RIYADH: With the introduction of the latest and the most advanced fighter jets, the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is set to acquire a new cutting edge in its defense of the homeland and the region.
King Salman will patronize the induction of the F-15SA into the RSAF during the 50th anniversary on Wednesday of the King Faisal Air Academy (KFAA). The event will also see the graduation of the academy’s 91st group of students.
Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has frequently spoken about boosting military and defense capabilities. The introduction of the F-15SA fighter aircraft into the air force is part of that goal.
In addition to boosting military and defense capabilities by upgrading the armed forces — notably those of the RSAF — Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that qualifying and training pilots and co-pilots, as well as improving the armed forces’ capabilities, would enable them to perform more efficiently.
The newly obtained F-15SA fighter aircraft are among the most advanced in the world.
The air force has received special attention from the country’s leadership since the early 1970s. The RSAF was, and is, involved in critical missions which have made it one of the most advanced air forces in the region.
The Kingdom’s strategic partners rely on Saudi participation in the war on terror and Saudi Arabia is seen as an influential, if not the most influential, partner in the region and the Muslim world. Saudi Arabia is a defender of neighboring Arab countries against potential aggression from destabilizing powers such as Iran.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia formed the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) which is made up of 40 Muslim countries. A fortnight ago, Riyadh hosted the chiefs of staff of 14 countries from the global coalition against Daesh in an attempt to improve and step up coordination.
Despite the turmoil in the Arab world since 2011, including in neighboring Iraq and Yemen, Saudi Arabia has been determined to constantly upgrade its armed forces, particularly the RSAF. Daesh and other terrorist and militant groups, some supported by Iran, are trying to take advantage of the turmoil to act against certain countries, including Saudi Arabia and its allies.
The Kingdom “has a particular importance in the region and the wider world,” said Sir John Jenkins, director of the Middle East Office of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), and former UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia. “This is partly because of its economic weight and its importance within Islam.”
There is also a realization that Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of the fight against violent extremism, he added.
Royal Saudi Air Force flies high with new fighter jets
Royal Saudi Air Force flies high with new fighter jets
Islamic affairs ministry conducts more than 176,000 field visits in first half of Ramadan
- Visits are to ensure quality of services provided in mosques and their readiness to serve worshippers during the holy month
RIYADH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance conducted 176,971 field visits to mosques and prayer halls in the Kingdom during the first half of Ramadan.
The visits aimed to ensure the quality of services provided in mosques and their readiness to serve worshippers during the holy month, according to the ministry.
The ministry in a press release explained that the visits covered more than 84,000 mosques and prayer halls in the Kingdom and were carried out by over 7,000 field inspectors.
The goal was to assess the level of services provided to worshippers, verify the facilities, and identify and address any issues or needs of the mosques promptly to ensure a suitable environment for worshippers.
The visits included monitoring the adherence of imams, preachers, and muezzins to regulations and instructions, verifying the readiness of mosque facilities and the proper functioning of sound systems and external loudspeakers, and overseeing the cleaning and maintenance work carried out by contracted companies to ensure they were fulfilling their obligations according to approved standards.
The inspections revealed a high level of adherence to the ministry’s directives and the comprehensiveness of services provided in mosques and prayer halls.
The inspections focused on monitoring muezzins’ adherence to the Umm Al-Qura calendar for the call to prayer for isha and the performance of prayers, as well as the organization of iftar meals for those fasting in mosques according to established regulations and instructions.
The inspections also monitored imams’ compliance with the prohibition against filming prayers on social media, while continuing educational lessons and lectures for raising awareness among worshippers about the rulings of fasting and night prayers.
These inspections are part of the fieldwork carried out by the ministry in various regions to ensure the upkeep of mosques and to enhance the level of services provided, thus enabling worshippers to perform their religious duties in a serene and spiritually uplifting atmosphere during Ramadan.
