Oman Secures Release of 14 Foreigners Held in Yemen

General view of old Muscat, Oman, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
General view of old Muscat, Oman, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
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Oman Secures Release of 14 Foreigners Held in Yemen

General view of old Muscat, Oman, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo
General view of old Muscat, Oman, January 12, 2020. REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo

Oman facilitated the release of 14 foreigners who were held in Yemen and transferred them from Sanaa to Muscat on Sunday, Oman's foreign ministry said.

The people freed included a British man, his wife and child, seven Indian nationals, a Filipino, an Indonesian, an Ethiopian and a Myanmar national, the ministry added.

The ministry said that after communicating with Saudi Arabia to facilitate the issuance of the necessary permits, all 14 were transferred on an Oman Royal Air Force plane to the Omani capital, in preparation for their return to their countries.



Saudi Military Personnel Graduate from US THAAD Missile Defense Training Program

Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Military Personnel Graduate from US THAAD Missile Defense Training Program

Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces Graduate Second Unit at Fort Bliss Base in the US. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces have announced the graduation of the second unit trained to operate the US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. The training was completed at Fort Bliss Military Base in El Paso, Texas.

This latest graduation follows the completion of training for the first unit several months ago and is part of a broader initiative to build a fully qualified Saudi operational and maintenance crew for the THAAD system- one of the world’s most advanced and precise missile defense technologies. The system is considered a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s air defense capabilities.

During their training, the Saudi personnel underwent an intensive program that included technical and operational instruction, combat simulation, and advanced field exercises. The course was conducted under the supervision of experts from the system’s manufacturing company, in cooperation with the United States as part of ongoing military collaboration agreements between the two nations.

This training initiative is aligned with the Saudi Ministry of Defense’s strategic objective to enhance the operational readiness and technical proficiency of its forces through advanced and specialized training. The goal is to equip Saudi forces with the skills required for modern military operations, in line with Vision 2030’s focus on military modernization and technological localization.

The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces continue to implement comprehensive plans to qualify national cadres capable of managing and operating advanced defense systems, strengthening national security and protecting Saudi airspace against potential threats.

The graduation ceremony was held at Fort Bliss in the presence of Major General Abdullah Al-Rubaie, Commander of the Air Defense Forces Institute, representing Lieutenant General Mazyad Al-Amro, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces. The event was also attended by US counterparts and representatives from relevant training bodies.