Saudi recalls ambassador, shuts embassy in Egypt

Saudi Arabia said on Saturday it had recalled its ambassador from Egypt for “consultation” and would close its embassy and consulates in the Arab nation.

State news agency SPA said the reason behind the diplomatic move was “unjustified protests” in Egypt and attempts to storm the Saudi embassy and consulates which “threatened the safety of its employees”. (more…)

Deported bin Laden widows, daughters leaving for Saudi Arabia

Pakistan’s deportation of 14 members of Osama bin Laden’s family to Saudi Arabia occurred just one week shy of the first anniversary of his death at the hands of U.S. commandos.

Among those being deported were bin Laden’s three widows (more…)

Saudis urged to exercise caution when traveling in Lebanon

Lebanon Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said on Wednesday that Iraqi citizens abducted the two Saudi nationals Toufiq and Abdallah Shaqaqeeq in Lebanon.

“The main motive behind the abduction was robbery, and it does not target the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Charbel told Future News television. (more…)

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia to form ‘ Arabian Gulf Union’ next month

Sources familiar with the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC, reported that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia may declare a union between them on the sidelines of the consultative summit of the GCC countries that will be hosted by Riyadh next month. (more…)

PAC employees file grievance at ministry of Labor

A delegation of PAC employees met with Labor Minister Salim Jreissati to file a complaint over the the shutting down of PAC and the firing of all the employees, National News Agency reported on Monday. (more…)

Pakistan to deport bin Laden’s widows to Saudi Arabia soon

Pakistan will deport Osama bin Laden’s three widows and their children to Saudi Arabia next week after they finish a 45-day prison sentence for illegally entering and living in the country, their defense lawyer says. (more…)

Syria not interested in any ideas from Arab countries

Arab countries, divided over how to stop Syria’s bloodshed, plan to call for the Syrian regime to halt its crackdown on civilians, let in humanitarian groups and free detainees, according to recommendations Wednesday by foreign ministers preparing for a summit this week.

Even before Arab heads of state began their Thursday summit in the Iraqi capital, Syria sharply rejected any measures they take. A Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Jihad Makdessi, said Damascus would “not deal with any initiative” that might come out of the 22-member Arab League. (more…)

Iran, Hizballah, and the Threat to the U.S. Homeland

By Matthew Levitt
Should Hizballah decide to carry out attacks on U.S. soil in the event of a military confrontation with Iran, it has the capacity to do so.

Saudi owns 40% of total Arab investments in Lebanon

The volume of Saudi investments in Lebanon amounted to $6 billion (SR22.50 billion), which accounts for nearly 40 percent of total Arab investments in that country, Saudi Ambassador to Beirut Ali Asiri said. He said some 111,701 Saudi tourists visited Lebanon in 2011, who accounted for 19 percent and 6.7 percent of Arab and overall tourists respectively. (more…)

Iran: Saudi Arabia is smuggling weapons through Jordan to Syrian rebels

Iranian sources in Dubai report that a shipment of arms and ammunition hailing from Saudi Arabia is on its way through Jordan, to be smuggled across the border with Syria to equip the armed uprising. According to the sources, Saudis are acting in anger against US non-intervention to stop Assad’s crackdown and Turkey’s all-talk, no-action stance. (more…)