Egypt: limited protests took place amid the celebration of Sinai Liberation Day

Protests against the Red Sea Islands deal with Saudi Arabia
held in Cairo on Monday
(Image: Ahram Online)

Limited protests against the recent government's agreement with Saudi Arabia over the Red Sea Tiran and Sanafir islands took place in Cairo on Monday, 25 April, amid the celebrations of the Sinai Liberation Day.

Several political groups and activists have been planning the protests on the Sinai Liberation Day en days after several thousand people have gathered in Downtown Cairo to protest the decision of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the country's government regarding the new maritime borders with Saudi Arabia and handing the Red Sea islands to the sovereignty of the kingdom. The rallies were called "Land Friday" though they were dispersed by the security forces, as many activists and participants of the demonstrations were arrested.

Egypt: Armed Forces deploy troops nationwide ahead of the protests planned on Sinai Liberation Day on Monday

Egyptian military troops deployed on the streets of the cities
nationwide ahead of the Monday protests
(Image: Ahram-Online)

Ahram-Online -CAIRO: Activists have set Monday, which marks Sinai Liberation Day, for protests against the recent government announcement that it was acknowledging Saudi ownership of two Red Sea islands under Egyptian control.

Egypt's military said on Sunday that it is deploying forces to secure major public buildings on Monday, which has been set by activists as a date for protests over the recent Saudi island deal.

The army said in a statement that its forces will be deployed around “vital targets and major institutions,” adding that security patrols and military police forces will be stationed in major areas nationwide.

Egypt's MP decide that Red Sea islands deal with Saudi Arabia needs review but parliament, not a referendum

Egypt's Parliament
(Image: Reuters)

Ahram Online - CAIRO: MPs said that Egypt's handing over of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia does not need to be put to a public referendum, only parliamentary review.

After a meeting with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday, a large number of Egypt's MPs said a new technical deal aimed at redrawing the maritime borders between Egypt and Saudi Arabia does not need to be voted on in a public referendum.

Saudi Arabia to recognize Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty as a part of the deal for the Red Sea islands

Tiran Island
(Image: Wikipedia)

HAARETZ - TelAviv: Egypt informed Israel in advance of its intention to transfer the sovereignty over two islands in the Gulf of Aqaba to Saudi Arabia, Haaretz has learned. 

During the talks with Egypt, Israel made clear that it doesn't oppose the move as long as Israeli ships are guaranteed freedom of navigation in the area, and as long the rest of the commitments Egypt made as part of the peace agreement with Israel are honored. Egypt confirmed to Israel and the U.S. that the treaty will indeed be honored, and the Saudi government later made a public announcement to that effect. 

Saudi King Salman arrived in Egypt for a "historic visit"

Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Egyptian President
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
(Image: Daily Mail)

Saudi Arabia's King Salman Bin Abdel-Aziz arrives in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, 7 April, in his first official visit to the biggest Northern African state since he ascended to the Saudi throne in January 2015.

The visit of Saudi monarch is expect to last for five days and was already called a "historic visit" by both Egyptian and Saudi Arabian officials.

Saudi King Salman was greeted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi upon his arrival on Thursday. Egyptian President and Saudi King had an official meeting and a plenary session on Friday, 8 April, aimed to discuss regional political, economic and social issues and also bilateral relations and economic cooperation. During Salman's visit to Egypt the heads of two states are expected to sign four funding accords worth roughly $22 billion, and these accords are expected to come into effect on Friday.

Saudi Arabia to take part in any US-led ground operation against ISIS

Saudi Arabian Armed Forces
(Image: RT)

Reuters - DUBAI: Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the U.S.-led alliance decides to start such operations, an adviser to the Saudi defence minister said.

"The kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against Islamic State) may agree to carry out in Syria," Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, who is also the spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen, told the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV in an interview.

Geneva peace talks on Syria are temporary suspended by UN

Syrian peace talks held in Geneva, Switzerland
(Image: DW)

The UN mediated peace talk on Syria being held in Geneva, Switzerland, were postponed on Wednesday, 3 February. The peace talks are aimed at ending the five year long devastating civil war in Syria which left more than 260 000 people killed and forced nearly half of Syrian citizens to leave the country. The civil war also fuelled rise of the extremist ISIS group in the region.

