US covert actions in Yemen – No Accountability for War Crimes – Religious Pluralism in Islam – Rex Tillerson and Saudi Arabia – US arms transfer to UAE – Saudi air raids, many victims – and more
Schwerpunkte / Key aspects
Klassifizierung / Classification
cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important
cp2 Allgemein / General
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche/ UN and peace talks
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
cp9 USA
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade
cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
cp15 Propaganda
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
Klassifizierung / Classification
***
**
*
(Kein Stern / No star)
A = Aktuell / Current news
B = Hintergrund / Background
C = Chronik / Chronicle
D = Details
E = Wirtschaft / Economy
H = Humanitäre Fragen / Humanitarian questions
K = Krieg / War
P = Politik / Politics
PH = Pro-Houthi
PS = Pro-Saudi
T = Terrorismus / Terrorism
cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important
13.1.2017 – The Bureau Investigates (** B K T)
Yemen: Reported US covert actions 2016
This page details events reported by US and Yemeni government, military and intelligence officials, and by credible media, academic and other sources.
Many of the US attacks listed below have been confirmed by senior US or Yemeni officials. However some events are only speculatively attributed to the US, or are indicative of US involvement. We therefore class all strikes in Yemen as either “confirmed” or “possible”.
Both the Pentagon and CIA have been operating drones over Yemen. But the US has also launched strikes with other weapons systems, including conventional jet aircraft and cruise missiles. The Bureau records these operations as “additional US attacks”.
The Bureau will continue to add to its knowledge base, and welcomes input and corrections from interested parties. If you have any comments or suggestions please contact us at info@thebureauinvestigates.com with the phrase “Yemen data” included in the subject line.
Click here for our 2001-2011 Yemen data.
Click here for our 2012 Yemen data.
Click here for our 2013 Yemen data.
Click here for our 2014 Yemen data.
Click here for our 2015 Yemen data.
Click here for our 2016 Yemen data. – by Jessica Purkiss
https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2017/01/13/yemen-reported-us-covert-actions-2016-2/
12.1.2017 – Human Rights Watch (** B H K)
Yemen: No Accountability for War Crimes
Saudi-Led Coalition, Houthi-Saleh Forces Abuses Persist
Parties to Yemen’s armed conflict violated the laws of war with impunity in 2016, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2017. Concerned governments should seek accountability for past and ongoing violations and immediately suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Arabia-led coalition has carried out military operations, supported by the United States and United Kingdom, against Houthi forces and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 2015. The coalition has unlawfully attacked homes, markets, hospitals, schools, civilian businesses, and mosques. As of October 10, 2016, at least 4,125 civilians had been killed and 6,711 wounded, the majority by coalition airstrikes, according to the United Nations human rights office.
"None of the forces in Yemen’s conflict seem to fear being held to account for violating the laws of war,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “UN members need to press the parties to end the slaughter and the suffering of civilians.”
In the 687-page World Report, its 27th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries.
Both sides to the conflict have repeatedly violated the laws of war. Human Rights Watch has documented 61 apparently unlawful Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, some of which may amount to war crimes. The coalition has also used internationally banned cluster munitions. Neither the US nor the UK have suspended arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite increasing evidence of their use in the conflict and the coalition’s failure to credibly investigate alleged violations. In 2015, the US approved more than US$20 billion worth of weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, and the UK approved arms sales worth $4 billion.
Since taking control of the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014, the Houthis and their allies have carried out a campaign of arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances against perceived opponents. They have launched artillery rockets in indiscriminate attacks into southern Saudi Arabia and in Yemen, killing 475 civilians and wounding 1,121 between July1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, according to the UN. Houthi and allied forces have also laid banned anti-personnel landmines that have killed and wounded dozens of civilians.
None of the warring parties credibly investigated their forces’ alleged laws-of-war violations in Yemen.
As of November, the US reported it had conducted 28 drone strikes in Yemen in 2016, killing dozens of people described as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operatives.
Parties to the conflict block or restrict critical relief supplies from reaching civilians, deepening the country’s crisis. The coalition has imposed an air and naval blockade on Yemen, limiting the importation of vital goods, and Houthi and allied forces have confiscated food and medical supplies from civilians entering Taizz and blocked aid from reaching the city, contributing to the near collapse of its health system.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/01/12/yemen-no-accountability-war-crimes and Yemen in the report: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/yemen
12.1.2017 – Dr. Razim Karim (** B P)
Religious Pluralism in Islam
From the earliest periods of Muslim history we have examples of a great deal of respect for the rights of non-Muslims under Muslim rule. For instance, the fourth Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 661) instructed his governor in Egypt to show mercy, love and kindness for all subjects under his rule, including non-Muslims whom he declared to be “your equals in creation.” Such tolerance is later reflected in the policies of the Arab dynasties of Spain, the Fatimids in North Africa, and the Turkish Ottomans in the Middle East granting maximum individual and group autonomy to those adhering to a religious tradition other than Islam. We can also cite the example of the Mughal Emperor Akbar (d. 1605), who – much to the dismay of the religious right wing of his time – promoted tolerance among the various traditions that compose the Indian religious landscape.
The question it brings to the table is how can a scripture that celebrates pluralism be the source of the intolerance and hatred that a few contemporary Muslim groups show towards the West? How can a scripture that declares “Let there be no compulsion in religion” be invoked by those who wish to forcibly enforce their religious views onto others, Muslim and non-Muslim alike? How can a scripture that instructs Muslims to regard the People of the Book as among the righteous be used to declare that Christians and Jews are infidels? The answers to these questions can be traced to the emergence of an unfortunate mode of Quranic interpretation that is exclusivist in nature.
Historically, exclusivist interpretations of the Quran have been used to justify dominion over other Muslims, specifically those whose interpretation of the faith and religious practices were perceived as deviating from the norms established by exclusivists. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, several areas of the Muslim world witnessed the rise of movements which, in response to what was perceived a general moral laxity and decline, attempted to “purify” Islam. The leaders of these movements targeted a whole range of practices and beliefs among fellow Muslims which, in their eyes, constituted evidence of religious backsliding. In particular, Sufi forms of Islam were attacked as not deriving from “authentic” Islam. In certain cases, these attacks took on a military character and “jihads” were launched against fellow Muslims with the intention of forcibly imposing upon them those interpretations of Islam favored by the exclusivists.
The most dramatic and influential of these movements was the so-called Wahhabi movement in Arabia.
In recent times, the exclusivist views have also been heavily promoted by the so-called fundamentalist groups in the Muslim world.
For Muslims to participate in a multireligious and multicultural world of the twenty-first century, it is essential that they fully embrace Quranic teachings on pluralism. Exclusivist interpretations of the Quran that are premised on the hegemony of Islam over non-Islam and promote the use of a rhetoric of hate and violence to attain such goals are outdated in a global society in which relations between different peoples are best fostered on the basis of equality and mutual respect – a basic principle underlying the Quranic worldview. Since in several key Muslim nations, the exclusivist message has been propagated by madrasas, or religious schools, sponsored by exclusivist groups or the state itself, a key to the outcome of the struggle between pluralism and exclusivism in the Islamic tradition lies in the re-education of Muslim peoples about the pluralism which lies at the heart of the Quran. Without this pluralist education, they will continue to rely on the monolithic interpretations of scholars and demagogues to access the Quran. Only by raising levels of religious literacy in the Islamic world will Muslims become aware of the centrality of Quranic teachings concerning “religious and cultural pluralism as a divinely ordained principle of coexistence among human societies.”
As a pluralist Muslim who is American, I am struck by the resonance between the pluralism espoused in the Quran and that in the constitution and civic culture of the United States. Contrary to what some may claim, one can be fully American and Muslim simultaneously – by Razim Karim
http://humanityisprimary.tumblr.com/
My comment: This is of special importance for a country like Yemen.
12.1.2017 – The Intercept (** A P)
Rex Tillerson Wants to Provide Saudi Arabia With More Help to Bomb Yemen
When secretary of state nominee and former Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson was asked about Saudi Arabia’s use of cluster weapons during his confirmation hearing Wednesday, he declined to answer, and suggested that the way to discourage Saudi Arabia from hitting civilians in Yemen is to provide them with additional targeting intelligence.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., asked Tillerson during his confirmation hearing: “Saudi Arabia has been utilizing cluster munitions in Yemen. Much of the world has said these are terrible weapons to use, because they have a range of fuses and they can often go off months or years after they’ve been laid down. These are the cluster bombs, you’re familiar with them. They’ve also been targeting civilians. How should the U.S. respond to those actions?”
Tillerson replied: “Well I would hope that we could work with Saudi Arabia perhaps by providing them better targeting intelligence, better targeting capability to avoid mistakenly identifying targets where civilians are hit, impacted, so that’s an area where I would hope that cooperation with them could minimize this type of collateral damage.”
“How about with regard to the use of cluster munitions?” the senator asked.
“Well I’d have to examine what our past policy has been. I don’t want to get out ahead, if we’ve made commitments in this area, I don’t want to get out ahead of anyone on that,” Tillerson concluded.
Merkely clearly saw Tillerson’s response as an example of how the U.S. gives Saudi Arabia a pass due to its oil reserves. “We’ve often been reluctant to put as much pressure on states that we are dependent upon for oil, than in situations with states where we’re not dependent on oil,” he noted.
But Tillerson’s response went beyond deferring to the Saudis — it showed either a callous disregard for civilian lives lost or striking ignorance about what is going on in the region. And the latter is less likely, considering that before becoming CEO, Tillerson oversaw Exxon’s operations in Yemen and negotiated extensively with the Yemeni government for natural gas concessions.
