Author: Mahdeehassan

RIYADH: The Saudi medical charity Al-Balsam Association for Training and Health Development performed 28 open-heart surgeries and 84 cardiac catheterization procedures in the space of just six days in Nigeria this month. The volunteer mission to the capital, Abuja, took place from Oct. 13 to 18 and was supervised by Saudi aid agency KSrelief. The cardiac procedures included heart-valve replacements and repairs, coronary artery bypass grafts, and other complex surgeries. The Al-Balsam medical team included 10 Saudi volunteers and 35 Nigerian professionals, who provided care at the Nizamiye and Zenith Hospitals in the city. The charity thanked Saudi ambassador to…

GENEVA: Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji met with Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al-Nahyan, UAE minister of state, on the sidelines of the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan, in Geneva on Wednesday. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest developments in Sudan and ongoing efforts to address the situation, as well as regional and international developments. The meeting was attended by the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen Binkhothaila.

RIYADH: The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen has “categorically denied” Houthi allegations that Saudi Arabia was threatening to target tribal and civilian gatherings.The claims are false and completely baseless and reflect continuous attempts to mislead public opinion, a coalition statement posted on the X account of spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said.The allegations also aimed to divert attention from the militia's own crises and draw Yemeni tribes into the conflict, the statement added. The coalition said the Yemeni tribe is a “bridge of brotherhood” between the Saudi and Yemeni peoples, united by religion and history.These bonds are far too…

DHAHRAN: Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian and energy infrastructure killed four people in the Eastern Province on Wednesday, underscoring the growing threat posed by the Iran-backed militia’s widening terror campaign against the Kingdom. With airports, residential areas and energy facilities increasingly caught up in the escalation, the attacks are bringing the consequences of Yemen’s war into the lives of ordinary Saudis and foreign nationals living and working in the country. Although the vast majority of Houthi missiles and drones have been intercepted by the Kingdom’s air defenses, several have broken through or have rained debris onto population centers below. For…

RIYADH: Arab countries and the Muslim World League on Thursday condemned Houthi attacks the previous night on Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and the Shaybah oilfield in the Eastern Province that killed four people and injured 10. The UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Egypt denounced the strikes as violations of Saudi sovereignty and international law, and reaffirmed their support for the Kingdom’s efforts to protect its security and territorial integrity. Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for international action to halt the escalating strikes and hold those responsible accountable. It warned that the attacks were part of…

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, minister of interior, on Tuesday inaugurated the medical center and Military Medical Committee clinics at the security complex in eastern Riyadh. Both facilities are affiliated with the Ministry of Interior’s medical services. After the inauguration, Prince Abdulaziz toured the medical center’s facilities and was briefed on its equipment and therapeutic and diagnostic services, including emergency care, general medicine, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and pharmacy services. These facilities are intended to enhance the efficiency of healthcare services and facilitate access for beneficiaries, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Prince Abdulaziz also inaugurated the Military Medical Committee clinics, which…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Senior Scholars condemned attacks by the Houthis in Yemen against civilian locations, as it accused the Iran-backed militia of terrorism and attempting to target the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. In a statement issued by its General Secretariat on Wednesday, the council said the actions of the group had fueled instability and threatened the lives of innocent people, and alleged attempts to target Islam’s two holiest sites represented a grave act of aggression against Muslims. The actions of the Houthis were no less dangerous than those of extremist groups such as Daesh and Al-Qaeda,…

CAIRO: Any military support Egypt provides to Saudi Arabia would be limited to defending the Kingdom and not involve attacks on Yemen, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said on Wednesday. Cairo would be prepared to help defend the territory of other Arab countries if asked to do so, he added, but reiterated that any military action would not extend beyond Egypt or a fellow Arab state whose security and stability Cairo sought to protect. El-Sisi’s remarks, in a statement delivered by presidential spokesperson Mohammed El-Shennawy, came two days after the Egyptian parliament postponed until Oct. 26 a vote on authorization of…

JEDDAH: The perceived risk to shipping through the Bab Al-Mandab Strait exceeds the actual threat, while container volumes entering the port have returned to levels close to those recorded late last year, a senior Red Sea Gateway Terminal executive said on Wednesday. Karim Omran, vice president, group commercial, at the Jeddah-based operator, told Arab News that major carriers’ decisions to return to the route informed his assessment. He told Arab News: “Major shipping lines, including CMA CGM, Maersk and MSC, have announced that they are returning to the strait. “My current assessment is that the perception of risk is higher…

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a written message for King Salman from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday. The message was delivered to the crown prince by Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.  During the meeting, the two sides reviewed Saudi-Egyptian relations and opportunities to further strengthen them. They also discussed regional developments and the coordination of efforts regarding these matters.