His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, received at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh today (Monday), His Excellency Dr. Gedion Timotheos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on an official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation frameworks between the two friendly countries.

During the reception, an official meeting was held, during which the strong bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Ethiopia were reviewed, and ways to strengthen and develop them in various political, economic and security fields, in a way that serves the interests of the two peoples and countries.

Discussions on regional security and the Horn of Africa

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the latest developments in the region, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea basin. These talks reflect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening security and stability in this vital region, given Ethiopia's significant strategic and geographical influence in East Africa.

The two ministers also discussed a number of regional and international issues of common interest, stressing the importance of continued political coordination and consultation between Riyadh and Addis Ababa on matters of concern to both countries, and supporting all efforts aimed at establishing the foundations of peace and development.

The importance of Saudi-Ethiopian relations

Relations between the Kingdom and Ethiopia are of particular importance due to their geographical proximity across the Red Sea and the historical and human ties that bind the two peoples. The Kingdom plays a pivotal role in supporting stability and development in Africa, and Ethiopia, as a key gateway to East Africa and the headquarters of the African Union, is essential for coordinating with it to address shared challenges such as combating terrorism and securing international shipping lanes.

The reception was attended on the Saudi side by His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, and His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Saud bin Mohammed Al-Sati, reflecting the high-level interest in developing the course of relations with the Ethiopian side.

The Syrian Interior Ministry announced a major security achievement: the arrest of all members of a cell responsible for a series of rocket attacks targeting Mezzeh military airport, one of the most sensitive and strategic sites in the capital, Damascus. In an official statement, the ministry confirmed that initial investigations revealed a surprising detail regarding the source of the weapons used, indicating they belonged to the Lebanese group Hezbollah, a key ally of the Syrian government.

According to the statement, specialized security units successfully dismantled the cell after meticulous surveillance and monitoring of suspected launch sites in various areas of Damascus and its surroundings. The ministry explained that this group had carried out several attacks on the airport in recent months, causing significant security concerns. Intelligence efforts led to the identification of one of the main perpetrators, whose tracking led to the discovery and arrest of the remaining members of the network. The statement also indicated that initial investigations with the detainees revealed their connection to "external entities," without explicitly identifying them.

Context and historical background

This announcement is particularly significant given the strategic location of Mezzeh military airport. Situated west of Damascus, near the presidential palace and other key security and military installations, the airport serves as a major base for the Republican Guard and the Syrian Air Force. Throughout the years of the Syrian conflict, the airport has been a frequent target of airstrikes and missile attacks, most of which have been attributed to Israel, which systematically targets what it believes to be weapons shipments and sites belonging to Iran and Hezbollah in Syria. The airport's continued targeting is indicative of the regional conflict playing out on Syrian soil.

Importance and potential impacts

The exposure of this cell and the indictment of the weapons' source carry multiple implications, both domestically and regionally. Domestically, the Syrian government, through this announcement, seeks to reaffirm its security control over the capital and demonstrate its ability to thwart attacks targeting its strategic depth. Regionally, the indication that the weapons originated from Hezbollah, a close ally, raises complex questions. While coordination between the two sides exists at the highest levels, this announcement may point to the existence of networks operating outside of complete control or could be a political message to other regional actors. It also highlights the continued instability and proliferation of weapons in the region, further complicating efforts to achieve lasting stability in Syria.