The United States already provides targeting intelligence — and that has not stopped Saudi Arabia from bombing civilian targets. In fact, there are indications that the Saudi Arabia may be using U.S. intelligence to intentionally target civilians. Obama administration officials told the New York Times in August that the U.S. provides Saudi Arabia with a “no-strike” list of critical infrastructure, and that Saudi Arabia has violated it.
The Obama administration has actually reduced intelligence sharing in response to Saudi Arabia’s apparent disregard for civilian life.
The move was a tacit acknowledgment that Saudi Arabia is not killing civilians by mistake, but intentionally targeting them with U.S. technology and intelligence. Obama administration officials even anonymously told Reuters that their decision was motivated by “systemic, endemic” problems with Saudi Arabia’s targeting decisions.
“Instead of ‘providing them with better intelligence,’ Rex Tillerson should call for a cut-off of all U.S. arms and military support to Saudi Arabia,” said Sunjeev Bery, the Middle East Advocacy Director for Amnesty International USA, in an email to The Intercept. – by Zaid Jilani and Alex Emmons
Comment by Maung Zarni: A great dif. Obama drones & bombs, and gets theatrically teary.Trump wouldn't know where Yemen is/shows any crocodile's tears
https://twitter.com/drzarni/status/819813683039612928
and for Tillerson, also:
14.1.2017 – Washington Post (* A P)
Tillerson won’t label Saudi Arabia a human rights violator
Rex Tillerson refused to label Saudi Arabia a human rights violator, instead telling his Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) that his efforts to apply such labels to certain regimes were short-sighted.
“When you designate someone or label someone, is that the most effective way to have progress be able to be made in Saudi Arabia or any other country?” Tillerson said to Rubio, who questioned the secretary of state-designate’s on Saudi Arabia’s actions restrictions women’s rights and abuse of prisoners.
Tillerson defended himself by laying out his view that labeling foreign government as human rights violators or worse was undiplomatic and potentially counterproductive.
He argued that Saudi Arabia was making progress on human rights, however slowly, and suggested that Rubio’s approach could prevent more progress from occurring – by Karoun Demirjian
My comment: The typical argument of those who in reality want to keep everything as it is and to stay in the business with the violent regime. And: Only hard pressure can bring any change. – With this viewpoint, Trump already has lost his proclaimed war on terror before he even started it.
And also
12.1.2017 – The Ron Paul Liberty Report (* A P)
Film: The Tillerson Hearing: Will Trump Have A Neocon Foreign Policy?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGFjWcwvx_0&feature=youtu.be
11.1.2017 – Center for International Policy (** B K P)
The UAE is one of the closest U.S. military allies in the Middle East and has participated in a long series of U.S. interventions, including those in Somalia, Iraq (1991), Kosovo, Libya, and Syria. The UAE military is highly regarded by U.S. military leaders such as Gen. James Mattis, who has described UAE personnel as “great warriors” and referred to the UAE as “Little Sparta.” U.S. forces have used the UAE’s Al Dhafra air base to launch U.S. missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
Some UAE military activities have been controversial, including its involvement in helping to put down the democracy movement in Bahrain and its central role in the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen. The Yemen war has had devastating humanitarian consequences. Thousands of civilians have been killed by coalition air strikes, more than three-quarters of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, and basic supplies of food, clean water, and medical supplies are scarce.
The UAE is the biggest contributor of troops to the Saudi-led coalition Yemen. Its forces have operated primarily in the southern portion of the country. Early in the war the UAE was involved in the bombing campaign in the north of Yemen, but it has reportedly been less involved recently. In addition, ships from the UAE have been part of the naval blockade of Yemen. The UAE’s central role in the Yemen war demands that it play a central role in efforts to bring the war to an end.
According to statistics compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the United States has been far and away the largest arms supplier to the UAE, providing 63% of all major weaponry delivered to that nation since 2009.
The United States has also taken the lead in new arms sales agreements with the UAE. According to a December 2016 report by the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. was responsible for over 70% of arms transfer agreements entered into by the UAE from 2008 to 2015.
The UAE has sharply increased its military spending over the past decade, more than doubling its military budget from $9.7 billion in 2005 to over $22 billion in 2014, the most recent year for which full statistics are available. Among the most important systems acquired with this funding are the UAE Air Force’s three squadrons of F-16 combat aircraft. The UAE’s version of the plane is more advanced than the F-16s possessed by the U.S. Air Force.
The Obama administration has made new offers of over $25 billion worth of weaponry to the UAE under the Pentagon’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program since 2009, in 30 different deals. The offers have included 97 Apache attack helicopters, over 30,000 bombs, 4,569 Mine Resistant Armor Protected (MRAP) vehicles, 16 Chinook transport helicopters, and a Theater High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.
More than one-quarter of the FMS offers to the UAE – valued at $7.2 billion – were for bombs such as the Paveway and the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and tactical missiles such as the Hellfire that have been used in the war against ISIS and in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.
More than half of the combat aircraft in the UAE’s inventory – 78 of 138 – are of U.S.-origin.
The UAE in Yemen
The UAE has played a central role in the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.[2] According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the UAE has had as many as 4,000 troops in Yemen, more than twice as many ground troops as any other member of the coalition.[3] More recent reports have focused more on the role of UAE Special Forces in Yemen, with numbers estimated at 1,500 or more. The UAE has also facilitated the involvement of other countries in the war, by, for example, providing funding and logistical support for the deployment of over 1,000 troops from Sudan to Yemen.[4] There have also been reports of the UAE working with a private military contractor to recruit and train mercenaries from Colombia, Chile, and other Latin American countries for deployment to Yemen as part of the Saudi-led coalition.[5]
The UAE has contributed ships to the naval blockade of Yemen. The blockade has made it difficult to get civilian aid into the country. As a result, the naval blockade has been a major contributor to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, in which shortages of food, medical supplies, and clean water have contributed to widespread malnutrition and preventable deaths.[6] As a January 2016 report by the United Nations Security Council noted, “the systematic and widespread blockade of commercial goods has directly contributed to the obstruction of deliveries of aid and humanitarian assistance.”[7]
The UAE is also building up a capability for power projection in the region by establishing a military facility in Eritrea that has been used as a launching point for the deployment of Sudanese troops to Yemen and a base of operations for UAE combat ships that are involved in ferrying troops and enforcing the naval blockade on Yemen.[10]
The UAE’s role in Yemen has primarily involved fighting that has occurred in the southern portion of the country. Unlike other members of the coalition, UAE troops have directly confronted the forces of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), playing a central role in driving AQAP forces from the port city of Mukalla in the spring of 2016. The UAE also took the lead role in recapturing the southern city of Aden from the Houthi coalition.
An important aspect of the UAE’s modus operandi in southern Yemen has been to train, arm, and finance local actors while providing direction and support via its Special Forces. Training has occurred both in Yemen and the UAE – By William D. Hartung
https://www.ciponline.org/research/entry/u.s.-arms-transfers-to-the-uae-and-mideast-security
cp2 Allgemein / General
14.1.2017 – Fort Russ (* A P)
Reports began circulating hours ago in British media, such as the UK Express and Sun, that armed gunman had stormed the Russian embassy in Yemen, killing the Russian ambassador.
Barq news agency from the KSA had claimed that ambassador Vladimir Dedushkin, ambassador to Yemen since 2013, was shot in Sanaa, Yemen. This story was then carried by several British media outlets.
The reports went viral on social networking platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, a popular method that mainstream media outlets use for the dissemination of their standard 'fake' news stories.
Fort Russ News contacted the Russian embassy in Belgrade at 3pm CET for confirmation of the story. Fort Russ was told that no one at the embassy in Sanaa had been killed, let alone shot. Furthermore, there had not been any attack, according to them. We were unable to get further confirmation or denial from Yemeni authorities at the time of publication.
But this raises the question of how the false story was leaked and spread in British media earlier today, drawing a connection to the 'fake news' hype circulating in the west.
One likely scenario based on prior experience, is that media handlers, close to Saudi media outlet Barq, working with the would-be attackers, leaked a success story before they had actually succeeded.
This attempt comes on the heels of similar incidents in recent weeks – by Joaquin Flores
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/01/british-fakenews-false-reports-of.html
14.1.2017 – Tasnim News (* B K P)
UK Accomplice in Ongoing Saudi Carnage in Yemen: Lebanese AnalystA Lebanese political analyst condemned the British government for continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, saying that London is aiding and abetting the kingdom in its war crimes against the innocent people of Yemen.
“Mind you these atrocities and war crimes do not only fall into the hands of the Saudi Monarchy alone, it also holds all the governments selling arms to Al-Saud responsible of the innocent Yemeni blood being spilled for over 22 months now. From David Cameron to now current UK PM Theresa May who has vigorously defended selling arms to Saudi Arabia despite the country facing accusations of war crimes, blatantly insisting that close ties with the warmongers 'keep people on the streets of Britain safe'! The woman clearly states that she does not mind selling, even more, arms to the aggressors against international law for the sake of keeping up the 'ties' with the Saudi regime,” Marwa Osman said in an interview with the Tasnim News Agency.
Dr. Osman is a university lecturer at the Lebanese International University as well as Maaref University. She is a former host of al-Etejah English Channel’s “The Middle East Stream” political show. She is a member of the Blue Peace Media Network and unusually comments on the Middle East on several international and regional media outlets including RT, Press TV, Al-Manar, and Al-Alam. Osman also contributes to several news websites, including Modern Diplomacy, Shafaqna, and Italian Insider.
Following is the full text of the interview.
Tasnim: In your opinion, why the Saudis, who have reached none of their objectives behind the prolonged war, do not want to end the bloodshed and resolve the crisis through peaceful means?
