RIYADH, 12 March 2022, (TON): The energy ministry said “an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, was attacked by drone, causing a small fire that did not cause injuries or affect supplies.”

The statement did not specify where the drone strike was launched from. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The kingdom’s oil facilities have been a target of Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the past. The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a shocking attack in 2019 at the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Eastern Province, which temporarily knocked out half the kingdom’s daily production.

The ministry statement, published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, was released shortly after midnight Friday and said the attack took place around 4:40 a.m.

The ministry said “such attacks not only target Saudi Arabia, but also the security and stability of energy supply to the world.”

WASHINGTON, 12 March 2022, (TON): Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will travel to Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey; Madrid, Spain; Rabat and Casablanca, Morocco; Algiers, Algeria; and Cairo, Egypt from March 4 to 11.

Deputy Secretary Sherman will begin her trip in Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey from March 4 to 5 to meet with Foreign Minister Cavusoglu, Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal, and Chief Presidential Advisor Ibrahim Kalin to discuss Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. 

The Deputy’s meetings will include discussions on further joint U.S.-Turkey cooperation and our shared interest in supporting Ukraine.

Deputy Secretary Sherman will then travel to Madrid, Spain from March 6 to 8 to co-open the U.S.-Spain Cybersecurity Dialogue on March 7 with Spanish Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs Ángeles Moreno Bau. 

The Deputy Secretary and the State Secretary will also meet bilaterally to discuss a range of issues and challenges including Russia’s attack against Ukraine, our coordinated response, and the strong transatlantic partnership. 

The Deputy Secretary will also speak with students and faculty at a Madrid-based university and participate in a discussion with women entrepreneurs.

WASHINGTON, 12 March 2022, (TON): Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called Romanian Minister of National Defence Vasile Dîncu to continue coordinating our Allied response to Russia’s unprovoked and premeditated invasion of Ukraine.

Both leaders deeply appreciated the bravery of the Ukrainian people, reflected on the unwavering unity among NATO Allies, and commended the broad commitment to provide humanitarian and security assistance to Ukraine.

WASHINGTON, 12 March 2022, (TON): Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Republic of Korea First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo to discuss shared concerns about the DPRK’s WMD and ballistic missile programs. 

They also discussed the importance of unified action to hold Russia accountable for Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.

Deputy Secretary Sherman strongly condemned the DPRK’s recent ballistic missile launches, which brazenly violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and were a serious escalation by the DPRK. 

She underscored the ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of our allies, the ROK and Japan. 

The Deputy Secretary reaffirmed U.S. commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and continued efforts to seek diplomacy with the DPRK.

MOSCOW, 12 March 2022, (TON): The National Guard takes part in the protection of the Chernobyl and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants in Ukraine.

This was reported to TASS in the press service of the department.

The message said “Army General Viktor Zolotov emphasized that the units of the Russian Guard play a special role in ensuring the protection of important infrastructure and transport communications, including nuclear power facilities, including the Chernobyl and Zaporozhye nuclear power plants.”

The department also noted that the personnel take an active part in military operations, ensure public safety and law enforcement, protect the population from criminal encroachments and looting in settlements liberated from nationalist armed groups.

The ministry said “Rosgvardeytsy assist citizens in establishing a peaceful life, help with food and medicine, including guarding and escorting convoys with humanitarian supplies.”

RIYADH, 12 March 2022, (TON): The Saudi and French ministers of transport, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser and Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, respectively, have signed two memorandums of understanding related to the rail, transportation, and innovation sectors.

During a visit to France, Al-Jasser met with senior government officials and heads of specialized transport and logistics companies and highlighted the importance of joint cooperation and the promotion of investment opportunities in the sector, inviting his hosts to participate in an upcoming bus transport project offering services between cities.

AMMAN, 12 March 2022, (TON): Supervisor general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah signed two agreements to provide food security and housing support to Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Jordan.

The first agreement was signed with the National Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition amounting to $2 million to boost food security for poor families.

Through the project, the center will provide the alliance with a donation to secure the food needs of the Syrian and Palestinian refugees for six months in all the Jordanian governorates.

This will be achieved through the distribution of magnetic cards every two months to the beneficiaries, who can use the cards in affiliated supermarkets outside the camps.

The number of individuals benefiting from this project amounts to 28,865.

WASHINGTON, 12 March 2022, (TON): Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III had an introductory call with Bulgarian Minister of Defense Dragomir Zakov.

Both leaders affirmed the growing bilateral strategic partnership, exchanged views on Russia’s unprovoked and premeditated war against Ukraine, reviewed international efforts to provide assistance to the Ukrainian people.

Secretary Austin and Minister Zakov also discussed ways to advance Bulgaria’s defense modernization efforts, including delivery of Bulgaria’s F-16s.

TRIPOLI, 12 March 2022, (TON): Libya’s parliament-appointed prime minister said Friday that armed groups backing him had withdrawn from positions around Tripoli, after the UN warned of a new escalation in the divided country.

Libya has had rival administrations since the eastern-based assembly swore in a prime minister earlier this month in a challenge to interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah.

Dbeibah has refused to hand over power to Fathi Bashagha, arguing that his own administration, installed last year under a United Nations-led peace process, has a mandate to rule until elections.

Pro-Bashagha forces had deployed on the eastern edges of Tripoli on Thursday, prompting the UN mission in Libya to warn against any escalation.

But Bashagha’s office said in a statement in the early hours of Friday that the groups had “opted not to use arms, and to return to their bases.”

DUBAI, 12 March 2022, (TON): The European Union’s foreign policy chief said Friday that a pause was needed in ongoing talks over Iran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers, blaming external factors for the delay.

The comments by Josep Borrell come as a roadmap appeared imminent for the US to rejoin an accord it unilaterally withdrew from in 2018 and for Iran to again limit its rapidly advancing nuclear program.

Borrell wrote on Twitter “a final text is essentially ready and on the table.”

“As coordinator, I will, with my team, continue to be in touch with all #JCPOA participants and the US to overcome the current situation and to close the agreement.”