Hayek replaces Eitan Na’eh, who had been the acting envoy….reports Asian Lite News
Israel has appointed its first ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the signing of a normalisation deal last year, the Foreign Ministry here said.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement issued on Sunday that he has chosen Amir Hayek, an economist and former director of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment, to take the job, reports Xinhua news agency.
“Haik has rich experience and knowledge in the fields of economics and tourism,” Lapid said, adding that he is “the right man to establish the bridge between Israel and the UAE”.
Hayek replaces Eitan Na’eh, who had been the acting envoy.
The appointment came after Israel opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in June and the UAE opened its embassy in Tel Aviv in July.
Mohamed Al Khaja, UAE Ambassador to Israel, officially inaugurated the UAE Embassy in Tel Aviv in the presence of Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel, and Mariam Almheiri, Minister of State for Food and Water Security.
The Consulate General of Israel in Dubai and Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi were inaugurated by Yair Lapid, Foreign Minister of Israel, in the first-ever visit by an Israeli minister to the UAE.
Israel and the UAE signed the US-brokered normalisation deal in September 2020.
As the Jordanian monarch for the last 22 years, King Abdullah II has been seen by American Presidents as a moderate, reliable ally in the Middle East…reports Asad Mirza
Jordan’s King Abdullah II became the first Arab leader to meet US President Joe Biden at the White House on July 19. By granting him this honour, the new US administration is putting its weight behind Jordan to become the voice of the region and non-gulf Arab nations, once again.
As the Jordanian monarch for the last 22 years, King Abdullah II has been seen by American Presidents as a moderate, reliable ally in the Middle East, besides being the eyes and ears from the Arab world in Washington.
However, during the last four years that special relationship was put into cold storage, as former US President Donald Trump, favoured working with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states instead.
For instance, the Trump administration didn’t consult King Abdullah II on the Mideast peace plan, which originally provided for annexation of the Jordan Valley.
Reports say that in his renewed role as a representative of moderate, pro-Western Arabs, Abdullah brought several messages to Biden.
Jordan king holds talks with Abbas ahead of Biden summit
Impact on Jordan-Saudi relations
President Biden may have little appetite for Israeli-Palestinian peace-making efforts, but he seems determined to prevent certain third parties from exploiting the regional stalemate to their advantage.
Although the US’ and Biden’s foreign policy priorities are heavily focused on China and Russia, the Middle East is a region that the new administration understands very well it cannot afford to ignore.
Relations between Jordan and Saudi Arabia had their own ups and downs during the last four years. The Saudis were irked by the King’s fierce rejection of Trump’s recognition of all of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Jordan also refused to consider the President’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.
King Abdullah II suspected that the US and Israel were favouring a Saudi role in the administration of the Muslim sites on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Jordanian officials denied reports last year in Israeli newspapers quoting Saudi diplomats as saying that Jordan was willing to grant Saudi Arabia observer status in the endowment administering the Muslim holy sites on the Temple Mount.
The Saudi interest is marked by various moves initiated by the country in recent years, though it has not officially declared its desire to wrest control of the Temple Mount from Jordan, yet.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced at the Arab Summit in Dhahran in April 2018 that he was donating $150 million to support the Islamic holy places in Jerusalem. The donation was aimed to counter Turkish bequests. Saudi Arabia has since clashed with Jordan at various Arab forums over Jordan’s exclusive control of the administration of the Jerusalem sites and is believed to have been wooing Palestinian religious dignitaries to achieve its objective.
Here the risk for Saudi Arabia is that broadening the administration of the Jerusalem sites could lead to demands that the custodianship of Mecca and Medina should also be internationalised. This proposition, often put forward by Iran, sounds horrific to the Saudis.
For much of the past century, the administration of Jerusalem’s Muslim holy sites has vested in a Jordanian government-controlled endowment. And Jordan views the Saudi and other interested Islamic nation’s efforts as an affront, which certain observers also describe as the battle to emerge as the supreme leader of the Islamic world.
The stakes in the struggle for control of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem sites are high. For Riyadh’s ruling Saud family, this is about bolstering its religious claim to leadership of the Muslim world.
For Jordan and its Hashemite monarchs, who trace their ancestry back to the Prophet Muhammad, this is more about politics than religion. Palestinians account for more than 40 per cent of Jordan’s population, thus maintaining the status quo in Jerusalem—which most Palestinians hope to be the capital of a future Palestinian state—is key to ensuring the regime’s survival.
Despite his fraught relationship with the Saudi Crown Prince, the Jordanian monarch told Biden, “we have to work with MBS”, the sources said. This magnanimity stems from the confidence, which King Abdullah II has in revival of his ties with the new US administration.
