Tag: Saudi Arabia

Saudi, Bahrain target Iran at Arab League meeting

by Bassem Aboualabass Agence France Pressse CAIRO, Egypt (AFP) — Saudi Arabia warned Sunday that it would not stand idly by in the face of Iranian “aggression,” as Bahrain said the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement was “in total control” of Lebanon. The foreign ministers of both Gulf states spoke at an extraordinary general meeting of the Arab League at its Cairo headquarters, called by Riyadh. The meeting comes as tensions soar between regional arch-rivals Saudi Arabia […]

Lebanon’s Hariri says he’s on way to Riyadh airport: Tweet

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) – Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who is expected to fly to Paris, said late Friday he was on his way to the airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh where he has been since his shock resignation “To say that I am held up in Saudi Arabia and not allowed to leave the country is a lie. I am on the way to the airport,” Hariri tweeted. Lebanese President Michel Aoun had accused Saudi […]

‘Very disappointed’ UN chief urges Saudis to lift Yemen blockade

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “very much disappointed” that the Saudi-led coalition is refusing to lift its blockade of Yemen and has written directly to Riyadh’s representative, his spokesman said Thursday. The coalition shut down Yemen’s sea and air ports as well as borders on November 6 in response to a missile attack by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels near Riyadh. After repeated appeals by UN officials were ignored, Guterres […]

In Saudi visit, Lebanese patriarch backs PM Hariri over resignation

by Anuj Chopra Agence France Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — The head of Lebanon’s Maronite church, in a historic visit to Saudi Arabia, voiced support Tuesday for prime minister Saad Hariri over his resignation, which tipped his country into crisis. Beshara Rai arrived in Riyadh on Monday in the first trip to the kingdom by a senior Lebanese figure since Hariri quit on November 4 in a shock announcement from the Saudi capital. Hariri […]

Resigned PM says he is ‘free’, will return to Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AFP) — Saad Hariri pledged on Sunday he would return to Lebanon from Saudi Arabia “very soon,” in his first television interview since his shock resignation as prime minister eight days ago. In an exclusive interview from Riyadh with his party’s Future TV, Hariri brushed aside rumours that he was under de facto house arrest in Saudi Arabia. “I am free here. If I want to travel tomorrow, I will,” Hariri told journalist […]

Saudi Arabia says 201 people detained in anti-graft swoop

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Arabia said Thursday 201 people are being held for questioning in a massive anti-graft swoop on the elite, with at least $100 billion estimated to have been lost through corruption and embezzlement over several decades. “A total of 208 individuals have been called in for questioning so far. Of those 208 individuals, seven have been released without charge,” the information ministry said in a statement. Billionaire tycoon Prince Al-Waleed […]

Saudi Aramco signs energy deals worth nearly $4.5 billion

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi Aramco on Thursday signed agreements worth nearly $4.5 billion with multinational oil and gas contractors, in what the company dubbed as an effort to diversify the economy. The deals were signed with companies including Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas, Italy’s Saipem, China Petroleum Pipeline and Abu Dhabi’s National Petroleum Construction. The investments “reflect our concerted effort… to diversify our economy, promote local manufacturing, support a sustainable environment and strengthen our business […]

Macron arrives in Riyadh on surprise visit

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) –French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Saudi Arabia late Thursday for talks with the kingdom’s powerful crown prince on the rising tensions between Tehran and Riyadh. Macron, on his debut visit to the Middle East, made the surprise announcement at a news conference in Dubai that he would meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His arrival was confirmed to AFP by the French embassy in Riyadh. Macron’s talks with Prince Mohammed […]

Global stock rally pauses on Saudi tensions, profit-taking

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Wall Street’s vaunted Dow Jones Industrial Average was a lonely bright spot in the West on Tuesday as stocks were mainly down following an Asian rally. European equities markets retreated on worries over simmering Middle East tensions, sparked by a Saudi Arabian political crackdown that sent oil prices soaring on Monday. Wall Street opened higher and the Dow just barely scraped into positive territory at the close of trading, […]

Oil surges as Saudi Arabia, Iran trade accusations

SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) — Oil prices made rapid gains overnight as geopolitical tensions surged between Saudi Arabia and Iran, sparking fears of a conflict that could disrupt supplies from two major producers. But prices retreated slightly in early Asian trade on Tuesday as traders engaged in profit-taking after both products reached levels not seen in over two years. “Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia look to be a major disruptor with markets concerned that supply […]

Trump says Saudi purge targets were ‘milking’ country

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump said he had “great confidence” in an anti-corruption sweep by Saudi Arabia that has seen dozens of high-profile political and business figures arrested. “I have great confidence in King Salman and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, they know exactly what they are doing,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Some of those they are harshly treating have been ‘milking’ their country for years!” added the US president, […]

Saudi-led airstrikes hit Sanaa following Houthi ballistic missile attack

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) — Saudi-led coalition warplanes waged a series of airstrikes on military targets in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, just few hours after Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile towards the Saudi capital Riyadh. The warplanes hit several military targets inside Sanaa, including the parade viewing stand in al-Sabeen Square, the nearby presidential palace, the national security headquarters, interior ministry and air defense bases […]