Arabia under ottoman

Dubai: Yemen's Houthi rebels on Wednesday targeted Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia, causing a civilian plane on the tarmac to catch fire, the kingdom's state television reported. The state-owned Al-Ekhbariya TV said that firefighters have brought the blaze under control. The initial reports offered no word on any possible casualties from the attack. Saudi officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. Col. Turki al-Maliki, the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, said coalition forces intercepted and destroyed two bomb-laden drones launched by the Houthis toward the kingdom. He condemned the assault as a "systematic and deliberate attempt to target civilians in the southern region" of Saudi Arabia. In November 2017, the Houthis targeted Riyadh's international airport in an attack. Saudi officials later blamed Iran for providing the missile to the Houthis used in that and other attacks on the kingdom amid its ... » Learn More about Yemen’s Houthi rebel target Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport, sets plane on fire: Report

Saudi Arabia has banned flights to and from India from Tuesday amid a surge in coronavirus cases, according to an official document. However, it excluded "passengers who have official government invitations". The GACA circular -- titled: 'Suspension of travel to countries where the COVID-19 virus has outbreak' -- was marked to all the airlines and chartered flight companies operating at the Saudi Arabia's airports. Saudi Arabia and the UAE host a significant Indian migrant population. Five days back, Air India Express had said the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority suspended its flights for 24 hours for bringing two passengers with COVID-positive certificates on August 28 and September 4. Dubai is the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates. Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the outbreak. However, special international flights have been operating between India and Saudi Arabia since May 6 under the ... » Learn More about Covid-19: Saudi Arabia bans flights to and from India

New Delhi: In a significant development, Indian and Saudi Arabia armies will undertake joint bilateral exercises and this will be the first such exercise of both the armies together. The Indian forces contingent will be travelling to Saudi Arabia for the exercises which will be taking place in the next financial year. In December of 2020, in another significant development, Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane had visited Saudi Arabia. It was the first time any Indian Army chief had visited the west Asian country in what is a clear sign of growing ties between New Delhi and Riyadh. The Army Chief during his Saudi Arabia trip had visited Headquarters of Royal Saudi Land Force, the Joint Force Command Headquarters and King Abdul Aziz Military Academy. Saudi Arabia identifies India as one of the Kingdom’s Strategic Partner Countries under its 'Vision 2030’. The last few years have seen an increased engagement between the two countries. 2019 saw the visit of Prime Minister ... » Learn More about FIRST EVER! Indian-Saudi Arabia armies to undertake joint bilateral exercises

New Delhi: Ahead of the G20 summit, Saudi Arabia is acting on India's concerns over the issue on the incorrect map, sources confirming the development said on Friday. The sources added that Saudi Arabia is also likely to withdraw the banknote soon. In October, India had conveyed its serious concern to Saudi Arabia over "gross misrepresentation" of its external territorial boundaries in a banknote issued and asked it to take "urgent corrective steps", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said. The global map printed on the new 20 Riyal currency, released to mark Saudi Arabia's Presidency of the G20 grouping, does not feature Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as part of India. India had conveyed its strong concern via Saudi Ambassador in New Delhi as well as at Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia's Monetary Authority had issued the new note on October 24. Saudi Arabia is acting on India's concerns, said the sources confirming the development. It ... » Learn More about Ahead of G20 summit, Saudi Arabia acts on India’s concerns over issue on incorrect map

The Biden administration’s decision to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s Yemen war is a signal to Riyadh that the Trump-era open support it had enjoyed is a matter of the past. The U.S. offered support to Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Houthi rebels in Yemen when Barack Obama was the President. Donald Trump continued that policy, overlooking the disastrous effects of the war that has turned Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries, into a humanitarian catastrophe. In its last hours, the Trump State Department designated the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, as a terrorist organisation. Rights groups have condemned the move, saying that the designation would complicate aid efforts as the Houthis control a sizeable part of Yemen, including the capital. Mr. Biden has now taken a different line, initiating steps to remove the Houthis from the terror list , among other actions. This is part of his larger attempts to rewrite the U.S.’s West Asia policy which, under Mr. Trump, was ... » Learn More about Endless war: On why Saudi Arabia should end its Yemen blockade

