LONDON: Saudi Arabia called on the international community to take firm measures against the Iran-backed Houthi militia, who obstruct all peace efforts to end the 8-year war.
The absence of firm measures against the militia is what gave the Houthis more room to harm the Yemeni people, destabilize the region and significantly affect international peace and security, the Kingdom’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, Mohammed Al-Ateeq, told the Security Council.
He was speaking at a speaking at a session on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue.
Al-Ateeq reiterated the Kingdom’s position toward the Palestinian cause and ending the occupation, establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and ensuring the right of return for Palestinian refugees. He said this also includes ending Israel’s occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights and Lebanese territories.
He stressed the importance of comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.
“The occupation authorities continue to violate international resolutions and norms in occupied Palestine and practice the most heinous forms of injustice and aggression against the Palestinian people,” he said.
“The flagrant violation of the sanctity of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron by the Israeli president represents the tip of the iceberg of these violations,” he added.
Al-Ateeq said the time has come for the international community and the Security Council to carry out their responsibilities toward supporting the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, by realizing the right of the Palestinian people to build their independent state guaranteed to them by international resolutions, and to firmly address the ongoing Israeli practices and violations.
“The Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militia confirms day after day its indifference to the aspirations of the Yemeni people, the stability of Yemen and its subversive role in threatening regional stability and international peace and security,” Al-Ateeq added.
The biggest evidence of this is its continued threat to the safety of international navigation and the use of civilian objects and Yemeni ports to destabilize the security of the region and attack civilians in the Kingdom and the UAE, he said, the latest of which was the terrorist attack that targeted Abu Dhabi International Airport, and the hijacking of the Emirati ship Rwabee.
Al-Ateeq also expressed the Kingdom’s support for the Lebanese people, and said his country urged all Lebanese leaders to give priority to the public’s interests, work to achieve security, stability and prosperity, and stop Hezbollah’s terrorist hegemony over the country.
Saudi Arabia calls on Security Council to confront Houthi terrorism, Israeli violations
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Saudi Arabia calls on Security Council to confront Houthi terrorism, Israeli violations
Turki Alalshikh launches City Hub entertainment project in 7 Saudi cities
- Project works exclusively with Saudi companies
- Jazan, Alkhobar, Buraidah, Hail, Al-Baha, Taif, and Tabuk to host City Hub
RIYADH: A new project bringing a range of entertainment offerings to seven Saudi cities has been announced by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.
The City Hub project will begin its journey in Jazan on Jan. 23, followed by stops in Alkhobar, Buraidah, Hail, Al-Baha, Taif, and concluding in Tabuk in August after spending 14 days in each city.
The project exclusively works with Saudi companies, creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities in the Kingdom’s entertainment industry, according to organizers.
Covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters in each city, City Hub will provide a diverse range of entertainment including video games, circus acts, and a “Horror Zone.”
One of the main attractions is the “Play and Learn Festival,” which offers children a hands-on experience in various professional fields, including innovation, banking, and medicine.
This initiative was designed to allow young visitors to explore future career paths through interactive activities, organizers said in a statement.
An electronic games zone will feature esports tournaments with titles such as EAFC24 and TEKKEN 8, presenting prizes to winners.
For thrill-seekers, the “Horror Zone” promises an immersive experience, complete with lifelike challenges.
Meanwhile, the circus tent will host a variety of performances, including dancing fountains, trapeze acts, and the adrenaline-filled 360-degree motorcycle cage performance.
A pet bird zone allows guests to engage with rare birds in a natural setting.
Visitors can also enjoy a diverse marketplace and a curated selection of local and international restaurants, ensuring a rich culinary experience.
Each city will host City Hub for 14 days, underscoring GEA’s commitment to promoting local content.
Iran’s top general meets Pakistani leaders, discusses security and border management
- Pakistan, Iran have often been at odds over instability along their shared, porous border and routinely trade blame for not rooting out militancy
- Tensions surged in January last year when Pakistan and Iran exchanged airstrikes, with both countries claiming to target alleged militant hideouts
ISLAMABAD: Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of general staff of Iranian armed forces, on Monday held talks with Pakistani civilian and military leaders with regard to regional security, counter-terrorism measures and joint border management, Pakistani authorities said.
