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Gulf

Kushner: Israel-UAE Flight 'Historic Journey for Middle East'

US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner, center right, and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, center left, pose with members of the Israeli-American delegation in front of the El Al's flight, which will carry the delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Menahem Kahana/Pool Photo via AP)
US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner, center right, and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, center left, pose with members of the Israeli-American delegation in front of the El Al's flight, which will carry the delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Menahem Kahana/Pool Photo via AP)
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Kushner: Israel-UAE Flight 'Historic Journey for Middle East'

US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner, center right, and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, center left, pose with members of the Israeli-American delegation in front of the El Al's flight, which will carry the delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Menahem Kahana/Pool Photo via AP)
US Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner, center right, and US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, center left, pose with members of the Israeli-American delegation in front of the El Al's flight, which will carry the delegation from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, at the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Menahem Kahana/Pool Photo via AP)

A Star of David-adorned El Al plane took off Monday from Israel’s Ben-Gurion Airport, carrying a high-ranking American and Israeli delegation to Abu Dhabi in the first-ever direct commercial passenger flight to the United Arab Emirates.

The Israeli flag carrier’s flight marks the implementation of the historic US-brokered deal to normalize relations between the two nations.

With the US as matchmaker, Israel and the UAE agreed earlier this month to work toward normalization, which would make the UAE the third Arab nation to have full relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.

The American delegation includes President Donald Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as national security adviser Robert O’Brien, Mideast envoy Avi Berkowitz and envoy for Iran Brian Hook. Israel will be represented by national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat and the director generals of several ministries, who will meet with their Emirati counterparts.

“While this is a historic flight, we hope that this will start an even more historic journey for the Middle East and beyond,” Kushner told reporters before boarding the plane.

Meir Ben-Shabbat, Israel’s national security adviser and head of the Israeli delegation, said he was excited about the trip and that the aim was to lay the groundwork for cooperation in areas like tourism, medicine, technology, and trade.

“This morning the traditional greeting of ‘go in peace’ takes on a special significance for us,” he said.

The El Al flight, numbered LY971 as a gesture to the UAE’s international calling code number, is expected to fly over Saudi Arabian airspace. That would mark another historic first for Israel and at least an acquiescence by the kingdom for the UAE’s move.

El Al spokesman Stanley Morais said the 737-900 is equipped with a missile-defense system, a standard feature on these types of planes, and a requirement for this flight. After grounding its fleet due to the coronavirus, it is the airline’s first flight since July 1.

The plane was decorated with the words for peace in Arabic, Hebrew, and English above the pilot’s window. Journalists were handed special face masks decorated with the Israeli and Emirati flags. The seat protectors said “Making History” in all three languages, and Israeli folk music played in the background.

The Israeli delegation will stay in the capital, Abu Dhabi, for one night before returning home on El Al flight LY972, a nod to Israel’s international calling code.

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Gulf

Pakistan Says Makkah Alliance to Discuss Houthi Attacks at Emergency Riyadh Meeting

The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Makkah Agreement in Istanbul (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 
The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Makkah Agreement in Istanbul (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 
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Pakistan Says Makkah Alliance to Discuss Houthi Attacks at Emergency Riyadh Meeting

The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Makkah Agreement in Istanbul (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 
The first meeting of the Strategic Political and Defense Committee established under the Makkah Agreement in Istanbul (Saudi Ministry of Defense). 

Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar announced that the Strategic Political and Defense Committee of the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye will hold an emergency meeting in Riyadh next week to discuss Houthi attacks on the Kingdom.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Dar said the committee would determine the next steps at the meeting, adding that more than six countries had expressed interest in joining the Makkah alliance, according to Reuters.

In a statement carried by Reuters on Friday, the Pakistani military said its senior commanders had strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressed solidarity with the Kingdom and reaffirmed their commitment to the security of Islam’s holy sites.

The Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, signed on Aug. 7 by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stipulates that an armed attack against any one of its signatories shall be considered an attack against all three.

Any joint military response is subject to an assessment by the member states, particularly the country under attack, taking into account the need for such action, the nature and severity of the attack, the level of threat and the contributions required from each party to achieve the intended integration of their efforts.

Istanbul hosted the first meeting of the agreement’s Strategic Political and Defense Committee on Aug. 31, bringing together the foreign and defense ministers and military chiefs of staff of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan.

During the meeting, the three countries reaffirmed their determination to work together under the Makkah agreement to achieve sustainable peace and stability in their region and continue supporting efforts to promote de-escalation and restraint. They encouraged peaceful solutions to crises in line with their commitment to fulfilling their regional responsibilities.

The three countries’ foreign ministers subsequently met in New York on Sept. 24 to review progress toward establishing the agreement’s general secretariat, committees and working groups, as well as preparations for the launch of their activities.

The ministers also condemned attacks targeting Makkah and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, stressing the Kingdom’s right to take whatever measures it deemed appropriate to defend its security under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

On Sept. 25, the three countries’ military chiefs of staff met in Riyadh to review the security situation and attacks against Saudi Arabia. They condemned the strikes targeting Makkah and the Kingdom’s civilian and economic infrastructure.

Participants also discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation among their armed forces, develop intelligence cooperation, enhance military coordination and integrate their capabilities to bolster deterrence and collective defense.

 

 

Gulf

UAE: Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted Terrorist Attack

FILE PHOTO: A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo
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UAE: Flydubai Co-Pilot Attempted Terrorist Attack

FILE PHOTO: A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A plane, carrying passengers who were on the FlyDubai aircraft bound for Israel from the United Arab Emirates, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an emergency signal, arrives at the Ben Gurion International Airport, in Lod, near Tel Aviv, Israel, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Ammar Awad/File Photo

The United Arab Emirates Attorney-General said investigations into the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 revealed that the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Saturday.

The co-pilot began executing his plan during the flight, attacking the captain inside the cockpit using a crash axe and attempting to take control of the aircraft, the Attorney-General added.

He assured that investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances, motives, and any links related to the incident, as well as to complete technical examinations and analysis of physical and digital evidence.

The final results will be announced upon the conclusion of all necessary procedures, he assured.

The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv came close to disaster on Wednesday morning when the attacker stabbed the captain.

Passengers told interviewers that the captain, who was seriously wounded, managed to open the cockpit door, allowing a group of passengers and crew members to overpower the attacker. Two reserve pilots who were also on board then managed to regain control of the aircraft, stabilize it, and land safely.

Gulf

Saudi Civil Defense: Houthi Missile Shrapnel Injures Resident, Damages Property in Aseer

Saudi Civil Defense says Houthi missile shrapnel injures resident, damages property in Aseer. (SPA)
Saudi Civil Defense says Houthi missile shrapnel injures resident, damages property in Aseer. (SPA)
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Saudi Civil Defense: Houthi Missile Shrapnel Injures Resident, Damages Property in Aseer

Saudi Civil Defense says Houthi missile shrapnel injures resident, damages property in Aseer. (SPA)
Saudi Civil Defense says Houthi missile shrapnel injures resident, damages property in Aseer. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense stated that Civil Defense teams in Ahad Rafidah Governorate, Aseer Region, responded on Friday, October 2, to falling shrapnel from a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia following its interception and destruction.

The falling shrapnel injured an Asian expatriate resident and caused material damage to a prayer room inside a building, as well as several civilian vehicles, the Saudi Press Agency said.

Approved emergency procedures were immediately implemented at the site.