Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, state minister and commander of the National Guard, inspects the readiness of the armed forces during a visit to Dammam.

Minister of the National Guard Prince Miteb bin Abdullah has rejected accusations by Hezbollah that Saudi Arabia supports terrorist groups, saying the Kingdom has been at the forefront of confronting terrorism over the years.

“Personally I think that Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, was the first country to fight terrorism because it was the first to be affected by it,” said Prince Miteb during a visit to Dammam. He said it was clear who was supporting terror groups in the region.

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah had claimed that Saudi Arabia was arming and funding terrorist groups in the Middle East. The leader of the Lebanese movement made the remarks in a televised speech.

Prince Miteb said the Kingdom was ready to confront any group that threatened the country’s stability.

The National Guard was one of several security agencies responsible for keeping the country safe in the face of bloodshed and instability in neighboring countries.

Prince Miteb was in Dammam to meet security officials. He inspected the Third Special Security Brigade and was briefed on its formations, machinery and preparedness. He also watched mock military operations involving riots and VIP protection.

During a ceremony organized by National Guard employees and dignitaries from the eastern region, he announced that his ministry signed a contract with the United States to buy the best aircraft in the world.

He said the first batch would arrive soon and the National Guard’s pilots would receive extra training to handle these machines.

Meanwhile, he said every effort was being made to ensure that the long-delayed hospital in Qassim is opened. He said the delay was caused by some parties trying to take control of the land allocated for the facility more than five years ago. The hospital construction plan was approved two years ago.

“We have another health project in Taif. Once all these projects are completed the National Guard will have more than 10 hospitals under its control.”

He told local journalists that the ministry has set up a portal where citizens can apply for jobs. He hoped that the Ministry of Finance would give his ministry more financial support.

 
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