RIYADH: The dismantling of a cluster of cells established by Daesh in the Kingdom by the Saudi security forces has unraveled many diabolical plans of the terrorist group, which had chosen Sharourah near Najran as a base camp.
The Sharourah camp was set up for imparting training to misguided youths and coordinating attacks on the Kingdom, Interior Ministry spokesman Gen. Mansour Al-Turki was quoted as saying by SPA.
Some of the Saudi terror suspects, who are linked to Daesh and hiding in Yemen, were in close contact with the busted cells. In an operation extending over weeks, the Saudi security forces arrested 431 members of the cells.
“Of those arrested, 144 were involved in spreading deviant thought via the Internet, recruitment of cadres and dissemination of misleading propaganda,” he said.
With the busting of the cells, Saudi Arabia foiled attempts to create chaos in the Kingdom and incite sectarian strife, the spokesman said, adding that lone-wolf attacks were part of the terror plan.
Most of those arrested are Saudi citizens, and some are Yemeni, citizens of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Algeria, Nigeria and Chad, he said.
A number of those arrested were involved in several attacks in Saudi Arabia, including the bombing of a mosque in Al-Qadeeh in May that killed 22 people and injured more than 100 worshippers who had come for the Friday congregational prayers, the spokesman said.
Some of them were also behind the November shooting and killing of eight worshippers in Al-Ahsa, and for another attack in which a bomber disguised as a woman blew himself up in the parking lot of a Shiite mosque during Friday prayers, killing four, in Dammam in late May.
The cells were created to create division in society and bloodshed and then exchange roles to implement the plans dictated from abroad.
The security services also seized a number of documents, equipment, means of communication and explosive materials smuggled from abroad and weapons and ammunition during the operation.
During the security operation against these cells, six terrorists were killed and 37 people were martyred including security men and civilians. A total of 120 security men and citizens were injured.
Among the those arrested are the ones who used the following sites to promote terrorism with the user names Daashi Waftikher, Ba’t Almonia, jonoon alistishhad, Julaybib Jazrawi, Ghorbah 4 and Taiwilb Ilm. The site Hizam Nasif was used by a detainee Ali Mohammed Ali Ala’taiq, who was using his house to manufacture explosives and different materials.
Sharourah was chosen as base camp for training, coordinating terror attacks
Sharourah was chosen as base camp for training, coordinating terror attacks
Pakistani ambassador to Saudi Arabia meets with CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority
RIYADH: Ahmad Farooq, Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, met with Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority in Riyadh.
The meeting focused on strengthening Saudi-Pakistani ties in the field of heritage and culture, the Pakistani Embassy wrote in a post on X on Sunday.
The ambassador presented Inzerillo with a painting from his own Diriyah-themed series, created to celebrate the Kingdom’s history and heritage.
He also presented him with a made-in-Pakistan FIFA-standard football “symbolizing Pakistan’s craftsmanship and the mutual spirit of friendship.”
Saudi reserve engages pilgrims on biodiversity
- Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed
RIYADH: Hajj pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom by land were introduced to projects and initiatives of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.
The initiative aims to enhance biodiversity, restore vegetation and breed endangered species to create a more sustainable natural environment.
The authority also distributed educational brochures to raise awareness about environmental preservation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Pilgrims were welcomed at Al-Shuqaiq in the Jouf region, where more than 4,000 gifts reflecting the reserve’s history and conservation efforts were distributed.
Visitors were informed about the reserve’s environmental heritage, biodiversity, and commitment to sustainable ecological stewardship, the SPA added.
The authority works to preserve biodiversity by protecting habitats and creating safe environments for wildlife and plants to thrive.
Its achievements include planting more than 2.4 million trees, scattering four tonnes of native seeds and rehabilitating 250,000 hectares of degraded land.
The reserve hosts more than 290 documented bird species — about 58 percent of those recorded in the Kingdom — and includes five internationally recognized important bird areas.
Covering 130,700 sq. kilometers, the King Salman Reserve is the largest natural terrestrial reserve in the Middle East, spanning four administrative regions: Jouf, Hail, Northern Borders, and Tabuk.
Live show at Expo 2025 celebrates shared Saudi-Japanese maritime experience
- Deep-rooted cultural connection in the spotlight
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has used the stage at Expo 2025 in Osaka to tell a story of Saudi-Japanese relations which spans the oceans.
In a live performance titled “Tales of the Sea,” the Kingdom’s pavilion brought together the seafaring traditions of Saudi Arabia and Japan, spotlighting a deep-rooted cultural connection anchored in pearl diving, patience, and poetry.
Held at the Saudi Courtyard Theater, the show centered on the figure of the nahham, a traditional Gulf singer whose role was to inspire pearl divers with his voice during long months at sea.
Japan’s ama divers, skilled women known for their sea diving expertise, were also featured to showcase their abilities and the risks they took in search of sea treasures.
The performance told the story of a Saudi diver on a six-month journey to find the largest pearl, combining performance with visual storytelling projected across five towering 13-meter walls.
Interactive exhibits showcasing traditional diving tools and cultural artifacts invited visitors to engage more deeply, sparking conversations about resilience, tradition, and the Kingdom and Japan’s shared maritime legacies.
The audience responded with enthusiasm, drawn by the show’s emotional depth and the unexpected parallels between the two cultures.
The show captured the maritime memories of both nations, which were enhanced by Gulf chants blended with traditional Japanese music to help create an experience that reflected the partnership.
The Kingdom’s pavilion — the second largest at the expo after Japan’s — will host more than 700 events during the six-month fair, including concerts, films, and storytelling performances.
“Tales of the Sea” stood out as a clear example of how cultural exchange can be both meaningful and memorable.
Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening
Supreme Court calls on Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight Dhul Hijjah crescent moon on Tuesday evening
- Court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court called on Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Tuesday is the 29th of Dhul Qadah and if the crescent moon is sighted that day, the month of Dhul Hijjah, during which Hajj takes place, will start on Wednesday May 28. In this case, the first day of Eid Al-Adha will take place on Friday June 6.
If the crescent moon is not sighted on Tuesday evening, Dhul Hijjah will start on Thursday and the first day of Eid will be on Saturday June 7.
The court requested that anyone sighting the crescent moon with the naked eye or through binoculars report to the nearest court and record their testimony, or contact the nearest center to assist them in reaching the nearest court.
Islamic military coalition hosts training in Mali to counter terrorist financing
- Program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering
- Initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states
RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition concluded a specialized training program on combating terrorist financing in Bamako, Mali, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Conducted in cooperation with Mali’s Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs, the program aimed to strengthen national capacities to counter terrorist financing and money laundering.
The initiative is part of a broader series of strategic activities by the coalition to support its member states, the SPA added.
The launch event was attended by Lt. Gen. Sadio Camara, Mali’s minister of defense and veterans affairs; Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Moghed, secretary-general of the coalition; senior diplomatic and military officials; and representatives from national and international organizations.
The program featured a scientific lecture, “Financial Investigations into Terrorism Financing and Money Laundering Crimes,” attended by more than 200 participants, including security, oversight, and judicial personnel.
The session covered methodologies for financial tracking, analysis of illicit networks, and shared relevant international experiences.
Additionally, a closed workshop, “Methods of Countering the Financing of Terrorist Organizations in the Sahel Region,” brought together specialists from key national and regional entities.
Discussions focused on shared challenges, successful models, ongoing initiatives, and mechanisms for enhanced cooperation.
The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of sustained collaboration between the coalition and its member states.
Participants emphasized the need to expand training and capacity-building efforts to enhance institutional readiness and strengthen collective responses to security threats across the Sahel region.
