Saudi FM: ISIS Threat Remains

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah at the meeting in Morocco (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah at the meeting in Morocco (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi FM: ISIS Threat Remains

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah at the meeting in Morocco (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah at the meeting in Morocco (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia appreciates the significant and tangible role played by the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS, announced Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

Prince Faisal chaired the Saudi delegation at the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition to defeat ISIS, which was held in Marrakesh, Morocco.

"We should never forget that the threat of this organization remains, which would require everyone to continue efforts and continuous coordination to eliminate it completely,” he said.

Prince Faisal also affirmed that the Kingdom continues to maintain its firm stance towards supporting the efforts of the Coalition, stressing the Kingdom's keenness on the stability of Iraq and the extension of its influence and sovereignty over its entire territory.

He praised the efforts made by Iraq and its continuous coordination with the Coalition.

Prince Faisal announced the Kingdom's keenness to support reconstruction projects in Iraq, support efforts to stabilize the liberated areas in Syria, and create security and economic stability in the country.

He pointed out that the Kingdom has established several centers, the most important of which is the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology (Etidal), which works at the regional and international levels to combat extremist messages.

Prince Faisal reiterated the Kingdom's support for establishing the focus group on Africa since its inception to confront the growing threat of the spread of ISIS in the African continent.



Saudi Arabia Denies it Favors Prolonging the War

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Denies it Favors Prolonging the War

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on November 15, 2024. (Reuters)

A senior official at the Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom had previously denied claims that its leadership favors the prolongation of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The official said that Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah had declared during a press conference following the meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh last week that Iran must cease its attacks.

He added that the Kingdom’s patience “has limits” and that it reserves the right to repel the aggression through political and other means.

Iran continued to target Gulf countries with rockets and drones in the fourth week of the war as the United Nations Rights Council prepares to meet on Wednesday to discuss the attacks.

On Tuesday, Saudi defenses downed 44 drones in the Eastern Region, Bahrain downed six ballistic missiles and 19 drones, and the UAE destroyed five missiles and 17 drones. Kuwait also repelled several attacks.

The UAE defense ministry said that a Moroccan contractor with the Emirati military was killed in Bahrain in an Iranian attack, with Manama saying the man had been assisting the local armed forces.


UAE Defense Ministry Says Civilian Contractor Killed in Bahrain

 People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)
People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)
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UAE Defense Ministry Says Civilian Contractor Killed in Bahrain

 People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)
People sit along the corniche area on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Abu Dhabi on March 20, 2026. (AFP)

The UAE defense ministry said on Tuesday that a Moroccan contractor with the Emirati military was killed in Bahrain in an Iranian attack, with Manama saying the man had been assisting the local armed forces.

"The Ministry of Defense mourns the loss of a Moroccan civilian contractor serving with the UAE Armed Forces, who was martyred during a routine mission in the Kingdom of Bahrain following an Iranian missile attack," the UAE ministry said in a statement on X.

Five UAE ministry of defense personnel were also injured in the attack, the statement added.

Bahrain's military had announced that a UAE army personnel was killed in its territory while helping Bahraini forces defend against Iranian attacks.

It said UAE and Bahraini army personnel had also been injured without specifying how many.

Gulf forces have reported coming under attack in Bahrain before.


Saudi Defense Minister, French Minister of Armed Forces Discuss Means to Bolster Cooperation

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
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Saudi Defense Minister, French Minister of Armed Forces Discuss Means to Bolster Cooperation

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman and French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin meet in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman received in Riyadh on Tuesday French Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin for talks on regional developments and their repercussions on various levels.

They discussed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and France in the defense field and means to bolster them.

Vautrin condemned the repeated Iranian attacks against the Kingdom.