Osman: What crisis? The Saudis have started a one-sided war against a sovereign country and tried occupying land within the border of this sovereign state using the most sophisticated war machine ever built! Has any aggressor really ever met his target plotted to terrorize other nations? The Saudis have been openly backing Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi the former Yemeni president who has already resigned twice! They have enormous leverage in bombing every site their warplanes can reach while providing terrorist mercenaries which they refer to as “Hadi Forces” with the funds and arms that keeps a weak government in power in Aden. This step has backfired on the Saudis leaving them with blood on their hands and land lost on their southern border that has been taken by the Yemeni resistance movement Ansarullah. The UN-mediated peace talks in Kuwait have been suspended without any prospects with little to no likelihood of a political breakthrough in the process given the terms of reference for the process created by UN Security Council Resolution 2216. The latter calls for a restoration of the Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi government to power in Sanaa, a demand the alliance Ansarullah and the followers of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh refuse to accept. Why should they accept if they are winning the war in the battlefield while the Saudis can only respond with horrific air raids on civilian-inhabited areas? We have to be clear about the real aim of the Saudi war against Yemen, it is not even to restore the rule of Hadi, it is simply an arrogant move by the Saudis to oblige the Yemenis people to succumb to the will of the Saudi throne. The Saudis thought Yemen would be a piece of cake and will end in a couple of weeks on bombing bringing the Yemenis to their knees surrendered. They were wrong at every level; it has now become obvious that Yemen most probably will bring the kingdom down to its knees economically.
and here the Fake News: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/754152/Russian-ambassador-assassinated-Yemen-Sanaa-Gunmen-Embassy
14.1.2017 – Near Eastern Outlook (* B K)
you will hardly come across an analyst who genuinely believes that the Saudi monarchy is capable of making a single step without consulting its masters in Washignton. It would never be able to get away with sponsoring militant groups across the region and the war crimes that it regularly commits in Yemen without the support of its Western sponsors.
We should not forget that the aggression against Yemen was semi-officially supported by two superpowers – the US and Britain, who have their officers constantly present in the coalition headquarters. Those powers use the Yemeni conflict to increase weapons sales to Gulf countries, which have recently reached a level of tens of billions of dollars which vastly surpasses the level they enjoyed before the crisis, but also to expand their military presence in the strategically important area of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
Remark: Overview article.
14.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (* B K)
proliferation of Skin Disorders and Malignant tumors in Saada Due to Prohibited Weapons AggressionHaydan district of Saada province is witnessing the proliferation of skin disorders and malignant tumors among the population rapidly as a result of the use of aircraft US-Saudi aggression prohibited weapons.The aggression use all the forbidden weapons to kill the Yemeni and they dropped in 2016 more than 15 cluster bombs in Saad’a, Sana’a and Hajja (photos)
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60862&lang=en
and
13.1.2017 – Dr. Karim (* A K)
Proof out of Yemen #Saudis used Chemical ordnance to bomb Sana'a 2 days ago #StopKillingYemenis (photos)
https://twitter.com/RSKarim1/status/819957027875209219
Comment: No "regular bombs can do that. those symptoms appeared less than 2 days ago after white smoke that left pple breathless came out from bombs
https://twitter.com/2flamesburning1/status/819960791252275200
14.1.2017 – Near Eastern Outlook (* B K P)
We are all familiar with the phenomenon of old news. A story which was on the front page for weeks gradually stops being reported because other things are considered more newsworthy. The issues which made the story so newsworthy are still there, but the media owners decide that the public is bored with them, inconvenient truths, and the audience wants to hear about something else.
The question is: how is this decided? Now we have the internet you can see how popular stories are by the number of hits they get – although that is only a rough measure, as you don’t know why those stories are actually being read, or by whom in particular. But how did anyone decide before then whether a story was stale or not? If it was by editorial judgment, what does that actually mean?
The inhabitants of Libya and Yemen might well ask the same question.
Yemen is a similar case. It got dragged into the “Arab Spring” because of its location, despite the fact its government was in power as a result of the Western-backed reunification of the country, and its actions were no worse than those of a dozen other governments the West has supported.
Those who remember the Vietnam War do so because it was featured on Western TV screens practically every night, even though the story presented never changed much. So why Libya and Yemen are yesterday’s news now? Is it, perhaps, because the dream they represented has proved to be exactly that? Or that it was a lie all along, and any reportage would lead the Western public to the same conclusion?
Publicity works two ways. If the public doesn’t choose to believe the reports given, they rebound on you, as Tony Blair found over Iraq and its WMD’s. Libya and Yemen are yesterday’s news because media outlets are in a quandary – either they have to admit to telling false stories until now, or they have to keep telling them and risk people drawing their own conclusions. This is very embarrassing for those who can fly home to the West whenever they like and claim everything on expenses. It is even worse for the people of Libya and Yemen, whose concerns are not being addressed, but as always the people being reported about in the MSM are the ones that media is least concerned about.
The US has an answer to why Yemen is yesterday’s news. Since the embassy pulled out, it is merely fulfilling the terms of a contract by supporting one side of the conflict whilst presenting this as a peace move. We are now told that the conflict is a proxy one for regional influence between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and therefore of no real interest to Western countries. For example, it is now revealed that the arms seized from a smuggling ship which happened to be off Yemen at the time were made in Iran – they may not have been intended for that conflict, but this particular shipment of what we are told is a long-running operation up the Arabian Peninsula is the one drawn attention to.
Tomorrow’s news
Yesterday’s news never completely goes away. The people crying out for attention to their problems are ignored, but eventually redemption of the dead story is at hand. Some new slant is put on the old news which makes it serve a purpose again, although the original issues we were encouraged to see as news never went away.
One day Libya and Yemen will be top of the news pile again. But only when the events taking place there can be fitted to a narrative of Western geopolitical progress. As long as questions can be asked about what good the West has done in these countries we will be encouraged to look elsewhere. If something happens which can be expressed as a Western achievement – and it’s a big if at the moment – we will be hearing about the plight of the Libyan and Yemeni people again – by Seth Ferris
http://journal-neo.org/2017/01/14/libya-yemen-and-why-they-are-yesterdays-news/
My comment: The ideas relating to Western media are sound, but Ferris’ theories about Yemen are just odd at all.
? – Tagesschau (* B K)
Film: Jemen im Krieg: Reportage aus Sanaa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeX4yGIFM38
13.1.2017 – Shafaqna (* B H K)
EDITORIAL – Should we dilute the truth to make it palatable? The War on Yemen
If you have been following events in Yemen you must be aware of the tragedy that befell this poorest nation of Arabia, when, a couple of days ago Saudi Arabia and its coalition of murderers targeted a school in the highlands.
Saudi Arabia knew exactly what it was doing when it rained death from the sky and martyred innocent children
Today I want to address a comment that was made after pictures relating to Yemen’s war were posted online. The premise was that featuring Yemen’s suffering might offend mainstream and serve to objectify such human tragedy.
While I can understand that famine, death, torture and brutal hardship may cause distress … imagine what the victims of war and their families must endure, this does not change the fact that Truth ought to be told.
If Yemen’s war offends your eyes and your ears, then step up, speak up and for the love of God change that very reality you cannot bear. Playing the ostrich only serves to reinforce tyrants’ hold over the oppressed.
I would go one step further and argue that our collective refusal to acknowledge injustice makes us accessories to murder! Yes murder. Innocent men, women and children are being massacred on our watch and we argue how many bloody pictures we are willing to tolerate.
Some communities don’t have the luxury of such censorship …or is it just that we lack empathy and humanity those days?
Could it be maybe that the secular liberal monster polluted our mind so deeply that we can’t even fake caring anymore – at least not beyond the 5 second attention span quota.
The Truth cannot, I repeat cannot become subject to debate. The Truth does not need to be popular, or trendy, or fancy, or even packaged with a pretty bow. The Truth is.
And if the Truth bothers you it is maybe because it offers a reflection of ourselves we refuse to admit – by Catherine Shakdam
http://en.shafaqna.com/news/41575
My comment: She is right – but not in one point which I must strongly reject: her objections against what she calls “the secular liberal monster”. What happens in Yemen (and elsewhere) has nothing to do with “secular” and “liberal”. There are and have been lots of cruelties like these in Yemen committed in the name of religion – whether Muslim, Christian, or even Buddhist (as to be observed in Burma in these days).
11.1.2017 – Ahlebait TV (not rated B K P)
Film: Shafaqna’s interview on Yemen with Ahlelbait TV
Open Dialogue with Mohsin Abbas, Sheikh Hanif Ahmed, Kim Sharef, Topic Yemen and Sheikh Al Nimr 3rd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM_fN3dwsuU
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
13.1.2017 – Aljazeera (* B H K)Film: Yemen: Black market flourishes in Houthi-controlled areas
Some businessmen blame Houthi rebels for looting aid and pushing more Yemenis towards starvation.The UN says there's a catastrophe with 18 million Yemenis in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
My comment: The fact that such a situation had been created by the Saudi blockade of course is not mentioned by Aljazeera.
13.1.2017 – Living in Yemen on the edge (A H)
From our friend Adel Hashem who is actively helping those in need in #Yemen:
''The war is wrecking the education of millions of Yemeni children. More than 3.4 million are now out of school and more than 1170 schools are unfit for use due to the clashes in ground or airstrikes or also because those children have not any one to feed them, so they forced to look for an income source to feed themselves.'' (photo)
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1248394968546864
13.1.2017 – Saudi Arabia war crimes (* A H)
For 22 continuous months, Yemen has been heavily bombed by #Saudi-#US coalition, coupled with complete blockade and colaition-made internal conflicts. Daily atrocities, including #phosphorusBombs and #clusterBombs have been used repeatedly, with #UN and Global shameless silence, whitewashing warecrimes!
