Arab coalition intercepts Houthi drone targeting Saudi Arabia

A drone Emirati armed forces say were used by Houthis in Yemen in battles against the coalition forces led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia in Abu Dhabi on June 19, 2018. (File/AFP)
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Updated 06 June 2021
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Arab coalition intercepts Houthi drone targeting Saudi Arabia

  • The drone was targeting Khamis Mushait
  • The Arab Parliament and the OIC, along with the UAE and Bahrain, strongly condemned the attack

RIYADH: The Arab coalition intercepted and destroyed late on Saturday a Houthi drone targeting Khamis Mushait south of Saudi Arabia, state TV Al-Ekhbariya reported.
We will take all necessary precautions to protect civilians as the Houthis continue to target them, the coalition added.
Last month, coalition air defenses intercepted an explosives-laden drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi militia toward Saudi Arabia late on Saturday, the alliance command center said.
In a statement carried by state TV Al-Ekhbariya, the coalition said the weaponized UAV was aimed at the southern Saudi city of Khamis Mushait along the border with Yemen.
It was the latest in a series of missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed militia against Saudi Arabia since the Kingdom spearheaded a coalition to restore the UN-recognized government in 2015. 
Ignoring calls to support the peace negotiations being brokered by the UN, the militia has also refused to end its offensive in the city of Marib.

The Arab Parliament strongly condemned the repeated attempts of the Houthi militia to target Khamis Mushait.
Speaker Adel Al-Asoumi affirmed the Arab Parliament’s full support for the Kingdom in all measures it takes to protect its stability and national security and preserve the safety of its citizens.
Al-Asoumi warned of the danger of the continuation of these terrorist attacks, which are a blatant defiance to international law.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also strongly condemned the Houthi attempt to target civilians in Khamis Mushait 
Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen said the OIC “supports all measures taken by the coalition forces to deal with the terrorist practices of the Houthi militia to protect civilians and civilian objects, in accordance with international humanitarian law.”
The UAE and Bahrain also issued similar statements and urged the international community to take an immediate and decisive stance to stop these repeated acts targeting vital and civil facilities, the security of the Kingdom, energy supplies and global economic stability.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that “the continuation of these attacks in recent times is a dangerous escalation, and new evidence of these militias’ efforts to undermine security and stability in the region.”


Rural health conference calls for sustainable, long-term plans

Updated 11 sec ago
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Rural health conference calls for sustainable, long-term plans

Hafr Al-Batin: The third Hafr Al-Batin International Rural Health Conference — which boasted the theme “From Interest to Strategy” — has concluded after featuring broad participation from specialists and health leaders.

The conference featured presentations by health clusters from across the Kingdom, highlighting their experiences in developing rural health services, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

It also showcased the latest solutions and technologies supporting rural healthcare, presented by medical companies and related entities.

Several agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed during the conference to strengthen integration and facilitate the exchange of expertise.

The conference concluded with recommendations emphasizing a shift from short-term attention to rural health toward the development of sustainable, long-term strategies.

These recommendations aim to improve quality of life and increase the efficiency of health services in rural areas, the SPA added.

Organizers affirmed that the event marked the beginning of a new implementation phase, focused on translating strategies and recommendations into practical initiatives to help establish a leading national model for efficient and sustainable rural healthcare.