RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Egypt have agreed to develop the role of the Saudi-Egyptian Parliamentary Friendship Committee via more mutual visits and coordination on regional and international issues.
This was announced after a meeting in Riyadh between Abdullah Al-Asheikh, Shoura Council speaker, and Ali Abdel-Aal, speaker of the Egyptian Council of Representatives.
The agreement came on the heels of a meeting between King Salman and Abdel-Aal at Al-Yamamah Palace on Wednesday, during which they reviewed relations between the two countries.
King Salman and Abdel-Aal also discussed cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the parliamentary field. Al-Asheikh attended the meeting.
Abdel-Aal said: “We are pleased to meet King Salman, who praised Saudi-Egyptian relations and the continuous coordination between the two leaderships in all fields and issues in the region.”
Former Shoura Council member Sadaka Yahya Fadil on Thursday said bilateral ties have benefited both countries, which are united against terrorism and support each other in all areas.
He urged Egyptian businessmen to visit the Kingdom and witness the “promising” Vision 2030 reform plan.
“The relationship is historical. Saudi Arabia is tied to Egypt and Egypt is tied to the Kingdom socially, politically and culturally, among others,” Fadil said, describing Saudis and Egyptians as one people living in two countries. “There’s a lot we can do together,” he added.
“The visit of the Egyptian Council of Representatives is another sign of the steady friendship between the two sides. The two brotherly countries always sign agreements if a visit takes place.”
Saudi Arabia and Egypt have a united position on the global stage, making them stronger and listened to on international issues, Fadil said, adding that both countries are members of the International Parliamentary Union (IPU).
“At the IPU there are many issues discussed, and Saudi Arabia and Egypt need support for their ideas and interests. Egypt has always been a supporter of Saudi Arabia and vice versa,” he said.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt agree to boost parliamentary friendship committee
Saudi Arabia, Egypt agree to boost parliamentary friendship committee
Saudi Cabinet condemns ‘blatant’ Iranian aggression; affirms Kingdom’s right to respond to threats
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has warned it reserves the “full right” to respond to Iranian aggression following a series of “blatant and cowardly” strikes targeting the capital and the Eastern Province.
The warning came during a late-night Cabinet session on Tuesday, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman via videoconference, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
During the session, the Cabinet “reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s full solidarity with the brotherly countries whose territories were subjected to blatant Iranian aggression”, signaling a united front against regional threats.
The session followed a dramatic escalation of hostilities, including a direct drone attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh.
Major General Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that while air defenses intercepted multiple threats, the embassy compound sustained a “limited fire and minor material damage.”
General Al-Malki further announced that Saudi forces successfully intercepted and destroyed eight additional drones targeting the cities of Riyadh and Al-Kharj early Tuesday morning.
In a sharp rebuke of the embassy strike, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) cited a flagrant violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“The repetition of this flagrant Iranian behavior... will push the region toward further escalation,” the Ministry stated, underscoring that these provocations occurred despite Riyadh’s explicit policy of not allowing its airspace or territory to be used as a launchpad for strikes against Iran.
Global condemnation and solidarity
The Cabinet expressed deep appreciation for the wave of international support as world leaders condemned Tehran’s “indiscriminate” behavior.
In a joint show of force, the US and GCC member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) along with Jordan stood united, labeling the strikes a “dangerous escalation” and reaffirming a collective right to self-defense.
Leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and India. — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi — voiced strong solidarity with the Kingdom. The UK government confirmed its forces are engaged in “defensive actions” to maintain regional stability.
Amid the heightened military tension, the Cabinet reviewed the Kingdom’s hospitality efforts for GCC citizens currently stranded at Saudi airports due to regional airspace closures. The crown prince reaffirmed that the state would mobilize all capabilities to support brotherly nations in any measures they take to restore regional peace and stability.
