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GCC Slams German Remarks over Qatar’s Hosting of World Cup

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1
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GCC Slams German Remarks over Qatar’s Hosting of World Cup

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf speaks during a press conference in Riyadh March 17, 2022. AFP1

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf condemned on Saturday remarks by Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser over Qatar’s hosting of the football World Cup in November.

In a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Hajraf underscored the stance of GCC countries in supporting Qatar in confronting any interference in its internal affairs.

The GCC supports Doha as it confronts claims that do not serve the establishment of natural relations between countries, deeming the meddling a violation of norms, traditions, diplomacy and international laws.

Qatar continues to forge ahead in making achievements and hosting the landmark event next month, he added, saying it was a “deserved source of pride” for the nation.

Al-Hajraf praised the pioneering role Qatar is playing in building bridges between civilizations and bolstering understanding between peoples within the boundaries of mutual respect.

On Friday, Qatar announced that it had summoned the German ambassador over Faeser’s remarks, handing him a memo of complaint.

The Foreign Ministry said it summoned the ambassador to convey its “disappointment and complete rejection and condemnation” of Faeser's remarks, demanding a clarification.

In the complaint, the ministry expressed Qatar's complete rejection of those remarks made towards a country whose hosting of the World Cup was justice done to a region suffering from an unjust stereotype for decades, reported Qatar’s state news agency QNA.

Qatar is determined to organize one of the best editions to showcase the region's civilization and heritage to the whole world, it stressed.

The memo said Faeser’s remarks ahead of her official visit to Doha next week violated diplomatic norms and conventions, especially in light of the distinguished ties between Qatar and Germany in all fields.

The memo noted that the most prominent human rights groups and UN agencies praised the reforms implemented by Qatar in the labor field, given they were effective and long-term, as well as being a result of years of planning and studies. The memo highlighted that the reforms included many labor laws and practices related to them.

Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari described the German official's remarks as unacceptable and provocative to the Qatari people.

He stressed that it was unacceptable for politicians to try and score political points locally at the expense of their relations with other countries.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region

Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)
Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region

Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)
Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday the attacks that targeted Kurdistan region in Iraq, including an attack on the office of its Prime Minister Masrour Barzani describing them as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that the kingdom categorically rejects hostile operations targeting political figures and anything that could undermine the security of Iraqi state institutions or threaten the country's security and stability.

The ministry reiterated the kingdom’s firm opposition to all forms of interference in the internal affairs of states, violations of their sovereignty and breaches of the principles of good neighborliness and international law.

Barzani announced on Monday that two Iranian drones loaded with explosives targeted his private office on Erbil and the residence of the head of the Parastin Agency. Officials described the attack as a serious escalation violating Iraq’s sovereignty.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Sudan Establish Joint Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 
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Saudi Arabia, Sudan Establish Joint Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 

Saudi Arabia and Sudan signed an agreement Monday establishing a joint coordination council to deepen bilateral ties and provide an institutional framework for cooperation through clearly defined initiatives, projects and targets.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, signed the document establishing the Saudi-Sudanese Coordination Council in Riyadh. The council is intended to serve as an institutional platform for developing relations and advancing cooperation between the two countries.

Following their meeting, the ministers co-chaired a session of the bilateral Political Consultation and Follow-Up Committee, where they reviewed relations, explored ways to expand cooperation across various fields and discussed regional developments.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Salem described Saudi-Sudanese relations as “strategic” and said he expected the new council to produce tangible results. He stressed that Red Sea security remained a top priority for both countries.

Salem also praised the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, expressing optimism about Sudan potentially joining a broader grouping with the Kingdom.

He described Saudi Arabia as more than a major power or international symbol, saying Riyadh had approached the Sudanese crisis with “the sense of a neighbor, supporter and shared destiny.” He added that Khartoum viewed potential integration into the trilateral grouping positively as a means of strengthening regional security and stability.

The Sudanese minister praised Saudi Arabia’s support since the outbreak of the war, which he attributed to the Rapid Support Forces and mercenaries. He pointed to Riyadh’s hosting of the Jeddah talks — the first negotiating platform launched after the conflict erupted — as evidence of the Kingdom’s commitment to Sudan and its people.

Salem also highlighted humanitarian assistance provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, saying the war had prompted Sudan to reassess its relationships with other countries. Khartoum’s foreign policy, he added, would take a different course in the future.

He said the coordination council could usher in comprehensive strategic cooperation spanning political, security, economic and social affairs.

Turning to Sudan’s domestic political dialogue, Salem expressed hope that civilian forces could reach consensus on an overarching vision for resolving the crisis, stressing that political divisions and fragmentation among those groups had contributed to complicating the country’s political landscape.

He urged civilian and political forces to unite around national priorities and engage in dialogue free from agendas that could undermine national unity. He also called for inclusive internal talks representing Sudan’s diverse political currents and fostering greater cooperation between the government and national forces.

Salem further urged Sudanese political groups to forge a unified national position to confront the challenges created by the war, accusing the militia involved in the conflict of seeking demographic change in the country.

At a news conference in Riyadh on Monday evening, Salem and Sudanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dafallah Al-Haj said the council would pave the way for further consultations, initiatives and projects aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and integration.

 

 

 

Gulf

KSrelief's Masam Project Removes 2,157 Mines Across Yemen in One Week

The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)
The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)
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KSrelief's Masam Project Removes 2,157 Mines Across Yemen in One Week

The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)
The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)

The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen, implemented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The clearance operations included 68 anti-tank mines, 11 anti-personnel mines, 2,075 unexploded ordnance items, and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), contributing to efforts to make affected areas safer for local communities.

This brings the total number of mines removed since the launch of the Masam Project to 646,550. The mines had been planted indiscriminately across Yemen, posing a threat to the lives of innocent civilians, including children, women, and older people.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, continues its efforts to clear mines in Yemen, enhancing civilian safety and supporting safe and dignified living conditions for the Yemeni people.