Showing posts with label Saudi Arabia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saudi Arabia. Show all posts

Sunday, August 09, 2026

Saudi Prince Died at 29 — What the London Hotel Cameras Revealed

Aug 8, 2026 | In November 2025, a Saudi prince checked into a London hotel for what seemed like an ordinary visit. A week later, his life came to an unexpected end behind a locked door.

For eight months, the circumstances remained shrouded in silence, protected by royal discretion and family grief. But British law requires answers, and when the court files were finally opened, they revealed a story far more complex than anyone had imagined.

This is an account of privilege and vulnerability, of private struggles hidden behind palace walls, and of how one family faced not one but two devastating losses in a single year.

What really happened during those final days? What did the security footage reveal? And why does this story matter beyond the headlines?

The investigation uncovered medical records, missed appointments, and the last ordinary moments captured on camera. It painted a portrait of a young man who had sought help, completed treatment, and then vanished from his support network in the weeks before tragedy struck.

This is not a story of scandal or conspiracy, but of the fragile line between recovery and relapse, and the universal truth that wealth and lineage offer no immunity from personal demons.

The documentary approach taken here respects both the gravity of the loss and the lessons it holds for understanding the hidden pressures faced by those born into extraordinary circumstances.

Some scenes in this video are visual reconstructions created for illustrative purposes based on publicly reported information and the findings presented at the British coroner’s inquest. They are not authentic CCTV footage unless explicitly identified as such.


Saturday, August 08, 2026

Massive New Mideast Trip Wire as Sunni Muslim Nations Unite

August 7, 2026 | Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a landmark mutual-defense agreement, declaring that an armed attack on one nation will be treated as an attack on all three.

David Shuster breaks it down on Rebel HQ.



Un article connexe figure ici »

Wednesday, August 05, 2026

Houthis Threaten to Expand Red Sea Attacks, and Claim Strike on Saudi Tanker

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Saudi Arabia has not commented on the claim by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran and have vowed to close “all access routes” to Saudi oil shipments.

The Houthis, an Iranian-backed militia in Yemen, said Wednesday that they had struck a Saudi oil tanker in the northern Red Sea, and they threatened to intensify attacks there in an effort to close “all access routes” to Saudi oil shipments.

The Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said the group had fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi tanker called Wafa near the Saudi port city of Yanbu, though he did not say when the attack had occurred. The Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Houthis’ claim.

The Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi shipping last month. The territory they control in Yemen is near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow waterway that leads into the southern end of the Red Sea.

The group claimed on Wednesday to have attacked eight ships linked to Saudi Arabia since the blockade. The strikes have forced some shipping companies to reroute to the northern part of the Red Sea. The group’s latest threat suggested that it would pursue Saudi tankers there also, in waters heading toward the Suez Canal, another crucial artery for global trade. The global oil price, after two days of declines, jumped 1 percent on Wednesday, to about $80 a barrel. » | Euan Ward and Ismaeel Naar | Euan Ward reported from Beirut, Lebanon, and Ismaeel Naar from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.| Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Sunday, August 02, 2026

Trump Climbs Down on Iran Strikes after Saudi Alarm and Threats from Tehran

THE GUARDIAN: President claims delay is ‘subject to being able to rapidly make a deal’ as intervention by Saudi crown prince is revealed and Iran warns neighbours

Donald Trump said on Saturday night that the US would hold off on any new strikes on Iran provided a deal to end the months-long conflict is quickly reached – marking the president’s latest climbdown from extravagant threats to hit the Tehran regime hard.

The Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Saturday to express concerns about his strike plans, it was reported. Trump’s reversal also came after Iran threatened to retaliate decisively against its neighbours in the event of US strikes, while Kuwait reported being hit by Iranian drones on Saturday and two ships were attacked off Oman in the strait of Hormuz.

One source described as having knowledge of the Trump-Mohammed call told Axios that the Saudi crown prince had “urged Trump to de-escalate and refrain from launching the strikes”.

The Associated Press also reported the conversation, citing its own source. It said the Saudis were concerned that if the US targets Iran’s energy infrastructure or carries out massive strikes on other key infrastructure, Tehran could respond by carrying out similar attacks on the kingdom and other Gulf countries.