Pictures from #Haydan in #Saadah Governorate - increasing proliferation of skin disorders and malignant tumors among the population rapidly.
https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1626694774293177
13.1.2017 – UN Development Programme (A H)Enhancing Social Cohesion and Resilience through Insider Mediators in Al-Hodeidah
In partnership with Search for Common Ground and during the period 22 December 2016 - 9 January 2017, two conflict scans have been conducted in the districts of Zabeed and Bait Al-Faqeeh in Al-Hodeidah.
The objective of the conflict scans is to identify the main local-level conflict issues, and identify conflict drivers, impacts, conflict dynamics, potential solutions and resources for peace. The conflict scans are conducted by Insider Mediators (IMs) who used the conflict scan data collection tool to collect information from the conflict scans. Seventeen community meetings were held in Bait Al-Faqeeh while thirteen meetings were held in Zabeed. 591 community members, 25% were female, have attended the meetings.
Conflict scans have targeted areas that are heavily populated, areas characterized to have conflicts and areas relatively accessible and safe.
Insider Mediators have had an advanced training on dialogue design, mediation and conflict analysis.
The project aims to equip the communities with the necessary skills and tools to raise awareness of local sources of tension and conflict in rural areas, and empower local communities to establish sustainable system for both short- and long-term conflict management in the targeted areas.
To read more about UNDP Yemen’s work during the ongoing conflict, click here.
http://www.ye.undp.org/content/yemen/en/home/presscenter/articles/2017/01/09/enhancing-social-cohesion-and-resilience-through-insider-mediators-in-al-hodeidah.html = http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/enhancing-social-cohesion-and-resilience-through-insider-mediators-al-hodeidah
13.1.2017 – UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (A H)
Yemen 2017 YHRP Accountability Framework
Accountability to affected people (AAP) is an active commitment of humanitarian workers to use power responsibly by taking account of, giving account to, and being held to account by the people humanitarian organizations seek to assist. It is the responsibility of each humanitarian agency to engage communities and be accountable to the population is serves.
This framework operationalizes accountability through community engagement, particularly information provision, participation and feedback components. The framework provides different options for humanitarian organizations to adhere to in their work.
http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-2017-yhrp-accountability-framework-enar and in full: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%202017%20YHRP%20Accountability%20Commitments.pdf
13.1.2017 – Reuters (* A H)
Yemeni farmers urgently need support to help ease hunger crisis: U.N
In the midst of one of the world's worst hunger crises, Yemen's farmers urgently need support so they can grow more food and provide young people with jobs, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said.
"People's access to food is rapidly worsening and urgent action is needed," said Salah Hajj Hassan, FAO representative in Yemen.
About two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture for their survival, and it is one of the only sectors of the economy still functioning after years of war, according to FAO.
But farming has been devastated by the conflict, and rural communities need help to restore crops and livestock, the U.N. agency said.
This is especially true for those living in remote or conflict-hit areas which are frequently cut off from food aid, FAO said.
Pressure on rural communities has increased as people fled fighting in the cities to stay with friends or relatives in the countryside, Hajj Hassan said.
Supporting farmers will not only ease hunger levels, it may also help prevent the conflict from worsening.
"From a security point of view, if we don't give those people the chance to work, what alternatives will young people have?" Hajj Hassan told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.
Yemen's early warning system also needs to be bolstered so that authorities and aid agencies can monitor changes in hunger levels, and get early information about drought, locust infestations, cyclones and floods - which are frequent visitors to the impoverished country.
"In terms of numbers, Yemen is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world," he said – By Alex Whiting
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-hunger-idUSKBN14X1KQ
Comment by Judith Brown: Well it would help if Saudi Arabia stopped bombing farms and dropping cluster bombs on agricultural land.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10155115565163641
13.1.2017 – UNICEF (* B H)
2016 in review: UNICEF’s impact in five of the most dangerous crises
2016 was a year of challenges and upheaval across the globe.
Yemen
With the escalation of conflict in March 2015, Yemen is facing a major humanitarian crisis. Some 18.8 million people – 70 per cent of the population – are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 9.6 million children. Child rights violations have increased dramatically and children are facing significant psychological stress. The status of health, nutrition and sanitation in the country is dire, with a recent cholera crisis putting 7.6 million people at risk.
Snapshot of UNICEF’s impact as of 23 November 2016:
- Nearly 4.5 million people provided with improved water sources and sanitation services
- More than 347,000 children given access to basic learning supplies
- More than 4.8 million children under 5 vaccinated against polio
- More than 4 million children under 5 given micronutrient interventions
- About 434,000 children receiving psychosocial support
Meet the children and families affected by the crisis in Yemen:
Arafat
Already chronically malnourished, six-year-old Arafat is now suffering from cholera.
Rania
A member of Yemen's marginalized community, Rania overcomes multiple obstacles to stay at the top of her class.
Miryam
A grieving mother, Miryam lost her son to a conflict he should never have been a part of.
https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/index_94388.html?utm_source=unicef_news&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_link = http://reliefweb.int/report/world/2016-review-unicef-s-impact-five-most-dangerous-crises
12.1.2017 – MONA Relief (A H)
ALL THEY NEED IS A LITTLE HELP, A LITTLE HOPE AND SOMEONE TO BELIVE IN THEM! @monarelief LOOKS AT THEIR ABILITIES - New Wheelchairs for them (photos)
https://twitter.com/monarelief/status/819522825249820672
12.1.2017 – Truthfeed (* A H)
HEARTBREAKING : 11 Yr Old Child Who Rose Against Forced Islamic Marriage Tragically Killed
A young Yemini girl shocked the world with her video, showing her bravery while raising awareness for child brides in the Middle East.
“Would it make you happy to marry me off against my will?” asks Nada Al-Ahdal, an 11-year-old girl whose parents were giving her away to be married at her young age, via CNN.
In the video, which went viral, Nada attacks her parents for trying to marry her off for money and says that she doesn’t want to be a child bride. She says that she would rather die.
Nada says this is a common occurrence in Yemen, and she speaks not just for herself but for all the girls who were given away by their parents to be married. “What about the innocence of childhood? What have the children done wrong so that you would marry them off like that?” Nada asked.
This video has received some skepticism. Nada’s parents have claimed they were not marrying her off. Even Yemen’s government said that she was lying, but how would they know? They just want to dismiss a vulnerable child.
http://truthfeed.com/heartbreaking-11-yr-old-child-who-rose-against-forced-islamic-marriage-tragically-killed/46312/ and CNN video (that’s from 2013): http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/30/world/yemen-child-marriage/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A P)
FM meets UN Resident Coordinator for Yemen
The meeting dealt with a number of issues relating to the activities of the UN offices working in the country and ways of enhancing them and facilitating their performance to enable them to provide their services to Yemeni citizens.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452882.htm
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A P)
President meets sheikhs, notables of Nehm district
President of the Supreme Political Council Saleh al-Sammad met on Saturday at the Republican Palace in Sana'a with sheikhs and notables from Nehm district of Sana'a province.
In the meeting, al-Sammad hailed the national positions of Nehm sons, expressing condolences in his name and on behalf of the political leadership to the district's sheikhs over victims of the heinous massacre that targeted al-Falah School and claimed lives of dozens due to the US-backed Saudi airstrikes.
Al-Sammad indicated that Nehm represents a gate of victory in confronting the aggression.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452907.htm
14.1.2017– International Business Times (* A T)
Russia says Yemen ambassador was not shot and killed after unconfirmed reports
Russia's Foreign Ministry has confirmed its ambassador in Yemen was not shot and killed. Unconfirmed reports said Vladimir Dedushkin was shot in Sanaa on Saturday (14 January).
After IBTimes UK contacted the Russian Foreign Ministry, a spokesman for the office said they have made contact with the ambassador and as such, the initial reports were false.
Dedushkin has been "keeping a close eye" in war-torn Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has waged a bombing campaign against Iran-backed Houthis.
Last February, in an interview with Russia's TASS news agency, Dedushkin said: "The war in Yemen has created fertile ground for the growth of activity of terrorist groups of every stripe and colour.
"According to incoming reports, the extremist groups that have mushroomed on the vast areas of the country's eastern and southern parts are not only replenished with gunmen from Syria.
"They are even trying to use the experience of Syrian smugglers to illegally export oil and oil products from Yemen." – By Tareq Haddad
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/russian-ambassador-yemen-shot-killed-sanaa-reports-1601079
14.1.2017 – Yemen Times (A)
After close to month of residing in morgue, journalist Mohammed Alabsi finally laid to rest
Today, Jan. 13, hundreds of mourners have laid to rest the body of Mohammed Alabsi one of Yemen’s most dedicated journalists.
Alabsi was renowned for pursuing information and tips regarding purported corruption which has always been a major issue in Yemen.
Late on December 20, of 2016, Mohammed Alabsi and his cousin had a late night meal in a restaurant in Sana’a, shortly after that, the two men were rushed to the emergency room where Alabsi died while his cousin survived.
Due to the sensitivity of the cases Alabsi reported on, his family members along with the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate demanded that the General-Attorney’s Office stop the burial of Alabsi and order that autopsy be conducted to ascertain the causes of his death.
