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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Calls on International Community to End Famine in Gaza, Israeli Crimes

 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - SPA
 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Calls on International Community to End Famine in Gaza, Israeli Crimes

 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - SPA
 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - SPA

The Saudi Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom's call for the international community, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council, to urgently intervene to end the famine in the Gaza Strip and to halt the war of genocide and the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people.

This came during the cabinet session that was held on Tuesday in Jeddah, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Cabinet emphasized that continued Israeli violations without accountability undermine the international order and international law, threatening security and peace and broadening the conflict and unrest at both the regional and global levels.

During the session, King Salman also briefed the Cabinet on the message he received from Arab Republic of Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi regarding bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen ties in various fields.

The Cabinet was also briefed on the outcomes of President El-Sisi's meeting with Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, as well as the content of the phone call between the Crown Prince and Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, during which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s constructive efforts to achieve global peace and promote dialogue as a means of resolving international crises were highlighted.

In a statement to the SPA following the session, Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary said that the Cabinet affirmed its support for the outcomes of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers Extraordinary Session, held in Jeddah to address the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and to coordinate actions to halt the genocide and Israeli decisions and plans aimed at entrenching the occupation and gaining full control over the Gaza Strip.

The Cabinet strongly condemned the continued Israeli violations, including incursions into Syrian territory and interference in its internal affairs. It affirmed the Kingdom's full support for the measures taken by the Syrian government to achieve security, stability, and civil peace.

The Cabinet categorically rejected any separatist calls to divide Syria, emphasizing its support for the sovereignty of the state and its institutions.

It also reiterated the Kingdom’s call for all Sudanese parties to implement the provisions of the Jeddah Declaration, signed in May 2023. It urged them to commit to protecting civilians, securing humanitarian aid corridors, and prioritizing the interests of the Sudanese people to spare them the scourge of war and internal conflict.

The session reviewed comprehensive statistics on the number of Umrah performers this year and reaffirmed its warm welcome to Umrah performers and pilgrims, emphasizing its commitment to providing comfort and support from their arrival until their safe return home.

Al-Dossary stated that the Cabinet commended the success of the King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorization, Recitation, and Interpretation of the Holy Quran, which, for the first time in its history, included 179 contestants from 128 countries, demonstrating the Kingdom’s leadership in serving Islam and its dedication to the Quran and those devoted to memorizing it.

The Cabinet commended the broad community engagement with the annual national blood donation campaign launched by the Crown Prince to consolidate the values of humanitarian work and achieve self-sufficiency in blood and its components, ensuring a safe and sustainable supply to meet the needs of beneficiaries across all regions of the Kingdom.

The meeting praised the Human Resources Development Fund for employing 267,000 Saudi citizens in the private sector during the first half of 2025. This achievement reinforces the fund’s strategic role in empowering national talent, enhancing their competitiveness, and supporting the growth of the Kingdom’s labor market.

The Cabinet further considered the Crown Prince's attendance at the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup an extension to his support for the sector within a national strategy that includes a new set of regulations. The strategy aims to create a globally competitive sector that will generate 39,000 jobs and contribute SAR50 billion to the GDP by 2030.

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Gulf

Somali Foreign Minister: Any Unilateral Recognition of Breakaway Regions Is Unviable

Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali (Somali Foreign Ministry)
Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali (Somali Foreign Ministry)
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Somali Foreign Minister: Any Unilateral Recognition of Breakaway Regions Is Unviable

Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali (Somali Foreign Ministry)
Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali (Somali Foreign Ministry)

At a highly sensitive regional juncture, Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali issued a clear warning against any unilateral recognition of breakaway regions, describing such moves as unviable and politically irresponsible, with negative repercussions for bilateral relations and regional stability.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ali stressed the alignment between Mogadishu and Riyadh on the need to shield the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden from militarization, illicit activities and geopolitical rivalries.

He said his second visit to Saudi Arabia within two weeks reflects the depth of coordination with the Kingdom amid rapidly evolving regional developments, particularly those related to maritime security and the Horn of Africa.

Objectives of the Saudi visit

Ali said the primary aim of his visit was close consultation with Saudi Arabia on accelerating regional developments, notably those affecting the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa and maritime navigation security.

He added that discussions also focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation across political, economic, security and development fields, while ensuring full coordination on issues touching on Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and stability.

