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Gulf

Arab Coalition Says Piracy Launched from Any Port Makes it Legitimate Target

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Arab Coalition Says Piracy Launched from Any Port Makes it Legitimate Target

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi-led Arab coalition said on Tuesday that the launch of acts of piracy and hijacking from any sea port make the facility a legitimate military target.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the Iran-backed Houthi militias hijacked on Sunday the UAE-flagged Rwabee ship off Yemen's coast of Hodeidah in a criminal act that was pre-planned.

The militias hijacked the vessel by force and have taken it to the al-Salif port in Hodeidah, he added.

The hijacking is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and marine laws, he continued.

The Rwabee was carrying medical equipment from a Saudi field hospital that completed its functions on Socotra island.

Malki cited international treaties and agreements, including the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, that safeguard freedom of navigation and trade in international waters.

These agreements do not offer safe haven to pirates, he declared. Such terrorist acts undermine the safety of international waterways and are a direct threat to navigation and global trade.

Moreover, the hijacking is a violation of the 2018 Stockholm agreement on Hodeidah, he said, revealing that the Houthis have deliberately committed over 30,527 violations of the deal.

Malki demanded that the Houthis to release the Rwabee and its entire humanitarian non-combat cargo.

Should they refuse to comply, then all ports from which acts of piracy and hijacking are launched will be legitimate military targets in line with international humanitarian and relevant marine laws, he said.

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Gulf

FMs of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Türkiye Condemn Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye meet in New York. (SPA)
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye meet in New York. (SPA)
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FMs of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Türkiye Condemn Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye meet in New York. (SPA)
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye meet in New York. (SPA)

The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye stressed on Tuesday that dialogue and diplomacy were the only ways to reach sustainable solutions in the region, expressing their deep concern over the continued hostilities.

The FMs met in New York on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on recent regional and international developments. The ministers “reaffirmed the importance of continued consultation and coordination among the four countries in support of peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East and the broader region,” said a statement.

Expressing deep concern over continued tension and hostilities in the region, the ministers underscored that “dialogue and diplomacy remain the only path towards sustainable resolution,” and in this context they underscored the need for upholding the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding for lasting peace and stability.

“The ministers strongly condemned all attacks against Saudi Arabia, including the recent Houthi attacks, and reaffirmed their unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the Kingdom,” added the statement.

They further affirmed “the Kingdom’s inherent right to defend itself, its territory, and its people, in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.”

They also stressed the importance of safeguarding the safety and freedom of maritime navigation. The ministers reaffirmed their “unwavering support for the legitimate Yemeni Government and the Presidential Leadership Council in their efforts to achieve security, stability and development in Yemen through a political process and an inclusive Yemeni – Yemeni dialogue involving different parties.”

Reaffirming the centrality of the Palestinian cause to the achievement of peace, security and stability in the Middle East, the ministers reiterated their support for “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their inalienable right to self-determination and to establish an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine on the basis of the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

The ministers underscored “their unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan, and stressed the importance of preserving its legitimate national institutions, and rejecting any parallel entities that undermine Sudan's sovereignty and unity.”

They stressed the necessity of halting the illicit flow of weapons, mercenaries and foreign fighters into Sudanese territory.

The ministers agreed to maintain close coordination and continue their consultations on regional and international developments, with a view to strengthening collective security and promoting long-term regional stability.

Gulf

Bahraini Speaker: Saudi Arabia Remains Main Pillar of Regional Security, Stability

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Bahraini Speaker: Saudi Arabia Remains Main Pillar of Regional Security, Stability

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Speaker of the Council of Representatives of the Kingdom of Bahrain Ahmed bin Salman Al-Musallam praised the deep-rooted history, strong fraternal ties, growing cooperation, and shared destiny that characterize Bahraini-Saudi relations, fostered by the leadership of both countries.

Marking Saudi National Day, Al-Musallam said the Council of Representatives is committed to strengthening parliamentary cooperation with the Saudi Shura Council and to continuous coordination in regional and international parliamentary forums, in the interests of both countries and in support of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), SPA reported.

He praised the comprehensive development Saudi Arabia is achieving across all sectors under Saudi Vision 2030, saying the Kingdom has become a global model for growth, economic transformation, youth empowerment, investment in human capital, and major future projects that benefit all of humanity.

Al-Musallam added that he takes great pride in Saudi Arabia's pivotal role in championing Gulf, Arab, Islamic, international, and humanitarian causes. He said the Kingdom has been and will remain the main pillar of regional security and stability, a voice of reason and wisdom in international forums, and a leader in relief and humanitarian work around the world.

Gulf

Saudi King Hails Forces Defending Kingdom, Condemns Houthi Attempts to Target Makkah

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi King Hails Forces Defending Kingdom, Condemns Houthi Attempts to Target Makkah

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud praised and thanked Allah Almighty on Tuesday for the great blessings bestowed upon the Kingdom, and for the honor of serving the Grand Mosque, the Prophet's Mosque, and their visitors.  

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia celebrates its National Day on Wednesday, the King expressed his wishes for further achievements and successes in the nation's journey of growth, progress, and leadership across all sectors. 

King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired a Cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah. 

He acknowledged the role of military and security personnel in defending the homeland and firmly confronting any aggression against the holy sites, the pilgrims, and the Kingdom's citizens and residents. 

He condemned the terrorist Houthi militia's repeated attempt to target the holy city of Makkah - an act met with widespread international condemnation and denunciation - stressing that this heinous crime, which violates the sanctity of the holy sites, provokes the sentiments of Muslims worldwide. 

The Cabinet then reviewed the outcomes of the visit by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Egypt, where discussions held with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi underscored the depth of bilateral relations, the shared desire to boost cooperation, and the commitment to ongoing consultation and coordination on issues of mutual interest to serve both peoples. 

The Cabinet reviewed the message the Crown Prince received from Jordan’s King Abdullah II, as well as the details of a phone call he received from French President Emmanuel Macron, which addressed regional developments, efforts to bolster regional stability, and measures to safeguard the freedom and safety of maritime navigation and waterways. 

The Cabinet, upon its review of regional developments, underlined the need to adhere to international law, specifically respect for state sovereignty, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the guarantee of safe navigation in international waterways, to safeguard the security of states, fulfill the aspirations of peoples, and protect international trade and global supply chains. 

The Cabinet reviewed the outcomes of several international conferences hosted by Saudi Arabia. It highlighted the recommendations issued by the ministerial meeting of the UNESCO Global Forum on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence 2026, which support international cooperation to ensure sound AI development, strengthen governance frameworks, regulate emerging technologies, and harness them safely and inclusively to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Cabinet commended the success of the fourth edition of the Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit, which saw the launch of more than 40 agreements and initiatives aimed at localizing knowledge and innovation, advancing the sector, achieving national strategic targets, and boosting the contribution of global research to pharmaceutical discoveries and future technologies. These efforts reinforce the Kingdom's leadership in initiatives serving human health as a top priority. 

The Cabinet noted the unveiling of the first models from the national automotive company, CEER, marking a new strategic milestone toward establishing an advanced, sustainable industrial ecosystem. This step empowers the sector as a vital engine of economic growth, attracting investments, supporting national talent, and expanding the private sector's developmental role, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives and cementing the Kingdom's standing as a leading regional and global industrial hub.