(190406) — AMMAN, April 6, 2019 (Xinhua) — King Abdullah II of Jordan gives his speech at the opening of the 17th World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa at the Dead Sea area in Jordan, on April 6, 2019. The World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa 2019 kicked off on Saturday in Jordan with more than 1,000 participants from more than 50 countries.
The forum, which was the 17th in the region, called for united efforts to address the region’s most pressing challenges. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh)
Jordan as the regional peacemaker
King Abdullah II also discussed Iraq and Syrian affairs with Biden. It is reported that he urged Biden to back Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, who will be visiting the White House this week.
The King’s pro-Kadhimi argument were based on the fact that he enjoys support of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as well as Jordan, and was described as the best bet to offset Iranian militias and influence in Iraq.
King Abdullah II also urged Biden to join a task force to help stabilise Syria. The approach he advocates would bring together the US, Russia, Israel, Jordan and other nations to agree on a road map for restoring Syrian sovereignty and unity.
Reports say that Biden hasn’t yet committed to the proposal, as it would mean realigning the US interest with both Russia and the Bashar-Al-Assad regime in Syria, both of which are controversial decisions to be made.
US academic Curtis Ryan, a widely acclaimed Jordanian expert opines that Jordan and its partners see the new three-way alignment or axis with Iraq and Egypt as an alternative power centre in Arab politics that will help to bring non-Gulf voices back to the forefront of Arab politics.
In this regard Egyptian President Abdel Fattah-Al-Sisi’s visit to Baghdad can be described as a “positive step” to limit Iranian influence there.
Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution says that Abdullah has been the most energetic Arab leader by far in trying to support a stable Iraqi government. This summit in Baghdad of Iraq, Jordan and Egypt is the first time that the Sunni Arabs have ever done anything in 18 years since the fall of Saddam—that they have actually done something to not only stabilise Iraq, but to offset Iranian influence.
A final major area of discussion was Jordan’s relationship with the new Israeli government.
King Abdullah II labelled a recent meeting he had with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as reassuring, and said he trusts the two governments could cooperate on security and other issues. Although Jordan and Israel have a peace treaty, relations remained tense during Benjamin Netanyahu’s long tenure as Prime Minister.
However, this time though King Abdullah II has apparent support of Biden, but he also will have to outmanoeuvre his younger rivals like Sheikh Mohammed of the UAE and Prince MBS of Saudi Arabia to regain the regional Islamic leadership.
(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current affairs. The views expressed are personal)
Since the start of the pandemic, Jordan has recorded a total of 763,437 cases and 9,933 deaths….reports Asian Lite News
Jordan will start vaccinating children aged 12 years and older against COVID-19 from Sunday, the state news agency said on Saturday.
Children can be given the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine with the approval of a guardian with no prior appointment necessary, the agency quoted the health ministry as saying.
The decision comes as Jordan lifted most restrictions at the start of July, reopening gyms, pools and night clubs at hotels after cases dropped from a peak in March when several thousands of new cases were recorded daily.
Total active cases reached 7,489 on Friday with 331 new cases and four deaths.
Since the start of the pandemic, Jordan has recorded a total of 763,437 cases and 9,933 deaths.
Several other countries in the region are vaccinating children, including Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, two coronavirus patients died at a hospital in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Sunday after a short circuit knocked out power at the facility’s intensive care unit, the country’s health minister said.
The private Gardens Hospital is being rented by the Jordanian government to treat coronavirus patients.
Health Minister Firas Al-Hawari told state media Sunday that two people were confirmed dead at the hospital after the incident, and that investigators were determining the cause of the accident and whether the power outage was responsible for the deaths.
Angry people gathered outside the hospital and security forces cordoned off the facility and prevented relatives of patients from entering.
Earlier this year, Jordan’s former health minister Nathir Obeidat resigned after several Covid-19 patients died at a government hospital in Salt when their oxygen supply ran out.
Jordan’s Health Ministry has recorded more than 763,000 cases of coronavirus and at least 9,948 deaths. The country has administered two doses of Covid-19 vaccine to just over 19% of its 10 million people.
Hima joins Madain Saleh, Tarif in Diriyah, historic Jeddah, the rock art in Hail, and Al-Ahsa oasis on the UNESCO list….reports Asian Lite News
The ancient rock inscriptions at Hima in southwest Saudi Arabia on Saturday became the sixth location in the Kingdom to be included on UNESCO’s world heritage list.
Saudi Arabia has a “rich heritage of human civilizations. Efforts have borne fruit in making it known to the world,” Saudi Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan said.
