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Yemen's Al-Alimi Heads to Saudi Arabia, UAE

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (AFP/Getty Images)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Yemen's Al-Alimi Heads to Saudi Arabia, UAE

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (AFP/Getty Images)
Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi. (AFP/Getty Images)

Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi departed the interim capital Aden on Monday for an unofficial visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Al-Alimi is seeking to accelerate the economic support and aid provided to his country, whether towards the Central Bank or in carrying out vital projects in liberated regions.

He will also seek support to the PLC’s position on reforms that aim to rebuild the state.

A presidency statement said his visit, which is set to last several days, “embodies the firm historic relations between Yemen and the UAE and Saudi Arabia.”

It reflects their “effective role as part of the coalition to support legitimacy and their humanitarian and economic support aimed at easing the suffering of the Yemeni people.”

The visit also aims to bolster the reforms spearheaded by the PLC on various levels.

Al-Alimi hailed the “unique bilateral relations with the UAE that were established by late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” reported the state news agency Saba.

He also hailed the role played by UAE now under the “brave leadership” of President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to support the Yemeni people and its political leadership in recovering the state and ending the coup by the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

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Gulf

Saudi Govt Follows up on Latest Developments Related to Jeddah Talks on Sudan

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Follows up on Latest Developments Related to Jeddah Talks on Sudan

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah. (SPA)

The Saudi government reviewed on Tuesday the latest regional and international developments, notably the situation in Sudan and the Jeddah talks on a ceasefire there.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah.

The ministers discuss the ceasefire agreement that was reached at the Jeddah talks and arrangements to deliver humanitarian aid.

They highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to support political solutions in Sudan and bridge the divide between the warring parties.

The ministers were briefed on the messages King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received from the president of the Comoros.

Media Minister Salman Al-Dosari said the government hailed the outcomes of the fifth round of the Saudi-Iraqi coordination council that was held in Jeddah. The meeting witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding in several fields.

Riyadh and Baghdad stressed their determination to deepen their cooperation to achieve joint interests and bolster the security and stability of the region to speed up growth.

The ministers underscored Saudi Arabia’s participation in the 76th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva where it highlighted its efforts to reduce threats to global public health, help with pandemic preparedness and response, and come up with programs that promote the sustainability of human health.

It also praised the Kingdom's accelerated pace toward addressing climate change and supporting green and sustainable solutions through a package of initiatives that should contribute to reducing carbon emissions, including the construction of the world's largest green hydrogen production plant in NEOM.

The ministers underlined the government's keenness to develop and diversify the Kingdom's economy and improve the investment environment.

In this regard, the cabinet hailed the outcome of the Riyadh-hosted Saudi Special Economic Zones Investment Forum. At the event, agreements were signed, and licenses were granted to businesses seeking to work in these zones.

Gulf

Lebanese Army Frees Abducted Saudi Citizen, Arrests Suspects

A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)
A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Lebanese Army Frees Abducted Saudi Citizen, Arrests Suspects

A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)
A general view of Beirut, Lebanon. (AFP/Getty Images)

The Lebanese army freed on Tuesday a Saudi citizen who was abducted over the weekend.

In a tweet, the military said an intelligence directorate patrol freed Mashari al-Mutairi during a “sophisticated operation on the Lebanese-Syrian border.” It also arrested the kidnappers.

Army commander Joseph Aoun confirmed the release of the captive and the arrest of the perpetrators.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed that Lebanon is keen on preventing any threat against Arab nationals.

Lebanon will not be used to threaten the security of Arab countries, he stressed.

Mutairi, who works for Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia), was abducted overnight on Saturday with the kidnappers demanding a ransom of $400,000.

Conflicting reports had emerged over where he was kidnapped from.

Initial reports said the man was kidnapped on the airport road in Beirut, while Lebanese security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was abducted in a central district of the capital.

Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television said he was nabbed after he left a restaurant in the waterfront Zaituna Bay area.

Gulf

Tenth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

The tenth Saudi relief plane arrives in Sudan. (SPA)
The tenth Saudi relief plane arrives in Sudan. (SPA)
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Tenth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

The tenth Saudi relief plane arrives in Sudan. (SPA)
The tenth Saudi relief plane arrives in Sudan. (SPA)

The tenth Saudi relief plane, carrying 30 tons of foodstuff and medical supplies, arrived at Port Sudan International Airport, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.

 

The aid is part of the Saudi relief airlift, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), to help the Sudanese people.

 

The airlift is being operated in implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

 

It is a reflection of the noble humanitarian role played by Saudi Arabia through KSrelief to help all countries in need.

Gulf

GCC Chief Stresses Importance of Cooperation with EU 

GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi meets with EU representative of the Horn of Africa Dr. Annettt Weber in Riyadh. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi meets with EU representative of the Horn of Africa Dr. Annettt Weber in Riyadh. (GCC)
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GCC Chief Stresses Importance of Cooperation with EU 

GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi meets with EU representative of the Horn of Africa Dr. Annettt Weber in Riyadh. (GCC)
GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi meets with EU representative of the Horn of Africa Dr. Annettt Weber in Riyadh. (GCC)

The Gulf Cooperation Council stressed on Monday the importance of cooperation with the European Union on many levels to achieve joint interests and goals.

 

GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi received EU representative of the Horn of Africa Dr. Annettt Weber at the council’s headquarters in Riyadh.

 

They discussed a number of issues, including GCC cooperation with the EU, especially in Africa, to better tackle affairs concerning peace, security, food supplies and political development.

