Saudi Govt: Kingdom Won’t Hesitate to Take Measures to Protect its Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt: Kingdom Won’t Hesitate to Take Measures to Protect its Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the Cabinet meeting in Jeddah. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday that the Kingdom will never hesitate in taking all measures to protect its security and stability and safety of its citizens and residents.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the Cabinet session that was held in Jeddah.

The Cabinet praised the advanced capabilities of the armed forces in defending the homeland and safeguarding its assets and resources.

The Cabinet was briefed on the two telephone calls of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, with President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which they discussed areas of cooperation and regional and international developments, as well as efforts aimed at strengthening security and stability in the region.

The Cabinet expressed its support for the outcomes of the emergency meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) interior ministers held in Riyadh, which stressed that Gulf security is indivisible, underlining the importance of strengthening coordination to address current challenges and developments in the region.

It reviewed the progress of preparations for this year’s Hajj and the achievements of the Pilgrim Experience Program. This includes ongoing coordination and integration among government entities, as well as efforts to boost services provided to pilgrims through the deployment of human, technological, and organizational resources across Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites. These efforts have strengthened the greater operational readiness, ensuring the highest levels of comfort and care for pilgrims arriving from within the Kingdom and abroad.

The Cabinet commended the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and other government agencies, along with the follow-up of the Supreme Hajj Committee, in facilitating the arrival of pilgrims to the Grand Mosque from their countries through the continued implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative.

In its eighth consecutive year, the initiative has benefited more than 1.2 million pilgrims to date and has expanded to 10 countries and 17 international entry points, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing the quality of services provided to pilgrims.

Moreover, the Cabinet highlighted the establishment of the Saudi-Spanish Strategic Partnership Council, saying it is an important step toward elevating bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in promising economic and investment sectors.



Saudi FM: We Welcome Trump's Decision to Allow More Time for Diplomacy to End the War

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
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Saudi FM: We Welcome Trump's Decision to Allow More Time for Diplomacy to End the War

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah expressed on Wednesday the Kingdom's appreciation for US President Donald Trump’s granting negotiations more opportunity to reach an agreement that ends the war on Iran and restores security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Minister underlined the Kingdom's appreciation for diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the escalation.

He added that Saudi Arabia remained supportive of ongoing mediation efforts carried out by Pakistan and urged Iran to seize "the opportunity to avoid the dangerous implications of escalation". 

Prince Faisal stressed the importance of leveraging this opportunity to avoid further tensions, saying Saudi Arabia is awaiting Iran’s response to the efforts that aim to reach an agreement that achieves lasting peace and boosts regional and international security and stability.

Trump announced on Monday that he had postponed an attack on Iran set for Tuesday in response to a request from Gulf leaders.


UAE Demands that Iraq Halt Attacks Launched from its Territories

A handout picture obtained from the media office of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on February 13, 2020 shows a general view of the power plant in the western Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi on the Gulf coastline about 50 kilometers west of Ruwais. (Barakah Nuclear Power Plant / AFP)
A handout picture obtained from the media office of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on February 13, 2020 shows a general view of the power plant in the western Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi on the Gulf coastline about 50 kilometers west of Ruwais. (Barakah Nuclear Power Plant / AFP)
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UAE Demands that Iraq Halt Attacks Launched from its Territories

A handout picture obtained from the media office of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on February 13, 2020 shows a general view of the power plant in the western Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi on the Gulf coastline about 50 kilometers west of Ruwais. (Barakah Nuclear Power Plant / AFP)
A handout picture obtained from the media office of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on February 13, 2020 shows a general view of the power plant in the western Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi on the Gulf coastline about 50 kilometers west of Ruwais. (Barakah Nuclear Power Plant / AFP)

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned on Wednesday “the unprovoked terrorist drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory, including an attack targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on Sunday, which struck an electricity generator located outside the inner perimeter of the plant.”

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the UAE’s “strong condemnation and categorical rejection of the heinous terrorist attacks launched from Iraqi territory against critical civilian institutions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in flagrant violation of their sovereignty, airspace, and in clear breach of the principles of international law, international humanitarian law, and the Charter of the United Nations.”

The Ministry underscored the importance of the Iraqi government’s commitment “to immediately and unconditionally halt and prevent all acts of aggression launched from its territory,” stressing the need to address these threats in an immediate and responsible manner, in accordance with relevant international and regional laws and charters.

Furthermore, the Ministry underscored “the importance of Iraq fulfilling its role in strengthening security and stability in the region, thereby preserving its sovereignty and boosting its position as an active and responsible partner within the region.”


UN Security Council Condemns Attack on UAE Nuclear Plant

The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
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UN Security Council Condemns Attack on UAE Nuclear Plant

The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)
The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi. (WAM)

Russia joined other UN Security Council members on Tuesday to condemn the drone strike on the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant, which Abu Dhabi said originated from Iraq where pro-Iranian proxies are active.

The unclaimed drone struck an electrical generator on Sunday near the Arab world's first nuclear power plant in Barakah in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, triggering a fire but causing no injuries nor radiation leak.

"Attacks targeting peaceful nuclear facilities in any country of the world...are categorically unacceptable," said Russia's ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzya.

"Against this backdrop, our country categorically condemns the actions of those who carried out the strike targeting the plant on the territory of the UAE, thereby generating risks of escalation," he continued without naming any party.

"We trust that all stakeholders will do everything necessary to avoid a recurrence of such a dangerous incident," he added, noting that the strike likely would not have happened without the US-Israeli operation against Iran, Moscow's long-standing ally.

Abu Dhabi said Tuesday that the drones came from Iraq, where Iran-backed groups have been carrying out attacks against Gulf nations since the Middle East war erupted.

From China to the United States, the other members of the Security Council also condemned the strikes, which have not been claimed by any group.

"What sane nation, either directly or indirectly through proxies, sends drone attacks into an active and ongoing nuclear power plant?" asked US ambassador Mike Waltz, denouncing "outrageous and unacceptable attacks."

"What is the world left to believe? That if Iran...can't achieve a nuclear weapon -- and it can't use it as it has threatened over and over again on its neighbors -- that it's now going to find a clever and dangerous way to weaponize a nuclear power plant?

"I struggle to come to any other conclusion," he said.