Riyadh – BETH | Sunday, 27 July 2025

Under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi medical and surgical team has commenced the operation to separate the Syrian conjoined twins “Celine and Elin Abdulmonem Al-Shibli”, today at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital at King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National Guard in Riyadh.

The procedure is being led by Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, General Supervisor of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and head of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.

🏥 About the Case:

The twins were born via cesarean section on February 28, 2024, at Rafic Hariri University Hospital in Beirut, as part of a triplet birth, including one healthy boy and two conjoined girls.

The family are Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon.

The twins arrived in Saudi Arabia on December 29, 2024, through coordination with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense.

They were admitted to King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital for extensive evaluation.

🔍 Medical Condition:

Following a series of thorough examinations and medical team meetings, it was confirmed that the twins are joined at the lower chest and abdomen, and they share:

Pericardial membrane (heart sac)

Liver

And possibly intestinal structures

To prepare for the surgery, tissue expanders (balloons) were inserted under the skin to ensure enough coverage post-separation.

🛡️ Surgical Operation Details:

The procedure will take approximately 9 hours

It includes 6 highly precise stages

Involves a team of 24 consultants and specialists, supported by

Anesthesiologists

Pediatric surgeons

Plastic surgeons

And multidisciplinary staff across nursing and technical teams

🌍 A Humanitarian Legacy:

Dr. Al Rabeeah noted that this marks the fourth separation of conjoined twins from Syria, and is part of a broader legacy within the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has over the past 35 years:

Evaluated 150 cases

Successfully separated 65 conjoined twins

From 27 countries around the world

🙏 A Message of Gratitude:

Dr. Al Rabeeah concluded by expressing deep appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their continued support of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program and the Saudi healthcare sector as a whole. He prayed for the success of the operation and that this humanitarian endeavor will be added to Saudi Arabia’s legacy of compassion, science, and service to humanity.

🎯 BETH Insight:

"In the Kingdom of Humanity, a child’s nationality is not the concern—only their heartbeat.
The separation of the Syrian twins is more than a surgical feat; it is proof that when Saudi Arabia promises life… it delivers it with mercy and mastery."

"More images – and the news in Arabic."