News

Death Toll in Gaza Strip Rises to 72,049Gaza, 12 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- The death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 72,049 martyrs in addition to 171,691 wounded since the start of the offensive on 7 October 2023. Medical sources reported today that four martyrs, whose bodies were recovered, and five wounded individuals arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals in the past 24 hours, while multiple victims remain trapped under rubble and in the streets, as rescue and ambulance crews have been unable to reach them. The same sources indicated that the total number of martyrs ...

Foreign Minister, Cypriot Counterpart Discuss Developments in Iranian Nuclear File Muscat, 11 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- A telephone conversation was held between Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister and Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus. The call reflected the strong ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and formed part of ongoing consultations on regional and international developments. Discussions focused primarily on mediation efforts related to the Iranian nuclear file, alongside European interest in ...

Larijani Stresses Oman's Key Role in Facilitating Iran-US NegotiationsMuscat, 10 Feb 2026 (ONA) —- Dr. Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasized the profound depth of bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and Iran. He noted these ties are founded on a shared history and close bonds, and are advancing effectively to serve mutual interests.In an exclusive interview with Oman TV, he stated that his meeting in Muscat today with His Majesty the Sultan underscores a shared, clear vision for elevating bilateral ...

Israeli Entity Kidnaps Lebanese Man During Incursions into Southern LebanonBeirut, 9 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- The Israeli entity kidnapped today a Lebanese citizen in the Arqoub region of southern Lebanon. The Lebanese National News Agency reported that an Israeli military force infiltrated on foot into the town of Hebbariyeh in the Arqoub region of Hasbaya municipality and kidnapped a Lebanese man. --- ...

Oman Hosts US-Iran TalksMuscat, 6 Feb 2026 (ONA) — On the sidelines of the Sultanate of Oman’s hosting of pivotal talks concerning the Iranian nuclear dossier, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister convened separate consultations with the Iranian delegation—led by Dr. Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs—and with the American delegation, headed by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy as well as Jared Kushner.The deliberations centered upon establishing the requisite foundations for the resumption of both diplomatic and technical negotiations. ...

Political Affairs Undersecretary Receives Credentials’ Copy of Dominican AmbassadorMuscat, 5 Feb 2026 (ONA) — Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, received a copy of the credentials of Andy Rodriguez Duran, appointed Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Sultanate of Oman.The Undersecretary welcomed the Ambassador, wishing him success in performing his duties and for bilateral relations between the two countries further progress and prosperity.The meeting was attended by Ambassador Najib Yahya Al Balushi, Head of the Protocols ...

Oman Participates in Critical Minerals Ministerial in WashingtonWashington, 4 Feb 2026 (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial in the U.S. capital, Washington, and organized by the U.S. Department of State. The event was inaugurated by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.The Sultanate of Oman was represented by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister. The event saw participation from a number of foreign ministers, senior officials, and representatives of governments and international institutions from various countries around the world.The event ...

Colonists Storm Al-Aqsa MosqueOccupied Jerusalem, 4 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Israeli colonists stormed today the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, under the protection of Israeli occupation police. According to eyewitnesses, dozens of colonists stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in groups and performed Talmudic rituals in front of the western courtyard adjacent to the Dome of the Rock, the Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported.--- ...

Oman, Slovakia Hold First Round of Political Consultations Muscat, 3 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Slovakia hold the first round of political consultations today in Muscat. The Omani side was led by Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, while the Slovak side was led by Marek Eštok, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. During the consultations, the two sides reviewed the existing bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed ways to enhance ...

Kremlin Warns of Heightened Global Danger as US Remains Silent on New START ExtensionMoscow, 3 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- The Kremlin today reiterated its offer to Washington for a one-year extension of the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, warning that its imminent expiration threatens to plunge the world into a "more dangerous situation."Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin's proposal remains active, but the United States has yet to provide a response. "In a few days, the world will likely be in a more dangerous situation than it has been so far," Peskov told ...

MSF Chief Warns of "Catastrophic" Impact as Israel Orders Aid Group to Cease Gaza OperationsGeneva, 3 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said the expulsion order, effective 28 February 2026, will deprive hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of critical care amidst a collapsed health system.In a stark warning, the Secretary-General of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Christopher Lockyear, stated that an Israeli order to halt the organization's humanitarian activities in the Gaza Strip would have "catastrophic" consequences for residents already facing a dire health ...

Follow-up Committee of Oman-UAE Higher Joint Committee Holds Meeting in Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, 2 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- The Follow-up Committee of the Oman-UAE (United Arab Emirates) Joint Higher Committee held its periodic meeting in Abu Dhabi today. The meeting comes in implementation of the directives of the wise leaderships of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and as a continuation of efforts exerted to enhance joint cooperation across various fields. During the meeting, the two sides discussed and reached consensus on a number of topics of mutual ...

Rafah Border Crossing Reopens for Bidirectional Movement, Easing Humanitarian Access Gaza, 2 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Patients, wounded, and citizens begin crossing into Egypt, while stranded Palestinians return to Gaza Strip, amidst ongoing Israeli security controls. The Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza reopened for two-way traffic today, facilitating the movement of patients, the wounded, and other civilians for the first time in weeks, according to official Palestinian reports. The Palestinian news agency WAFA stated that the crossing opened officially for citizens with ...

UNRWA Chief Decries "Silent War" as Israeli Settler Violence in West Bank Reaches Record Levels New York, 1 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), stated today that the events unfolding in the cities of the occupied West Bank represent the most significant displacement of Palestinians since 1967, characterizing the situation as a "silent war" lacking adequate international media attention. In a formal statement, Lazzarini declared that Palestinian communities have endured ...

