عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Int'l Coalition to Defeat ISIS Welcomes Syria as a Member, Ready to Work Closely with it

Members of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
Members of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
TT
TT

Int'l Coalition to Defeat ISIS Welcomes Syria as a Member, Ready to Work Closely with it

Members of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS meet in Riyadh. (SPA)
Members of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS meet in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Small Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS welcomed on Monday Syria as its newest member, saying it was ready to work closely with it.

The coalition convened in Riyadh, bringing together senior diplomatic and defense officials. Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji opened the meeting, which was co-chaired by US Special Envoy for Syria Ambassador Tom Barrack.

Participants expressed their appreciation for Saudi Arabia's continued role in supporting regional and international efforts to counter terrorism and promote stability.

They welcomed the comprehensive agreement between the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Forces, including the permanent ceasefire and arrangements for the civil and military integration of northeast Syria.

They noted the Syrian government's stated intention to assume national leadership of counter-ISIS efforts and expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by the SDF in the fight against ISIS. Participants also thanked the Iraqi government for its continued leadership in the fight against the extremist group.

The participants reiterated their priorities, including the swift transfer and safeguarding of ISIS detainees, third-country repatriation, the dignified reintegration of families from al-Hol and Roj camps in Syria to their communities of origin, and continued coordination with Damascus and Baghdad on the future of the ISIS campaign in Syria and Iraq.

Moreover, the participants welcomed the Syrian government as the 90th member of the coalition. They underscored their readiness to work closely with Damascus and encouraged members to provide direct support to Syrian and Iraqi efforts.

Officials commended Iraq’s efforts to securely detain ISIS fighters and welcomed Syria’s assumption of responsibility for detention facilities and displacement camps housing ISIS fighters and their family members.

They also reiterated the need for countries to take responsibility for and repatriate their nationals from Iraq and Syria.

Coalition members expressed their gratitude to Iraq for its leadership and recognized that the transfer of detainees into Iraqi custody is essential to regional security. They stressed their shared commitment to defeating ISIS in Iraq and Syria, pledging continued support to both governments in securing ISIS-affiliated detainees.

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Jeddah Port Welcomes First Group of Sudanese Pilgrims

The directorate reaffirmed its readiness to manage pilgrim influxes at all ports -SPA
The directorate reaffirmed its readiness to manage pilgrim influxes at all ports -SPA
TT
TT

Jeddah Port Welcomes First Group of Sudanese Pilgrims

The directorate reaffirmed its readiness to manage pilgrim influxes at all ports -SPA
The directorate reaffirmed its readiness to manage pilgrim influxes at all ports -SPA

The General Directorate of Passports at Jeddah Islamic Port welcomed the first group of Sudanese pilgrims arriving for the 1447 AH Hajj season, completing their entry procedures with speed and efficiency, SPA reported.

The directorate reaffirmed its readiness to manage pilgrim influxes at all ports by deploying state-of-the-art technology and multilingual, highly qualified personnel to ensure a smooth transit process.

Also on Friday, the General Directorate of Passports at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah welcomed the inaugural flight of Moroccan pilgrims arriving for the 1447 AH Hajj season.

The directorate reaffirmed its full readiness to manage the influx of pilgrims across all air, land, and sea ports by deploying state-of-the-art technology and multilingual, highly qualified personnel to ensure a smooth transit process.

Gulf

King of Bahrain: Iran Must Cease Meddling in Our Internal Affairs

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA file)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA file)
TT
TT

King of Bahrain: Iran Must Cease Meddling in Our Internal Affairs

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA file)
Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. (BNA file)

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa called on Thursday Iran to cease interfering in the internal affairs of his country and Arab Gulf nations, stressing that the “nation comes above all and that Bahrain is a trust borne by all its citizens.”

In remarks to the media, he said the recent Iranian attacks against Bahrain’s “security, stability, and the safety of its people exposed those who betrayed the nation and aligned themselves with the enemy.”

“In times when nations face mounting challenges and when people are test, true positions are revealed,” he added, noting: “While the Bahrain Defense Force remained highly vigilant in defense of the kingdom, a small group of individuals chose to collaborate with the enemy and cooperated with those who violated national sovereignty.”

“This was a grave act of treason and an unforgivable crime,” he declared in remarks carried by Bahrain’s state news agency BNA.

King Hamad stressed that Iran must cease meddling in the internal affairs of Bahrain and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, expressing his “deep anger” over the recent developments and adding that the people of Bahrain share this sentiment.

He questioned “how one could not feel anger when those entrusted with the nation’s interests have betrayed it, and when those elected to represent the people stood with traitors who were rejected by public.”

“Public opinion stands united in rejecting such actions and called for the expulsion of those who cooperated” with Iran’s aggression, he went on to say.

“Those who betray the nation do not deserve the honor of belonging to it or the privilege of living on its land. Citizenship is not merely granted, but a binding covenant, and those who break it forfeit their right to it,” announced King Hamad.

Moreover, he expressed regret over the positions of some lawmakers “who sided with traitors instead of upholding their responsibility to protect national interests.”

He underscored the importance of maintaining unity and integrity within the Council of Representatives, adding: “Those who chose to align themselves with those who attacked the nation should go to them, as there is no place among the people for those who side with the country’s enemies.”

“The peoples of the GCC fully support the rulings against those found guilty of betrayal, including imprisonment and the revocation and withdrawal of nationality, and have called for further measures,” he went on to say.

“These deterrent measures are not acts of retribution, but a safeguard for the majority of loyal citizens, and a necessary step to prevent circumstances that could require the armed forces to assume control under military provisions in defense of Bahrain,” said King Hamad.

“Those lawmakers face two options: either to issue a clear apology to the people of Bahrain that restores trust, or to join those they chose to align with, who have left the country or been expelled under final court rulings for acts of betrayal,” he warned.

He stressed that parliamentary membership “is a trust and representation is an honor not deserved by those whose actions are tainted by betrayal. There is no place for them among the people, nor any honor in representing them going forward.”

Furthermore, King Hamad said that stability will not be restored, nor will normal life resume, “until ranks are cleansed of every traitor and accomplice.”

He reiterated that “the nation stands above all and that Bahrain is a trust borne by all.”

Gulf

UAE Announces Travel Ban on Nationals to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq

The flag of the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

UAE Announces Travel Ban on Nationals to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq

The flag of the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The flag of the UAE. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry on Thursday announced a travel ban on Emirati nationals going to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, citing regional developments including the Middle East war.

Iran has targeted the Gulf nation throughout the Middle East conflict sparked by a US-Israeli attack before a fragile ceasefire was announced, including missiles fired at civilian and energy infrastructure.

"In light of current regional developments, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announces a travel ban on UAE nationals travelling to the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Lebanese Republic, and the Republic of Iraq," state news agency WAM reported.

It said the ministry called on "all UAE nationals currently in these countries to expedite their immediate return" to the UAE.