عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Saudi Arabia Launches Relief, Development Projects to Address Humanitarian Needs in Syria

Photo from the inauguration ceremony of humanitarian projects in Syria (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili) 
Photo from the inauguration ceremony of humanitarian projects in Syria (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili) 
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Launches Relief, Development Projects to Address Humanitarian Needs in Syria

Photo from the inauguration ceremony of humanitarian projects in Syria (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili) 
Photo from the inauguration ceremony of humanitarian projects in Syria (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili) 

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) has inaugurated a series of voluntary and development projects aimed at meeting urgent humanitarian needs in Syria, including 61 initiatives in the health sector, rehabilitation programs, orphan care, and overland aid convoys delivering essential supplies.

Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSrelief, said the projects were designed to address Syria’s most pressing needs, particularly in food security, health, community support, and rehabilitation. Speaking at a signing ceremony in Damascus on Sunday, he emphasized that humanitarian work is a core part of Saudi Arabia’s identity, noting that under the leadership of King Salman and the Crown Prince, this approach has evolved into a comprehensive institutional strategy. KSrelief, he added, has extended assistance to 108 countries worldwide.

Al-Rabeeah recalled Saudi Arabia’s long-standing record of humanitarian aid, highlighting that more than 454 projects worth over SAR 5 billion have been allocated to Syria, out of a total of SAR 28 billion spent globally. He said that the newly launched projects are evidence of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to stand by Syria and represent practical steps to meet urgent needs.

Health sector initiatives include equipping 17 central hospitals in affected areas with life-saving medical devices for operating rooms, intensive care units, emergency wards, and dialysis departments. Ten ambulances and large quantities of medicines will also be supplied. In addition, 61 medical volunteer missions are planned for this year, covering pediatric surgery, ENT, pediatric oncology, neurosurgery, cochlear implants, hearing rehabilitation, and specialized training.

Rehabilitation projects will restore more than 30 public bakeries and 29 bread production lines to boost food security, particularly in areas hosting returnees and displaced families.

The aid bridge will deliver 50 trucks carrying dialysis equipment, medical supplies, food, shelter materials, heavy machinery, debris-removal equipment, and ambulances, totaling 673 tons of relief bound for all Syrian provinces.

KSrelief also signed agreements for upcoming projects, including well drilling, orphan care, wheat production support, debris removal, and training programs.

To date, Saudi Arabia has implemented 419 humanitarian projects in Syria worth over $532 million, as part of ongoing efforts to ease suffering, improve living conditions, and reduce the impact of the humanitarian crisis.

 

 

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Iraq Vows No Leniency with Parties Harming Ties with Saudi Arabia

Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi. (INA)
Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi. (INA)
TT
TT

Iraq Vows No Leniency with Parties Harming Ties with Saudi Arabia

Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi. (INA)
Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi. (INA)

Iraq said it was ready to cooperate fully in verifying any information about an attack on Saudi Arabia that was launched from its territory, renewing its condemnation of the incident and vowing measures to prevent any breach of Iraqi sovereignty.

The Iraqi government’s latest condemnation came a day after the Foreign Ministry denounced the attacks on the Kingdom, in what observers said signaled Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s new government was keen to protect ties with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday it had intercepted and destroyed three drones after they entered the Kingdom’s airspace from Iraq.

Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi renewed Baghdad’s condemnation on Tuesday, saying Iraq “reaffirms its firm and historic position in support of distinguished and lasting relations with brotherly and friendly countries of the region, its commitment to the security of Arab states, the importance of supporting stability, all efforts to ease tensions, and preventing attacks, whatever their source.”

“The Iraqi government condemns the recent drone attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia and affirms its continued joint efforts to strengthen regional security and safeguard the security and sovereignty of countries in the region,” he said.

Awadi repeated that the military authorities did not detect or record any activity from the country’s airspace, stressing, however, that Iraqi institutions were fully ready “to cooperate in verifying any information related to the circumstances of the attack that targeted the Kingdom.”

He stressed Iraq’s “categorical rejection of the use of its territory, airspace or territorial waters to launch any attack on neighboring countries.”

Awadi said Iraqi security forces had taken “all necessary steps and measures to thwart and uncover any attempt in this context,” adding that there would be “no leniency toward anyone who tries to violate the sovereignty of the Iraqi state or damage relations with the Kingdom, neighboring countries or brotherly states.”

Observers are now raising questions over how Zaidi will deal with pro-Iran armed factions and confront their activities at home and abroad, particularly under continued US pressure.

In recent months, after the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, factions launched hundreds of attacks on targets inside Iraq, most of them in the northern Kurdistan region.

They also carried out attacks on more than one country in Iraq’s regional neighborhood. Those attacks stopped during the ceasefire, before resuming with three drones over Saudi territory.

Many believe the factions’ latest attacks pose a serious challenge to Zaidi’s authority. The prime minister, whose government was approved by parliament last week, has received clear US, domestic and Arab backing, a development that was not welcomed by the factions, which are seeking to embarrass him at the start of his tenure in Iraq’s top executive post.

Gulf

Bahrain Suspends Entry of Foreign Travelers Arriving from Three Countries Amid Ebola Fears

A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)
A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)
TT
TT

Bahrain Suspends Entry of Foreign Travelers Arriving from Three Countries Amid Ebola Fears

A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)
A view of Bahrain's capital Manama. (Getty Images file)

Bahrain said on Tuesday it was suspending the entry of foreign travelers arriving from South Sudan, ‌the Democratic ‌Republic of ‌Congo ⁠and Uganda due ⁠to the Ebola virus outbreak.

The suspension will be effective for ⁠30 days ‌starting Tuesday, ‌according to ‌the country's ‌state news agency.

The World Health Organization expressed deep ‌concern on Tuesday at the speed ⁠and ⁠scale of the Ebola outbreak, as the number of cases rises.

Gulf

UAE Says Drones Targeting Nuclear Plant Came from Iraq

The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

UAE Says Drones Targeting Nuclear Plant Came from Iraq

The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)
The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike, March 1, 2026. (AFP)

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday said drones that targeted its nuclear plant last week came from Iraq, from where Iranian-backed groups have launched several attacks since the Middle East war began.

On Sunday, an unclaimed drone struck an electrical generator near the Arab world's only nuclear power plant in Barakah in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, triggering a fire but causing no injuries or radiation leak. Two other drones had been intercepted.

"As part of the ongoing investigation into the blatant attack on the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on May 17, 2026, technical tracking and monitoring confirmed that the three drones... all originated from Iraqi territory," the Emirati defense ministry said.

Authorities intercepted six drones that also came from Iraq and "attempted to target civilian and vital areas" in the past 48 hours, the ministry added.

Iraqi authorities had already condemned the attack on Barakah before Abu Dhabi announced where the drones came from.

Iran has attacked the UAE and other Gulf nations since the US and Israel launched strikes on the country on February 28, targeting US assets but also energy and civilian infrastructure.

Iran-backed groups in Iraq have not claimed any strikes since the truce came into place, though Gulf countries have reported attacks from Iraq.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia had reported intercepting drones that came from Iraq, while Baghdad said its defense systems had not detected any drones launched from its territory toward the Kingdom.