The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate have announced on Wednesday, January 11, that the journalists will be laid to rest on Friday, January 13, after Friday’s Prayers.
http://www.yementimes.com/en/contents/news/5176/Journalist-Mohammed-Alabsi-laid-to-rest.htm
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A)
CID arrest 3 involved in selling smuggled, illegal G.S.M. chips
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452835.htm
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A)
Security raids medical-outfitted house to treat terrorists in Hodaida
Security services and popular committees raided a house outfitted with medical equipments to treat criminals and terrorists in Hodaida province, a security official told Saba on Saturday.
The raid was carried out on Friday after the police was tipped off about the house.
Investigations are underway to pursue the other involved suspects.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452849.htm
13.1.2017 – Almasdar Online (A)
A child killed by Houthi gunmen on wedding in Amran
Local residents in Amran gvernorate, northern Yemen, said that a child was killed when the Houthi militants opened the fire on Thursday on civilians in a wedding ceremony.
The locals told Almasdaronline that the Houthi militants broke into the wedding of the son of the prominent Sheikh Dahhan Shattir in Amran city and opened the fire on the guests which led to the killing of a 14 year-old boy.
The dead body was taken into Amran Public Hospital, while the tribesmen of Sheikh al Shattir in Jabal Yasid and Iyal Sarih areas were mobilizing on Friday to take a stand on the incident.
The residents pointed out that the Houthi gunmen who attacked the wedding and killed the child belong to Saada governorate and were brought to Amran to carry out "security missions".
http://almasdaronline.com/article/87997
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A)
Police seize weapons in Sana'a, Amran
Police and popular committees seized on Thursday an amount of weapons in Sana'a and Amran governorates, a police official told Saba.
The police operation took place at security checkpoints in Bin al-Harith district of Sana'a and in Raidah and Harf Sufyan districts of Amran.
The police arrested those involved in the weapons' smuggling attempts and sent them to the public prosecution to complete the interrogation and bring them to justice.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452726.htm
13.1.2017 – Al Sahwa (A P)
Militias of Houthis, Saleh commit 17,000 crimes in 2016
The Yemeni Alliance for Monitoring Human Rights Violations identified as Rasad has revealed that militias of the Houthis and Saleh committed more than 17,000 violations against civilians in 20 Yemeni governorates during the period from January 01 to 31 December 2016.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-2752
My comment: From Islah Party media with a definite propaganda bias. This is repeating a very similar report just some days ago.
ADM: 72 detainees died under torture
Dozens of detainee mothers protested on Monday in the capital Sana'a, demanding to immediately release their sons and relatives abducted by militias of the Houthis and Saleh.
They strongly condemned the continuation of detaining their relatives, appealing to the international community, particularly the United Nations, to hold all those involved in abduction, torture and detention of their relatives accountable.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-2755
My comment: From Islah Party media with a definite propaganda bias. This is repeating a very similar report just some days ago.
12.1.2017 – Press TV Iran (A P)
Films: British MP shocked by Saudi destruction in Yemen
After a short visit to war-torn Yemen, British lawmaker, Andrew Mitchell, says he is shocked by the scope of destruction caused by Saudi Arabia’s war on the impoverished country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m-AWfEA_r8 and http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2017/01/13/505968/british-mp-shocked-yemen-destruction
12.1.2017 – Aljazeera (A P)
Film: Yemen: British MP visits Houthi stronghold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OevDNtr9UwI
12.1.2017 – UNICEF Yemen (A P)
UK MP Andrew Mitchell interacts with a mother of a malnourished child in Saada hospital, supported by @UNICEF with @DFID_UK funding. #Yemen (photo)
https://twitter.com/UNICEF_Yemen/status/819601218670592000
12.1.2017 – Nasser Arrabyee (A P)
Yemen ExPresident Saleh Presented photo of slain girl in her school2British Commons member Andrew Mitchell as 1 example of Saudi war crimes (photos)
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/819559835834388480 and film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN5Jl4iKSbM
12.1.2017 – Nasser Arrabyee (A P)
Yemen foreign minister Sharaf Met again with British member of Commons Andrew Mitchell after he saw Saudi war crimes in Sanaa,Amran&Saada
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/819556894973063169
12.1.2017 – Nasser Arrabyee (A P)
Yemen massage to British House of Commons: Hatred& Anti-British sentiment rises per day & per hour
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/819544991299145728
12.1.2017 – Nasser Arrabyee (A P)
Yemen Defense Minister Al Atefi met today in Sanaa acting Russian ambassador Andrea about cooperation between the two armies
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/819555744731299840
cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government
14.1.2017 – Aden Alghad (A )
Crushed incense clashes between gunmen from the revival of the Directorate and the forces of security
A local source of incense Crushed said the clashes that erupted at dawn Directorate came after disputes between the group of young Khor Maksar and others Bkritr before security force intervened and arrested a number of people.
And the evolution of the dispute between the parties Bkritr down to Crater police, who used the strength of the security department where he was detained a number of people after a limited Bkritr clashes.
http://adengad.net/news/240070/ and film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n5gdxSFNhA
and
13.1.2017 – Saleh Khalid Saleh(A)
Gunfire shots have been heard frequently since midnight in Khormaksar of #Aden. It's unusual !!
https://twitter.com/SalehAlBatati1/status/820046189034815488
Couldn't sleep because of deafening uproar of fire exchange n intra-faction fighting in the #Aden,da liberated & temporary capital of Yemen.
https://twitter.com/SalehAlBatati1/status/820090634446831616
14.1.2017 – Aden Alghad (A )
Violent clashes incense Crushed
Erupted at dawn on Saturday, violent clashes with a number of neighborhoods of Khor Maksar, Aden Directorate.
Local residents of Aden tomorrow and said that fierce clashes erupted between gunmen and security forces guarding a number of security centers Directorate.
The clashes continued for nearly an hour.
The causes of these clashes were not known.
http://adengad.net/news/240069/
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
14.1.2017 – Al Sahwa (A P)
Yemen government: We have received no UN's amended proposal
The Yemeni government has said that it has not received any proposals or plan from the UN Special Envoy to Yemen Esmail Ould Cheikh Ahmed regarding the solution of Yemen's crisis, political sources told Alsharq al-Awsat newspaper.
The sources affirmed that it is expected that Ouold Cheikh Ahmed will arrive in the Yemeni temporary capital, Aden, during the next few days.
Informed sources told Alsharq Al-Awsat that the Yemeni government is keen to have good relations with the United Nations and its special envoy to Yemen, but it wants to take practical actions against the coup, not to legitimize it.
"Any proposals which will not take into consideration the withdrawal of cities, removal of the militias' weapons, and the approval of the UN Resolutions and applying them on the ground will be totally rejected" they added.
Mana'a al-Matari, a media advisor of the Yemeni Foreign Minister, affirmed that any UN proposal which will touch on powers of President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi will be rejected.
He said that the government will positively deal with amendments made by Ould Cheikh if they abide to the terms of references which include the GCC-brokered initiative, the UN Resolutions on Yemen and the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference.
http://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-2791
My comment: from an Islah Party media. The Hadi government wants no agreement, but simply sole rule. And Hadi wants to stay president with full power, although his term had already ended nearly two years ago. An old man who clings to the role of president, knowing he is backed without condition by his puppet masters and by their overlords as well, is the main obstacle to peace and compromise.
13.1.2017 – Middle East Monitor (A P)
UN envoy to Yemen reiterates Hadi’s legitimacy
The UN Envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said yesterday evening that the roadmap to peace he put forward to resolve the Yemeni crisis recognises the legitimacy of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.
He told Al Jazeera after arriving in the Qatari capital of Doha yesterday that the initiative presented to the main conflicting parties, the Houthi rebels and the Hadi government, is merely a “roadmap for a temporary solution, not a deal.”
The controversial peace plan submitted by the UN envoy suggested Ali Mohsin Al-Ahmar to step down as vice president and for Hadi to essentially forfeit his presidential rights to a new vice president, who will then have the powers to create a new unity government. The government will share power between the Houthis, their ally former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the Hadi government.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170113-un-envoy-to-yemen-reiterates-hadis-legitimacy/
My comment: Now what? Hadi’s legitimacy ended almost two years ago, no UN can extend it. And: Does Ahmed still holds on his “roadmap” giving power to a new vice president? The only thing Hadi could do “with legitimacy” is to resign.
Comment by Judith Brown: The UN has been trying to sideline Hadi for some time as he really is an obstacle to peace as he will not compromise as he knows he cannot get re elected. He can only stay president of Yemen as long as the war continues
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10155115586233641
My comment to comment: Thus, he must prolong the war.
13.1.2017 – Hisham Al-Omeisy (A H P)
Can't believe today is last time chilling w/ @julienmh, man who expanded @UNICEF_Yemen operation & budget %1000+ & helped millions in #Yemen
https://twitter.com/omeisy/status/819928151824404480
Recommend everyone check @UNICEF_Yemen footprint before & after @julienmh, should be awarded highest humanitarian honor for work in #Yemen
https://twitter.com/omeisy/status/819929378561937409
12.1.2017 – UNICEF (A P)
Unicef statement on deadly attacks near school in Yemen
Meritxell Relaño, UNICEF Representative in Yemen, said: “One child was confirmed killed and four others were injured when two attacks hit near the al-Falah school in the Nihm district outside the capital, Sana’a.
“Attacks on civilian areas continue to kill and injure scores of children in Yemen. Instead of learning, children are witnessing death, war, and destruction.
“Since the escalation of the conflict in March 2015, the United Nations verified that nearly 1,400 children were killed and over 2,140 were injured. The actual numbers are likely to be much higher. Nearly 2,000 schools in Yemen can no longer be used because they are destroyed, damaged, shelter displaced families or are being used for military purposes.
“Schools have to be zones of peace at all times, a sanctuary where children can learn, grow, play and be safe. Children should never risk their lives only to attend school.