The crown prince during Saturday’s call sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he was weighing to take against Iran, the Associated Press reported. » | Guardian staff and agencies | Sunday, August 2, 2026

Donald Trump has got himself into a bind with this illegal and totally unnecessary war on Iran. He’s in a right old pickle! Netanyahu has clearly led him up the garden path! It seems to me that America has little hope of being victorious in this war. Victory is surely Iran’s for the taking.

Americans are past masters at starting wars, but winning the wars they have started is a very different story. — © Mark Alexander


ALSO READ THIS NYT ARTICLE:

Trump Says He Is Canceling Strikes on Iran, Pending a Rapid Deal: President Trump said he agreed to requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern countries to cancel planned attacks, citing what he said was progress in reaching the “perimeters of a deal” with Tehran. »

Thursday, July 30, 2026

US Launched Heavy Strikes as Iran War Escalates | The Fourcast Indicators

July 30, 2026 | The war between the United States and Iran has spread across the Middle East. Fresh strikes in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt, alongside escalating Houthi attacks on international shipping, have raised fears that the region is entering a dangerous new phase.

With Washington intensifying its military campaign and Iran relying on its network of allied militias, is this becoming a wider regional war?

On this episode of The Fourcast: Indicators, Matt Frei and Mark Urban are joined by Professor Madawi al-Rasheed from the London School of Economics Middle East Centre. They discuss why the Houthis are stepping up attacks, whether Saudi Arabia is being pulled into the fighting despite its efforts to avoid it, how Iraqi militias could become a new flashpoint, and whether the US has a long-term strategy, or is being drawn into another prolonged Middle East war.

Is there still a path to de-escalation, or are we witnessing the beginning of a conflict that could engulf the wider region?



With sound judgment, this war, suffering, and death could have been avoided. The Iran War is illegitimate and quite unnecessary. It’s a war which America is almost destined to lose. Furthermore, it is a war which could very easily spiral out of control. The world is paying a very high price for the foolishness and extremely poor, infantile judgment of voters in America! — © Mark Alexander

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Iran and US Trade Strikes Ending Lull in Fighting | BBC News

July 29, 2026 | Saudi Arabia and the US have carried out strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, in a potential escalation of the Middle East conflict.

US Central Command said the strikes were against "Iran-aligned terrorists that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps directed to attack US forces and Saudi energy infrastructure".

Iraq's paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces, which is dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias, said at least 20 of its members had been killed in US-Saudi strikes on its bases.

It came hours after Centcom said Iran had launched missiles at US forces in the Middle East in an "attempted surprise attack", ending a lull in hostilities.


Stop Saudis from Executing Christians, Bishops Urge Miliband

THE TELEGRAPH: Calls for new Foreign Secretary to intervene in case of 50 Ethiopians on death row

Church of England bishops have urged Ed Miliband to intervene to halt the executions and torture of Christians in Saudi Arabian jails.

Three bishops for Southwark, Chelmsford and Winchester have written to Mohammed bin Salman, the ruler of Saudi Arabia, urging him to call an immediate halt to the executions of more than 50 Ethiopian Christians currently on death row in the state.

They have also submitted their appeal to the Foreign Office seeking an intervention from Mr Miliband, the new Foreign Secretary, to save the lives of the Christian captives.

The bishops claimed there was evidence that the Ethiopians – who fled conflict in their own country – had been mistreated, with several of them tortured and forced to sign documents they could not read or understand.

Some have been convicted of smuggling cannabis into Saudi Arabia, which the bishops said was the result of criminal traffickers coercing them into transporting goods into the Arab state without full knowledge of their contents.

“We are aware of accounts from several of these men that during transfers to court hearings, Saudi police officers discovered the crosses they were wearing around their necks, forcibly removed them and physically assaulted them,” said the bishops in their letter to the Saudi ruler and Mr Miliband. » | Charles Hymas | Home Affairs Editor | Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Saudi Joins War after ‘Surprise’ Iranian Attack on US Bases

THE TELEGRAPH: The US has launched strikes on “Iran-aligned terrorists” in Iraq as part of a joint operation with Saudi Arabia.

