More than 200 arrests made in Saudi corruption crackdown
Saudi Arabian officials said Thursday that more than 200 people have been arrested as the government investigates corruption and the misuse of billions of dollars.
Saudi Arabia
Rouhani warns Saudi Arabia against befriending Israel, US
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani warned rival Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that it was making a mistake in aligning with Israel and the United States over Tehran.
Lebanon’s plunge into political crisis raises specter of war with Israel
Even for a country often used as a battleground by regional powers and their proxies, the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri has opened a new period of political uncertainty and fear in Lebanon.
Yemen facing ‘largest famine in decades’ if blockade isn’t lifted, UN aid chief says
The Saudi-led military coalition’s blockade of Yemen could lead to ‘the largest famine the world has seen for many decades with millions of victims,’ Mark Lowcock, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, warned on Wednesday.
EU, US affirm Lebanon support, diverging from Saudi
The European Union on Wednesday affirmed support for Lebanon following the resignation of Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, echoing U.S. backing for the Beirut government which Saudi Arabia has accused of declaring war.
Saudi Arabia’s push on Iran ratchets up regional tensions
Saudi Arabia is more aggressively confronting its rival Iran on multiple fronts. It’s a policy that risks sharpening several conflicts in the Middle East, even though so far it has failed to score any successes in stemming Tehran’s influence.
A Saudi-orchestrated resignation throws Lebanon into turmoil
Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s abrupt resignation over the weekend was bizarre even by the often twisted standards of Lebanese politics: He made the surprise announcement from the Saudi capital in a pre-recorded message on a Saudi-owned TV station.
Saudi Crown Prince says Iran supply of rockets is military aggression
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday that Iran’s supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of ‘direct military aggression,’ Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
Purge of Saudi princes, businessmen widens, travel curbs imposed
A campaign of mass arrests of Saudi Arabian royals, ministers and businessmen expanded on Monday after a top entrepreneur was reportedly detained in the biggest anti-corruption purge of the kingdom’s affluent elite in its modern history.
Saudi Arabia intercepts ‘missile’ fired from Yemen
Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a “ballistic missile” north-east of the capital, Riyadh, on Saturday after it was launched from Yemen, Saudi state media reported. ‘Saudi air defence intercepts ballistic missile northeast of Riyadh,’ it said.
Saudi Arabia to extract uranium for ‘self-sufficient’ nuclear program
Saudi Arabia plans to extract uranium domestically as part of its nuclear power program and sees this as a step towards ‘self-sufficiency’ in producing atomic fuel, a senior official said on Monday.
Kushner paid secret visit to Saudi Arabia for peace push — report
US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and chief Middle East adviser, Jared Kushner, paid a secret visit to Saudi Arabia last week in his latest effort to restart Mideast peace talks.
Saudi Arabia criticized for giving female robot citizenship, while it restricts women’s rights
A robot woman in Saudi Arabia was granted citizenship this week, sparking a backlash that said the robot appeared to have more rights than millions of human women and foreigners living in the Gulf nation.
Bridge Tying Saudi Arabia to Africa May Need Israeli Signoff
Connecting Egypt to a new $500 billion Saudi city via a bridge across the Red Sea will require cooperation from Israel, analysts say. Could it one day help integrate the Jewish state with its Arab neighbors?
Tillerson demands Iranian militias leave Iraq
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday demanded that Iranian ‘militias’ leave Iraq at a press conference in Riyadh, where the US diplomat is holding talks with top Gulf officials.
Christian Persecution Hits All-Time High Worldwide: Report
The persecution of Christians is now “worse than at any time in history,” according to a report by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, which states that not only are Christians more persecuted than any other faith group, they are also experiencing the worst forms of persecution.
Russia, Saudi Arabia close to sign S-400 missile deal
Russia and Saudi Arabia are on track to sign a contract on supplies of Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense missiles to Riyadh, the Interfax news agency cited an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin as saying on Friday.
U.S. approves possible $15 billion sale of THAAD missiles to Saudi Arabia
The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of a THAAD anti-missile defense system to Saudi Arabia at an estimated cost of $15 billion, the Pentagon said on Friday, citing Iran among regional threats.
US votes against UN resolution condemning the death penalty for gay sex – joining Iraq and Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration has come under fire for joining with Iraq and Saudia Arabia on voting against a UN resolution condemning the death penalty for gay sex.
Saudi Arabia says that calls for internationalization of holy sites ‘a declaration of war’
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister called what he said was Qatar’s demand for an internationalization of the Muslim hajj pilgrimage a declaration of war against the kingdom, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television said on Sunday, but Qatar said it never made such a call.