“UNICEF renews its call on all parties to the conflict in Yemen and those who have influence over them to protect children and stop attacks on civilian infrastructure including schools and education facilities, in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
My comment: UNICEF supports Saudi bombings by not naming those who are responsible for these “attacks” and by not mentioning what sort of “attacks” that were.
12.1.2017 – Al Arabiya (A P)
United Nations envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Chiekh Ahmed, met with the ambassadors of the group of states sponsoring the Gulf initiative to resolve the crisis in Yemen on Wednesday. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
My comment: Any Yemen peace solution needs a completely new base. The so-called “Gulf initiative”
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
14.1.2016 – AFP (* A P)
Saudi mufti warns of 'depravity' of cinema, concerts
Grand Mufti warned that cinemas "might show movies that are libertine, lewd, immoral and atheist, because they rely on films imported to change our culture
He said there is "no good" in singing concerts, insisting that music entertainment and opening cinemas represent a "call for mixing between sexes"
My comment: Wahabism at its best.
13.1.2017 – Noto Wahabism (A H)
#Saudi woman want to sell her kidney to buy a house for her children, she put this billboard in front of hospital. At the same time #Al_Saud regime is spending Muslims' money to buy bombs & kill civilians in #Yemen.
13.1.2017 – R&U Vid (A P)
Film: Saudi officer on Islam and War Crimes in Yemen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw8VN9WCDVA
Remark: English subs. Also look at the comments; it’s debated whether this is a fake.
13.1.2017 – The Guardian (A P)
Sudanese men arrested in Saudi Arabia for supporting 'stay-at-home' strikes
Two men could face torture if extradited to Sudan for posting about civil disobedience on Facebook, as Bashir and Saudi kingdom seem to grow closer.
Two Sudanese men have been arrested in Saudi Arabia after posting their support for protests in their home country on Facebook, amid signs that ties between the two states are growing stronger following years of tension.
The men, Qasim Mohamed Sid-Ahmed and Al-Waleed Imam Hassan Taha, were allegedly detained while leaving work in Riyadh on 21 December. Their families were told they were being held for a secret investigation but did not explain to them the reason for their arrest.
Sid-Ahmed and Taha were both active online, expressing support for a campaign of stay-at-home strikes, known as the Civil Disobedience, to protest against austerity measures and skyrocketing medicine prices. The protests, which have left Khartoum’s streets deserted for days at a time, was devised by activists to avoid the bloodshed that occurred during anti-austerity protests in 2013.
Sid-Ahmed and Taha’s families believe that the Sudanese government pushed for the two men’s arrest in Saudi – by Mazin Sidahmed
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/13/sudan-men-arrested-saudi-arabia-strikes
My comment: Sudanese soldiers fighting for Saudi Arabia in Yemen…
13.1.2017 – Noto Wahabism (B P)
If any of Al Saud family want to participate in #Hajj, he will do just like this.. (photo>)
cp9 USA
Sihe / Look at cp1
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
13.1.2017 – Simon Pegg (A P)
Film: British bombs are falling on #Yemen -1.5m children face starvation. Tell your local MP it must stop
https://twitter.com/simonpegg/status/819864957512806400
12.1.2017 – Elisabeth Kendall (A P)
GOOD: UK Parliament focuses on #Yemen for 2nd time this week with 3.5 hour Yemen debate today. BAD: I calculate that only 3% of MPs attended (photo)
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/819633971923394560
13.1.2017 – Middle East Monitor (* A P)
British MPs call for arms embargo on Saudi Arabia, but government holds back
British MPs from all sides of the House of Commons have urged the government to impose an arms embargo on Saudi Arabia and expressed concern over the Saudi postponement of its investigation into civilian deaths in Yemen. The views were expressed during a parliamentary debate about the humanitarian situation in the country.
Foreign Affairs Minister Tobias Ellwood is a long-term defender of the selling of arms to the kingdom. He rose to Riyadh’s defence by saying that the delay in the completion and publication of the results of the investigation is simply down to the inexperience in carrying out a major military operation.
Ellwood’s comments were met with scorn. The chair of the Select Committee for Arms Export Controls, Chris White MP, argued that “from a UK perspective,” it is imperative that the Government “suspend[s] our sale of arms to Saudi Arabia until a UN-led investigation is completed” in order “to protect our reputation and example to the world in terms of arms export licensing.”
The Scottish National Party’s Margaret Ferrier MP called for the UK Government to “clean up its own mess” and “show an appropriate level of responsibility” through a commitment to clear Yemen of unexploded cluster munitions. In December, British Secretary of Defence Michael Fallon confirmed to parliament that the Saudi-led coalition had dropped “a limited number” of UK-supplied cluster munitions in Yemen, which were supplied to Riyadh in the 1980s.
The debate closed with the House “noting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen and the impact of the conflict on civilians.” Members agreed to condemn “any breach of international humanitarian law” and call “for an urgent independent investigation into reports of breaches of international humanitarian law on both sides of the conflict.”
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Comment by Judith Brown: Well isn't this shocking - and if course not reported in the news in U.K. either. The leader of the committee of Arms Export Control says we should stop selling arms to Saudi Arabia. But the ignorant oaf Tobias Ellwood just carries on sucking up to his masters - the arms sales companies and Saudi royalty. Shame shame shame.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10155115574228641
12.1.2017 – RT (* A P)
British MPs urge independent inquiry into claims of Saudi war crimes in Yemen
British politicians have called for an independent investigation into possible breaches in humanitarian law in Yemen’s civil war as Saudi Arabia cannot be expected to lead such an inquiry.
A debate in Parliament over the “ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen” saw members on both sides of the House of Commons urging for an end to British arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
The debate, led by the Labour chairman of the International Development Select Committee, Stephen Twigg, described an independent inquiry into the alleged breaches as “long overdue” and the progress made by the Saudis on their own investigations as “glacial.”
“The government repeatedly over the last 14 months have been asked about Saudi Arabia’s own investigations,” Twigg said.
“To my knowledge, and the minister may be able to update us today, Saudi Arabia have produced nine reports on violations even though there have been many other allegations made.
“Progress I believe on this is glacial and I find it remarkable that the government still holds the line that Saudi Arabia must take responsibility for investigating its own alleged violations.”
He was supported in some of his concerns by Foreign Affairs Minister Tobias Ellwood, who conceded the process had been lagging. But the Tory former infantry soldier argued the delays had been caused by the Saudis’ inexperience in writing such a report, and “having to learn the hard way to show the transparency that the international community expects.”
However, even Tory backbenchers seemed to have had enough of Saudi Arabia’s apparent tardiness and demanded a halt to British arms licensing to the nation until a United Nations audit took place.
https://www.rt.com/uk/373494-saudi-yemen-inquiry-crimes/
13.1.2017 – Morning Star (* A P)
CAAT: Investigate British Complicity In Yemen War Crimes
PARLIAMENT must support an independent probe into the government’s complicity in war crimes in Yemen, campaigners told MPs yesterday.
MPs are calling for an urgent independent investigation into allegations made against both sides of breaches of international humanitarian law.
Committees on arms exports controls chair Chris White said there is an “urgent need” for Britain to suspend sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia until a UN investigation into alleged breaches of humanitarian law is completed.
The Tory MP warned that if ministers fail to do so, Britain risks damaging its international reputation.
Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) said: “The UK government has been complicit in the destruction of Yemen and the humanitarian catastrophe that has been forced upon the Yemeni people.
“Parliament must stand with those caught in the middle of the devastating conflict and support an international investigation into the human rights abuses that are taking place.
“For any investigation to be credible then it must be independent. The government has relied on investigations and evidence provided by the Saudi-led coalition itself.
“This is a regime that has a proven contempt for human rights. If it cannot be trusted to hold free and fair elections then how can it be trusted to investigate itself for war crimes?” – by Paddy McGuffin
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-f7bb-CAAT-investigate-British-complicity-in-Yemen-war-crimes
13.1.2017 – Elisabeth Kendall (A P)
Bold words in UK #Parliament y'day from @StephenTwigg MP - an independent investigation of #Saudi air strikes in #Yemen is "long overdue" (text in image)
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/819879647160705025
12.1.2017 – Buzzfeed (* A P)
MPs Push For An Urgent International Investigation Into Alleged War Crimes In Yemen
Senior politicians have called for an urgent independent investigation into reports of breaches of international humanitarian law on both sides of the conflict in Yemen.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Stephen Twigg, chair of the international development committee, said it was “remarkable” that Saudi Arabia, which is leading coalition airstrikes intervening in the Yemen conflict, was also taking the lead in investigating alleged war crimes.
Twigg said: “I find it remarkable that the government still holds the line Saudi Arabia must take responsibility for investigating its own alleged violation.”
The UK government has repeatedly been questioned by ministers over the past 14 months about Saudi Arabia’s investigations, Twigg continued. “At what point will the British government take the view we need to move to an independent inquiry?”
The debate comes just days after the release of Foreign Office documents that showed the British military has provided training to a Saudi war crimes investigations unit headed by a Bahraini judge campaigners claim is partisan.
Human rights campaigners said Britain’s role in training the Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT), a Saudi-led coalition military body set up in May 2016, had made the UK complicit in whitewashing human rights abuses in the Gulf.
During the Commons debate, Alistair Burt, the Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire, said it was in the interests of stability in the region for Britain to support its allies.
