Three Border Guard officers were killed on Monday in a rare suicide attack by terrorists on the Kingdom’s border with Iraq, the Interior Ministry said.
Four attackers were also killed in the clash. Two died from detonating explosive belts, while the other two were shot by Saudi officers, the ministry said on Monday.
“A border patrol in Suwaif, in the northern Arar region, came under fire from terrorist elements at 4:30 a.m.,” said Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, the ministry’s spokesman.
As security forces killed one assailant, another “detonated an explosive belt he was carrying,” killing himself and two guards and wounding another, the ministry said.
In a later statement, the ministry said three guards were killed, including Brig. Audah Al-Balawi, commander of the Border Guard in the Northern Border Region.
Al-Turki said the four assailants were “trying to cross the Saudi border.” Saudi Arabia’s top religious body, the Council of Senior Scholars, condemned the attack and reiterated its support for the government in its fight against extremist groups including Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.
The head of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, also condemned the attack.
Saudi Arabia shares a 800-km border with Iraq and has recently stepped up efforts to secure the frontier.
“The infiltrators were surrounded at the site after security officers killed one of them,” a source said.
One of the other terrorists signaled his wish to surrender and that he would hand himself over to Al-Balawi, who had arrived at the site with his assistant Tariq Halawi and Col. Salem Al-Atisan.
As the terrorist came close to them, he blew himself up with the explosives belt hidden under his clothes, killing Al-Balawi and Halawi. Al-Atisan, who was injured, was airlifted to a hospital in Riyadh for treatment. His condition is reportedly stable.
Al-Balawi was appointed a month ago as the commander of the Border Guard in the region after he had the same position in the Haql area of Tabuk.
Surrender treachery: 3 soldiers killed by suicide bomber at KSA-Iraq border
Surrender treachery: 3 soldiers killed by suicide bomber at KSA-Iraq border
Investigation debunks claims about coalition strikes in Yemen
- Coalition’s Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) held a meeting to address allegations regarding airstrikes in various regions of Yemen
RIYADH: An investigation found that a number of airstrikes carried out by The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen did not target civilian sites including a hospital and farm as claimed.
The coalition’s Joint Incidents Assessment Team held a meeting on Wednesday to address allegations regarding airstrikes in various regions of Yemen in recent years.
On Jan. 13, 2022, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that an airstrike partially damaged the emergency department and inpatient clinics of a hospital in the Al-Sawad area.
It was claimed that coalition forces targeted a military camp near the hospital.
The JIAT reviewed relevant documentation and found that a military camp, known as Al-Sawad camp, was located near the 48 Model Hospital, which is on the coalition forces’ no strike list.
On the day of the alleged strike, coalition forces conducted a targeted airstrike on military targets within the camp, based on intelligence regarding Houthi militia activities.
The bombs were guided and aimed to minimize civilian impact, hitting their intended targets accurately and remaining a safe distance from the hospital.
Therefore, the JIAT concluded that coalition forces did not target the hospital on Jan. 13, 2022.
On March 3, 2021, reports emerged alleging that coalition forces conducted an airstrike targeting a farm in the Al-Watadah area of the Khawlan Directorate in Sanaa Governorate.
The JIAT said it reviewed documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules and satellite imagery.
The investigation revealed that no specific coordinates for the alleged farm were provided.
The JIAT found no record of airstrikes in Al-Watadah on the date in question, nor in the days surrounding it. Open-source searches yielded no corroborating information.
In conclusion, the JIAT determined that coalition forces did not target a farm in Al-Watadah on March 3, 2021, as alleged.
Other reports indicated that a missile fell near a house in Al-Malaheet village on Feb. 23, 2020. The JIAT investigated and found no evidence that coalition forces had conducted missile strikes in the area on that date.
On June 4, 2015, allegations surfaced regarding an airstrike on the governorate building in Zinjibar. The JIAT confirmed that no air missions were conducted in Abyan on that date.
Through these investigations, the JIAT aims to clarify allegations and uphold accountability and transparency.
Saudi deputy FM receives Mauritania envoy in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Ambassador of Mauritania to the Kingdom Mokhtar Ould Dahi in Riyadh on Wednesday.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and various issues of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Faisal Al-Harbi presented a copy of his credentials as non-resident ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pholile Dlamini Shakantu, the Eswatinian foreign minister, the Saudi Embassy in South Africa wrote on X.
Saudi Arabia celebrates World Heritage Day with 6 days of events in Riyadh
- The events, from April 16-21 at Laysen Valley, aim to honor and promote the historical and cultural values of the Kingdom and its heritage through educational and interactive activities
- Visitors will be greeted with an immersive experience that transports them to the Kingdom’s eight World Heritage Sites and showcases their cultural significance
RIYADH: A series of special events are taking place this week at Laysen Valley in Riyadh in celebration of World Heritage Day on April 18.
Organized by the Ministry of Culture’s Heritage Commission, they run from April 16-21 with the aim of honoring and promoting the historical and cultural values of Saudi Arabia and its heritage through educational and interactive activities.
