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Saudi Arabia Sentences to Death, Prison Members of Terrorist Cell

Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Saudi Arabia Sentences to Death, Prison Members of Terrorist Cell

Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

A Saudi court issued on Thursday death and prison sentences against 12 persons accused of forming an armed cell to illegally enter Yemen. One of the members was accused of killing two security officers at a border checkpoint.

The terrorist crime dates back to Nov. 5, 2012, when a border guard patrol in the Sharurah sector in Najran (southern Saudi Arabia) was ambushed by a number of persons armed with automatic rifles. The attack left two security officers dead, but the rest of the patrol was able to chase and arrest the aggressors as they were trying to cross the Saudi border into Yemeni territory.

A statement said that a preliminary verification of the identities of the attackers and their criminal records revealed that the arrested Saudis were previously detained for their involvement in crimes but later released. The statement added that they were attempting to join terrorist organizations in Yemen.

The court sentenced the first defendant to death, while the remaining members of the cell were handed prison sentences for periods ranging between 8 and 25 years. Charges against those included forming a terrorist cell to illegally enter Yemen, joining terrorist organizations to participate in fighting outside the Kingdom, possessing and using arms and ammunition to disrupt internal security, and committing terrorism financing as well as other crimes.

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Gulf

Crown Prince, Chinese President Discuss Regional Developments

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia welcoming the Chinese President to the Kingdom - SPA
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia welcoming the Chinese President to the Kingdom - SPA
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Crown Prince, Chinese President Discuss Regional Developments

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia welcoming the Chinese President to the Kingdom - SPA
Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia welcoming the Chinese President to the Kingdom - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinpin.

At the outset of the call, the strategic relations between Saudi Arabia and China were discussed, along with a review of existing areas of cooperation between the two friendly countries and ways to further strengthen and develop them across a number of sectors.

The two leaders discussed the latest developments in the region and their security and economic repercussions at both regional and international levels, SPA reported.

They also addressed efforts aimed at de-escalation and enhancing security and stability in the region, particularly with regard to maritime security and its economic repercussions, as well as its impact on global vital supplies.

The Chinese president emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to navigation in a manner that serves the interests of regional countries and the international community, and contributes to lasting stability in the region.

Gulf

King of Bahrain Assigns Crown Prince to Hold to Account Those who ‘Betrayed the Nation’

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA)
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King of Bahrain Assigns Crown Prince to Hold to Account Those who ‘Betrayed the Nation’

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA)

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa declared on Sunday that the state “will proceed firmly” in addressing the consequences of the US-Israeli war on Iran, including Tehran’s attacks on the Gulf.

As he received senior officials, King Hamad revealed that Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has been assigned with implementing “comprehensive and decisive measures, including the introduction of programs to resolve any gaps that have been identified in the defense or economic sectors,” reported Bahrain’s state news agency BNA.

King Hamad directed the immediate launch “of the legal measures against those who have betrayed the nation or undermined its security and stability, alongside a review of cases relating to entitlement to Bahraini citizenship, with the appropriate legal procedures to be applied accordingly.”

“The situation remains sensitive and calls for steadfast adherence to national responsibility and the safeguarding of the homeland with no tolerance for negligence or dereliction of duty,” he warned.

“The nation deserves the utmost sacrifice,” he added, stressing that Bahrain “will remain committed to its positions advocating the resolution of crises through peaceful means and diplomatic efforts, in a manner that serves the interests of the peoples of the region and the world.”

King Hamad also expressed pride in the achievements of Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad in advancing government work and driving further development across various sectors.

Gulf

WFP Hails Saudi Support in Easing Suffering in Yemen

KSrelief has contributed more than US$300 million to improve food security in Yemen since 2020. (Local media)
KSrelief has contributed more than US$300 million to improve food security in Yemen since 2020. (Local media)
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WFP Hails Saudi Support in Easing Suffering in Yemen

KSrelief has contributed more than US$300 million to improve food security in Yemen since 2020. (Local media)
KSrelief has contributed more than US$300 million to improve food security in Yemen since 2020. (Local media)

As more than 17 million people across Yemen faced hunger in 2025, a US$25 million contribution from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) enabled the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to deliver lifesaving food assistance and strengthen livelihoods for vulnerable families, said the WFP last week.

“The KSrelief funded project allowed WFP to provide emergency food assistance to over 43,000 families in some of the most food insecure areas of Dhale governorate and the West Coast,” it noted in a statement.

“In parallel, the contribution supported longer term recovery efforts in Hadramawt, al-Mahra and Socotra, helping 6,500 families strengthen their livelihoods through vocational training programs and asset creation.”

“Through the same project, 1,208 acres of agricultural land were rehabilitated, 38,360 meters of irrigation channels repaired, and 26 greenhouses constructed, boosting local food production and building resilience to increasingly severe weather conditions,” added the statement.

“KSrelief stepped up at a critical moment,” said Elkhidir Daloum, WFP Country Director in Yemen.

“Reaching nearly 50,000 families with either emergency food assistance or livelihood support is no small achievement. This partnership made a tangible difference in the lives of people facing severe needs.”

In 2025, Yemen recorded its highest levels of food insecurity, with 70 percent of families reporting they were unable to access adequate food in July.

KSrelief has been a valued partner in WFP’s efforts to improve food security in Yemen, contributing more than US$300 million since 2020.