Middle East

Makkah, Aug 27: Hajj is not a platform for politics or sectarianism, but for unity among Muslims, the head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, told a Hajj symposium in Makkah. The symposium aims to promote peace during Hajj, and the Kaaba and Prophet’s Mosque are symbols of peace, he said. The world is suffering from terrorism, violence and

High above the Arabian Gulf, an Iranian drone crosses the path of American fighter jets lining up to land on the USS Nimitz. The drone buzzes across the sky at least a mile above the massive aircraft carrier and is spotted by the fighters. It is unarmed. But for the senior Navy commanders on the ship, the presence of the enemy drone so close is worrying. Their biggest fear is the surveillance

Qatar says its ambassador will return to Tehran more than 20 months after he was recalled in protest over the ransacking of Saudi Arabia's missions by protesters angry at Riyadh's execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric. In a statement released on Thursday, the Qatari foreign ministry said its ambassador would "return to resume his diplomatic duties", as Doha wanted to strengthen ties in all

Madinah, Aug 24: The security and service sectors involved in serving pilgrims in Madinah have intensified their efforts to provide the best services possible for visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque. More than 750,000 pilgrims reached the city up to Tuesday. All general security branches are participating in the implementation of the security plan for the Hajj season. Security forces in Madinah are

Aug 23: A month after protests over new Israeli security measures at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound rocked occupied East Jerusalem, the tension between the Old City's Palestinian residents and Israeli security forces is still simmering due to Israel's policy of collective punishment. According to prisoner rights group Addameer, 425 Palestinians were arrested from East Jerusalem in July alone. The

Iraq, Aug 20: Iraqi forces have launched a ground offensive to retake a key ISIL-held area in the northern part of the country, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said. "You either surrender, or die", Abadi said in a televised speech announcing the operation early on Sunday. He was addressing Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) fighters, who have been in control of the city

New York, Aug 19: Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was installing four cranes at three ports in Yemen to help boost humanitarian aid deliveries and was ready to assist with installing cranes at the key port of Hodeidah once it was under control of a neutral party. The Saudi mission at the UN said in a statement that the cranes were being installed at the ports of Aden, Mukalla and Al-Mokha — which

Jeddah, Aug 18: The first batch of 100 Qatari pilgrims crossed into Saudi Arabia through the Salwa border crossing, and was welcomed by officials. The pilgrims were allowed in without Hajj permits, and will be treated as guests of King Salman, with all expenses paid. The king instructed that transport be made available to them from Dammam and Al-Ahsa airports on Saudi Arabian Airlines free of

Jeddah, Aug 17: King Salman has approved a plan to open the Salwa border crossing to Qataris performing Hajj this year, the Saudi Press Agency said late Wednesday. The King has also ordered that a private aircraft belonging to the Saudi Arabian Airlines be dispatched to Doha Airport to fly all Qatari pilgrims to Jeddah. SPA said the plan was submitted to the King by Crown Prince Mohammed bin

Jeddah, Aug 16: A fire took hold of six buildings, three of which collapsed completely, in Jeddah’s historic center Tuesday, forcing 60 people to evacuate, officials said. “Rescue teams managed Tuesday evening to evacuate about 60 people to safe areas, while firefighters extinguished the blaze that broke out at the front of six buildings, all of which were populated and within the historic area,”