Saudi Search and Rescue Team Returns from Türkiye

People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh
People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh
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Saudi Search and Rescue Team Returns from Türkiye

People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh
People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh

The General Directorate of Civil Defense's Saudi Search and Rescue Team has returned home after completing its tasks and relief mission following the devastating earthquake in Türkiye.

The mission was carried out under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince to assist earthquake victims, in coordination with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and with the follow-up of the Interior Minister.

The Saudi team's mission had begun with meetings and coordination with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), local authorities, and the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) to determine the locations where the team would conduct search and rescue operations, provide medical and humanitarian aid, in addition to equipping the assessment team with the camp headquarters and providing support and logistic services throughout its mission in Türkiye.

The Saudi team used state-of-the-art equipment and technology to conduct round-the-clock rescue operations and search for survivors in 47 sites across the three Turkish cities of Gaziantep, Antakya, and Kahramanmaras.

The KSrelief team remains in Syria and Türkiye, helping earthquake victims and monitoring the implementation of relief projects and programs in both countries.



Qatari Prime Minister Secured Iran's Agreement to US Ceasefire Proposal after Call with Trump, Official Says

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani speaks at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 20, 2025. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP)
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani speaks at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 20, 2025. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP)
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Qatari Prime Minister Secured Iran's Agreement to US Ceasefire Proposal after Call with Trump, Official Says

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani speaks at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 20, 2025. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP)
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani speaks at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha on May 20, 2025. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP)

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran's agreement to the US proposal for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Iran during a call with Iranian officials held after Iran's strikes on a US air base in Qatar on Monday, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters early on Tuesday.

The phone call came after US president Donald Trump told Qatar's emir that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire and asked for Doha's help persuading Tehran to also agree to the ceasefire deal, the official said.