Visitors to Laysen Valley will be greeted with an immersive experience, organizers said, that transports them to the Kingdom’s eight World Heritage Sites and showcases their cultural significance through storytelling, a digital light show and live recreations of the locations.
A number of artists are participating in the events, including Abdullah Al-Fawzan, whose carved wooden works are inspired by Najdi designs. The doors of old Najd, known for their rich decoration and designs based on natural structures, are emblematic of the deep roots and culture of the central Saudi region.
Al-Fawzan told Arab News that woodcarving is an essential element of his family’s traditions, dating back six generations. Under the guidance of his father, he began learning the skill at the age of seven years old. He has created about 100 Najdi-style doors for numerous projects in various parts of the capital, including Diriyah and Al-Doho, a historic neighborhood in southern Riyadh.
“We could say that craftspeople are considered the bridge between the past and the present,” he said. “We are working on pieces that are completely handmade, while preserving the authenticity and the identity of Najd.”
Al-Fawzan works for six to 10 hours a day carving and painting his works, and his craft has taught him the art of patience, especially when he encounters problems.
“We have a saying that says ‘He who is patience, triumphs,’” he explained. “I can’t work on anything big if I am in a bad mood. I must be in a clear mood, far away from any problems and ready to work.”
Other attractions at the Heritage Day events include a dedicated children’s area, and pavilions showcasing traditional arts and crafts. There are also workshops, live demonstrations by artisans, and marketplaces where craftspeople will be selling handmade items. In addition there will be a series of drone shows at Wadi Al-Turath on April 18.
Makkah deputy governor reviews Hajj plans
- Meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing projects to support the pilgrimage, scheduled to be operational during the Hajj
- Prince Saud emphasized the importance of implementing the leadership’s directives, which stress early preparation and coordination across all sectors
MAKKAH: Prince Saud bin Mishaal, deputy governor of Makkah, chaired the first meeting of the Permanent Committee for Hajj and Umrah to review the plans and preparations for this year’s Hajj season.
The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing projects to support the pilgrimage, scheduled to be operational during the Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Saud emphasized the importance of implementing the leadership’s directives, which stress early preparation and coordination across all sectors to ensure top-quality services and comfort for pilgrims.
He noted that the government of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has spared no effort in facilitating the pilgrimage, mobilizing all resources to ensure pilgrims perform their rituals with ease, peace of mind and security.
Participating organisations presented updates on the readiness of their operational plans and the progress of development projects at the holy sites.
The committee also reviewed afforestation and green cover initiatives aimed at planting 10,000 trees to improve air quality, reduce temperatures, and enhance the pilgrimage experience.
Several other agenda items were discussed, and the committee issued the necessary recommendations, the SPA reported.
Saudi academics identify how Arabic language developed from ancient inscriptions
- Lecture at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University revealed that the diversity of writings from ancient civilizations
- Saudi academics confirmed that modern Arabic script emerged from the Nabataean script in the historic towns of Tayma and AlUla
RIYADH: Saudi academics have identified how the Arabic language developed from ancient inscriptions found in the north of the Kingdom.
A lecture at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University revealed that the diversity of writings from ancient civilizations — from Thamudic to Nabataean — reflects Arab interaction with neighboring civilizations dating back to the third century BC.
They also confirmed that modern Arabic script emerged from the Nabataean script in the historic towns of Tayma and AlUla (northwestern Saudi Arabia).
Dr. Sulaiman Al-Theeb, a retired professor of ancient Arabic writing at King Saud University, said that the great diversity of inscriptions reflects how Arabs have interacted with neighboring cultures since ancient times.
Al-Theeb, who is an adviser at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, in a speech said: “These writings abound in various regions of the Kingdom and include other dialects such as Thamudic, Aramaic, Sabaean, Minaean, Safaitic and Dadanic.
“They document a rich history and cultural interaction with neighboring cultures such as Assyrian, Babylonian, Hebrew, and Greek,” he said.
At the beginning of his talk, Al-Theeb touched on the relationship between language and writing, and their origins.
He explained how the Nabataean script developed in Tayma before transforming into the Arabic script found in AlUla at the beginning of the first century AD.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Asmari, who is vice rector for education affairs at IMSIU, emphasized the university’s commitment to strengthening international academic cooperation.
“We believe in the importance of partnering with international academic institutions to explore human cultural heritage, as these partnerships provide unique opportunities for the exchange of expertise and knowledge,” he said.
IMSIU “places special emphasis on interdisciplinary studies that connect heritage and contemporary studies based on our belief that understanding the past is the key to building the future,” he said.
“We are working to strengthen this vision through joint research programs and researcher exchanges with prestigious international universities,” Al-Asmari added.
Dr. Khaled Al-Khara’n, dean of the College of Arabic Language at IMSIU, said: “Arabic is not merely a means of communication, but rather a cultural channel that carries within it a rich human heritage and unique characteristics that make it one of the world's richest and most influential languages.
“The college seeks to uncover more of the Arabic language’s potential in many areas through specialized academic programs and leveling impact of this on its civilizational role and interaction with other languages, with a focus on the cognitive and applied aspects that make it one of the main languages in the world,” Al-Khara’n said.