Gulf

Saudi Citizen Abducted in Beirut, Kidnappers Demand $400,00 Ransom

A general view of Beirut. (AFP)
A general view of Beirut. (AFP)
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Saudi Citizen Abducted in Beirut, Kidnappers Demand $400,00 Ransom

A general view of Beirut. (AFP)
A general view of Beirut. (AFP)

A Saudi citizen was kidnapped in the Lebanese capital Beirut overnight on Saturday.

The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of $400,000, while caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has vowed that they will be severely punished for their crime.

The Saudi embassy in Beirut confirmed the kidnapping from the victim’s relatives, who said they had lost contact with him early on Sunday.

The Lebanese authorities are carrying out contacts on the highest levels to uncover his whereabouts.

The man works for Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia).

A Saudi diplomatic source in Beirut described the development as “very dangerous”. The Saudi embassy is closely working with local authorities to find him.

Initial reports said the man was kidnapped on the airport road in Beirut, while Lebanese security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that he was abducted in a central district of the capital.

Saudi state-run Al Ekhbariya television said he was nabbed after he left a restaurant in the waterfront Zaituna Bay area.

The kidnappers had followed him in their vehicles and were wearing military outfits. They took him to Beirut’s southern suburbs of Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold, it added.

In a phone message, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of $400,000.

Mawlawi said the Internal Security Forces’ intelligence bureau was probing the case and that authorities were in close contact with Saudi Ambassador Waleed Bukhari.

“What happened harms Lebanon’s relations with its brothers,” he added. “The perpetrators will be harshly punished.”

In remarks to Al Arabiya television, the minister revealed that the Saudi national’s telephone could be traced to various locations in Beirut and that he was “well”.

Grand Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kabalan strongly condemned the kidnapping and “all other abductions that have targeted Arabs, especially Saudi brothers.”

He called on Lebanese authorities to strike with an iron fist and put an end to “this dangerous game.”

He warned that gangs and mafias were seeking to destabilize the country for petty goals.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Executes 2 Bahraini Men over Terrorist Activities

The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Executes 2 Bahraini Men over Terrorist Activities

The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Interior Ministry in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia said it executed two Bahraini men in the Eastern Province on Monday after being convicted of belonging to a terrorist group wanting to destabilize the two kingdoms.

The Saudi Interior Ministry's announcement, carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, identified the men as Jaafar Sultan and Sadeq Thamer.

The statement said that the Specialized Criminal Court convicted the two men of belonging to a terrorist cell spreading chaos and smuggling explosives to be used inside Saudi Arabia.

They also communicated with other terrorists in Saudi Arabia and supported them to carry out terrorist acts.

They smuggled material used to build explosives. They concealed the material in sandy areas before later delivering them to the leader of the cell, a man wanted by Bahrani authorities, it added.

The Interior Ministry underscored the government’s keenness on consolidating security and achieving justice.

Gulf

Saudi, British FMs Discuss Means to Support Political Solution in Sudan

17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi, British FMs Discuss Means to Support Political Solution in Sudan

17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
17 May 2023, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah attends Arab league's foreign ministers meeting ahead of the Arab League summit on 19 May in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received on Monday a telephone call from his British counterpart James Cleverly.

The officials discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support political solutions to the conflict in Sudan.

They tackled the Kingdom’s intense efforts to bridge the divide between the warring Sudanese parties, as demonstrated by its hosting of the Jeddah negotiations earlier this month.

The parties in Jeddah agreed to a temporary ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid.

Prince Faisal and Cleverly also discussed bilateral relations and coordination between Riyadh and London and means to bolster them.

Gulf

Iran’s Khamenei Welcomes Better Ties with Egypt

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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Iran’s Khamenei Welcomes Better Ties with Egypt

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Tehran, Iran May 29, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a meeting with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq that Tehran welcomes better diplomatic relations with Egypt, Iranian state media reported on Monday.

Relations between Egypt and Iran have often been fraught in recent decades although the two countries have maintained diplomatic contacts.

Khamenei's comments came as Middle Eastern countries including Egypt are taking steps to ease regional tensions. In March, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations under a China-mediated deal.

Sultan Haitham had arrived in Iran on a two-day visit on Sunday.

He met with President Ebrahim Raisi upon his arrival.

Sultan Haitham headed a large delegation including the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, economy and investment.

Oman and Iran agreed to prepare a document on strategic cooperation that covers all fields, said a statement at the conclusion of the royal’s visit on Monday.

They also signed four economic cooperation and investment agreements.

Gulf

KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar

KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar
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KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar

KSrelief Provides New Health Care Services to Syrian Refugees, Host Communities in Lebanon's Akkar

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continued implementing a project to enhance health care services for Syrian refugees and the host communities in Akkar Governorate, Lebanon.

During April 2023, as many as 822 patients were received, and 1,464 services were provided in different clinics.

This aid comes within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's keenness, represented by the KSrelief, to provide humanitarian assistance to the needy and Syrian refugees in all fields to alleviate their suffering.

Gulf

Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan
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Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

Ninth Saudi Relief Plane Arrives in Sudan

The ninth Saudi relief plane arrived at Port Sudan International Airport on Sunday.

The aid included 30 tons of foodstuff and medical supplies, as part of the Saudi relief airlift operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) to help the Sudanese people.

This comes in implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.

Delivering aid is a reflection of the noble humanitarian role played by the Kingdom through KSrelief in all countries in need.