He noted that the visit — his second to Riyadh in less than two weeks — underscored the intensity of engagement with the Kingdom at a delicate moment, saying that his previous meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan featured frank and constructive talks aimed at preventing escalation, maintaining regional balance and upholding international law.

Ali also highlighted the convening of an emergency meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address what he described as the “illegal violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity,” calling it further evidence of Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in supporting regional stability.

Historic relations

The foreign minister described relations between Somalia and Saudi Arabia as “strong, historic and strategic,” grounded in shared faith, longstanding people-to-people ties and converging regional interests.

He said Somalia views the Kingdom as a key partner in national recovery, security-sector reform, economic stabilization and regional diplomacy, adding that current discussions are focused on translating this partnership into tangible outcomes that benefit both countries and reinforce wider regional stability.

Firm rejection of recognition of “Somaliland”

Ali stressed that the Somali federal government “categorically rejects” any declaration or action aimed at recognizing any part of Somalia as a separate entity. Such steps, he said, lack any legal basis, violate Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and contravene international law, the UN Charter, the OIC charter and African Union principles.

He expressed Somalia’s appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s principled stance in support of Somali unity, as well as for regional and international partners that have voiced solidarity with Mogadishu.

He warned that unilateral recognition would not merely be a political position but a “destabilizing precedent” threatening the regional order. He added that Somalia is addressing the issue through balanced diplomacy and close coordination with regional and international partners.

A pivotal and constructive Saudi role

Ali said Saudi Arabia plays a “pivotal and constructive” role in promoting stability and security in the Arab world, the Red Sea region and the Horn of Africa, noting that its leadership in diplomacy, de-escalation and maritime security is widely recognized and appreciated.

Potential repercussions

The foreign minister warned that any unilateral recognition of Somaliland would be “legally and practically null and void,” further exacerbating fragility in a region already facing serious security, humanitarian and climate challenges. He said that such moves encourage fragmentation, fuel proxy conflicts and open the door to external interference, undermining the security of the Horn of Africa and international maritime navigation.

Militarization of the Red Sea

Ali said Mogadishu and Riyadh share a vital interest in protecting one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors, stressing the need to keep the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden free from militarization and illegal activities.

“We agree on the necessity of keeping the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden away from militarization, illicit activities and geopolitical brinkmanship,” he underlined.

 

 

Gulf

New KSrelief Aid Convoy Crosses Rafah to Deliver Food Baskets to Gaza

The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)
The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)
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New KSrelief Aid Convoy Crosses Rafah to Deliver Food Baskets to Gaza

The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)
The latest KSrelief convoy was carrying food baskets for the people of Gaza. (SPA)

A new humanitarian aid convoy from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) crossed the Rafah border into Gaza on Friday with essential food baskets for Palestinians affected by the ongoing crisis, as part of the Saudi fundraising campaign to aid the Palestinian people.

The Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief’s implementing partner, has established several new camps in Al-Qarara area of southern Gaza and Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in preparation for winter.

Through these efforts, KSrelief aims to alleviate the severe suffering caused by the dire living conditions in Gaza, ensuring that vital food and shelter reach those in the most vulnerable areas.

Gulf

Joint Military 'Gulf Shield Exercise 2026' Concludes in Saudi Arabia

Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
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Joint Military 'Gulf Shield Exercise 2026' Concludes in Saudi Arabia

Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)
Flags of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries at an event (AFP)

The joint military "Gulf Shield Exercise 2026" concluded in Saudi Arabia on Friday, with the participation of the air forces and air-defense forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, alongside the GCC Unified Military Command, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The exercise was conducted as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional defense cooperation and enhance combat readiness.

Its maneuvers included advanced operational scenarios featuring simulations of multidimensional air and missile threats, joint air maneuvers, and integrated field exercises, with a focus on improving operational integration, strengthening command-and-control systems, and enhancing operational efficiency within a joint operational environment.
The exercise seeks to develop qualitative military capabilities, bolster combat readiness to confront current, emerging, and future threats, and entrench the concepts of collective defense and flexible deterrence, thereby contributing to the region's security and stability.

Gulf Shield Exercise 2026 is regarded as one of the key pillars of military cooperation among GCC countries, reflecting ongoing efforts to enhance defense integration and strengthen the capacity to respond to regional and international challenges.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the participating forces carried out a joint aerial display that demonstrated a high level of harmony and operational integration, as well as their ability to plan and execute in accordance with unified operational concepts and advanced professional standards.