Hima, in the western region of Najran, was a hub for caravans on trade and Hajj routes between the southern parts of Arabia and Mesopotamia, the Levant and Egypt. Travelers left behind a substantial collection of rock art depicting hunting, wildlife, plants, symbols and tools, and thousands of inscriptions in ancient scripts such as Musnad, Thamudic, Nabataean and early Arabic.
Wells in the area, once a vital source of fresh water in the vast desert of Najran, date back more than 3,000 years and contain fresh water to this day.
“We are thrilled to have this exceptional ancient site recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The area has outstanding universal value, providing us with many lessons about the evolution of human culture and life in ancient times,” said Dr. Jasir Al-Herbish, chief executive of the Heritage Commission.
“We are working to preserve the area and conduct research to further understand the rock inscriptions, and are looking forward to welcoming more local and international visitors to come and see this historic cultural site for themselves.”
Hima joins Madain Saleh, Tarif in Diriyah, historic Jeddah, the rock art in Hail, and Al-Ahsa oasis on the UNESCO list.
The preservation and protection of the Kingdom’s cultural and natural heritage is a key part of the Kingdom’s 2030 Vision.
Overseen by the Heritage Commission, a raft of new discoveries has cemented the country’s reputation as a go-to destination for archeologists, historians and scientists looking to understand human history across the region.
Last year, the Commission announced one of the Kingdom’s most ground-breaking discoveries – ancient human and animal footprints, dating back more than 120,000 years, in Tabuk, marking the first evidence of human life on the Arabian Peninsula.
The Kingdom has also taken serious measures toward protecting national and international heritage. In 2019, the Ministry of Culture signed a Memorandum of Understating with UNESCO to contribute $25 million to the organization’s strategy for the preservation of heritage worldwide.
New sites in Europe regions added
The second is the transnational site of The Great Spa Towns of Europe which comprises 11 towns, located in seven European countries: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); Františkovy Lázně (Czechia); Karlovy Vary (Czechia); Mariánské Lázně (Czechia); Vichy (France); Bad Ems (Germany); Baden-Baden (Germany); Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); and City of Bath (United Kingdom).
All of these towns developed around natural mineral water springs. They bear witness to the international European spa culture that developed from the early 18th century to the 1930s, leading to the emergence of grand international resorts that impacted urban typology around ensembles of spa buildings.
The Lighthouse of Cordouan in France, the third site, rises on a shallow rocky plateau in the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Gironde estuary, in a highly exposed and hostile environment. Built-in white limestone dressed blocks at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, it was designed by engineer Louis de Foix and remodelled by engineer Joseph Teulère in the late 18th century. It embodies the great stages of the architectural and technological history of lighthouses and was built with the ambition of continuing the tradition of famous beacons of antiquity, illustrating the art of building lighthouses in a period of renewed navigation when beacons played an important role as territorial markers and as instruments of safety.
The fourth is the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony on Mathildenhöhe in Germany, the highest elevation above the city of Darmstadt in west-central Germany, which was established in 1897 by Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse, as a centre for emerging reform movements in architecture, arts and crafts. The buildings of the colony were created by its artist members as experimental early modernist living and working environments. The colony was expanded during successive international exhibitions in 1901, 1904, 1908 and 1914.
Lastly Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles in Italy. The site is composed of eight religious and secular building complexes, within the historic walled city of Padua, which house a selection of fresco cycles painted between 1302 and 1397 by different artists for different types of patron and within buildings of diverse functions.
The report did not provide more details about the conversation on Thursday….reports Asian Lite News
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held a phone conversation with Israeli Minister of Public Security Omer Barlev to discuss peace and security issues in the region, an official media report said.
The report did not provide more details about the conversation on Thursday.
Barlev later tweeted that he hopes to open lines of communication with Palestinian counterparts in the interest of peace and security for the two peoples, reports Xinhua news agency.
“That friendly conversation is the first of its kind between an Israeli internal security minister and the president of the Palestinian Authority,” the Minister said.
On Monday, Palestine’s official WAFA news reported that Abbas received phone calls from his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog and Defence Minister Benny Gantz.
Herzog congratulated Abbas on the occasion of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Gantz wrote on Twitter that he spoke with Abbas to express “well wishes on the occasion of Eid al-Adha” and “discussed the need to advance steps of trust-building between us”.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have stalled since April 2014 due to their deeply-rooted disputes over the settlements, security and borders.
Palestine had welcomed a decision by the UN Human Rights Council to form an independent international commission to investigate Israeli violations.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday that the Council’s decision “reflects the international community’s persistence to implement international law and protect Palestinian human rights.”
