Houthis continue to reject peace efforts, attack Saudi Arabia: Defense Ministry
March 26, 2021, 10:44 am

Houthis continue to reject peace efforts, attack Saudi Arabia: Defense Ministry

File photo of Saudi Arabia's flag in Riyadh. (Supplied)

The Iran-backed Houthi militia’s attack on a petroleum distribution terminal in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan confirm the group’s rejection of all peace efforts put forth by the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) cited the Ministry of Defense as saying on Friday.

The Houthi’s attack on the distribution station on Thursday night was “cowardly,” and did not only target Saudi Arabia and its economic facilities, but also targeted the global economy, the security of oil exports, and the stability of oil supplies, the ministry’s spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki said.

The attack also threatened the freedom of navigation and international trade, he added.

A fire erupted at 09:08 pm local time at a petroleum products distribution terminal after it was hit by a projectile, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Energy announced on Thursday.

No casualties were reported.

Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia proposed a new peace initiative to end the ongoing conflict in Yemen between the internationally-recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthis.

The new initiative includes a nationwide ceasefire that will be implemented under the supervision of the United Nations, the Kingdom’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan said during a press conference in Riyadh on Monday.

“It is up to the Houthis now, and we are ready to go today. We hope that we can have a ceasefire immediately. The Houthis must decide whether to put their interests first or Iran’s interests first,” Prince Faisal had said.

The Saudi Royal Air Defense Forces and the Saudi Royal Air Force were able to intercept and destroy eight booby-trapped drones that were launched by the Houthi militia to deliberately target civilians, al-Maliki said, according to SPA.

The Iran-backed group also launched three ballistic missiles towards the Kingdom, one of which fell after it was launched from Yemen’s Sanaa in the al-Jawf governorate, according to al-Maliki.

The two other ballistic missiles landed in two uninhabited border areas, he added.

source: Tamara Abueish

Levant

Indian farmers squat on railway tracks to mark four months of protests ‘No to Islamic Republic’: Iran opposition seeks to unify in anti-regime campaign

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”