The peace talks were suspended by the UN and in accordance with the statements of the Syrian oppositional groups due to the continuous attacks of the Syrian regime forces against the rebel held territories what prevents the humanitarian aid and supplies to be delivered on the besieged territories.

Syria peace talks: UN unanimously backs peace plan

UN Security Council session
(Image: Reuters)

UN Security Council has unanimously adopted resolution outlining a peace process in the war torn Syria. The 15-member Council has reached an agreement of this issue during the UN Security Council's session held on Friday, 18 December.

The resolution endorses peace talks to be held between the Syrian government and the opposition scheduled for early January 2016 and a ceasefire to be implemented for the time of the talks and further.

Saudi Arabia announced formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition against ISIS

The column of Saudi Arabian military forces
(Image: RT)

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday, 15 December, formation of a 34-state Muslim military coalition to combat ISIS and terrorist activities in general, according to a joint statement published on Tuesday on Saudi state news agency SPA.

Saudi Arabian Defense Minister, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, declared in his official statement that "currently every Muslim country is fighting terrorist individually, so coordinating efforts is very important", that is why the above mentioned countries with the Muslim majority took a decision to form a broad military coalition and military alliance led by Saudi Arabia, with the joint operations centre based in El-Riyadh to coordinate and support all the joint military operations against ISIS and other terrorist groups and organizations as well.

Saudi Arabia: First women elected to the Councils

Saudi Arabian lady casting her ballot during the recent election
(Image: The Telegraph)

New York Times -RIYADH: In elections that allowed Saudi women to vote and run for office for the first time, more than a dozen women won seats on local councils in different parts of the country, officials said on Sunday.

While the move was hailed by some as a new step into the public sphere by women in this religious and conservative monarchy, the local councils have limited powers and the new female members will make up less than 1 percent of the elected council members nationwide.

Saudi Arabia: More than 700 people died in a crash occurred during the Hajj in Mina, near Mecca

Ambulance cars were streaming to the site of crash in Mina, near
Mecca
(Image: The WSJ)

REUTERS: MINA, SAUDI ARABIA: At least 717 pilgrims from around the world were killed on Thursday in a crush outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi authorities said, in the worst disaster to strike the annual haj pilgrimage for 25 years.

According to Saudi Ministry of Health death toll of the crash raises to 769 persons on Saturday, 26 September, as some people with serious injuries died at the hospitals.

At least 863 others were injured. Saudi King Salman said he had ordered a review of haj plans after the disaster, in which two large groups of pilgrims arrived together at a crossroads in Mina, a few kilometers east of Mecca, on their way to performing the "stoning of the devil" ritual at Jamarat.

Saudi Arabia: scores of people died in Mecca Grand Mosque from the falling crane

Crane collapsed in the Grand Mosque in Mecca
(Image: BBC)

At least 107 people were killed when a construction crane crashed in Grand Mosque of Mecca, according to Saudi Health Ministry and Civil Defense Authority.

More than 230 were reported to be injured, some of them are in extremely serious condition, so the death toll could possibly rise.

The incident happened when one of the huge construction cranes collapsed inside the Mosque building, falling down and destroying the roof. The crane collapsed due to the strong winds and sand storms raging in the Western parts of Saudi Arabia in the last few days.

Egypt officially opens the New Suez Canal

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi with the child during the
ceremony
(Image: Voice of America)

Egypt officially opened a major extension of the Suez Canal on Thursday, 6 August. The Canal’s extension deepens the main waterway providing ships with a 35 km channel, parallel to Suez Canal.

Official ceremony of inauguration of the New Suez Canal was planned in advance and was held on Thursday with the unprecedented security measures due to the situation in the country.

At the inauguration ceremony, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi appeared first in his military uniform, welcoming the guests and high officials and delegates from the foreign countries. He arrived in the helicopter and then welcomed the guests aboard a historic royal yacht.

