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Muslim World League Discusses Islamic Unity, Gaza and Sudan Wars, Islamophobia

The 46th session of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League is chaired by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of Council of ‎Senior ‎Scholars Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 46th session of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League is chaired by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of Council of ‎Senior ‎Scholars Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Muslim World League Discusses Islamic Unity, Gaza and Sudan Wars, Islamophobia

The 46th session of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League is chaired by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of Council of ‎Senior ‎Scholars Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The 46th session of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League is chaired by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of Council of ‎Senior ‎Scholars Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The 46th session of the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League (MWL) is examining seven urgent issues on its agenda, including the unity of the Islamic nation, Palestine, the Gaza war, the disruption of navigation in the Red Sea, in addition to the situation in Sudan, Islamophobia, and desecration of religious symbols.

The session, which began on Wednesday, is chaired by Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Sheikh.

“The Kingdom has shouldered a great responsibility towards Muslims, being at the forefront of caring for their issues, tending to their affairs, seeking to address their problems, extending a helping hand and providing relief to them,” the Grand Mufti said.

“It has become our duty to stand with them, Muslim people, in their crises and sufferings and to defend them in regional and international forums,” he added.

The Grand Mufti highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to mend rifts and resolve disputes among Muslims, while striving to bridge their differences and urging them to come together and achieve consensus and harmony.

“The Kingdom has established several bodies, councils, and institutions concerned with Muslim affairs, supporting their causes and resolving their crises,” he underlined.

Secretary-General of the MWL and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa praised the commendable efforts undertaken by the Supreme Council.

Those include important decisions such as updating the bylaws to align with the MWL’s status as an international organization.

President of Religious Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, noted that the Supreme Council meeting has reflected the aspirations of the Islamic nation for peace and harmony to prevail throughout the world.

Al-Sudais also emphasized the need to enhance dialogue among monotheistic religions, civilizations, and cultures to serve the noble message of the true and tolerant Islam.

He stressed that the Kingdom has spared no effort in advocating for the issues of the Islamic world in all international forums, supporting awareness programs, and promoting the principles of moderation and balance.

In turn, Egypt’s Minister of Awqaf and President of the Egyptian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs Muhammad Mukhtar Gomaa Mabrouk, praised the role of the MWL and its Secretary-General in their efforts to achieve global and humanitarian peace.

President of Religious Affairs in Türkiye Ali Erbas expressed gratitude to the Kingdom and its leadership for hosting the meeting and for their dedication to Islam and Muslims.

The Supreme Council is the highest authority in the MWL and is responsible for approving all the plans adopted by the League’s General Secretariat. It consists of 65 distinguished Islamic figures representing Muslim peoples and minorities.

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Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Defense Minister: Time for STC to Withdraw from Yemen's Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said on Saturday it “was time for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen to listen to reason and prioritize public interest and unity of ranks and respond to the Saudi-Emirati mediation to end the escalation.”

In a post on the X platform, he called on the STC to withdraw its forces from the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces and restore control to the National Shield and local authorities.

Prince Khalid said Saudi Arabia formed the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen to help the country reclaim control over all of its territories.

The liberation of southern provinces was a pivotal development towards that goal, he stressed.

Saudi Arabia “views the southern issue as fundamental” to Yemen and it will not “exploit it in conflicts that do not serve” the nation, he added.

The Kingdom had brought together all Yemeni components to the Riyadh conference to come up with a clear path for a comprehensive political solution, including the southern issue, he went on to say.

The conference paved the way for a “just solution to their cause through dialogue and without the use of forces.”

“Saudi Arabia approved the decision to move the base of power so that the southerners could have a greater role in state institutions. It consolidated partnership instead of elimination or imposing a status quo through forces. Saudi Arabia also presented Yemen with economic support, as well as development and humanitarian initiatives that helped ease the suffering of the people,” Prince Khalid added.

“Saudi Arabia and its partners in the coalition offered sacrifices with their Yemeni brothers in liberating Aden and other provinces,” he noted. “The Kingdom has always sought that these sacrifices be made in the name of reclaiming territories and restoring the state, not as a path towards new conflicts.”

It had hoped that these sacrifices would have been “invested in the security of all Yemeni people, not exploited for petty gains, whereby the unfortunate developments in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra since the beginning of December 2025 have led to the division in ranks that should be united against the enemy.”

“The developments have laid waste to the sacrifices of our sons and Yemeni people and have harmed the just southern issue,” stressed Prince Khalid.

He noted that several southern leaderships and figures have exhibited “awareness and wisdom in supporting efforts to end the escalation in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra and prevent the secure southern provinces from being dragged into futile conflicts.”

“They are aware of the major challenges facing Yemen and will not allow saboteurs to achieve their goals in the country and the region,” he remarked.

He declared that the “southern issue will remain part of any comprehensive political solution. The cause will not be neglected or marginalized. It should be resolved through consensus, adhering to commitments and building trust between all Yemeni segments, not through adventures that only serve everyone's enemy.”

Gulf

Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Arab Coalition: We Will Deal with Military Moves that Violate De-escalation Efforts

Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Spokesman of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki al-Malki said on Saturday that “any military moves that violate de-escalation efforts will be dealt with directly to protect lives and ensure the success of Saudi and Emirati efforts.”

The statement is in response to a request by Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, who called for immediate steps to protect civilians in the eastern Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces in wake of the “grave and horrific” violations by members of the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

It is also in continuation of the strenuous joint efforts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to de-escalate the situation and ensure the withdrawal of STC forces, who have been demanded to cede control to the National Shield forces and allow the local authorities to carry out their duties.

Malki underlined the Arab coalition’s continued firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government.

He also urged all sides to assume their national responsibility, exercise restraint and comply with efforts to reach peaceful solutions that preserve security and stability.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
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Saudi Arabia Carries out Warning Strike on Yemen’s Hadhramaut, STC Says ‘Open to Coordination’

Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)
Southern forces patrol during a rally calling for South Yemen's independence, in the southern port city of Aden, Yemen, 25 December 2025. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia called for calm in eastern Yemen, urging an end to unilateral military moves and for the Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces to return to their former positions outside of the Hadhramaut and al-Mahra provinces.

Riyadh, meanwhile, demonstrated its stance on the ground by carrying out a warning air strike, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The strike sought to deliver a message that it will not allow a new status quo to be imposed on the ground by force and that it will not allow the violation of institutional frameworks that handle security in the eastern provinces.

It warned that any further escalation will be met with firmer measures.

Meanwhile, the STC, in an attempt to justify its military moves, said they were in “response to calls from residents of the south” and an attempt to confront terrorist threats and block Houthi smuggling routes.

The STC added that it was “open to any coordination or arrangements with Saudi Arabia”, questioning the airstrike, which it said “does not serve understandings.”

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia will welcome the coordination and arrangements if they helped end the escalation, led to the withdrawal of the STC and allowed the National Shield forces and the local authority to take over Hadhramaut and al-Mahra without needing to resort to force.

They stressed that the strike will lead to delivering the clear message that Riyadh may impose red lines by force to prevent any escalation.

Sourced told Asharq Al-Awsat that any future settlement over restoring the unity of Yemeni ranks will condition a return to the former status quo.