NEW YORK: Kuwait’s UN ambassador warned Monday that Gulf states will not tolerate any attack on the security or stability of the region, calling it “a red line” during an emergency UN Security Council session.

Tareq Al-Bannai, speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned “the cowardly and blatant (Zionist) criminal attack” that targeted a residential area where members of Hamas’ political bureau were holding a meeting in Doha, Qatar. The strike killed several people, including a Qatari citizen, and injured others.

Al-Bannai said the attack was “a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms” and “a serious threat to the security and safety of the Qatari people and residents in the country.” He warned that any repeat of such actions would face “collective, stronger positions and deterrent political and legal measures within the frameworks available in the international system.”

The Kuwaiti diplomat described the strike as part of “systematic policies and ongoing attempts by the occupying entity to destabilize security and stability in the region,” and stressed that reckless attacks on the Gulf will not be tolerated.

He reaffirmed Qatar’s right to respond firmly, saying the Gulf states support “protecting its people and defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Al-Bannai added that this right is guaranteed under the UN Charter and that a strong response sends “a deterrent message to anyone who attempts to violate the sovereignty of states.”

Al-Bannai also called on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, insisting that perpetrators be held accountable. He emphasized the need for “decisive stances from regional and international blocs, including the UN Security Council,” and urged immediate steps to deter future attacks and activate accountability mechanisms to prevent repetition of such blatant violations.

The ambassador praised Qatar’s ongoing mediation and de-escalation efforts under the leadership of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He highlighted Doha’s role in “resolving disputes peacefully” and its contribution to “safeguarding international peace and security in accordance with the UN Charter.”

Concluding his statement, Al-Bannai affirmed that the GCC remains committed to strengthening global peace and security and reiterated support for Qatar in referring the attack to international mechanisms, calling on the world to hold those responsible accountable without delay. — KUNA

DHAKA: A delegation from the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) concluded its inspection visit to Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, on Saturday, highlighting Kuwait’s ongoing humanitarian efforts to support refugees worldwide. Dr Naser Al-Tannak, Vice Chairman of KRCS, told KUNA in a phone interview that “this visit embodied the steadfast humanitarian approach of the State of Kuwait and its keenness to help those in need around the world, in line with the directives of the wise political leadership.”

He said the delegation’s program included a field tour of the camps, where it reviewed the “Building Resilience and Adaptation Capacity” project, funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

Al-Tannak explained that the project aims to construct 1,520 new shelters equipped with basic necessities to provide safer and more stable living conditions for refugee families. The visit also included meetings with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), attended by Kuwait’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Ali Hamada, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in supporting refugees and alleviating their suffering.

The delegation held talks with Bangladeshi officials to review humanitarian developments on the ground. Al-Tannak emphasized that “the needs on the ground remain significant and require urgent international efforts to provide a decent life for the refugees.” He added that the camps host nearly one million Rohingya refugees living in difficult conditions, making sustained international support critically important.

Since 2017, KRCS projects in Bangladesh have covered food, shelter, health, water, education, and development initiatives in cooperation with local and international organizations. Al-Tannak said these efforts “reflect the comprehensiveness and diversity of Kuwait’s humanitarian initiatives, aligned with the basic needs of refugees.”

He also thanked partner organizations, including the Kuwait Embassy in Bangladesh, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. “This cooperation reflects the strength of the humanitarian partnership that distinguishes Kuwait and embodies its leading role in humanitarian and relief work globally,” he said. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait Oil Company’s (KOC) new Artificial Intelligence Innovation Center has delivered its first major achievement with an AI-powered rig drilling project that improves productivity and planning through Ghaia.ai’s G Agent platform.

KOC Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Al-Eidan told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday that the collaboration with Microsoft, Halliburton and Ghaia.ai enabled Kuwait to adopt G Agent, an intelligent system of AI agents designed to transform how organizations operate.

“The platform allows the company to benefit from advanced artificial intelligence solutions to develop the management of drilling rig resources, achieve a qualitative leap in system integration and real-time data analysis, as well as enhance operational efficiency and accelerate decision-making,” he said.

Al-Eidan said the Agentic AI drilling project has already shown “tangible results in raising productivity and improving planning and operations.” He said it strengthens KOC’s ability to analyze operational data instantly and provide proactive solutions. The initiative also supports New Kuwait 2035, the country’s long-term development strategy.

According to Ghaia.ai, G Agent deploys “digital agents that think, act, and evolve—working for humans to unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation.” Unlike traditional automation, it creates “a dynamic mesh for collaboration between agents and humans across departments and teams,” with applications spanning energy, retail and government.

Ahmad Al-Aidan

‘A promising future’

Launched in August with support from the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, the AI Innovation Center is the first of its kind in the country. It is part of KOC’s wider digital transformation push and was developed in partnership with Microsoft, Halliburton and Ghaia.ai.

“The center represents the first fruit of the strategic partnership between the State of Kuwait and Microsoft, and at the same time it is the first of its kind in Kuwait and a cornerstone in applying artificial intelligence,” Al-Eidan said. He added that the facility will train Kuwaiti professionals on the latest technologies and help them integrate digital tools into everyday operations.

He expressed hope that the collaboration will be “a pivotal step toward a promising digital future,” positioning KOC as a leader in digital transformation both in Kuwait and across the region.

Naeem Yazbek, President of Microsoft for the Middle East and Africa, said KOC is “leading a bold vision for the future of Kuwait’s energy sector, where artificial intelligence meets human creativity to accelerate digital transformation.”

Yazbek emphasized Microsoft’s commitment to developing Kuwaiti talent, noting that “through investment in developing the capabilities of engineers, analysts and technical experts, the company strengthens the foundations of a resilient digital economy supported by local capabilities.”

He said the new AI center is not only a training site but “a fully integrated platform for joint innovation” that serves as a strategic pillar for operational excellence and smart energy solutions. — Agencies