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Jeddah Summit...Regional Coordination to Face Challenges

File photo of the meeting of foreign ministers of the countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of the meeting of foreign ministers of the countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Jeddah Summit...Regional Coordination to Face Challenges

File photo of the meeting of foreign ministers of the countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Asharq Al-Awsat)
File photo of the meeting of foreign ministers of the countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Council of Arab and African States bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden will hold its first summit in Jeddah on Thursday, to discuss means to enhance the security of navigation and global trade.

The council, which was established in early 2020, seeks to expand political and economic cooperation and unify efforts to enhance navigation security and protect waterways and vital straits in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Political researcher Abdo Salem said that the council would set practical mechanisms to merge the security systems of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb, with the aim to curb the Iranian influence and other threats that lie in the Arabian Sea basin.

For his part, researcher in strategic and military studies Dr. Muhammad Al-Harbi said that the Jeddah summit would be held at an important time, in view of the accelerating events at the political, economic and military levels.

He explained that world powers were competing to draw a modern geopolitical map, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian war and its repercussions on energy, oil, and supply chains, in addition to the escalating Cold War between the United States and China.

Al-Harbi added that Saudi Arabia would assume an important role within the council, as a key political, economic, military and religious center, “embodying the concept of diversity and strategic balance, promoting security, stability, prosperity and comprehensive sustainable development in all fields, and confronting the various regional and international threats and challenges.”

“In this regard, it has become necessary to develop and activate an effective, advanced, realistic and applicable strategic vision, to guarantee the security of the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea regions in the face of various international and regional threats and challenges.”

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz had invited the leaders of the GCC countries to participate in the work and discussions of the one-day summit, which is held in the city of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.

The summit agenda addresses a range of topics, topped by the situation in Yemen and the Horn of Africa, the security of water navigation and international trade routes, and their economic, commercial and investment importance to the global economy.

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Gulf

Coalition: Terrorist Houthi Militia Targets Taibah Power Distribution Station in Madinah

Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)
Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)
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Coalition: Terrorist Houthi Militia Targets Taibah Power Distribution Station in Madinah

Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)
Damage is seen at the station from the Houthi attack. (SPA)

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki announced on Thursday that the terrorist Houthi militia in Yemen was behind a terrorist attack on the Taibah electricity distribution station in Madinah.

The attack took place at 5:11 am on Tuesday. The investigation and evidence gathered by the relevant authorities confirmed the involvement of the Houthi militia in planning and executing this “cowardly” terrorist act, based on after action review and the wreckage of the drone used.

The attack resulted in one power transformer being taken out of service, without affecting the electricity network.

Debris of the drone used by the terrorist Houthi in the attack. (SPA)

“The cowardly terrorist act, targeting a civilian facility providing electricity to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, is a continuation of this extremist militia's attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and their deliberate provocation of millions of Muslims worldwide by targeting Makkah and Madinah,” said Al-Malki.

“The Coalition continues to take and implement measures to deter the terrorist Houthi militia, ensuring the protection of the Two Holy Mosques and the safety of the pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah,” he stressed.

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi strongly condemned the attack.

He stressed that “this heinous Houthi attack has crossed all red lines, represents a blatant provocation to the sentiments of Muslims across the world, and constitutes a grave escalation in violating the sanctity of Islamic holy sites.”

It reveals “an aggressive approach that disregards religious and humanitarian values as well as international laws and norms, particularly in light of repeated attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques and their surrounding areas.”

Damage is seen at the plant as a result of the Houthi attack. (SPA)

Albudaiwi underscored the GCC member states' “steadfast and unwavering stance alongside Saudi Arabia and their full solidarity in confronting anything that threatens its security, stability, and sovereignty.”

He reiterated “complete support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its territory, citizens, residents, and pilgrims,” stressing that the security of the Kingdom and its holy sites “is an integral part of the collective security of the GCC, and that any threat to the Kingdom is a threat to the security of all GCC member states.”

The Jordanian government condemned the Houthi attack as an “outrageous violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, a threat to its security, stability, and territorial integrity, and a clear breach of international law and the UN Charter.” 

Official Spokesperson of the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Fuad Al-Majali expressed Jordan's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.  

He reaffirmed Jordan's support for all measures taken to ensure the security and safety of its citizens and residents. 

President of the Arab Parliament Mohamed Al-Yammahi strongly condemned the attack, stressing that “such criminal acts constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of holy sites, provoke the feelings of Muslims around the world, and threaten the security and stability of the region, rather than the Kingdom’s security alone.” 

Al-Yammahi affirmed the Arab Parliament’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures it takes to confront such terrorist acts.  

“Such terrorist acts will not undermine Saudi Arabia’s ability to protect its resources, security, and the safety of its citizens and residents,” he added. 

Gulf

Saudi Defense Minister Discusses Regional Security with Hegseth, Vautrin

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Discusses Regional Security with Hegseth, Vautrin

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz held separate telephone calls on regional security with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and French Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Catherine Vautrin.

With Hegseth, Prince Khalid reviewed the Saudi-US strategic defense partnership and discussed coordinating the two nations' efforts to boost regional security and stability.

They also tackled several regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Prince Khalid and Vautrin discussed prospects for bilateral defense cooperation, addressed regional challenges and efforts to maintain international peace and security. They also covered issues of mutual interest.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia: Flydubai Captain, Co-Pilot Departed to UAE with Security Team

All passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft. (Reuters)
All passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia: Flydubai Captain, Co-Pilot Departed to UAE with Security Team

All passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft. (Reuters)
All passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft. (Reuters)

An official source at the Saudi Ministry of Interior said on Thursday that Saudi authorities managed an inflight emergency declared aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073, authorizing an emergency landing at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk on September 30.

The aircraft landed safely at 9:45 a.m. with 174 passengers and an eight-member flight crew on board, all of whom received necessary logistical and medical care.

At 5:40 p.m., all passengers continued their journey on a replacement Flydubai aircraft, and the flight crew returned to Dubai on a separate flight operated by the airline.

The captain and co-pilot were transferred to a local hospital for medical evaluation and treatment.

Preliminary investigations conducted by Saudi authorities, in coordination with a security team from the United Arab Emirates, revealed that an altercation took place in which the co-pilot assaulted the captain, resulting in injuries to both individuals.

The source confirmed that following medical clearance, both pilots departed Saudi Arabia for Abu Dhabi on October 1, accompanied by the UAE security team.

The source stressed that Saudi Arabia handles all emergency situations in full adherence to its international and humanitarian obligations, upholding civil aviation safety standards and demonstrating the operational readiness of the Kingdom's aviation and security sectors to respond rapidly and effectively to exceptional circumstances.