Kuwait Condemns BBC Report on Anniversary of Iraqi Invasion

Coalition forces enter Kuwait in March 1991. Asharq Al-Awsat
Coalition forces enter Kuwait in March 1991. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Kuwait Condemns BBC Report on Anniversary of Iraqi Invasion

Coalition forces enter Kuwait in March 1991. Asharq Al-Awsat
Coalition forces enter Kuwait in March 1991. Asharq Al-Awsat

Kuwait has expressed condemnation of what it called “historical fabrications” made by the British Broadcasting Corporation in an Arabic program broadcast on the anniversary of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990.

In the program, BBC alleged that up until 1920, Kuwait was part of Iraq.

But the Kuwaiti Ministry of Information issued a statement on Thursday, rebuffing BBC’s “fabrications and allegations” on the country’s sovereignty.

The ministry “regretted” that BBC presenter Rania Al-Attar’s program “Trending” had fabricated allegations about Kuwait’s historic sovereignty, and “violated professional rules, distorting historic facts.”

“Such false claims and serious mistakes are utterly unacceptable, especially when this comes from an international media outlet, which is supposed to observe professional criteria, and to clarify, not distort, facts,” said the statement.

It drew question marks on the timing of such claims, which coincided with the 28th anniversary of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.

The ministry said it “has the right to pursue any entity or institution that deliberately commits this historic distortion” of facts.



UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
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UAE, Syria Foreign Ministers Discuss Bolstering Ties on UAE visit

A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)
A handout photo made available by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) shows United Arab Emirates Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani (L) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 06 January 2025. (WAM)

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed bolstering "brotherly" ties with Syria during the first official visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Emirati state news agency WAM reported.

The two ministers also discussed the overall developments in Syria since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition factions on Dec. 8.

The UAE's foreign minister reiterated the country's support for Syria's independence and sovereignty, WAM added.

Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, head of intelligence Anas Khattab and the UAE's minister of state for defense affairs, Mohammed Fadel al-Mazrouei, also attended the meeting.

The UAE is part of Shibani's second foreign tour, which earlier took him to Qatar and will also include a visit to Jordan. He said the visits aim to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships", according to his account on X.

Shibani made his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia last week, where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.