Arab Coalition Suspends Military Operations in Yemen to Ensure Success of Consultations

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 Suspends Military Operations in Yemen to Ensure Success of Consultations

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

The Joint Forces Command of the Saudi-led Arab coalition announced on Tuesday it was suspending military operations in Yemen, starting Wednesday morning, to ensure the success of the intra-Yemeni consultations that will kick off in Riyadh.

Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is sponsoring the meetings, appealed for a ceasefire on Tuesday.

He called for a halt in operations so that a positive environment can prevail over the talks during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins in early April.

Arab coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki said the suspension aims to support efforts to reach a comprehensive and sustainable political solution to the crisis in Yemen.

He added that the coalition forces will commit to the ceasefire and take the necessary steps to ensure it is upheld.

He stressed that the coalition stands by the Yemeni people and their aspirations to build a state and restore security and peace.

The consultations will kick off at the GCC headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday and are set to run through April 7.



IMCTC, Türkiye Discuss Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)
Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)
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IMCTC, Türkiye Discuss Counter-Terrorism Cooperation

Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)
Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi meets with Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler on Monday. (SPA)

Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) Major General Mohammed Al-Moghedi received on Monday Turkish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Emrullah Isler at the coalition's headquarters in Riyadh to discuss deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

They also tackled ways to boost coordination and strengthen collective efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

Al-Moghedi reviewed the IMCTC's key activities, programs, and strategic initiatives across its four core domains: ideology, media, counter-terrorist financing, and military.

They stressed the importance of strengthening international efforts and bolstering effective partnerships to combat terrorist organizations and disrupt their ideological and financial support networks.

The two officials commended the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement, describing it as a significant step toward strengthening cooperation and solidarity while consolidating security and stability.

The Turkish ambassador toured the IMCTC headquarters, where he was briefed on its operational mechanisms and the methodology used to develop and implement programs and initiatives across member states.


Saudi Ambassador Meets EU Ambassador to Lebanon

The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA
The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA
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Saudi Ambassador Meets EU Ambassador to Lebanon

The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA
The two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments - SPA

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Fahd Al-Dosari met on Monday at his residence with European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed various aspects of current political developments in Lebanon and the region, as well as several issues of mutual interest.


Kuwait Court Orders Imprisonment of Former MPs, Including Musallam Al-Barrak

The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Kuwait Court Orders Imprisonment of Former MPs, Including Musallam Al-Barrak

The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news". (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Kuwaiti Court of Cassation sentenced on Sunday a number of former MPs to prison, overturning the acquittals of 15 defendants, most of whom were former lawmakers in the dissolved National Assembly. The defendants were charged with "contesting the rights and authorities of the Emir of the country and spreading malicious news detrimental to the internal interests and stability of the nation."

The First Circuit of the Court of Cassation reversed the Court of Appeals' ruling that had suspended the sentence of former MP Muhannad Talal Al-Sayer, sentencing him again to three years in prison on charges related to contesting the rights of the Emir, interfering with his authorities, and spreading malicious news harmful to Kuwait's internal interests and stability.

The court also overturned the appellate ruling that suspended the sentence of former MP Saleh Mohammed Al-Mulla, ordering him to serve two years in prison for contesting the authorities and rights of the Emir.

It overturned the acquittal of former MPs Musallam Al-Barrak and Salem Al-Namlan, convicting them as repeat offenders and sentencing them to three years in prison for spreading malicious news detrimental to the country's interests.

It sentenced former MP Bader Al-Dahoum to one year of hard labor on charges of offending judges of the Constitutional Court.

The court also overturned the acquittals issued in favor of 15 defendants, finding them guilty while abstaining from pronouncing punishment on charges of spreading malicious news detrimental to the state's interests.

The rulings included former MPs Adel Al-Damkhi, Mohammed Mosaed Al-Dosari, Osama Al-Zaid, Shuaib Ali Shaban, Mohammed Abbas Jawhar Hayat, Madi Al-Hajri, Falah Al-Hajri, Hamad Al-Mudlej, Ali Radan Al-Otaibi, Mohammed Haif, Saoud Al-Hajri, Khaled Mounis Al-Otaibi, Nasser Mohammed Al-Mutairi, and Nami Harab Mohammed Awad Obeid.