact was signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye last month.

Prince Khalid met with Munir to discuss the attacks on Makkah and on civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They commended the outcomes of the meeting of the chiefs of staff of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement states and stressed the continuation of joint efforts to confront the attacks under the agreement, SPA said.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and National Security Adviser Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili; and Adviser to the Minister of Defense for Intelligence Affairs Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif, along with several Pakistani officials.

Hours earlier, the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye reviewed threats facing Saudi Arabia at ⁠a ⁠meeting in the Saudi capital.

Gulf

Saudi Coalition Says it Intercepts Missiles, Drones

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki
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Saudi Coalition Says it Intercepts Missiles, Drones

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki said early on Saturday that the Coalition had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched by the Houthis towards the Kingdom.

Al-Malki said in separate statements that the missiles were headed towards Khamis Mushait and the drones towards the capital, Riyadh, adding that the Coalition was monitoring the missile threat and drones launched at the Kingdom.

The Saudi civil defense had ⁠sent alerts overnight ⁠for Khamis Mushait and Abha.

Gulf

Albudaiwi: Water Security is Strategic Priority for Gulf Stability, Energy Security

Part of the "Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action" session held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York (GCC)
Part of the "Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action" session held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York (GCC)
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Albudaiwi: Water Security is Strategic Priority for Gulf Stability, Energy Security

Part of the "Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action" session held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York (GCC)
Part of the "Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action" session held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York (GCC)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi stressed that water security constitutes a strategic priority for GCC member states, directly intersecting with human security, economic prosperity, food security, and energy security as a fundamental pillar of stability.

Albudaiwi made the remarks during a panel titled "Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action," organized by the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, SPA reported.

He noted that enduring regional water scarcity has driven GCC countries to innovate, invest, and build extensive expertise in desalination, wastewater recycling, demand management, and advanced technologies, while strengthening the water-energy-food-climate nexus.

Emphasizing that technology alone cannot guarantee water security, Albudaiwi highlighted ongoing GCC joint initiatives to establish a regional water grid interconnection. The project aims to bolster supply security, regional readiness, and emergency response capabilities during crises.

He also called for leveraging artificial intelligence, smart water management systems, and renewable energy, alongside collaborative financing models linking governments, development institutions, and the private sector to develop scalable infrastructure projects.

Albudaiwi concluded by pointing to the upcoming UN Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal in Abu Dhabi in December 2026, as a pivotal platform to advance multilateral water partnerships and tangible investments.