RIYADH — The Council of Ministers expressed on Tuesday the Kingdom's condemnation of the attacks by terrorist forces backed by the Iranian regime against the American forces, who are present in Iraq as part of the international coalition forces to confront the terrorist organization Daesh (so-called IS). Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman chaired the weekly session of the Cabinet at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Media Turki Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet emphasized that the terrorist attacks in Iraq violate that country's sovereignty and affect its security and stability apart from directly thwarting the efforts to combat terrorism. "This necessitates supporting efforts to cooperate between the Iraqi government and the US-led international coalition forces in investigating the attack that targeted an Iraqi base near Kirkuk, and taking appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of such the Iranian regime-backed hostilities." The minister stated that the Cabinet praised the efforts of the Presidency of the State Security and its staff in following up and tracking down terrorists who were trying to undermine the security and stability of the country as well as that of its citizens and residents, referring to the foiled terror attack in Dammam in which two wanted terrorists were killed and one was arrested. Condemning the terror attacks in Burkina Faso and Mogadishu in Somalia that claimed the lives of several civilians and security men, the Cabinet reiterated the Kingdom's position of rejecting violence, extremism and terrorism in all their forms and manifestations. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet welcomed the signing of an agreement by the Kingdom and Kuwait that is attached to the two agreements of dividing the divided zone and the submerged zone adjacent to the divided zone between the two countries, and a memorandum of understanding related to procedures for resuming oil production from the divided and submerged zones on both sides. The Cabinet stressed that this reflects the intensity of deep-rooted relations between the two countries. Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet underscored the Kingdom's utmost keenness and follow-up of the sufferings of Muslims in Myanmar, and lauded the United Nations General Assembly for its adoption of the resolution on the "Situation of human rights of the Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar." On behalf of its sponsoring countries, the Kingdom moved the resolution emanating from its belief in the need to find a solution to their tragedy and recognize their right of citizenship and a decent life. The Cabinet reviewed the final statement of the meeting of independent members representing the Syrian revolution and opposition forces held in Riyadh, with participation of Syrian national figures from all components of the Syrian people. The statement highlighted the significance of the political process to achieve a political transition in accordance with international resolutions. It also condemned terrorism in all its forms and demanded that all foreign forces and militias, foremost of which Iranian militias, to quit Syria. The meeting also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities in realizing these objectives. The Cabinet stressed its keenness on unity, sovereignty, stability and cohesion of Syria's social fabric. Al-Shabanah said the Cabinet approved the agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Iraq for the promotion and mutual protection of investments. The Council also endorsed the agreement to establish the Gulf Payments Company.
