Algerian President, Jordanian King Sign 5 Cooperation Agreements

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune awarded Jordan's King Abdallah the national order of merit "El-Athir" (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune awarded Jordan's King Abdallah the national order of merit "El-Athir" (APZ)
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Algerian President, Jordanian King Sign 5 Cooperation Agreements

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune awarded Jordan's King Abdallah the national order of merit "El-Athir" (APZ)
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune awarded Jordan's King Abdallah the national order of merit "El-Athir" (APZ)

Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein met with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and signed five cooperation agreements in various sectors.

Abdullah arrived Saturday in Algiers for a two-day visit at the invitation of the Algerian President.

The Algerian presidency said in a statement that the two leaders held "private talks" without providing further details about the talks.

The agreements included a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral political consultations, an agreement on the mutual visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports, and an MoU between the two countries' diplomatic institutes.

It also included a draft memorandum of understanding between the Jordan Institute of Diplomacy and the Algeria Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations, a cooperation program between Petra News Agency and the Algerian Press Service, and the mutual recognition of maritime qualification certificates for seafarers, education program, and level of maritime training between the two countries.

At his residence in Algiers' western suburbs, King Abdullah received Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Said Chanegriha, Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane, President of the People's National Assembly Brahim Boughali, and speaker of the upper house of parliament Salah Goudjil.

The President awarded King Abdullah the national order of merit "El-Athir," said the Presidency in a statement.

Later, the Jordanian monarch visited the "Martyr's Shrine," where he paid respects to the martyrs of the liberation revolution (1954-1962).

The state-owned newspaper, el-Masaa, reported that the King's visit is expected to give a new push to bilateral ties, especially in the economic aspect, as the two countries prepare for the upcoming meetings of the Joint Higher Committee.

The newspaper pointed out that the visit constitutes an opportunity to embody the common will to push bilateral relations to higher levels based on solid ground for cooperation.

The newspaper quoted Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, during his meeting with Jordan's foreign minister Ayman Safadi in October, that many bilateral agreements need to be activated and implemented.

The two countries are discussing ways to establish a real and sustainable partnership in various fields to face future economic challenges, said el-Masaa.



Israeli Military Says Commandos Raided Missile Plant in Syria in September

People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
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Israeli Military Says Commandos Raided Missile Plant in Syria in September

People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)
People inspect a damaged area in the aftermath of what Syrian state media reported was an Israeli strike in Masyaf, Hama province, Syria September 9, 2024. (Reuters)

Israel's military said on Thursday its special forces had raided an underground missile production site in Syria in September that it said was primed to produce hundreds of precision missiles for use against Israel by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

The complex near Masyaf, close to the Mediterranean coast, was "the flagship of Iranian manufacturing efforts in our region", Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told a briefing with reporters.

"This facility was designed to manufacture hundreds of strategic missiles per year from start to finish, for Hezbollah to use in their aerial attacks on Israel."

He said the plant, dug into a mountainside, had been under observation by Israel since construction began in 2017 and was on the point of being able to manufacture precision-guided missiles, some with a range of up to 300 km (190 miles).

"This ability was becoming active, so we're talking about an immediate threat," he said.

Details of the Sept. 8 raid have been reported in Israeli media but Shoshani said this was the first confirmation by the military, which rarely comments on special forces operations.

At the time, Syrian state media said at least 16 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the west of the country.

Shoshani said the nighttime raid was "one of the more complex operations the IDF has done in recent years". Accompanied by airstrikes, it involved dozens of aircraft and around 100 helicopter-borne troops, he said.

"At the end of the raid, the troops dismantled the facility, including the machines and the manufacturing equipment, themselves," he said.

The military released footage showing Israeli troops boarding and dismounting from helicopters and moving through what appears to be a concrete-lined tunnel and industrial site, where they examine documents.

Other footage showed senior commanders at a control center, apparently as the operation proceeds.

Israeli officials have accused the former Syrian government of president Bahar al-Assad of helping the Lebanese-based Hezbollah movement receive arms from Iran and say they are determined to stop the flow of weapons into Lebanon.

As Assad's government crumbled towards the end of last year, Israel launched a series of strikes against Syrian military infrastructure and weapons manufacturing sites to prevent them falling into the hands of enemies.