Saudi Arabia said it rejected completely "the negative, false and unacceptable" assessment of the U.S. intelligence report released on Friday that found Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had approved the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler approved an operation to capture or kill the Washington Post columnist in 2018, the U.S. report said, as the United States sanctioned some of those involved but not the crown prince himself. "The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia completely rejects the .... assessment in the report pertaining to the Kingdom’s leadership, and notes that the report contained inaccurate information and conclusions," the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA. "The crime was committed by a group of individuals that have transgressed all pertinent regulations... and the kingdom's leadership took the necessary steps to ensure that such a tragedy never takes place again," the foreign ... » Learn More about Saudi Arabia rejects U.S. intelligence report on Khashoggi’s killing

Video Player Close RIYADH, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced a 20-day extension of precautionary measures against COVID-19, according to local media. The measures include a ban on gatherings, entertainment and events, as well as the closure of cinemas and dining services at restaurants and cafes, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing an Interior Ministry source. The extension is effective from 10 p.m. local time on Sunday, as part of efforts to curb a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. The restrictions introduced 10 days ago will be under continuous evaluation and could be extended again, the ministry source said. Two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia suspended entry to the kingdom from 20 countries, except for Saudi citizens, diplomats and medical practitioners and their families. Enditem ... » Learn More about Saudi Arabia extends COVID-19 restrictions for 20 days

Video Player Close RIYADH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The government of Saudi Arabia on Friday rejected the findings of the U.S. intelligence report regarding the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying the report contained "inaccurate information and conclusions." The kingdom's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday evening that it has been following the report submitted to the U.S. Congress on the murder of Khashoggi, noting that Saudi Arabia "completely rejects the negative, false and unacceptable assessment in the report pertaining to the Kingdom's leadership." "The ministry reiterates what was previously announced by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom, that this was an abhorrent crime and a flagrant violation of the Kingdom's laws and values," the statement said. The statement said that Saudi authorities took all possible measures to ensure that individuals connected with the case were properly investigated, and to ensure that justice was served. ... » Learn More about Saudi Arabia ‘completely rejects’ U.S. report on Khashoggi murder

Video Player Close CAIRO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit expressed on Saturday support for Saudi Arabia's rejection of a recent U.S. intelligence report on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. "Saudi judicial authorities are the only ones in charge of holding those involved in Khashoggi case accountable," the AL chief said in a statement. The 4-page report, released by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), indicates that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud approved the operation in Istanbul, Turkey, "to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi." Aboul-Gheit said that the ODNI is not authorized to issue international rulings or verdicts. "Human rights issues should not be politicized," the AL secretary-general emphasized. On Friday, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry strongly rejected the U.S. report, saying it contained "inaccurate information ... » Learn More about Arab League backs Saudi Arabia’s rejection of U.S. report on Khashoggi killing

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underwent a “successful surgery” for appendicitis, the royal court has said, and he left the hospital soon after the operation. The 35-year-old prince had surgery at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Wednesday morning, according to the royal court. The official statement described the operation as laparoscopic, meaning that no large incision was made. Late Wednesday, Saudi state-run media published footage of the crown prince, surrounded by an entourage clad in traditional checkered headdress, striding out of the fluorescent-lit hospital and into an awaiting black Mercedes. “He has left the hospital in health and wellness,” the royal court announced, without providing further details. Prince Mohammed, the son of King Salman, has amassed immense powers in the kingdom since being appointed heir to the throne in 2017. His swift rise to power, brash unpredictability and ambitious efforts to liberalise ... » Learn More about Saudi Arabia says Crown Prince had ‘successful’ surgery