Doha to Host Gulf-Türkiye, Gulf-Yemen Ministerial Meetings Sunday

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council receiving the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs (GCC)
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council receiving the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs (GCC)
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Doha to Host Gulf-Türkiye, Gulf-Yemen Ministerial Meetings Sunday

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council receiving the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs (GCC)
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council receiving the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs (GCC)

The Qatari capital, Doha, is poised to host two ministerial meetings—one Gulf-Turkish and the other Gulf-Yemeni—aimed at deliberating on bilateral relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Türkiye, and Yemen, seeking to bolster and elevate them.
The agenda also includes discussions on regional and international issues of mutual concern, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Rafah, along with its political, security, and humanitarian developments.
According to the GCC, its Secretary-General, Jasim Al-Budaiwi, met on Thursday with Shaya Mohsin Al-Zindani, the Yemeni Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, underscoring the significance of the joint ministerial meeting of foreign ministers from GCC countries and Yemen.
The Secretary-General reiterated the GCC’s full support, as articulated in the statement of the Supreme Council of the GCC in its 44th session, for the Presidential Leadership Council headed by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, and the supporting entities, to achieve security and stability in Yemen.
This reaffirms the GCC’s backing for efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, in accordance with the three references: the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the Comprehensive National Dialogue Conference, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216, to achieve security and stability in Yemen.
Al-Budaiwi also discussed with the Turkish Ambassador to Riyadh, Emrullah İsler, on Wednesday, the key preparations for the upcoming Sixth High-Level Strategic Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of GCC countries and Türkiye, scheduled to take place next Sunday in Doha.
The strategic dialogue meetings commenced in September 2008 in the western Saudi province of Jeddah, affirming the ministers’ shared desire to enhance and diversify these close relations across all fields.
The fifth meeting took place in October 2016 at the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat General in Riyadh. During this meeting, ministers expressed their satisfaction with the fifth round of the strategic dialogue, aiming to make progress on shared priorities.



Saudi Arabia Stresses its Keenness on Lebanon's Internal Stability

Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)
Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)
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Saudi Arabia Stresses its Keenness on Lebanon's Internal Stability

Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)
Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan. (NNA)

Advisor to the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Yazid bin Farhan renewed on Friday the Kingdom’s keenness on Lebanon’s internal stability, and commitment to the Taif Accords.

The Kingdom will exert all possible diplomatic efforts to save Lebanon and its people, he was quoted as saying by Lebanese MPs who met him in Beirut.

MP Fouad Makhzoumi wrote on X that he had a “fruitful” meeting with Prince Yazid bin Farhan that was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed al-Bukhari.

“We expressed our deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia, in cooperation with the United States, on their significant role in supporting Lebanon’s stability and efforts to restore calm and end hostilities,” he added in reference to the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He hailed Saudi Arabia’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and the need to limit the possession of weapons to the state’s legitimate authorities.

The members of the National Moderation bloc also met with Prince Yazid bin Farhan, saying that talks focused on the situation in Lebanon and the region, especially the US-led negotiations between Beirut and Tel Aviv.

A statement from the bloc, said the Saudi envoy expressed the Kingdom’s keenness on Lebanon’s internal stability and commitment to the Taif Accords.

He urged the need to steer clear of rhetoric that would fuel internal divisions or harm civil peace.

The bloc is comprised of MPs Mohammed Suleiman, Ahmed al-Kheir, Sajih Attieh, Abdulaziz al-Samad and its Secretary Hadi Hbeish.

The National Consensus bloc of MP Faisal Karami also met with the Saudi envoy for talks on the latest local and regional developments.


Qatar Emir, Trump Discuss Washington-Tehran Ceasefire

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and US President Donald Trump. (QNA)
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and US President Donald Trump. (QNA)
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Qatar Emir, Trump Discuss Washington-Tehran Ceasefire

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and US President Donald Trump. (QNA)
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and US President Donald Trump. (QNA)

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed developments ‌in ‌the Washington-Tehran ceasefire ‌agreement ⁠in a phone call ⁠with US President Donald Trump, ⁠Qatari state ‌news ‌agency reported ‌on ‌Friday.

He added that Qatar would ‌continue coordinating with partners to ⁠support ⁠mediation efforts led by Pakistan to achieve regional security and stability.

Sheikh Tamim stressed the need for easing tensions and supporting peaceful solutions.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Drone Attacks on Kuwait Launched from Iraq

A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)
A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Drone Attacks on Kuwait Launched from Iraq

A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)
A view of Kuwait City, Kuwait. (KUNA)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Friday the drone attacks against Kuwait that were launched from Iraq.

A Foreign Ministry statement underlined the Kingdom’s “categorical rejection of the violation of the sovereignty of nations and attempts to threaten the security and stability of the region.”

It reiterated importance of the Iraqi government “acting responsibly towards those threats against the Gulf countries.”

Saudi Arabia expressed its solidarity with Kuwait’s government and people and support for all measures the country takes in protecting its sovereignty, stability and security.

Kuwait's army said two drones launched from Iraq ‌targeted two ‌northern border ‌posts ⁠on Friday, causing damage. ⁠It added there were no casualties.

Iraq's prime minister ⁠ordered an investigative ‌committee ‌to examine the ‌attack and ‌identify those responsible, Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari ‌said, adding Iraq condemned the attack ⁠in ⁠a call with his Kuwaiti counterpart.

Kuwait had on Wednesday summoned the Iraqi envoy to the country to protest attacks against it by Iraqi armed factions.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi strongly condemned the “treacherous attacks” on Kuwait.

“The continuation of these brutal attacks from Iraq is a flagrant violation of the principles of good neighborliness and all international laws and norms,” he said.

He expressed the GCC's “full solidarity with Kuwait, affirming absolute support for all measures it takes to safeguard its sovereignty, security and stability.”

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the drone attacks.

In a statement, Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa “reiterated condemnation of these criminal attacks, which violate the sovereignty of countries in the region and threaten their security and stability.”

He expressed his full solidarity with Kuwait, its leadership, government and people, in all measures taken to safeguard its security, sovereignty and the safety of citizens and residents.