Royal Saudi Naval Forces Conclude 'Medusa 13' Exercise in Greece

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
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Royal Saudi Naval Forces Conclude 'Medusa 13' Exercise in Greece

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)
The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces, alongside forces from Egypt, France and Cyprus, concluded the "Medusa 13" joint naval and air exercise in Greece.

Rear Admiral Mansour bin Saud Al-Juaid, Commander of the Western Fleet, attended the closing ceremony.

The drill, which included landing operations and live-fire exercises, was conducted on the Greek island of Crete, in the Mediterranean theater.

The Saudi naval forces participated with various units, such as Special Naval Security Units, Marine Infantry, and Naval Aviation. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

Colonel Naval Commander Fahd Al-Humaidi Al-Otaibi, at the helm of the exercise, said in a statement the exercise consisted of two phases, one theoretical, with lectures, and one entailing hands-on operational activities covering military and civil-military operations, information operations, amphibious assaults, civilian evacuations, and protection of freedom of navigation.

The Saudi naval forces participated with various units, such as Special Naval Security Units, Marine Infantry, and Naval Aviation, he added.

These units demonstrated high professionalism and readiness in the course of the exercise, achieving positive results that highlighted the importance of continuous training and development.

The drill, which included landing operations and live-fire exercises, was conducted on the Greek island of Crete, in the Mediterranean theater. (Saudi Defense Ministry)

The exercise met all its objectives, including fostering alliances and security cooperation to bolster maritime security, executing joint combat missions with modern weaponry, coordinating among units to address non-traditional maritime threats, and sharing expertise to secure the theater of operations against potential risks, stressed Al-Otaibi.



Over 68 Million Visitors to Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
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Over 68 Million Visitors to Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA
The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances - SPA

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque announced that the total number of worshippers and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques during Jumada Al Akhira 1447 AH reached 68,741,853.

The authority said that the number of worshippers at the Grand Mosque totaled 30,016,073, including 94,776 worshippers in Hijr Ismail (Al-Hateem), while the number of Umrah performers reached 11,863,477, SPA reported.

It noted that the number of worshippers at the Prophet’s Mosque during the same month reached 23,116,271, including 1,319,653 worshippers in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa. Meanwhile, 2,331,603 visitors greeted the Prophet and his two companions.

The authority uses advanced sensor technology to monitor the number of worshippers and pilgrims among visitors at the main entrances of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

This step aims to enhance operational efficiency by monitoring flows and crowds, empowering relevant authorities to manage crowds in partnership with associated entities better.


Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra
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Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

Saudi Arabia Urges Yemen’s STC to 'Urgently’ Withdraw from Hadhramaut and al-Mahra

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday expressing concern over the recent military movements witnessed in the governorates of Hadhramaut and al-Mahra.

It noted that “the actions carried out by the Southern Transitional Council were taken unilaterally, without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council or coordination with the coalition leadership”.

The Kingdom described the moves as an “unjustified escalation” that has harmed the interests of the Yemeni people across all segments of society, undermined the Southern cause, and weakened the coalition’s efforts.

The Kingdom further emphasized that, in recent months, it has focused on maintaining unity and has undertaken intensive efforts to reach peaceful solutions to address the situation in the two governorates, as part of its ongoing endeavors to restore stability.

The statement added that these efforts were “coordinated with the brethren United Arab Emirates, the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government to contain the situation”.

It said that a “joint Saudi–Emirati military team was dispatched to coordinate with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, ensuring the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorates and the handover of camps to the National Shield Forces and local authorities under the coalition’s supervision”.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that efforts are still underway to restore the situation to its previous state, expressing the Kingdom’s hope that the public interest will prevail and that the Southern Transitional Council will take the initiative to de-escalate tensions and urgently and peacefully withdraw its forces from the two governorates.

Saudi Arabia also underscored the importance of cooperation among all Yemeni forces and components, exercising restraint, and avoiding actions that could undermine security and stability.

The Kingdom reiterated its position that the “Southern cause is a just issue with historical and social dimensions and can only be resolved through dialogue that brings all Yemeni parties together at one table, within a comprehensive political process that ensures a lasting solution in Yemen”.

The statement concluded by affirming the Kingdom’s “support for the Chairman and members of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, in a manner that achieves security, stability, development, and peace in the sisterly Republic of Yemen”.


MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
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MWL Condemns Attack Targeting Pakistani Police

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) strongly condemned the attack targeting police personnel in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a statement issued by its General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, affirmed the League’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the face of all threats to its security and stability. He reiterated the MWL’s firm rejection and condemnation of violence and terrorism in all their forms and under any pretext.

He also extended his sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims and to the Pakistani people.