Pakistan and Iran have often been at odds over instability along their shared, porous border and routinely trade blame for not rooting out militancy. Tensions surged in January last year when Pakistan and Iran exchanged airstrikes, with both claiming to target alleged militant hideouts in each other’s territory.
The two-day trip of the Iranian general is aimed at resolving security issues between Pakistan and Iran, while expanding friendship and economic ties along their shared border, Iranian media reported ahead of Major General Bagheri’s arrival in Pakistan on Sunday night.
On Monday, the general held separate meetings with Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Army Chief Asim Munir. In his meeting with President Zardari, the two figures exchanged views on matters of bilateral importance and stressed the need to promote bilateral trade and economic relations.
“It was also highlighted that terrorism was a shared challenge, and both countries needed to take effective and coordinated measures to address this challenge,” the Press Information Department (PID) of the Pakistani government said in a statement.
In his conversation with the visiting dignitary, Defense Minister Asif expressed satisfaction over positive progression of bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields.
“Both sides showed satisfaction on progress in various areas of mutual interest, including joint border management and counter-terrorism measures, aimed at enhanced cooperation in areas of common interest in future,” the PID said.
Separately, Major General Bagheri met Pakistan’s army chief at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where he was presented a guard of honor.
“During the meeting, both sides discussed matters related to the prevailing regional security environment and bilateral defense cooperation,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing.
In a bid to ease tensions, late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi had also traveled to Pakistan on a three-day visit in April 2024. During the visit, the two sides had signed memorandums of understanding in the fields of trade, science technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial matters.
Raisi’s visit was followed by a two-day visit to Islamabad by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Nov. to hold consultations with the Pakistani leadership on the Middle East situation, following Israel’s invasion of Gaza and Lebanon, and to discuss bilateral ties with Pakistan.
KSrelief, Saudi Esports Federation donate $1.7m to UNICEF to boost children’s education in Burkina Faso
- John Agbor: Thanks to the generous contribution of KSrelief and SEF, thousands of children will benefit from formal and non-formal education, vocational training and radio-based learning
- Funds will support preschool education for 4,500 children, formal and non-formal education for 16,700 children, and technical innovations for 6,600 children
RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation, through the Gamers Without Borders tournament — the largest virtual charity event for gaming and esports — in collaboration with Saudi aid agency KSrelief, donated over $1.7 million to UNICEF’s office in Burkina Faso.
The grant aims to provide formal and non-formal education to more than 27,800 children, 50 percent of whom are girls, in areas affected by insecurity.
John Agbor, UNICEF representative in Burkina Faso, said: “Thanks to the generous contribution of KSrelief and Saudi Esports Federation, thousands of children will benefit from formal and non-formal education, vocational training and radio-based learning.”
The funds will support preschool education for 4,500 children, formal and non-formal education for 16,700 children, and technical innovations for 6,600 children in the Central-North, North, East, Sahel, and Boucle du Mouhoun regions.
As of December 2024, the humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso remains difficult, with over 2 million displaced due to conflict.
Despite the government’s efforts to reopen more than 1,500 schools, over 5,000 remain closed, affecting 20 percent of the country’s educational institutions.
In one year, primary school enrollment rates in Burkina Faso dropped from 85.8 percent in 2022 to 77.4 percent in 2023.
With KSrelief and the Saudi Esports Federation’s support, UNICEF has launched several initiatives, including building and equipping 27 classrooms, creating more than 100 accelerated learning centers for out-of-school children, and planning vocational training for 500 boys and girls.
Other initiatives aim to reach 6,000 children through emergency classrooms and 600 children via remote learning with tablets, as well as increase radio-based learning and provide school supplies for vulnerable children.
Kuwait’s eighth aid plane to Syria arrives at Damascus Airport
- Al-Salam charity’s support in line with instructions of the Kuwaiti political leadership to help Syrians
LONDON: Kuwait sent its eighth aid plane to Syria on Monday with 10 tonnes of food and essential supplies to help Syrians cope with the harsh winter.
It was part of the Kuwait Is By Your Side campaign launched by the Al-Salam Association charity, in coordination with the ministries of Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Defense.
The aircraft landed at Damascus International Airport carrying food aid and winter supplies, including blankets and heavy clothing.
