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Defense Procurement Arrangements Made Between Saudi Arabia and Ukraine

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday (SPA)
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Defense Procurement Arrangements Made Between Saudi Arabia and Ukraine

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in Jeddah on Friday (SPA)

Saudi Arabia and Ukraine have reached an arrangement ⁠on defense cooperation as Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held talks in Jeddah on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

They also tackled regional and international developments, particularly the military escalation in the Middle East and the latest developments in the Ukrainian crisis.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley; President of the General Intelligence Presidency Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan; and Saudi Ambassador to Ukraine Mohammed Al-Barakah.

Also present were Ukraine’s Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov; First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhii Kyslytsia; Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Andriy Hnatov; Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom Anatolii Petrenko; and Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Davyd Aloyan.

Ahead of Friday’s meeting, the Saudi Ministry of Defense signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine covering defense procurement arrangements.

The agreement was signed in Jeddah by Khalid Al-Bayari, the Saudi assistant minister of defense for executive affairs, and Lt. Gen. Andriy Hinatov, chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said on X that “the document lays the foundation for future contracts, technical cooperation, and investment.”

He added that Saudi Arabia has “capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine.”

“We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives,” said Zelenskyy.

After arriving in Jeddah on Thursday, he wrote on X that important meetings were scheduled.

“We appreciate the support and support those who are ready to work with us to ensure security.”

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12 Killed, 309 Injured in Attack on Riyadh Airport; Coalition Vows Response

A drone view shows cityscape in Riyadh
A drone view shows cityscape in Riyadh
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12 Killed, 309 Injured in Attack on Riyadh Airport; Coalition Vows Response

A drone view shows cityscape in Riyadh
A drone view shows cityscape in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said on Saturday that an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309 others of various nationalities, while the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen reported a projectile landing near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

The Coalition said in a statement that operations at Riyadh airport had been temporarily suspended pending a damage assessment and safety checks in coordination with the relevant authorities.

It said the 12 people killed included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshi residents, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki, spokesman for the coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government, said a projectile had landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. He also said a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia had been intercepted and destroyed in Al-Kharj province, while a drone had been destroyed in the Eastern Province.

Malki said the attack on a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh amounted to a fully-fledged war crime under international humanitarian law, adding that the coalition's joint command would respond to the attack.

Gulf

UK Defense Minister: Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport 'Dangerous Escalation' and 'Contemptible'

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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UK Defense Minister: Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport 'Dangerous Escalation' and 'Contemptible'

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

UK Defense Minister Wes Streeting on Sunday condemned Saturday's deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh's airport as a "dangerous escalation" and "contemptible".

"What we've seen overnight is a dangerous escalation and I'm afraid an increasing pattern of behavior from the Houthis that's targeting civilian sites in Saudi Arabia," he told Sky News.

"This is completely contemptible action and it's one of the reasons why the UK is providing support to Saudi Arabia in the form of air defenses, but also air-to-air refueling," he said.

"We want to see an end to this conflict. It cannot be right that the Houthis are attacking civilian targets in this way," he added.

Gulf

Crowds Attend Funeral of Saudi Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami in Jeddah

Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Crowds Attend Funeral of Saudi Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami in Jeddah

Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Crowds of condolences comfort the family of Captain Pilot Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Salhiyah cemetery (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A large crowd attended funeral prayers for Captain Hamoud Alkalthami at Al-Guraigri Mosque in Jeddah on Saturday afternoon before his body was laid to rest at Al-Salhiyah Cemetery in the northeastern part of the city.

Relatives, friends, colleagues from Saudia Airlines, aviation sector workers and members of the public attended the funeral.

Mourners began arriving early to offer condolences to the family of Alkalthami, who was killed in an attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday.

His death prompted an outpouring of grief across Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector, with colleagues paying tribute in person and on social media, remembering his good character, warm smile and strong professional relationships throughout his career.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Khaled Salmeen Bahashwan, who worked with Alkalthami for more than 22 years at Saudia Airlines, remembered him as a kind, cheerful and compassionate colleague whose sincere smile and exemplary character left a lasting impression. He praised Alkalthami’s devotion to his wife and two daughters, his loyalty to colleagues and his willingness to support others, saying his many admirable qualities were difficult to capture in words.

Saudia mourned Captain Alkalthami, honoring his service and expressing condolences to his family and colleagues.

The airline also confirmed that an aircraft was damaged while parked on the airport tarmac, with no passengers on board. It said emergency procedures were immediately activated in coordination with the relevant authorities to assist those affected and provide support to their families.