After five days without tit-for-tat strikes, Tehran launched an unprovoked “surprise attack” on American forces in the region overnight, firing ballistic missiles at bases in Jordan.

In retaliatory strikes by the US and Saudi Arabia, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a Tehran-backed militia, said at least 20 people were killed across several of its bases across Iraq.

The attacks mark the first time Saudi Arabia has publicly joined the war in months after previously carrying out secret strikes against Iran.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps also struck three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, despite previous threats by Donald Trump to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant every time a ship is hit in the waterway. » | Emily Smith | Foreign Breaking News Reporter | Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Sunday, July 26, 2026

'No Victory for Trump': Washington Is Failing in Iran and Saudi Deal | Former US Envoy

Jul 26, 2026 | "We have no one involved in negotiating with them that has any experience in negotiating international agreements. We have people who have no history of Iran, no understanding of the country and its culture. And so our negotiations are just failing."

Donald Trump’s administration is heading toward an embarrassing exit strategy in its war with Iran as strikes continue to disrupt vital shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, says former Ambassador of the United States to Saudi Arabia, Joseph Westphal.



So what's so different about the Saudis' needs for a nuclear programme and the Iranians' needs for one? This is a case of double standards. I would say that it behoves the US to be even-handed. What's sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. — © Mark Alexander

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Saudi Arabia vs. UAE: How the Iran War Deepened This Gulf Rivalry | Mapped Out

July 25, 2026 | Saudi Arabia and the US have announced a nuclear deal that has rocked the Gulf. The landmark agreement would establish a civilian nuclear program in Saudi Arabia with the help of US companies. Critics fear it could lead to Saudi Arabia developing nuclear weapons or even set off a nuclear arms race in the Gulf.

This deal is likely to be a new layer of a deep-seated and bitter rivalry in the Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The UAE already has a nuclear deal with the US, albeit a less extensive one.

The news of this controversial deal follows attacks from Iran on the Gulf in the context of the US-Israeli war on Iran. This war has transformed the Gulf and sharpened the Saudi-UAE rivalry further.

The countries' leaders Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) of Saudi Arabia and Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) of the UAE used to be bros, but their race to dominate the Gulf has soured the relationship.

From trying to build the biggest skyscraper like Burh Khalifa and Jeddah Tower, to buying up football clubs like Manchester City and Newcastle United, Saudi Arabia and the UAE will compete on anything. But this competition is fuelling conflicts in Sudan and Yemen with devastating human consequences.

As the US withdraws from its role as security guarantor in the region, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are scrambling to align themselves with new partners. The UAE is particularly working with Israel and might even be building and sharing military facilities with them in the Horn of Africa, particularly in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.

Can these neighbors find any common ground — or might this rivalry and the possible new nuclear deal split the Middle East even more?


Thursday, July 23, 2026

Iran Threatens to Attack UK Bases Used by US Forces - Risking Wider War | BBC News

July 23, 2026 | Iran has threatened to attack British bases being used by the US to launch operations against Iran. It accused the UK of being an "accomplice" of the US military and said that UK bases used by US forces were “legitimate targets”.

The UK has allowed the US to launch "defensive" operations from British bases hosting American personnel and aircraft, while refusing to cooperate in offensive operations against Iran. In response to Iran’s comments, the UK government said it "stands ready 24/7 to defend itself". It followed a 12th consecutive night of US strikes against targets in Iran, with the ceasefire that had been agreed between the two countries apparently abandoned.

In March 2026, shortly after the start of the US-Israel led war against Iran, the UK gave the US permission to use British bases, including RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, to target Iranian military infrastructure used to attack Gulf countries and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The escalating war, and continuing block on commercial shipping through the strait of Hormuz, has led to a new surge in global oil prices, which have again reached more than $100 per barrel.

Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Jeremy Bowen and Faisal Islam.


Jesse Dollemore: Trump Insults 9/11 Victims, Teams Up w/ Terrorists, Gives Saudis Nukes

July 22, 2026 | Donald Trump has approved a landmark nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia. Jesse Dollemore responds...

