UAE Embassy in Tel Aviv Celebrates Second Anniversary of Abraham Accordshttps://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3877526/uae-embassy-tel-aviv-celebrates-second-anniversary-abraham-accords
UAE Embassy in Tel Aviv Celebrates Second Anniversary of Abraham Accords
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid received the UAE delegation on Thursday
The UAE embassy in Tel Aviv marked the two-year anniversary of the Abraham Accords, in a ceremony held on Thursday in the presence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, along with senior Israeli and UAE officials.
The celebration unveiled remarkable progress in the Emirati-Israeli relations in various fields, with trade exchange reaching the value of $2 billion.
Sheikh Abdullah underlined that the bilateral relations opened a new page in history and promoted a culture of peace towards building a new Middle East. He expressed confidence that the Abraham Accords would greatly contribute to advancing the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian people.
Earlier on Thursday, the Israeli president received Sheikh Abdullah at his official residence and threw a lunch banquet in his honor.
The UAE foreign minister headed a delegation that included Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashemi and the Minister of Youth and Culture, Noura Mohammad Al-Kaabi. The meeting was also attended by the Emirati Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Mohammed Al-Khaja.
The Abraham Accords were announced on Aug. 13, 2020, by former US President Donald Trump, after long weeks of frantic and secret diplomatic efforts.
On Sept. 15 of the same year, the agreements were signed between Israel on the one hand and the UAE and Bahrain on the other, in the courtyard of the White House in Washington.
Within four months of the announcement, political agreements were signed between Israel, Sudan and Morocco.
Direct flights were launched between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Manama, Casablanca and Marrakesh, and many ministers, military officials, politicians and economists from all these countries paid reciprocal visits and signed cooperation agreements in several fields.
Within two years, the volume of trade exchange between Israel and the UAE amounted to about $2 billion.
Kuwait Says Iran Attacked Power and Water Desalination Plant, Causing Damagehttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5297035-kuwait-says-iran-attacked-power-and-water-desalination-plant-causing-damage
Kuwait Says Iran Attacked Power and Water Desalination Plant, Causing Damage
Vehicles drive along a highway on the outskirts of Kuwait City on July 8, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Kuwait said Friday that Iran attacked a power and water desalination plant, causing widespread damage to the station.
Kuwait’s Electricity Water and Renewable Energy Ministry announced the attack, saying it sparked a fire and “damage to a large number of electricity generation units.”
Kuwait said it extinguished the blaze and was working to assess the damage and get the station working again.
Qatar Says Child Injured as Missile Attack Interceptedhttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5297010-qatar-says-child-injured-missile-attack-intercepted
A visitor to the Museum of Islamic Art takes pictures of the skyline of highrise buildings in Doha on July 9, 2026. (AFP)
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Qatar Says Child Injured as Missile Attack Intercepted
A visitor to the Museum of Islamic Art takes pictures of the skyline of highrise buildings in Doha on July 9, 2026. (AFP)
Qatar announced Friday that its army had intercepted a missile attack, with falling debris injuring a child.
"The Ministry of Defense... announces that the armed forces have intercepted a missile attack that targeted the State of Qatar," the ministry wrote on X.
A child was injured by falling debris after the interception, the interior ministry later reported.
Iran has targeted several Gulf countries since hostilities with the United States resumed on July 7, claiming to be aiming at American military installations.
Qatar, a mediator in talks with the United States alongside Pakistan and host to the largest American base in the Middle East, was targeted on Sunday for the first time since the April truce.
Iranian Attacks on Gulf Intensify, Kuwait Bears Brunthttps://english.aawsat.com/gulf/5296848-iranian-attacks-gulf-intensify-kuwait-bears-brunt
Iranian Attacks on Gulf Intensify, Kuwait Bears Brunt
Smoke rises near Kuwait International Airport after a drone strike targeted a fuel depot. (File photo/AFP)
Iranian attacks on Gulf states have intensified sharply in recent days, with Kuwait bearing the brunt as fighting between the United States and Iran resumed and tensions rose in the Strait of Hormuz.
From the renewed escalation last Wednesday through early Thursday, Kuwaiti forces detected about 77 hostile drones and 18 missiles in the country’s airspace, according to an Asharq Al-Awsat tally.
The missiles included eight ballistic missiles and 10 cruise missiles. Kuwaiti forces intercepted or otherwise dealt with the threats.
The latest attacks stood out for causing casualties and damage.
Kuwait said several Iranian strikes targeted vital facilities and scattered debris across multiple locations, causing material damage and injuring six people, including four members of the Kuwaiti armed forces.
Three land border posts in northern Kuwait were also attacked, causing further damage and one injury.
Kuwaiti Defense Minister Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabah checks on the health condition of those injured as a result of the Iranian aggression. KUNA
Kuwait’s consulate general in the southern Iraqi city of Basra was targeted again on Monday.
Kuwait condemned the attack and acknowledged the Iraqi government’s efforts to confront such incidents. It also called for “immediate and decisive” action to hold those responsible accountable and prevent a recurrence.
The continued attacks drew broad condemnation and expressions of solidarity from Gulf states.
Calls to strike back at launch sites
Academic and political researcher Ayed al-Manaa said Gulf Cooperation Council states should prepare for further Iranian retaliation following US attacks.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Manaa urged Gulf states to respond to the sources of fire rather than remain on the defensive.
He said the escalation showed that Tehran had gone too far, particularly during the 40-day war.
Iran, he added, could retaliate against nearby US forces or Israel instead of targeting Gulf states.
Al-Manaa said Iran’s conduct reflected a lack of respect for Gulf sovereignty and a disregard for fraternal ties, neighborly relations and shared religious bonds.
Gulf states are peaceful countries that maintain normal relations, trade and neighborly ties with Iran, he said.
Tehran had treated that position with disdain, he added, making it necessary for Gulf states to raise their level of readiness and prepare to confront and respond to further attacks.
Fragile truce, vague memorandum
Political analyst Khaled al-Habbas said the renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran, and the failure of the ceasefire to hold, showed that the memorandum of understanding reached in mid-June was broad and highly ambiguous.
He said the uncertainty was most evident in provisions dealing with the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions on Tehran and its frozen assets.
Al-Habbas said other factors were also driving the crisis.
These included “the deep hostility and mistrust between the two sides, the aggressive nature of the Iranian regime and the sharp divisions between hardline leaders within the Revolutionary Guards and other officials who support negotiations with the United States.”
Doubts over Iran’s commitment to a deal
“The continuation of Iranian aggression against some Gulf states, alongside attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, indicates that the Iranian side is not serious about reaching a final agreement,” al-Habbas said.
He said the negotiations also faced major obstacles, while the ceasefire remained fragile.
Tension and instability would therefore continue to define the regional landscape for now, he added.
Al-Habbas did not rule out further exchanges of military action in the region, although he said both sides appeared keen to avoid a return to full-scale war.
“The danger remains, however, and all possibilities are still open. This is why Gulf states are following these developments with concern,” he said.
He praised Gulf states for successfully confronting Iranian attacks while continuing to support diplomatic efforts to prevent a return to war and the risks it would pose to the region.
Al-Habbas called for greater regional and international diplomatic pressure on Iran to isolate it politically and expose what he described as its aggression.
He said Iran should be held responsible for the damage caused by “this blatant aggression,” while Gulf states retained the right to defend themselves at a time and place of their choosing.
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