Trial Operations Commence at Rafah Crossing with Gaza Strip Gaza, 1 Feb 2026 (ONA) --- Trial operations have begun at the Rafah land border crossing with Egypt, initiating a tentative reopening after more than a year and a half of near-total closure. Shadi Othman, Media Officer at the European Union office in Jerusalem, clarified that the crossing will undergo "trial operations" today, aimed at facilitating the movement of Palestinians to and from the Gaza Strip. He affirmed that "the fundamental objective at this stage is to ensure the crossing is ...

Foreign Minister Receives Austrian Official Muscat, 28 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, received today Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various political, economic, and cultural fields. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, aiming to develop and expand existing cooperative relations, explore further partnership and ...

Oman, CTBTO Preparatory Commission Discuss Areas of Cooperation Muscat, 27 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, received today Dr. Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the existing aspects of cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the CTBTO Preparatory Commission. They emphasized the importance of international cooperation and multilateralism in strengthening and supporting the disarmament and ...

Foreign Minister Receives Hungarian Official Muscat, 27 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, received today Dr. Anikő Raisz, State Secretary for Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of Energy of Hungary. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the fields of water resources management, climate change, pollution control, and waste recycling. They also explored strengthening connectivity through expertise and knowledge exchange programs and cooperation in international environmental forums, in addition to ...

Oman, USA Hold Third Strategic Dialogue in MuscatMuscat, 25 Jan 2026 (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman and the United States of America held the third session of their Strategic Dialogue today at Diplomatic Club in Muscat.The Omani side was chaired by Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, while the American side was chaired by Allison Hooker, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs.The two sides discussed means of maximizing the benefits of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries and augmenting American investments in ...

Foreign Minister Holds Phone Calls with Palestinian Counterpart, Arab League Secretary-General Muscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, held separate telephone calls today with Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League. During the call with his Palestinian counterpart, the Minister discussed various developments and current events related to the Palestinian cause, as well as regional and international efforts aimed at ...

Oman Welcomes Efforts of US President to Solidify Ceasefire in GazaMuscat, 22 Jan 2026 (ONA) — The Foreign Ministry has conveyed the Sultanate of Oman’s welcome of the efforts led by United States President Donald Trump to consolidate the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to implement the peace plan adopted by the United Nations Security Council Resolution No. 2803, and the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and further to establish an independent Palestinian State in accordance with legitimate international resolutions, in particular the relevant Security Council ...

Oman Condemns Terrorist Bombing in Afghan Capital Muscat, 21 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman voiced its condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing that took place in Kabul, Afghanistan, leaving many Afghan and Chinese citizens dead or injured. Oman expressed its sincere condolences and heartfelt commiserations to Afghanistan and the People's Republic of China. Oman also extended its sympathies to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. In a statement issued today, the Foreign Ministry affirmed the Sultanate of ...

Israeli Occupation Arrests 10 Palestinians in Occupied West BankOccupied Jerusalem, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) arrested today ten Palestinian civilians in Jenin governorate, north of the occupied West Bank.Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) said in a statement that the IOF arrested ten civilians in the town of Burqin, north of Jenin governorate, after having raided and searched their homes. In a related context, the IOF stormed the towns of Beit 'Awwa and Deir Samit, west of Al-Khalil city, and seized several vehicles. The cities, towns, and refugee camps of ...

Oman, Spain Hold Political Consultations Session Muscat, 20 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Spain today held the fourth round of the political consultation session in Muscat. The Omani side was chaired by Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, while the Spanish side was chaired by Diego Martínez Belío, State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs. During the session, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries. They affirmed their keenness to continue developing ...

European Council Calls for Extraordinary Meeting on Greenland TensionsBrussels, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- The European Council announced its intention to convene an extraordinary meeting of European Union leaders in the coming days, following a meeting of EU member state ambassadors in Brussels to discuss the latest developments related to tensions over Greenland The European Council meeting will be held "given the significance of recent developments and in order to further coordinate," Council President Antonio Costa said on X. "Given the significance of recent developments and in order to ...

Dozens of Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa MosqueOccupied Jerusalem, 19 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque compound today under the protection of Israeli occupation forces. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that over 286 settlers stormed the mosque through the Mughrabi Gate and performed provocative Talmudic rituals in its courtyards.--- ...

HM The Sultan Sends Written Message to Saudi Crown Prince Riyadh, 15 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has sent a written message to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, dealing with relations between the two countries. The message was delivered by Sayyid Najib bin Hilal Al Busaidi, the Sultanate of Oman’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during a meeting with Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al Khereiji, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister, in Riyadh today. --- ...

Oman, Italy Issue Joint Communique Muscat, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the Italian Republic have affirmed their commitment to continue developing the strategic partnership, supporting bilateral relations, and expanding cooperation in a manner that serves the common interests of the two countries.This was stated in the joint communique issued today on the occasion of the Italian Prime Minister’s visit to the Sultanate of Oman. It reads as follows:“Within the context of the historical relations and strong ties that bind ...

3 Palestinians Wounded by Israeli Fire East of Gaza City, Khan YounisGaza, 14 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Three Palestinians were injured by Israeli fire east of Gaza City and Khan Younis today. According to local sources, the three Palestinians were shot by Israeli occupation forces inside and outside their deployment areas east of both cities. --- ...

Colonists Storm Al-Aqsa MosqueOccupied Jerusalem, 13 Jan 2026 (ONA) --- Colonists stormed today the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces (IOF). WAFA news agency reported Palestinian sources as saying that 47 colonists stormed Al-Aqsa and performed provocative Talmudic rituals in its courtyards. These incursions are part of the occupation's efforts to obliterate Al-Quds' Islamic and historical identity and threaten Islamic sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque. --- ...