King Abdullah remembered for his many achievements

January 25, 2015

Riyadh, Jan 25: Members of the Shoura Council and senior government officials said that the country has lost a wise leader who took the nation to great heights of peace and prosperity,

“We have lost a wise leader who dedicated his life and efforts to serve his nation, and he remained the guardian of security and stability in the country as well as in the region,” Amin Al-Jaafri, deputy speaker of the Shoura Council, said Saturday following the death of King Abdullah.

“He played a major role in strengthening solidarity among Arab countries and he was an ardent promoter of interfaith dialogue in the world and peace in the region. He also denounced violence and extremism which affected the peaceful coexistence among all communities,” he noted, pointing out that his services toward the nation and the world will be remembered forever with reverence and prayers for the departed soul.

On behalf of the council, he conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved royal family which has lost an important member in its galaxy.

Commending the swift transfer of power, Al-Jaafri applauded the dynamic leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who took over the reins with the will of Allah and has pledged to continue the good work carried out by his predecessor. He also offered his congratulations and good wishes to Crown Prince Muqrin, deputy premier, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior.

Shoura Council member Maj. Gen. Ali-Tamimi said that Saudi Arabia lost a great son of the soil. “I have been working with him for the past 35 years and he was a gem of a person,” Tamimi said of the late king. “His thoughts and vision were always focused on developing Saudi Arabia to achieve new heights,” he said, adding that he was determined to wipe out terrorism from the country and make it a peaceful place for people to live in harmony and prosperity. He said the country will remember this noble heart forever and he will live in people's memory as they take their nation toward greater prosperity.

“The greatest contribution he made to the Shoura Council was to allow women to enroll as members of the body,” he said, describing the move as a major landmark in the empowerment of women in the Kingdom. This paved the way for women to take part in local government elections too, he said.

Enumerating the services of the late King, former Shoura Council member Osama Kurdi said King Abdullah implemented a comprehensive package of services for the nation including health care, education, the judicial system, economy, promoting interfaith dialogue and peace and also empowering Saudi women.

In addition to the introduction of 30 public and private universities, he said the king offered more than 150,000 scholarships to Saudi youths and set up five mega economic cities.

Labor Minister Adel Fakeih recalled that the nine and half years of reign by the late King Abdullah rendered yeoman services to the country and its citizens. “He had a unique passion for patriotism for the country and the people,” he stressed.

He pointed out that Saudization was implemented in full swing during his tenure. “Youths both males and females were given job opportunities, which reduced the unemployment rate of the country,” he stressed. He said the country is confident that the new monarch, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, will push the country to new heights of peace and prosperity which would benefit the people in the Kingdom as well as in the other parts of the world.

Expressing his sorrow on the demise of King Abdullah, Health Minister Muhammad Alhayazie conveyed the deepest sympathies on behalf of his ministry to the bereaved royal family. “The health care services witnessed tremendous developments under the late King Abdullah’s regime,” the minister said, adding that his efforts not only benefited the country but also promoted the religion of Islam and peace at global and regional levels.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Syrian Town erupts after Israeli forces enter Beit Jinn; heavy casualties reported

News Network

November 28,2025

Several Syrians were killed and more than two dozen others injured in Israeli strikes on the outskirts of Damascus, amid intensified incursions by the occupying regime since the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad and the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rule.

Syrian state TV reported that the casualties occurred during an overnight Israeli assault involving helicopters and drones on the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside. The attack followed an Israeli military unit’s entry into the town, where they were surrounded by local residents, leading to gunfire and direct confrontations.

According to the report, “The occupation army’s helicopters and artillery shelled Beit Jinn, located at the foothills of Mount Hermon, resulting in 13 martyrs and 25 injured civilians.” The broadcaster did not specify the full extent of damage.

Al-Ikhbariyah Syria confirmed that the shelling coincided with Israeli soldiers entering Beit Jinn, while artillery pounded surrounding areas. The broadcaster stated that the escalation began after local residents clashed with an Israeli patrol that had infiltrated the southern town and “kidnapped” three young men.

Following a two-hour exchange of heavy fire, Israeli forces withdrew and repositioned on the hill of Butt al-Warda at the town’s outskirts.

Israeli media acknowledged that six soldiers were wounded in the clashes—three of them seriously—describing the confrontation as a “sudden ambush” that forced the deployment of reserve units and air support to secure an exit route. No further details were provided.

The aggression has fueled renewed displacement from Beit Jinn, with residents fleeing to nearby villages amid increasingly frequent Israeli attacks.

The raid came just a day after Israeli troops carried out another ground incursion into Umm al-Luqas village in Quneitra province. According to SANA, an Israeli unit in four vehicles entered the village, raided several homes, and later withdrew.

Syria condemned the repeated incursions as violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and UN resolutions, urging the international community to enforce compliance and pressure Israel to halt its operations and withdraw fully.

Israel has expanded its attacks across Syrian territory following the collapse of the Assad government last year. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly instructed his forces to push deeper into Syrian territory and seize strategic positions.

Meanwhile, critics say the HTS-led interim government’s inaction and growing normalization gestures toward Israel have emboldened Tel Aviv to intensify its military operations. HTS, formerly linked to al-Qaeda, seized control of Damascus last December, formally ending Assad’s rule.

Comments