The withdrawal of US military assets from Saudi Arabia will not affect the kingdom’s defensive capabilities, the Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday.
“We have a strong understanding with our allies about the threat in the region,” said coalition spokesperson Gen Turki Al Maliki. “We do have the capability to defend our country."
Washington strengthened its military presence in the region after an attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, sending three advanced anti-aircraft missile batteries to the kingdom to shore up its air defences. But the US has now begun removing the missile batteries as it seeks to ease tensions with Iran.
Saudi air defences intercepted 17 drones launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday – the highest number of attacks launched towards the kingdom in a single day.
Earlier this month, the Houthis launched a drone laden with explosives that crashed into a girls’ school in Saudi Arabia’s Asir province. It did not detonate.
No injuries were reported but photos released by the Saudi Press Agency showed the school's damaged roof.
Greece announced in April that it will lend a Patriot missile battery to Saudi Arabia “to protect its critical energy infrastructure from terrorist threats”.
Even as the US withdraws troops and air defence systems from the kingdom, the two countries have continued to strengthen their military ties.
The Falcon Claws 4 training exercise between the Royal Saudi Land Forces and the US forces continued on Sunday, the Saudi Defence Ministry said.
The joint exercise began a week ago in the country’s north-west and aims to improve military co-operation, including in command and control and explosive ordnance disposal operations, SPA reported.
Meanwhile, the Yemeni military is continuing to hold back the Houthi assault on Marib province.
Yemeni army spokesman Brig Gen Mijalli on Saturday said 75 per cent of the Houthis’ combat capabilities on the outskirts of Marib have been destroyed.
He said the army has managed to achieve progress in Al Jouf Governorate by cutting off the militia group’s supply routes and recapturing territory, in addition to inflicting casualties and destroying most of their combat equipment.
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MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
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1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
