Qatar, Bahrain Agree in Riyadh to Resolve Pending Disputes

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Qatar, Bahrain Agree in Riyadh to Resolve Pending Disputes

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Qatar and Bahrain agreed on Tuesday to resolve pending disputes between them in line with the AlUla declaration that was reached in 2021.

Qatari Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Bahraini FM Dr. Abdul Latif al-Zayani headed two delegations that met for talks at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) General Secretariat in Riyadh.

The meeting tackled placing the necessary mechanisms and procedures to launch discussions, on the level of bilateral committees, in line with the AlUla Declaration.

They stressed the importance of cooperation between their countries to bolster fraternal relations and meet the aspirations of their peoples for security, stability and development and back the joint work between members of the GCC.



Gulf Airlines Cancel Flights after Israel Strikes Iran

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM
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Gulf Airlines Cancel Flights after Israel Strikes Iran

Photo by WAM
Photo by WAM

Airlines in the Gulf have cancelled flights to many Middle East destinations as some governments closed their airspace following Israeli strikes on Iran.

Emirates, the Middle East's largest airline, said it had cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran after Israel launched the strikes.

Several flights scheduled for Friday and one Tehran flight on Saturday were listed as cancelled on the airline's website.

Qatar Airways, the country's national carrier and one of the Middle East's largest, said it had "temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to (the) current situation in the region".

UAE airports have warned of disruption, with Dubai posting on X that "some flights at @DXB and DWC - Al Maktoum International have been cancelled or delayed due to airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria".

Abu Dhabi airport warned "flight disruptions are expected through today (Friday)" as a result of the Israeli strikes.

Earlier Friday, Jordan and Iraq, which both lie between Israel and Iran, announced they had closed their airspace and grounded all flights after Israel's strikes.

Jordan's military said it intercepted drones and missiles that had violated the kingdom's airspace, after Iran vowed there would be "no limits" in its response to Israeli attacks.

Israel pounded Iran with a wave of strikes against military and nuclear industry targets, that killed the armed forces' chief of staff, the Revolutionary Guards chief and top nuclear scientists.

The Israeli military said Iran had launched about 100 drones in retaliation, which it was seeking to shoot down.