Kuwait Appoints New Defense, Interior Ministers

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah with newly-appointed ministers (KUNA)
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah with newly-appointed ministers (KUNA)
TT

Kuwait Appoints New Defense, Interior Ministers

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah with newly-appointed ministers (KUNA)
Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah with newly-appointed ministers (KUNA)

Kuwait issued a new Emiri decree appointing retired General Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah as the interior minister, and Sheikh Talal Khaled al-Ahmad al-Sabah as defense minister.

They were both appointed as deputies to the prime minister.

Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah received the newly-appointed ministers on Wednesday at Dar al-Yamama, where they took the constitutional oath.

Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported that the Emir affirmed the necessity of increasing efforts to preserve Kuwait's security, wishing them further success, noting the importance of cooperation with the legislative authority to meet the aspirations of citizens for the benefit of all.

In February, Kuwait's government said that an Emiri decree was issued to accept the resignation of Defense Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber al-Ali al-Sabah and Minister of Interior Sheikh Ahmad Mansour al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

The two former ministers submitted their resignations in protest of the manner of parliamentary questioning, saying the lengthy grilling was an abuse of power.

Sheikh Ahmed Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah, born in 1956, is the eldest son of the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah. He is a retired Lieutenant-General who was the Deputy Chief of the National Guard since November 2021 and served as the Governor of Hawalli Governorate.

He also held several positions in the Ministry of Interior, most recently the Assistant Undersecretary for Education and Training Affairs.

Sheikh Talal al-Sabah was the governor of the capital after serving as an official spokesman for the oil sector and president of the Kuwait Oil Tanker.

The appointment comes amid the ongoing tensions between the government and the parliament, which resulted in subsequent questioning of the Ministers of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Works.

The current government was formed in December, the third in 2021, to resolve a long-running crisis with the parliament that has hampered the state's efforts to implement financial reforms.

Next Wednesday, the parliament is scheduled to vote on a motion of no confidence against the Minister of Public Works after questioning him in parliament over accusations of not taking sufficient measures to combat corruption.

On Wednesday, three deputies in the National Assembly submitted an interpellation to the Prime Minister regarding unconstitutional practices and looting of public funds.



Trump Says Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport ‘Unacceptable’

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the "A New Golden Age" summit at the US Institute of Peace, renamed The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the Trump administration, in Washington, DC, US, October 8, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the "A New Golden Age" summit at the US Institute of Peace, renamed The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the Trump administration, in Washington, DC, US, October 8, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
TT

Trump Says Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport ‘Unacceptable’

US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the "A New Golden Age" summit at the US Institute of Peace, renamed The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the Trump administration, in Washington, DC, US, October 8, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the "A New Golden Age" summit at the US Institute of Peace, renamed The Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace by the Trump administration, in Washington, DC, US, October 8, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci

US President Donald Trump condemned Saturday’s Houthi attack on Riyadh airport that killed 12 people and wounded 309 others, calling it “unacceptable.”

Trump told reporters he would speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the attack by Iran-backed Houthi militias.

He added that what happened in Saudi Arabia is “unacceptable”.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also strongly condemned the Houthi group’s recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, including the strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

In a post on his official account on social media platform X, Rubio said the “these reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now”.


Rubio: We Condemn Houthi Attacks ...We Stand with Saudi Arabia

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a meeting with Dinorah Figuera, president of the 2015-elected Venezuelan National Assembly, recognized by the US as the country's last democratically elected legislature, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., US, October 9, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a meeting with Dinorah Figuera, president of the 2015-elected Venezuelan National Assembly, recognized by the US as the country's last democratically elected legislature, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., US, October 9, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee
TT

Rubio: We Condemn Houthi Attacks ...We Stand with Saudi Arabia

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a meeting with Dinorah Figuera, president of the 2015-elected Venezuelan National Assembly, recognized by the US as the country's last democratically elected legislature, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., US, October 9, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a meeting with Dinorah Figuera, president of the 2015-elected Venezuelan National Assembly, recognized by the US as the country's last democratically elected legislature, at the State Department in Washington, D.C., US, October 9, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly condemned the recent “terrorist” Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including Saturday’s strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 12 people, including a US citizen.

In a post on his official account on social media platform X, Rubio said: “These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now”.

He reaffirmed that the United States stands with Saudi Arabia and its people.

“We stand with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and extend our condolences to the victims and their families", he said.

Earlier on Saturday, US President Donald Trump said the United States “might join” Saudi strikes against Houthi militias following the “recent attacks,” adding that he had not yet made a decision.

Trump said that he would make a decision quickly on joining Saudi Arabia in striking the Houthis. “We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack. So we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly", he stated.


Coalition: UAV Intercepted, Destroyed in Eastern Region

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Coalition: UAV Intercepted, Destroyed in Eastern Region

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Official Spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki announced that an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was intercepted and destroyed in the Eastern Region, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.