What Do We Know about the US' Nuclear Deal with Saudi Arabia? | BBC News

July 23, 2026 | The US and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark deal that will reportedly allow the Gulf kingdom to develop a civilian nuclear programme.

The deal is described as a "peaceful nuclear co-operation agreement" that will provide "great access for American companies in the Saudi nuclear energy program", according to the US energy department.

Text from the deal was not made public, but US media have reported that it could allow Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium in the future - which can be used as fuel for power plants, but also to make nuclear bombs.

Experts say that would mark a first for the US and could run the risk of future nuclear proliferation in an already unstable region.



Watching MBS and Trump pawing each other and smiling at each other like hyenas is really quite sickening. Two queer bros wouldn’t make more of a song and dance together! It all comes over like a felons’ fest! By the way, one can but wonder how many billions Trump is going to make for himself and his family from this ridiculous deal? — © Mark Alexander

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

‘BONKERS’ US Saudi Nuclear Deal Shows How ‘Dependent’ Trump Is on MBS

July 22, 2026 | President Donald Trump has approved a landmark civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich uranium on its own soil.

The proposed 30-year deal is expected to face scrutiny in Congress, with critics warning it could increase the risk of nuclear proliferation and fuel a regional arms race. Supporters argue it will strengthen the US-Saudi alliance and keep Riyadh aligned with Washington rather than rivals such as China or Russia. Matt Frei and Mark Urban discuss what it all means in this segment of the Fourcast Indicators.



Dismember a journalist and be rewarded by getting all the privileges! Something looks wrong with this picture! As I have said before: Trump is trash! — © Mark Alexander

Trump Makes Major Mistake by 'Throwing a Grenade' into Old Political Firestorm | Sir Bill Browder

July 22, 2026 | Sir Bill Browder joins Maddie Hale to discuss reports the Trump administration is preparing to announce a major nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump reviving threats to target Iran's civilian infrastructure, and new U.S. intelligence suggesting Tehran may be moving thousands of centrifuges into the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain facility.


This is the very first time that I disagree with Bill Browder! If Saudi can be trusted with nuclear material, then Iran can and should be trusted with it too. It is absolutely ridiculous to help Saudi Arabia get nuclear material and at the same time be at war costing multiple billions to stop Iran getting the very same material. I am saddened and surprised by Bill Browder’s excuses here. I thought he'd have a better, fairer assessment than this. Further, when push comes to shove, the Iranians are a very sophisticated people. Very well-educated and sophisticated.

By the way, one thing we can be sure of is that Trump and his cronies will be filling their coffers "BIGLY" through these deals with Saudi Arabia. Further, when it comes to corruption, it is difficult to tell who is learning from whom here! — © Mark Alexander

Saudis Reach Deal With U.S. That Could Let Them Enrich Nuclear Fuel

THE NEW YORK TIMES: U.S. lawmakers and Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, to be announced Wednesday, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to develop nuclear weapons.

This screenshot is from this NYT article. | President Trump shaking hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the White House last November. Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times

The Trump administration plans to announce Wednesday that it has reached a broad nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that could lead to the country enriching its own fuel for nuclear reactors, U.S. officials said.

The accord is intended to further bind the United States with the Saudi government as the war with Iran strains the relationship. The Trump administration, according to officials, estimates it will provide billions of dollars for the U.S. nuclear industry — starting with Westinghouse, which designs many of the reactors sold abroad.

The Trump administration plans to formally sign and announce the agreement with the Saudis on Wednesday, said two U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy. It would announce the details to Congress soon afterward.

Although the agreement likely would have support among many Republicans, some U.S. lawmakers from both parties along with Israeli officials have expressed opposition to such a plan, fearing that the kingdom could use a civilian nuclear project to eventually develop nuclear weapons. » | David E. Sanger, Edward Wong and William J. Broad | David Sanger reported from Washington, Edward Wong from Manila, where he is covering a diplomatic trip by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and William J. Broad from New York. | Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Clearly, Trump has a soft spot for the Saudis! He’s gone to war with the Iranians for the very same thing. Why the double standards? If anything is going to turbocharge this war with Iran, this will! How unwise and foolish can a president be? — © Mark Alexander

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Saudi Arabia, between Repression and Transformation | DW Documentary

Jan 1, 2026 | Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, is the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia. For almost a decade, he has been radically transforming the country — at a breath-taking pace.