ISIS bombing of a Shia mosque in Kuwait left dozens of dead

Kuwaiti Shia mosque after deadly bombing
(Image: BBC)

A deadly bombing was carried out on Friday, 26 June, inside of the Shia mosque in Kuwaiti capital, Kuwait. An explosion occurred during the Friday midday prayer, when the mosque was packed with the worshippers, as there is also a time of a Holy month of Ramadan for the Muslims.

A suicide bomber has reportedly entered the mosque and joined the worshippers after he blew off his explosive device, killing and injuring dozens of people.

According to the Kuwaiti Health Minister Ali Al-Obaidi, at least 27 people were killed and 222 wounded in an attack. Many of those wounded are in a critical condition. Local hospitals were put in state of emergency in order to deal with the injured, as the doctors call on people to donate blood.

Saudi Arabia: another Shia mosque hit by suicide bomber

Another bomb went off this Friday in Saudi Arabia's mosque
in the city of Dammam
(Image: Al-Jazeera)

Another bomb explosion carried out by a suicide bomber hit Saudi Arabia’s Shia mosque, located in the city of Dammam on Friday, 29 May, during the noon prayers, when the mosque was full of people.

An explosion reportedly went off in the parking area in front of the mosque, when security forces and volunteers securing the mosque entrance stopped a suspicious man attempting to enter the mosque. The man was dressed up as a woman and was prevented to enter the building, so he detonated the bomb right at the parking place.

Saudi Arabia: Mosque bombing left at least 21 people dead

Bombed Shia mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia
(Image: Muslim News)

A massive explosion hit the Shia Ali Ibn Abi Taleb Mosque, located in one of the villages of the Saudi Arabia eastern province of Gatif (Al-Qadeeh), left at least 21 people killed and more than 90 people wounded, according to Saudi Health Ministry.

The attack occurred during the Friday noon prayers, when the mosque was packed with the praying people. An explosion hit the mosque almost at the beginning of the prayer, said the eye witnesses. The terrorist attack was carried out by a young suicide bomber, who was wearing the explosives laden belt under his clothes and detonated the bomb while being inside of the mosque.

Arab coalition continues its massive military operation in Yemen

Saudi Arabia-led strikes against Houthis in Yemen. The city of
Aden
(Image: Haaretz)

Saudi Arabia-lead coalition continues massive military operation in Yemen dubbed “Storm of Resolve”. Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates have joined this military operation against Shia militants Houthi, apparently backed by Iran and loyal to the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was overthrown after more than a year of deadly uprising.

Saudi and Arab allies warplanes continue aerial strikes of Yemeni capital Sanaa, where the militants have their strongholds, and of the neighboring areas as well, striking Houthis’ military bases and facilities including the missiles and rockets storages.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi declares readiness to form a joint Arab military force

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during Arab League summit
(Image: Yahoo News)

At the closing session of an Arab League summit held in Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi declared that member-states agreed in principle to create a joint military force aimed to deal with the regional security issues. According to the statements of the session membership in this joint military force will be voluntary.

In addition to that special team, led by the high level Arab generals and military professionals, will be created to study means of forming this joint force and its functioning in the region as well, what becomes much more important considering the fact of growing insecurity and danger of numerous military conflicts in Libya, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and other countries as well.

Saudi Arabia and Arab allies start massive military offensive in Yemen, as Yemeni President flees the country and Houthi militants advance

Yemeni capital Sanaa after Saudi Arabia-led strikes
(Image: The National)

Situation in a Gulf country Yemen remains extremely tense and dangerous, threatening to turn into a full-scale war, as Saudi Arabia and its Arab Sunni allies started massive military operation in Yemen against the Shia Houthi militants, seeking to oust Yemeni President Adel-Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Shia Houthi militias, apparently backed and supported by Iran, have gained control over significant territories in Yemen, including Yemeni capital of Sanaa, which they have seized back in September 2014, forcing Yemeni President Adel-Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the city in February 2015 to the Southern coastal city of Aden, where he established his government’s headquarters. Before fleeing the city, Yemeni President and his Cabinet of Ministers were forced to resign under the pressure of Houthis, but once they fled the city they recalled their resignations, claiming to remain legitimate government of the state.