He added: “Saudi Arabia is directly affected by instability in Yemen. Firstly it can be and has been physically attacked between 2015 and 2016; some 37 ballistic missiles were fired by Houthi rebels, inflicting damage to Saudi Arabia. It’s important this is known.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office told BuzzFeed News: “The Government is not opposing calls for an international independent investigation but, first and foremost, we want to see the Saudis investigate allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) which are attributed to them; and for their investigations to be thorough and conclusive. This is the standard we set ourselves and our allies.” – by Aisha Gani
My comment: The governments position sounds incredible, but that it is. On the scandal of british government support for the Saudi own “Investigation” (= whitewashing) see link in YPR 252, cp1.
12.1.2017 – Parliament TCV (A P)
Tobias Ellwood in Yemen debate
http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c229fd92-c029-49de-b7e0-a16d74252123?in=15:24:24
My comment: The most shameful should be this man.
12.1.2017 – Judith Brown (A P)
[see image, statement of Minister Tobias Ellwood]
This obnoxious arrogant man, Tobias Ellwood. He should be forced to go to live in Sanaa where he would experience Yemeni civility and kindness and Saudi bombs.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10155110783113641
Comment by Haykal Bafana: For his rather novel and startling views of international law, UK Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood gets my vote for the Lucy Lawless award.
My comment: Really an incredible statement. And this how he presents himself: https://twitter.com/Tobias_Ellwood/status/819238413199085569 . Just disgusting.
and
13.1.2017 – Hisham Al-Radhi (A P)
Film: Edwood in parliament
Mr. @Tobias_Ellwood, If you STOP #UK billions £s arms sales 2 #Saudi then U won't B needing 2spend 100+ Mil 2support #Yemen human situation
https://twitter.com/HishamAlRadhi/status/819939741235810304
12.1.2017 – Parliament TCV (A P)
Stephen Twigg in Yemen debate
http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c229fd92-c029-49de-b7e0-a16d74252123?in=12:11:27
12.1.2017 – Kirsten Oswald MP (A P)
Yemen Debate: Vital we seek answers and solutions on crisis in Yemen, and press for all avenues to be explored to help the Yemeni people (more text in image)
https://twitter.com/kirstenoswald/status/819608684728881153
12.1.2017 – Margaret Ferrier MP (A P)
My contribution to today's #Yemen debate. Unless massive change comes about, the country is headed for a full-scale famine in 2017 (film)
https://twitter.com/MargaretFerrier/status/819601560896491523
12.1.2017 – Tasmina Sheikh MP (A P)
I spoke in today's parliamentary debate on #Yemen - the UK should end arms sales to Saudi Arabia and instead work to end this conflict now (more text in image)
https://twitter.com/TasminaSheikh/status/819591704206540800
12.1.2017 – Parliament (A P)
Film: >@EmilyThornberry slaps FCO over Saudi investigative committee JIAT "The government is either being extremely naive or extremely negligent"
https://twitter.com/SAlwadaei/status/819580201223028738
12.1.2017 – Parliament TV (A P)
Film: Debate on Yemen
http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/c229fd92-c029-49de-b7e0-a16d74252123?in=12:11:28
12.1.2017 – ITV (* A P)
SNP MP calls on UK government to clear British-made cluster bombs inYemen
The UK government should take responsibility for clearing Yemen of unexploded British-made cluster bombs used in its civil war, an SNP MP has said.
Margaret Ferrier called on the Government to "clean up its own mess" and "show an appropriate level of responsibility" by committing to rid of the country of the munitions.
In December, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon confirmed UK-supplied cluster bombs had been used by Saudi Arabian-led forces in the war.
He told MPs a limited number of BL-755 cluster munitions exported from the UK in the 1980s were dropped by the Arab coalition in January.
Prior to Mr Fallon's admission, media reports - including by ITV News - had suggested cluster bombs made in the UK were being used.
My comment: Ferrier is definitely right.
Comment by Judith Brown: Well are they going to do this or not ? It's the least they can do. And they should pay compensation to innocent victims.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10155110667483641
12.1.2017 – Labour List (* A P)
Eddie Izzard: I was born in Yemen – this is my plea to Labour MPs to keep up the pressure on ministers over the civil war
There is no end in sight to the civil war affecting Yemen. That’s why it’s so important that the UK government must redouble their efforts for a ceasefire. Labour MPs have raised Yemen in Parliament time and again and there was an Opposition Day debate to highlight this issue, but we must keep up the pressure so that Ministers act.
With evidence of attacks against civilians on both sides it is imperative that international monitoring is strengthened and the UN must uphold international humanitarian law. As supporters of the Saudi-led coalition, the UK government must take concrete action to ensure that these forces are not targeting civilians.
MPs on all sides of the House of Commons are calling for an urgent independent investigation into reports of breaches of international humanitarian law on both sides of the conflict. I add my voice to theirs. I hope the government will listen – by Eddie Izzard
http://labourlist.org/2017/01/eddie-izzard-i-was-born-in-yemen-this-is-my-plea-to-labour-mps-to-keep-up-the-pressure-on-ministers-over-the-civil-war/ = http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/eddie-izzard-i-was-born-yemen-labour-mps-must-keep-pressure-ministers-over-civil-war
Comment: Nice read. Yet, it's an aggression. Not a civil war.
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1245796052140089
12.1.2017 – Noto Wahabism (A P)
Film: Nigel Farage on Saudia Arabia
https://www.facebook.com/NotoWahabism/videos/1102519813209933/
My comment: When he is right… he is right.
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
11.1.2017 – Informationsstelle Militarisierung (* B K P)
Munition für Konfliktgebiete
Die Ausfuhr deutscher Rüstungsgüter in Krisenregionen ist mittlerweile der Regelfall
Die Ausfuhr deutscher Rüstungsgüter in Krisenregionen ist mittlerweile der Regelfall
Bei den deutschen Rüstungsexporten sind offensichtlich alle Dämme gebrochen. Am 30. November 2016 wurde bekannt, dass der Bundessicherheitsrat in seiner letzten Sitzung Rüstungsexporte in Krisengebiete in Milliardenhöhe genehmigt hatte. Allein nach Algerien wurde ein umfangreiches Arsenal genehmigt: eine weitere Fregatte, 4 Bordhubschrauber, 234 Waffenstationen für schon zuvor geliefert Fuchspanzer sowie 474 Militär-LKW. Dazu kommen hunderte von Maschinengewehren an Indonesien, mit im Paket: eine halbe Million Patronen. Es wurde Lieferungen an diverse Golfstaaten genehmigt, dazu gehören 41,644 „Artilleriemultifunktionszünder“ die dann in Frankreich zum fertigen „Produkt“ zusammengebaut und von dort exportiert werden. Diese Zusammenarbeit mehrerer europäischer Staaten bei der Rüstungsproduktion und beim Export senkt offensichtlich die Hürden in der Genehmigungspraxis deutlich.
Die Rüstungsunternehmen, deren Börsenkurse bereits nach der Wahl von Donald Trump nach oben schnellten, können sich auf kräftige Gewinne freuen. Zu den jüngsten Profiteuren gehören unter anderem ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Heckler&Koch und Rheinmetall Defence.
Diese jüngste Entscheidung ist Teil einer schon länger anhaltenden Entwicklung in Richtung steigender Waffenproduktion und steigender Exporte. Bereits im Oktober 2016 legte das Bundeskabinett den Bericht über die Rüstungsexporte im ersten Halbjahr 2016 vor. Wieder einmal verantwortet die deutsche Regierung dabei neue unrühmliche Rekorde. Im Vorjahr wurden im selben Zeitraum bereits Ausfuhrgenehmigungen in Höhe von 3,5 Milliarden Euro erteilt, nun stieg der Umfang auf 4,03 Milliarden.
http://www.imi-online.de/2017/01/11/munition-fuer-konfliktgebiete/
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
Spanien / Spain: cp13a
13.1.2017 – Press TV Iran (A P)
Film: HRW slams Bahrain's human rights record
Human rights Watch, in its World Report for 20-17, says the long-term stability of Bahrain hinges on political reform with greater respect for basic human rights. The report comes as the Persian Gulf kingdom has detained numerous activists including, Nabeel Rajab and Ebrahim Sharif.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1ppRJnEJXs
13.1.2017– Al Sahwa (A P)
Sudan renews support to Yemen's government
The Republic of Sudan has affirmed that it will continue its support to the internationally-recognized Yemeni government .
The Yemeni Ambassador to Sudan Mohammed al-Dabi stressed, during a meeting with Yemen Vice President Ali Mohsin Saleh in Riyadh, that Sudan will go on supporting the Yemeni government and rejecting the coup carried out by the Houthis and ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
According to the state-run Saba News Agency, al-Dabi pointed out that Sudan will cooperate with the Yemeni government in all fields until peace and stability is strengthened in Yemen.
For his part, Vice President Ali Muhsin Saleh highly praised fraternal relations between Yemen and Sudan, indicating that Sudan played important roles in supporting the Arab Coalition in Yemen.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-2753
My comment: A really nice ally. Thousands of Sudanese soldiers are fighting for the Saudis in Yemen, as Saudi Arabia gives financial support to the more or less bankrupt regime of Sudan.
12.1.2017 – Saudi Gazette (A)
Balqees's 2017 has a sparkling start as L’azurde appoints her brand ambassador
KICKING off the New Year in true L’azurde style, the largest gold and jewelry designer, manufacturer, and distributor in the Middle East, announced Wednesday its collaboration with Emirati-Yemeni soprano Balqees Ahmed Fathi to be their new face for 2017.
