Iraq
The Iran-backed groups shaping Iraq
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have struck Iran-backed Shi'ite armed groups in Iraq, which the allies said were responsible for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
Saudi King Salman chairs cabinet meeting, state news agency says
1 min Mena Today
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, state media said, for the first time since a royal decree issued by him on Aug. 8 allowing the cabinet to convene in the absence of the king, crown prince or both.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters
Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, state media said, for the first time since a royal decree issued by him on Aug. 8 allowing the cabinet to convene in the absence of the king, crown prince or both.
Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman chaired the Aug. 13 cabinet session.
The 88-year-old king of the world's biggest oil exporter, a major U.S. ally in the Middle East, received medical care for lung inflammation in May. Prince Mohammed later postponed an official visit to Japan due to the king's health.
The Aug. 8 decree allowed the cabinet to convene without the king or the crown prince or his deputies. It said that in their absence it would be chaired by the eldest member of the cabinet who is a descendant of Salman's father King Abdulaziz Al Saud, founder of the Saudi state.
Reporting by Ahmed Elimam
Related
Iraq
US and Saudi Arabia launch strikes on Iran's Iraq allies
The United States launched on Wednesday its first airstrikes in the Middle East since suspending its bombing campaign last week, hitting Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq jointly with Saudi Arabia, while Tehran spurned an Omani plan to manage the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi defences down drones fired from Iraq
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones that attempted to target oil facilities in the kingdom's Eastern Province.
Subscribe to our newsletter
