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Iran Shifts Attention from its Crises by Escalating Houthi Attacks against Saudi Arabia

Saudi-led coalition spokesman, Turki al-Malki, displays the debris of a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi towards Riyadh during a news conference in Riyadh on March 29, 2020. (Reuters)
Saudi-led coalition spokesman, Turki al-Malki, displays the debris of a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi towards Riyadh during a news conference in Riyadh on March 29, 2020. (Reuters)
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Iran Shifts Attention from its Crises by Escalating Houthi Attacks against Saudi Arabia

Saudi-led coalition spokesman, Turki al-Malki, displays the debris of a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi towards Riyadh during a news conference in Riyadh on March 29, 2020. (Reuters)
Saudi-led coalition spokesman, Turki al-Malki, displays the debris of a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi towards Riyadh during a news conference in Riyadh on March 29, 2020. (Reuters)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen have upped their attacks against Saudi Arabia in the past two weeks. These failed attacks have coincided with a series of mysterious explosions that have rocked various facilities in Iran.

The latest Houthi escalation took place this week when they fired seven booby-trapped drones and four ballistic missiles at the Kingdom. They were all intercepted and downed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition.

Observers said it was not unusual for Tehran to seek such an escalation, especially ahead of the American presidential elections in November, and given the numerous local crises it is grappling with. They noted that it resorts to escalation in order to pressure the international community and save its regime.

Senior research fellow at the Gulf Research Center, Dr. Hesham Alghannam said that every time Iran endures a setback, it carries out a flagrant attack in an attempt to divert attention away from the pressure it is coming under.

The pressure is aimed at altering its hostile behavior against its neighbors and the world. The international community, therefore, must be alert to its tricks and connect developments to each other, he urged. It must not be blind to the fact that a regional party - Iran - is involved in Yemen and does not want its crisis to end.

The recent Houthi attack brings to 322 the number of ballistic missiles and 379 the number of drones they have fired at Saudi Arabia since the eruption of the Yemeni conflict.

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Gulf

KSrelief Implements Volunteer General Surgery Medical Project in Gaza Strip

This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA
This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA
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KSrelief Implements Volunteer General Surgery Medical Project in Gaza Strip

This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA
This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief - SPA

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) is implementing a volunteer general surgery medical project at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the Gaza Strip, running from December 5 to 31.

Since the start of the campaign, the KSrelief volunteer medical team has performed 150 surgical operations, all of which were successful. In addition, 300 people benefited from medical examinations and outpatient clinic services, SPA reported.

This project is an extension of the volunteer medical initiatives provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to assist countries and communities in need, as well as those affected worldwide.

Gulf

Over 68 Million Visitors to Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
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Over 68 Million Visitors to Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that the total number of worshippers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira 1447 AH reached 68,741,853.

The authority said that the number of worshippers at the Grand Mosque totaled 30,016,073, including 94,776 worshippers in Hijr Ismail (Al-Hateem), while the number of Umrah performers reached 11,863,477, SPA reported.

It noted that the number of worshippers at the Prophet’s Mosque during the same month reached 23,116,271, including 1,319,653 worshippers in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa. Meanwhile, 2,331,603 visitors greeted the Prophet and his two companions.

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

This step aims to enhance operational efficiency by monitoring flows and crowds, empowering relevant authorities to manage crowds in partnership with associated entities better.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra
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Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recent military movements witnessed in the governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra.

It noted that “the actions carried out by the Southern Transitional Council were taken unilaterally, without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition leadership”.

The Kingdom described the moves as an “unjustified escalation” that has harmed the interests of the Yemeni people across all segments of society, undermined the Southern cause, and weakened the coalition’s efforts.

The Kingdom further emphasized that, in recent months, it has focused on maintaining unity and has undertaken intensive efforts to reach peaceful solutions to address the situation in the two governorates, as part of its ongoing endeavors to restore stability.

The statement added that these efforts were “coordinated with the brethren United Arab Emirates, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to contain the situation”.

It said that a “joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to coordinate with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, ensuring the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps to the National Shield Forces and local authorities under the coalition’s supervision”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that efforts are still underway to restore the situation to its previous state, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that the public interest will prevail and that the Southern Transitional Council will take the initiative to de-escalate tensions and urgently and peacefully withdraw its forces from the two governorates.

Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni forces and components, exercising restraint, and avoiding actions that could undermine security and stability.

The Kingdom reiterated its position that the “Southern cause is a just issue with historical and social dimensions and can only be resolved through dialogue that brings all Yemeni parties together at one table, within a comprehensive political process that ensures a lasting solution in Yemen”.

The statement concluded by affirming the Kingdom’s “support for the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, in a manner that achieves security, stability, development, and peace in the sisterly Republic of Yemen”.