Arab Coalition says it shot down Iranian-made drone in Yemen

Soldiers with a military coalition in Yemen backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE gather outside a hospital in Yemen's flashpoint port city of Hodeida, on January 22, 2019. (AFP)
Updated 04 February 2019
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Arab Coalition says it shot down Iranian-made drone in Yemen

JEDDAH: The Arab Coalition fighting in Yemen said it has shot down an Iranian-made drone near Sanaa. 

Speaking at a press conference, coalition spokesperson Colonel Turki Al-Maliki made the remarks whilst showing pictures of the drone that had been shot down.

Al-Maliki said they also targeted drone experts and depots for drones near Sanaa.

More pictures were displayed of the coalition’s efforts to ease humanitarian aid operations in war-torn Yemen.


Syria begins mine clearance at UNESCO-listed Ruwayha site in Idlib

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Syria begins mine clearance at UNESCO-listed Ruwayha site in Idlib

  • Teams are conducting field surveys and clearing minefields to support restoration efforts and provide a safe environment for visitors

DUBAI: Engineering teams have begun removing mines and unexploded ordnance from the archaeological site of Ruwayha in southern Idlib, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported on Tuesday.

The operation is part of a broader plan by the Idlib Directorate of Antiquities to protect and preserve historical sites across the Jabal Al-Zawiya region, which includes more than ten locations listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Ruwayha is part of the UNESCO-listed “Ancient Villages of Northern Syria,” a collection of well-preserved Byzantine-era settlements dating back to the 4th and 6th centuries.

Hassan Al-Ismail, director of antiquities in Idlib, said the project aims to clear war remnants, document damage caused during the conflict, and allow local communities to safely access the sites.

“The primary goal is to remove mines and war remnants from archaeological sites and enable the local community to return, while revitalizing domestic tourism and reopening the country to visitors,” Al-Ismail told SANA.

The work is being carried out in cooperation with the Heritage for Peace organization and under the supervision of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, with coordination from the Ministry of Defense, which deployed specialized engineering units.