Saudi Arabia
The latest news and views about Saudi Arabia
Report: Saudi courts hand down death sentences to 15 political dissidents
An international human rights organization has confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s courts have sentenced more than a dozen anti-Riyadh activists to death following “unfair trials and based on confessions coerced through torture and ill-treatment.”
Officials say US mulling reduction of Saudi military aid over oil dispute
The White House is considering rolling back military aid to Saudi Arabia as a punishment for the decision by OPEC+, which is de facto led by Riyadh, to reduce oil production, US officials have told the news network NBC.
Families of 9/11 victims launch fresh campaign against Saudi-backed tournament
Family members of the victims of the 9/11 attacks, have launched a fresh campaign against LIV Golf, with the Saudi-backed circuit to hold a tournament at Trump National Doral Golf Club set to begin on Friday.
Saudi crown prince mocked Biden in private: Report
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s 37-year-old de facto ruler, has reportedly mocked US President Joe Biden in private while questioning his mental state, according to a report.
MbS not attending Arab summit on doctors’ advice
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will not attend an upcoming Arab summit in Algeria in compliance with doctors’ recommendations to avoid travel, the Algerian presidency has announced.
Retired US generals take lucrative jobs with Saudi Arabia
Hundreds of retired US military personnel have taken top jobs with foreign governments, mostly in countries known for political repression and human rights abuses, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Reports say Biden re-evaluating US-Saudi relationship
US President Joe Biden has reportedly said it’s time for the United States to rethink its relationship with Saudi Arabia, while also defending his recent visit to the Arab country.
Top senator proposes ‘freeze’ on US-Saudi cooperation over oil dispute
Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) has urged the US government to freeze its cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including in the military and security fields, due to Riyadh’s decision to cut oil production
Mohammed bin Salman named PM of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been named the kingdom’s prime minister in a cabinet reshuffle ordered by King Salman, according to a royal decree published by the official Saudi Press Agency.
Four injured in suicide bombing in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah
A man wanted by Saudi security forces killed himself and wounded four others by detonating an explosive belt in Jeddah.
Report: Saudi coalition carries out fresh rounds of strikes on Yemen in violations of truce
The Saudi-led coalition has reportedly violated the UN-brokered Yemen ceasefire 160 times in the last 24 hours by conducting more air raids on the war-ridden country.
US approves multibillion-dollar arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE
The United States has approved massive arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates worth more than $5 billion. It comes amid criticism of the Arab states' ongoing military aggression in Yemen which has inflicted heavy civilian casualties.
French rights groups: Saudi crown prince accomplice in Khashoggi murder
Rights groups have filed a criminal complaint with the Judicial Court of Paris, asking French authorities to investigate Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's involvement in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Biden disputes Saudi official’s account of meeting with MbS
US President Joe Biden hints the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia was not truthful in his account of the US leader’s meeting with the kingdom’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MbS).
Expert: Connecting Iraq to Saudi electricity network aimed at distancing it from Iran
The director of Iraq’s al-Ittihad Strategic Research Center has said connecting the country to Saudi Arabia’s electricity network will not solve any problem and it’s only a political move to distance Iraq from Iran.
Biden says he raised Khashoggi murder with MbS
US President Joe Biden says he raised the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and that he told the Saudi leader he believed him to be responsible for Khashoggi’s death.
Biden’s tour of region insignificant to us: Iran MP
An Iranian parliamentarian has shrugged off US President Joe Biden’s visit to the West Asia region, saying “This trip is not important to us.”
Nasrallah says Biden to push Saudis for increasing oil production
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said US President Joe Biden is visiting the region with the aim of getting Saudi leaders to pump new crude supplies into the world oil market.
Report: US mulls lifting weapons sale ban to Saudi Arabia
The administration of US President Joe Biden is discussing the possible lifting of its ban on US sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, but any final decision is expected to hinge on whether Riyadh makes progress toward ending the war in neighboring Yemen, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Biden defends Saudi Arabia trip amid criticism ovor Riyadh rights record
US President Joe Biden has defended his plan to visit Saudi Arabia, saying engagement with Riyadh is paramount for countering “Russia’s aggression,” achieving “greater stability” in the Middle East, and ensuring Washington’s ability to “outcompete China.”
White House: US officials discussing air defense capabilities with Arab nations
US officials are discussing air defense capabilities with the Persian Gulf leaders in the face of "a threat from Iran", a White House spokesman says.
Report: Saudi dissidents ‘sexually assaulted and murdered’ in prison
Prisoners held for opposing the government in Saudi Arabia are being murdered, sexually assaulted and inflicted with “sheer” brutality, according to a new report.
Report: US developing ‘normalization roadmap’ for Saudi Arabia, Israel
The White House has been working on a “road map for normalization” between Israel and Saudi Arabia ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East next month, according to four US sources briefed on the issue.
MbS visits Turkey for first time since Khashoggi murder
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Turkey on Wednesday for the first time in years for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan aimed at fully normalising ties that were ruptured after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Analyst: Biden using Saudi trip as platform to win 2nd term
US President Joe Biden, who as a presidential candidate had vowed to make Saudi Arabia a “pariah”, is pursuing a multi-pronged agenda by embarking on a controversial trip to the kingdom, an Iranian political analyst says.