Middle East Experience

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressed several developments in the region during the 155th session of the Arab League Council at the delegate level in Cairo on Wednesday.The implementation of the Riyadh Agreement is an important step to achieving a political solution in Yemen and ending the ongoing conflict, he said.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Saudi Arabia appreciates the unified Arab position that has called for an end to the Iran-backed Houthi militia’s escalation in Yemen’s Marib, Prince Faisal said.The Kingdom will continue its efforts to ease the suffering of the Yemeni people at the hands of the Houthis, he added.The Kingdom calls on the international community to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and rejected the actions of the Israeli occupation that violate the rights of Palestinians, the minister said in a speech.He reiterated the importance of reaching a fair agreement on the Renaissance Dam dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia.The minister also addressed the ongoing situation in Libya, wishing the newly-formed government good luck and urging all parties to refrain from interfering in the country’s affairs.He also reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for Iraq and called for outside parties to stop interfering in the country’s affairs.The foreign ministers of Arab states gathered in the Egyptian capital to discuss the Palestinian issue, developments in the situation in Syria, Yemen and Libya, solidarity with the Lebanese Republic, and the security of navigation and energy supplies in the Arabian Gulf region.Read more:Saudi Foreign Minister discusses regional challenges with US counterpartSaudi Arabia's FM Prince Faisal meets US Yemen envoy in Riyadh: SPAUAE-Israel accord: Saudi Arabia committed to Arab Peace Plan, says foreign minister
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia’s FM addresses regional developments at Arab League session 

The Balama tunnel is the most ancient water tunnel discovered in Palestine, but it still needs to be fully explored so it can turn into a tourist attraction.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Oldest water tunnel in Palestine yet to be fully explored

A civil society organization in northern and eastern Syria has launched a project to eradicate violent extremism by promoting the role of women on the educational and economic levels.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Civil society in northeast Syria promotes women’s role to fight extremism

US President Joe Biden’s special envoy for Yemen met with officials from the Iran-backed Houthi militia last month, a report published Wednesday said.“The discussions, which have not been officially made public by either side, took place in the Omani capital Muscat on Feb. 26 between US Yemen envoy Timothy Lenderking and the Houthis’ chief negotiator Mohammed Abdusalam,” Reuters reported.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The State Department has not responded to a request for comment on the report.Lenderking previously admitted that the US was “very aggressively” using channels to communicate with the Houthis, but he did not elaborate.The purported meeting would have come shortly after the Biden administration revoked a terrorist designation against the Houthis.The designation was imposed in the final days of the Trump administration.In going ahead with the move - which was one of Biden’s first foreign policy decisions - the US president also lifted the Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation off the Houthi leader and two other senior officials.But the Houthis pressed ahead with their attacks on Saudi Arabia and against civilians, which also included a ramped-up offensive on one of the last government-held cities in Yemen’s Marib.Lenderking reportedly urged the Houthis to cease their offensive in Marib while also encouraging dialogue with Saudi Arabia.After an increase in attacks, the US decided Tuesday to sanction the group’s air force and naval commanders.Lenderking is currently on his second trip to the region since being appointed as Biden’s special envoy.He has met with officials from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.Biden has said the US would work toward a “dual-track approach,” in tandem with the United Nations to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen and to find a political solution to the war.Read more: US to ensure Saudi Arabia has ‘tools’ to defend itself from Iran-backed attacksHouthis and Iran are preventing solution to Yemen crisis, not Saudi Arabia: Schenker
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: US special envoy for Yemen held first direct meeting with Iran-backed Houthis: Report

Iran-backed Houthi militia Supreme Political Council member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti has called for donations on Twitter through phone calls to fund the manufacturing of ballistic missiles and drones.“Call 180 on Yemen Mobile to donate a hundred riyals per call to support ballistic missile industry and the air force,” al-Bukhaiti said on Twitter.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.The Iran-backed militia has been targeting Saudi Arabia from Yemen with ballistic missile attacks targeting its capital Riyadh. Explosive-laden drones have continuously targeted the southern cities of Saudi Arabia.Earlier this week, Arab Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki told Al Arabiya that the Kingdom has intercepted more than 526 drones and 346 ballistic missiles.“No country other than Saudi Arabia has intercepted this many ballistic missiles and drones,” al-Maliki added.Al-Maliki added that the Arab Coalition has the capabilities to deal with threats targeting civilians, adding that the Houthis targeting innocent people continues to be “a red line in the event of any harm to them.”Read more:Houthis violate Security Council resolutions, Int’l Humanitarian Law: Saudi ArabiaArab Coalition destroyed drone launched by Houthis towards Saudi ArabiaYemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia says US is prolonging war by imposing sanctions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Houthi councilman calls for donations on Twitter to fund ballistic missiles, drones

Exclusive video shows three vehicles that were used in the Katyusha rockets attack that hit the Ain Assad military airbase that houses Iraqi and US-led coalition forces in Iraq’s western Anbar province.Earlier on Wednesday, at least 10 rockets hit the base at 7:20 am, according to US-coalition spokesman Colonel Wayne Marotto.For all the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.An American civilian contractor with the US-led coalition in Iraq died of a heart attack during the attack, the Pentagon confirmed later in the day.A missile launcher was found in the al-Baghdadi city in the Anbar province, according to an Al Arabiya correspondent. Al-Baghdadi is the closest village to the United States’ military base.It was the first attack since the US struck Iran-aligned militia targets along the Iraq-Syria border last week.Al Arabiya English’s Tamara Abueish and Joseph Haboush contributed to this report.Read more:
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Exclusive CCTV footage shows 3 cars used in attack on Iraq’s Ain Assad airbase

Lebanese President Michel Aoun called on Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh Wednesday to hand over the results of the investigation into the dramatic fall of the pound to a public prosecutor..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Aoun demands Salameh surrender dollar rate probe results

The court will look at alleged war crimes in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip since 2014..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: ICC opens 'war crimes' investigation in Palestinian territories

Lawyers acting for a British-Palestinian activist have complained to the Labour Party after it hired a former member of a controversial Israeli military intelligence unit..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: British-Palestinians complain to Labour Party over hiring of Israeli former intelligence officer

Two European countries breaking with EU on producing vaccines against coronavirus mutations.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel eyes COVID-19 vaccine regulation process with Austria, Denmark