The volume of Kuwaiti aid sent to Syria since last December has reached 200 tonnes of various relief materials, including food and medicine, in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent organization.
Hamad Al-Oun, the general manager of Al-Salam, told Kuwait News Agency that another aid plane was set to depart for Syria next Thursday as part of the association’s initiative.
Al-Salam’s support was in line with the instructions of the Kuwaiti political leadership to help those in need in Syria, he added.
Xi emphasizes China’s unwavering support for Lebanon sovereignty
- Xi Jinping said that China will provide assistance to the Lebanese in terms of economic development
- Israeli forces intensify activity in the south five days before withdrawal deadline
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun received a written message from Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday, who affirmed his “readiness to work with Lebanon to develop the friendly relations between the two countries and to support cooperation in a way that better serves both peoples.”
The Chinese president emphasized in the message, delivered by the Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian, “the unwavering support of his country for Lebanon in maintaining its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as providing assistance to the Lebanese side in economic development and improving the living conditions of its people.”
Forming the first government under Aoun remains a subject of consultations between the designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and the relevant parties.
Aoun has said “the swift formation of the government sends a positive signal to the outside world that Lebanon is on the right track.”
Israel, meanwhile, continued demolishing homes and infrastructure in several border areas of Lebanon.
Israeli tanks and bulldozers blocked the Wadi Saluki road on Mondah, which connects the border towns of Bani Hayyan and Qabrikha.
An Israeli tank stationed itself in the town of Tallousa, prompting the Lebanese Armed Forces to postpone redeployment in the town.
The Israeli activity has escalated five days before the expiration of the 60-day deadline for a complete withdrawal from the southern border area under the ceasefire agreement.
Israeli forces also bulldozed a cemetery in the town of Dhayra and uprooted trees in its vicinity.
Troops also advanced to Mays Al-Jabal, demolishing industrial and sports facilities, farms, and roads with bulldozers.
The Israeli military conducted an extensive sweep operation in the town of Khiam, setting properties on fire, with smoke rising in the area.
Three Lebanese farmers were arrested between Ain Arab and Wazzani, while artillery shelling targeted the Sadana area in the Shebaa Farms and the outskirts of Kafr Shuba.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese military reinforced its units in the city of Bint Jbeil, repositioning in Al-Dora area in the direction of the border town of Yaroun.
It established a presence at 10 sites along the main and secondary roads from Bint Jbeil to Yaroun, Maroun Al-Ras, and Aitaroun, areas where Israeli forces are still present.
Lebanese Army Command announced that “some units are continuing to reinforce their deployment in the towns of Ain Ebel, Dibel and Rmeish, the Bint Jbeil area in the western sector, and the towns of Bint Jbeil and Ainatha in the central sector, following the withdrawal of the Israeli forces.”
The operation was being conducted in coordination with UNIFIL and the Quintet Committee, which is supervising the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
The Army Command said specialized units were conducting engineering surveys, clearing roads, removing debris, and addressing unexploded ordnance and suspicious objects left behind by Israel.
The Lebanese Army prohibited citizens from approaching the area, urging them to “adhere to the instructions of military units until the deployment is completed.”
The municipality of Bint Jbeil has urged residents to delay their return to the city and the town of Ainata.
Civil defense teams are still working to retrieve the bodies and remains of Hezbollah fighters killed during clashes with the Israeli army in advanced positions in the south.
Remains were retrieved in Khiam, and a body was recovered in the town of Maroun Al-Ras.
The General Directorate of General Security, meanwhile, warned citizens in a statement on Monday of “the dangers of interacting with the SAWA page on Facebook, as it is likely linked to Mossad and aims to recruit Lebanese citizens to work for it.”
Last Friday, the Lebanese Army announced “the arrest of a Lebanese citizen from the southern town of Beit Lif on suspicion of being recruited by Israeli Mossad through Facebook.”
Security information indicated that the suspected agent “headed to Israel with the help of an Israeli drone that hovered above him and guided him to the path leading to crossing the Lebanese border. His mission involved photographing Hezbollah sites in exchange for monetary payments.”
A Lebanese person from the town of At-Tiri, who is a former combat medic for Hezbollah and served as a nurse at the party’s Al-Rasoul Al-Azam Hospital, was previously arrested after being recruited by Mossad through Facebook.