“Forming the commission came in implementation of Palestine’s decision in the Council during its special session number 30,” the statement said.
The Ministry added that the commission will look into Israeli violations of humanitarian and international human rights law in the Palestinian territories since April 13.
On Thursday, Nazhat Shameem Khan, president of the Human Rights Council, announced the appointment of Navi Pillay, Miloon Kothari and Chris Sidoti as the three members of the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Pillay, a South African, who was the former chief of the Council, will serve as the chair of the new three-person commission, which was also tasked with investigating “all underlying root cause of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict”, Khan added.
In response, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the move “completely ignores the 4,300 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli citizens in May”.
In April, tensions escalated in East Jerusalem and then spread to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in May following an Israeli court’s verdict to evict families from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in the city.
On May 10, Israel waged a large-scale aerial offensive on the Gaza Strip after militants led by the Islamic Hamas movement, launched a barrage of rockets at Israel.
The offensive ended after 11 days of fighting when Egypt brokered a ceasefire deal between the two sides.
More than 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed, with widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure in Gaza.
Arab Parliament President Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi, in a statement, lauded the health and security measures taken by the Kingdom to make Hajj season a success….reports Asian Lite News
The Gulf countries have congratulated Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the success of this year’s Hajj season.
Arab Parliament President Adel bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi, in a statement, lauded the health and security measures taken by the Kingdom to make Hajj season a success.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Kuwaiti Emir, Baharaini King and Crown Prince, among other leaders of the Gulf nations congratulated the Saudi leadership for making this year’s Hajj a success amid ongoing pandemic crisis.
audi Minister of Health, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah had earlier said that the health plan for this year’s Hajj 1442 AH was a success as the pilgrimage was free from coronavirus and other epidemic diseases.
In a statement on Thursday, he said that the Ministry of Health and Saudi Red Crescent Authority had put in place an integrated system of health facilities in the holy sites, including hospitals, health centres and highly equipped ambulances supervised by medical, technical and administrative teams of qualified and trained staff.
All government entities involved in serving the pilgrims have made great efforts to implement the Hajj health plan to ensure pilgrims’ safety and prevent the spread of any infection among them in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Al-Rabiah added.
The minister expressed his gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the Crown Prince for their keenness to provide all means and capabilities to serve pilgrims and facilitate their performance of Hajj rituals in a comfortable and safe atmosphere.
Dr. Al-Rabiah stressed that early efforts and precautionary measures in dealing with the health situation during this year’s Hajj season, which necessitated limiting the number of pilgrims to 60,000 who completed the vaccination against COVID-19, have contributed to the success of the health plan that ensured the safety of pilgrims.
For the first time, Saudi female soldiers are standing guard in Mecca as thousands of Muslim pilgrims take part in this year’s hajj…reports Asian Lite News
In a significant stride towards women empowerment, dozens of female soldiers have become a part of the security services that monitor pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, the birthplaces of Islam.
For the first time, Saudi female soldiers are standing guard in Mecca as thousands of Muslim pilgrims take part in this year’s hajj, Deutsche Welle reported.
Women dressed in military khaki uniforms were seen monitoring the security situation in the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Along with khaki, they were sporting a hip-length jacket, loose trousers, and a black beret over a veil covering their hair.
People across Twitter hailed the feat. Scores of users called it a key step towards women empowerment.
“First time in the history of Makkah a female Saudi Guard performing duty during #Hajj #WomenEmpowerment,” a Twitter user wrote.
“Long overdue but never too late,” another Twitterati wrote.
While adhering to COVID-19 protocols, thousands of vaccinated Muslim pilgrims gathered at Mecca to perform Hajj.
The Hajj, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, will conclude with the Eid al-Adha celebrations.
According to Al Jazeera, 10,000 vaccinated Muslim pilgrims circled Islam’s holiest site in Mecca on Sunday but remained socially distanced and wore masks as the coronavirus takes its toll on the Hajj for a second year running.
Previously drawing some 2.5 million Muslims from all walks of life from across the globe, the Hajj pilgrimage is now almost unrecognisable in scale.
This year, 60,000 vaccinated citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia have been allowed to perform the Hajj due to continued concerns around the spread of the coronavirus.
It is a far greater figure than last year’s largely symbolic Hajj that saw fewer than 1,000 people from within the kingdom taking part.
Meanwhile, pilgrims began the second day of Tashreeq by throwing the three Jamarat (Pebbles), under careful preparation and high precautionary measures, to achieve physical distancing between pilgrims and preserve their safety and the cadres involved in their services.
