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GCC Chief Welcomes Belgium’s Recognition of Palestinian State

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi
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GCC Chief Welcomes Belgium’s Recognition of Palestinian State

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi welcomed Belgium’s announcement of its intention to recognize the State of Palestine.

Budaiwi said the announcement reflects growing regional and international support for the two-state solution and embodies the principles and values enshrined in international charters and resolutions in support of the Palestinian cause.

The Secretary-General urged other countries to recognize the State of Palestine, calling for unified efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative, and relevant international resolutions.

On Tuesday, Belgium announced that it plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly adding to international pressure on Israel after similar moves by Australia, Britain, Canada and France. 

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Destroys 9 Drones, Two Cruise Missiles

Official spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Official spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Destroys 9 Drones, Two Cruise Missiles

Official spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)
Official spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki. (SPA)

Official spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry Turki al-Malki announced on Wednesday that the Kingdom intercepted and destroyed nine drones that flew over its territory.

Two Cruise missiles were also destroyed over the al-Kharj region 80 kms southeast of Riyadh.

On Tuesday, the Saudi cabinet said the Kingdom will take all necessary measures to ensure its security and protect its citizens and residents.

The cabinet hailed “the leaders of friendly countries for condemning Iran’s heinous attacks against Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries and Jordan.”

Gulf

Qatar Says Thwarted Iran Attacks on Hamad International Airport

02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa
02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa
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Qatar Says Thwarted Iran Attacks on Hamad International Airport

02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa
02 March 2026, Qatar, Doha: Smoke rise as Qatari air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles using the Patriot missile defense system over Doha. Photo: Stringer/dpa

Qatar's military thwarted attacks on Hamad International Airport, the foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday, as Iran pressed a retaliatory campaign across the Gulf.

"There were attempts to attack Hamad International Airport, they were all thwarted... the missiles were downed by our defensive measures, and none of them have reached the airport," Majed al-Ansari told a press conference.

He said Qatar had not been in contact with Iran since the start of the strikes.

The spokesperson ⁠also said Iranian ⁠targets were not limited to military sites, but included all Qatari territory.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Iran Attack on US Embassy in Riyadh, Reserves Right to Respond

A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Iran Attack on US Embassy in Riyadh, Reserves Right to Respond

A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A view of the Saudi capital Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday an Iranian attack targeting the US ‌embassy ‌in Riyadh, and ‌stressed ⁠it reserved the right ⁠to respond, a foreign ministry statement ⁠said.

The Kingdom ‌reaffirmed its ‌full right ‌to ‌take all necessary measures to defend its ‌security and vital interests, ⁠including the ⁠option of responding to any aggression, the statement said.

It slammed the attack as a “flagrant violation of international law and norms, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”

Saudi Arabia said Iran “acted this blatantly despite knowing that the Kingdom has confirmed that it will not allow the use of its airspace and territory to target Iran.” It warned that Iran’s attacks in the region could lead the region towards more escalation.

It stressed that it reserved the right to take all measures to protect its security, territories and safety of its citizens, residents and vital interests.

Iran struck the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital with two drones early Tuesday, said the Kingdom’s Defense Ministry spokesman Turki al-Malki.

The attack caused a limited fire and minor damage to the building, he added.