Democrats Disagree Over Relationship with Saudi Arabia

US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)
US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)
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Democrats Disagree Over Relationship with Saudi Arabia

US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)
US Representative Adam Smith (Reuters)

US Democratic Representatives have tackled the Saudi-US relationship, with Representative Adam Smith warning against launching vague and incomprehensible threats against Saudi Arabia.

Earlier, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said President Joe Biden is willing to begin reevaluating the US-Saudi ties after the Kingdom and its oil-exporting allies announced production cuts of two million barrels per day.

In statements to CNN, Smith stressed that it is necessary to understand how Saudi Arabia views the situation in Yemen, and Saudi officials felt that the US did not help them while they were being attacked.

He criticized the vague statements on the reassessment of US relations with Saudi Arabia, saying some are demanding a freeze, which he does not understand.

Smith was referring to the statements of the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez, who demanded a freeze of cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales.

He criticized the statements of Menendez - who is also a Democrat - saying they have no clear definition of the meaning of the freeze in relations, adding that suspension of arms sales would allow Saudi Arabia to have closer relationships with Russia and China.

Smith explained that if the US suspended the arms deal with Saudi Arabia, it would buy weapons from other countries, such as Russia and China, warning that Beijing might seize the opportunity to enter the largest market in the Middle East, which would constitute a big challenge for Washington.

In another interview with CNN, Kirby said about Saudi Arabia that “the President has been very clear that this is a relationship that the US needs to continue to reevaluate.”

"I think that is where he is, and he is willing to work with Congress to think through what that relationship ought to look like going forward," he said.

US observers described the Biden administration as "blundering," noting that it tries to escape crises by blaming other parties.

They indicated that Biden previously blamed the Russian President and the Russian-Ukrainian war for the rise in oil prices last summer, and now he blames Saudi Arabia.

They believe Biden is trying to deflect attention from criticism of his economic policies and push a massive financial aid package in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to the student debt relief, bringing the national debt to unprecedented levels, surpassing $31 trillion.



Iranian Missile Strikes Target Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan

Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)
Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)
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Iranian Missile Strikes Target Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan

Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)
Bahrain's capital, Manama (file photo)

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Monday claimed strikes against Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, saying they targeted US military facilities.

Iran's official IRNA news agency, citing a series of statements by the Revolutionary Guards, said Iran had launched attacks targeting Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, a US drone command center in Bahrain and other air bases, including Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.

Bahrain's Interior Ministry said on X that warning sirens had been activated, urging citizens and residents to remain calm, head to the nearest safe location and follow updates through official channels.

Kuwait's military also said its armed forces had intercepted hostile aerial targets within Kuwaiti airspace.

The military's General Staff said in a post on X, any explosions heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks and urged the public to follow safety instructions issued by the relevant authorities.

The Jordanian army said in a statement that its air defenses successfully intercepted four missiles launched from Iran, with no casualties or property damage reported.

The statement cited a military source as saying that the air defense systems intercepted and destroyed four missiles that entered Jordanian airspace from Iranian territory early on Monday, adding that the incident caused no injuries or material damage.


Oman Says 23 Crew Members Rescued from Vessel Attacked off Musandam

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 
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Oman Says 23 Crew Members Rescued from Vessel Attacked off Musandam

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, July 12, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer 

Oman said Sunday it had rescued 23 crew members from a commercial ship after the vessel was targeted off the coast of Musandam, while search operations remain underway for one missing crew member.
In a statement, Oman’s Maritime Security Center said it responded to a distress call from the Cypriot-flagged GFS Galaxy 4.4 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam Governorate.

“Twenty-three crew members were rescued and provided with necessary medical care. Search operations are continuing for one crew member who remains missing,” the statement said.

It gave no further information about the incident.

The incident comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region, with authorities monitoring security threats affecting commercial shipping routes.

Earlier on Sunday, a Omani security source said drones targeted sites in the Musandam Governorate. The Sultanate of Oman condemned the attack and affirmed that it is taking all necessary measures to address these developments and safeguard the country and its residents.

The Sultanate added that security forces continue to monitor the area closely following this incident, as the country takes decisive steps to address these ongoing security developments.

The Musandam Governorate is located in the far north of the Sultanate and overlooks the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, carrying around a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.

The Strait serves as the gateway that links the Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean.

Musandam includes four wilayats: Khasab, Dibba, Bukha, and Madha.

On Sunday, US Central Command said the Strait of Hormuz is ‌open to all vessels and US military forces are “positioned ⁠and prepared” to ensure freedom of navigation, a ‌day ⁠after US and Iranian forces exchanged fire and ⁠Iran said it had closed ⁠the vital waterway.


MWL Condemns Continued Iranian Attacks on Gulf States, Jordan, Commercial Vessels

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
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MWL Condemns Continued Iranian Attacks on Gulf States, Jordan, Commercial Vessels

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) on Sunday strongly condemned Iran’s continued aggression against Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Jordan, as well as the targeting of commercial vessels, the Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.

In a statement by its General Secretariat, the MWL denounced these Iranian attacks as violations of international law, the UN Charter, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the principles of good neighborliness.

Secretary-General of the MWL and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa renewed his condemnation of these repeated Iranian attacks, stressing that they violate all religious values as well as international and humanitarian laws and norms.

Al-Issa underscored that the continued attacks also undermine efforts to restore security and stability across the region.

Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Sunday targeting US military facilities in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions following US strikes on Iranian targets.