Where is the modernizer and despot steering the kingdom?

Saudi Arabia is the world's leading exporter of crude oil. But Crown Prince MBS wants to prepare the country for the post-oil era.

Two-thirds of the country's population is under 30 years old, and the crown prince is taking radical measures to turn the previously strictly conservative society on its head.

The documentary shows how contradictory Mohammed bin Salman's ambitions for his "Vision 2030" are, as it takes a look behind the scenes of the transformation.

On the one hand, there is the "Neom" project, which aims to create a futuristic new megacity in the desert. Tourism is to be expanded, major music and sporting events are to be brought to the country, and an extravagant lifestyle is being promoted. At the same time, an authoritarian style of government continues to prevail, dissidents are sometimes brutally suppressed, and women's rights are still not fully granted - even if the influence of the ultra-conservative religious leaders of Wahhabism is no longer as strong as it once was.


Sunday, July 19, 2026

The Trump-Era Saudi-U.S. Relationship: An Insider's View

July 10, 2026 | Khalid Aljabri is a cardiologist and a health-tech entrepreneur. He is a Saudi exile and the son of former Saudi intelligence official Saad Aljabri, who served as a top aide to the former Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef. Two of his siblings have been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since 2020.

Wednesday, July 01, 2026

How the Iran War Ignited a Clash Between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed President Trump earlier to cripple Iran. But as Iran asserted its power, the prince urged a cease-fire, and is now pursuing his security priorities.

This picture is from this NYT article. | President Trump with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia in Washington last year. The two countries have become increasingly at odds over the U.S. war with Iran. | Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

President Trump and his military commanders were in a bind.

They had announced the start of a new mission to help guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had effectively closed early in the war. U.S. naval and air power would ward off any Iranian attacks during a tentative cease-fire, the commanders said.

But U.S. Central Command was caught by surprise when officials from Saudi Arabia said American forces could not use the kingdom’s air space for the mission, which the Pentagon was calling Project Freedom. The Americans had not consulted the Saudis.

That set off a flurry of tense and urgent phone calls between Washington and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the leader of Saudi Arabia. An outraged Mr. Trump spoke with him on May 4, the first day of the operation, and on the next two days as well, U.S. officials said.

Vice President JD Vance talked to the prince in a separate call, as did Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law. Marco Rubio, the White House national security adviser, spoke to his counterpart.

But the crown prince stood his ground, fearing that the American plan could reignite war. The Trump administration was forced to shut down Project Freedom less than 48 hours after it had begun.

“They had lost confidence in the administration, and they thought if they let the U.S. use their airspace, they would get hit even harder by Iran,” said Hussein Ibish, a scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. » | Edward Wong | Edward Wong has reported from Washington on U.S. policy in the Middle East over three administrations. He covered the Iraq War from that country for three and a half years. | Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Friday, June 12, 2026

Michael Lambert: Kushner & Ivanka's $1.4 Billion Albania Land Grab | Trump Family First

Jun 12 , 2026 | When Ivanka Trump jumped off a friend's superyacht near Albania, she came back with more than a tan. She came back with a $1.4 billion development plan. This is the story of Ken and Barbie's Island — how Jared Kushner, bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states, is attempting to turn Sazan Island, a former Russian military base of outstanding natural beauty, into an exclusive playground for the global elite.

In this video I cover:

• How the Albanian government secretly rushed through legislation to enable the sale
• The history of Sazan Island — and why destroying it matters
• The Albania protests that have rocked the country for over ten days
• Kushner's track record on similar projects in Serbia — and why it doesn't inspire confidence
• The criminal investigation launched by Albania's anti-corruption prosecutors (SPAK)

And I ask the obvious question: when the son-in-law of the most powerful man on earth comes knocking, just how much does Albanian democracy cost? This is a story about wealth, corruption, environmental destruction — and the extraordinary reach of Trump family power.