According to S report, the the pilgrims’ movements were planned according to a preventive measure; each phase of throwing Jamarat (Pebbles) was done safely and in a healthy manner. The movements of pilgrims were under specific coloured paths. This was done under coordination with the relevant security and civil sectors participating in Hajj season 1442H.
After Jamarat (Pebbles), pilgrims are headed for Makkah to perform the farewell Tawaaf (Circumambulation). (ANI)
This prohibition on mass gatherings includes family reunions, Eid greeting assemblies and collective celebrations of Eid….reports Asian Lite News
Oman has completely banned business activities and movement of individuals and vehicles on Tuesday as part of the country’s efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 during the Eid holiday.
The new restrictions will end on July 24, 2021, national daily Times of Oman reported.
The sultanate’s Supreme Committee, an inter-agency body tasked with addressing COVID-19 concerns and issues, earlier banned Eid Al-Adha prayers, traditional pre-Eid souks (habta) as well as mass gatherings, according to Arab News reported.
This prohibition on mass gatherings includes family reunions, Eid greeting assemblies and collective celebrations of Eid.
The committee however allowed limited movement of individuals and the opening of some business in the Wilayat of Sur, which was impacted by heavy rains and flooding.
“The Committee took note of the impacts of heavy rains and flooding of wadis on public and private properties in the Wilayat of Sur, despite the efforts undertaken by the authorities concerned,” the Arab News quoted a statement from the committee.
“To help bring life back to normal in a manner that does not contradict the measures and procedures endorsed to curb the pandemic… the COVID-19 Supreme Committee has decided to allow the movement of individuals and the opening of service outlets in the Wilayat of Sur,” it added.
The curfew will be lifted from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, it was reported.
This came as the Saudi Crown Prince welcomed Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh…reports Asian Lite News
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, on Monday explored avenues for enhancing the flourishing relations and strategic cooperation between their countries.
This came as the Saudi Crown Prince welcomed Sheikh Mohamed and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh today.
The two leaders exchanged Eid Al Adha greetings and wished continuing development, progress and prosperity for the Islamic nation and the whole world and prayed to Allah Almighty to rid humanity of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PIc credits Twitter@MohamedBinZayed
Sheikh Mohamed conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to his brother the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, wishing him continued good health and wellbeing, which Mohammed bin Salman reciprocated by conveying the greetings of King Salman to the UAE President.
The sides discussed cooperation and acceleration of joint efforts to ensure the higher good of the peoples of their countries and the whole region, and reviewed the latest regional, Arab and international developments of mutual concern and efforts to eliminate political challenges towards achieving peace and stability.
In attendance during the meeting were H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; and Ali bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Supreme National Security Council.
Attending the meeting from the Saudi side as well were HRH Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahad bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State; HRH Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Defence Minister; and Dr. Masa’ad bin Mohammed Al Aiban, Minister of State and National Security Advisor.
At least 36 people were killed when a bomb ripped through a crowded Baghdad market…reports Asian Lite News
The Arab Parliament and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the terrorist attack that targeted a market in Sadr City, a neighbourhood of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, resulting in deaths and injury of dozens of innocent civilians.
At least 36 people were killed when a bomb ripped through a crowded Baghdad market in what the Islamic State group’s jihadists claimed as a suicide attack.
The explosion occurred in the densely populated suburb district of the capital Baghdad. Iraqi security services believe that the explosives were detonated by terrorists. The blast had destroyed several nearby shops and stalls and damaged surrounding buildings.
Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi has ordered the resignation of the district’s head of security following the deadly blast.
In a statement, the Arab Parliament expressed its solidarity and full support for Iraq’s leadership, government and people, in its war on terrorism and terrorist groups.
It expressed support for all measures it takes to confront these subversive terrorist groups, affirming its firm and supportive stance for the security and stability of Iraq and the safety of its citizens and territorial integrity.
The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned the terrorist bombing in Iraq.
OIC expressed its standing and solidarity with Iraq in all measures it takes to confront violence, terrorism and extremism.
The organization offered condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, its leadership, government and people, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also strongly condemned the incident.
He extended condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Iraq.
”This deadly attack ahead of the Eid Al Adha holiday is a reminder to us all that the scourge of terrorism knows no bounds,” said Farhan Haq, the Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, in a late-night statement.
The Secretary-General underlines the need for the perpetrators of this crime to be swiftly brought to justice, said the statement.
Deadly bombings have been rare in Baghdad, as the security situation has improved in Iraq since the Iraqi security forces fully defeated IS militants across the country late in 2017.
However, IS remnants have since melted into urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. (with inputs from ANI)
