Saudi Arabia Awaits UN Probe Into Houthi Missiles

 Al-Mouallimi
Al-Mouallimi
TT

Saudi Arabia Awaits UN Probe Into Houthi Missiles

 Al-Mouallimi
Al-Mouallimi

Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Abdullah al-Mouallimi, told Asharq Al-Awsat on Thursday that a committee tasked with following up on UN decisions was currently investigating the Iranian ballistic missiles in the framework of updating violations against UN Resolutions, adding that the Saudi side awaits the results of the probe.

Al-Mouallimi said that the Kingdom has already presented a letter to the Security Council concerning last Saturday’s ballistic missile fired from Yemen on King Khaled International Airport. Saudi defense forces intercepted the missile and brought it down near Riyadh airport without causing any casualties.

According to the Saudi diplomat, the Saudi letter shed lights on the attack and uncovered that the ballistic was an Iranian-made missile, which was sent to the Houthi militias in Yemen.

He also explained that the Saudi side had offered clarifications concerning the decision of temporarily closing all land, sea and airports in Yemen to stop Iranian weapons from reaching Houthi insurgents.

“We will soon deal differently with this issue. Those measures aim to respond to a certain situation. When the purpose of those measures ends, we will reopen those ports with introducing some needed amendments and reforms,” Al-Mouallimi said.

According to the Saudi diplomat, the Kingdom had also offered in its letter to the UN a clear condemnation of the Iranian violations to the UN Resolutions and asked the Security Council to take the needed measures facing those abuses.

Al-Mouallimi asserted that Saudi Arabia is not affected by any pressures or statements, and that it “does not rely on the media uproar that accompanies this or that event.”

He added: “Riyadh respects the official positions of the Security Council, which is still attached to Resolution 2216.”

On Thursday, member states at the Security Council strongly condemned the missile carried by Houthis on Riyadh and described the attack as provocative and as a violation to the related UN Security Council Resolution.



Qatar's Emir Makes Cabinet Reshuffle

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA
TT

Qatar's Emir Makes Cabinet Reshuffle

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. QNA

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday appointed the CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Mansour Ibrahim al-Mahmoud, as the country's next minister of health.

The Emir appointed Mohammed Saif Saeed al Suwaidi as QIA's next CEO.

As part of Tuesday's cabinet shuffle, Qatar's Emir also appointed Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani as the country's new minister of commerce and industry.
Sheikh Faisal is QIA's chief of Asia-Pacific and Africa investments and the chairman of Qatari telecoms group Ooredoo. It is unclear if he will remain in those roles.
The Emir appointed Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater as the new education minister. She served previously as minister of state for international cooperation and led Qatar's global humanitarian efforts, especially in Gaza and Lebanon.