Famed for her unique sense of style, confidence and attention to detail, the 28-year-old singer, was a natural fit for the role, according to Sélim Chidiac, CEO of L’azurde, who said, “Balqees is a wonderful addition to the L’azurde family, and we are pleased to have her on board.
http://saudigazette.com.sa/business/lazurde-appoints-fathi-brand-celebrity/ = http://www.albawaba.com/entertainment/balqeess-2017-has-sparkling-start-l%E2%80%99azurde-appoints-her-brand-ambassador-924852
My comment: Absolutely absurd. Compare the photos of this article to women in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The article origiunates from “Saudi Gazette”. Imagine a women dressed like her in the photo(s) walking the streets of Riyadh.
Comment by Judith Brown: Well, one Yemeni seems to be doing well. There is a substantial Yemeni community in UAE who seem to mostly work in the police force and military.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10155110761243641
11.1.2017 – Gulf News (* B E)
Saudi appetite for Dubai property grows
Despite oil slump, Dubai sees surge in property investments from Saudis
Saudi Arabian investors’ interest in Dubai property isn’t new, but their investment appetite for Dubai property appears to have further increased in recent years. Although there has been a general slowdown in the past few months, Saudis remain Dubai’s second-largest investors among GCC nationals.
According to the Dubai Land Department, Saudis have invested more than Dh4 billion in the first six months of last year, compared to Dh3.1 billion during the same period in 2015.
Industry experts attribute the increase to a number of factors, including Dubai’s safe-haven status, investor-friendly policies and transparency. Dubai also has a much wider range of good-quality projects than any other market in the region. Furthermore, the emirate is attractive to Saudis because of the similarity in cultural and social values.
http://gulfnews.com/business/property/saudi-appetite-for-dubai-property-grows-1.1959955
My comment: Not so extremely Wahabi as at home. But “similarity in cultural and social values” anyway. As Hussam Al-Sanabani remarks: Saudis are not able to live in Wahhabism utopia, https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/820239123286032384
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade
13.1.2017 – AFP (* A E K P)
Saudi Arabia Closing In On $2.1 Billion Warship Deal Seen As Trouble
Close ties between the royal families of Spain and Saudi Arabia could help Madrid conclude a lucrative deal to sell warships to Riyadh, much to the alarm of rights groups.
They claim the sale would be illegal under international law and accuse the oil-rich kingdom of carrying out war crimes in its military campaign in Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians.
Spain's King Felipe VI will on Saturday begin a three-day official visit to the Middle Eastern country at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's King Salman.
Spanish media has linked this visit to a much anticipated deal to sell Avante 2200 corvettes for an estimated two billion euros ($2.1 billion).
"We can only confirm that negotiations are very advanced to build five warships which would be sold to the Saudi navy," a spokesman for state-owned Spanish ship builder Navantia told AFP.
Spain is currently the seventh largest arms exporter in the world.
And its sales to Saudi Arabia, the country with the highest military expenditure per capita, are on the rise.
Felipe's father, Juan Carlos, who reigned from 1975 to 2014, "had and still has an exceptional personal relationship with the Saudi royal family, which has boosted economic ties", said Ana Romero, who was written several books about the former king.
Juan Carlos was a close friend of Saudi Arabia's late King Fahd, who reigned from 1982 to 2005, and is close to his brother King Salman.
"The question is: is the contract legal or illegal. And it is clearly illegal," said Alberto Estevez, an expert on arms sales at the Spanish branch of Amnesty International.
A 2013 United Nations global arms trade treaty bans the sales of arms which could be used in attacks against civilians or other violations of humanitarian law, he said.
http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/spain-hopes-to-sell-warships-to-saudi-arabia-1648375 and by International Business Times: http://www.ibtimes.com/saudi-arabia-military-weapons-deal-spains-royal-family-provides-billions-warships-2475511
13.1.2017 – RT (* A E K P)
Spain plans to sell warships to Saudi Arabia despite Yemen war crimes concerns
Spain is planning to sell warships to Saudi Arabia despite opposition from major human rights groups, which call the potential sale illegal, as Riyadh may use them in their operation against Yemen that has killed thousands of civilians.
A spokesman for Navantia, a Spanish state-owned shipbuilding company, said that five Avante 2200 corvettes, which are small warships used primarily for offshore patrolling, could be sold for an estimated €2 billion ($2.1 billion), AFP reported on Thursday.
“We can only confirm that negotiations are very advanced to build five warships which would be sold to the Saudi navy,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Spain’s King Felipe VI will start a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Several human rights groups, including Amnesty International, FundiPau, Oxfam Intermón, and Greenpeace, consider the potential sale illegal.
“The question is: is the contract [between Spain and Saudi Arabia] legal or illegal. And it is clearly illegal,” Alberto Estevez, an expert on arms sales at the Spanish branch of Amnesty International, told AFP.
In its 2016 report, AI named Spain, along with France, Germany, the UK and the US, as one of the countries “arming and aiding a campaign that’s bombing, killing and starving civilians” in Yemen.
Spain has been the seventh largest arms exporter in the world in recent years, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
https://www.rt.com/news/373567-spain-saudi-warships-yemen/ and two more articles by Sputnik news: https://sputniknews.com/world/201701131049578413-spain-saudi-arabia-warships-sales/ and https://sputniknews.com/europe/201701131049557632-spain-saudi-arms-trade/ = http://en.abna24.com/service/middle-east-west-asia//archive/2017/01/13/804687/story.html
12.1.2017 – El Diario (A P)
Cuatro ONG advierten de que la venta de cinco corbetas españolas a Arabia Saudí es "ilegal"
[Spanish media: Four NGOS warn that sale of 5 corvettes to #SaudiArabia -deal which will be closed by the King is illegal]
Alertan de la posibilidad de que las fragatas puedan utilizarse en el conflicto de Yemen para cometer crímenes de guerra, lo que convertiría a España en "cómplice de estas atrocidades"
Alertan de la posibilidad de que las fragatas puedan utilizarse en el conflicto de Yemen para cometer crímenes de guerra, lo que convertiría a España en "cómplice de estas atrocidades"
http://www.eldiario.es/politica/ONG-armas_0_600890023.html
12.1.2017 – Living in Yemen on the edge (A P)
Film: Independent Bask politician "Jon Iñarritu" asks the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs about the weapons Spain is selling to Saudi Arabia and about Felipe VI's trip to the Kindgom in order to close a deal in which Spain will provide of five war corvettes to the Saudis.
Thank you very much Mr.Iñarritu.
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/videos/1245881052131589/
cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy
12.1.2017 – Al Araby (* A E)
Yemen seeks oil investors despite internal chaos
Yemen’s exiled Saudi-backed government said on Wednesday that recent talks with international oil companies concerning a resumption of their activities and investments in the country were proving fruitful with signs of “positive indicators” that investment could be made in the industry in the coming months.
Speaking during a visit to a facility in Handramout run by PetroMasila – a state-owned oil exploration and production company – Minister of Oil and Minerals Seif Sharif said that international oil companies had been encouraged by the Saudi-backed government’s success in bringing security and stability to the country’s oil provinces, particularly Hadramout, Marib, and Shabwa.
Sharif additionally said that scientific studies carried out in these regions had previously shown the existence of potentially large reserves of oil, gas and valuable minerals.
“We are keen for the government to ensure an adequate and conducive environment for the exploitation of these (resources) for the benefit of citizens,” said Sharif.
However, Sharif’s optimism on Wednesday, stood in contrast to certain realities in Yemen which is in itself in the midst of a fuel crisis.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2017/1/12/yemen-seeks-oil-investors-despite-internal-chaos and an article by Oil Price: http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Despite-Conflict-Yemen-Tries-To-Win-International-Oil-Firms-Back.html
My comment: The last sentence cited here sounds like British understatement.
Comment by Judith Brown: Hmmm. This is investments in Hadramaut I guess - the only part of Yemen not involved in the war.
https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10155110754668641
My comment to comment: But they got Al Qaida instead.
12.1.2017 – TRT (* A E H)
Unpaid workers are left in the lurch as multinationals leave YemenThe energy firm Total and security company G4S left the country in 2015 as conflict between the Houthis and the government escalated, leaving over 200 local employees in the lurch.
Over 200 Yemeni security guards have been caught between the French energy giant Total, one of the world’s largest security firms, G4S — and a fake entity operating under the name ‘G4S Yemen’ under the patronage of powerful locals.
The 208 guards say they have not been paid for a year and continue on in their roles — but not one of the companies has taken responsibility. Three men were also killed in the fall-out after G4S left, the circumstances of these deaths are still under investigation.
French energy firm Total has been operating in Yemen to extract natural energy reserves for over twenty years. Total hired security firm G4S to protect their assets — petrochemical facilities, personnel and compounds — in Yemen.
But in 2015, as the conflict between the Houthi rebel force and forces loyal to Yemen’s President in exile Abdrabbah Mansoor Hadi peaked. Total discontinued most of its operations in the country but still has a presence there, according to its website.
G4S ceased all operations in Yemen on June 21, 2015.
But the guards who were hired by G4S say that they were not aware their employer had left the country. A local Yemen security outfit involved in the original firm decided to carry on operations using G4S’ international logo.
"The entity in Yemen is not a G4S company,” a G4S spokesperson told TRT World. “It is trading using the name and G4S logo in breach of notices requiring it to cease. Any actions of this company are not actions being taken or supported by the G4S group."
31.12.2017 – World Food Programme (* A E H)
Yemen Market Watch Report, Issue No. 8, December 2016
Prices of food and fuel commodities continued to stabilize in December 2016, but remained significantly higher than the pre-crisis levels.
The cost of the minimum food basket further declined slightly in December, but 22% higher than the level estimated during the pre-crisis period.
Availability of food and fuel commodities have deteriorated in December 2016 due to reduced level of informal cross border overland imports and hoarding of essential commodities by opportunistic traders in anticipation of increased prices.
According to Alert for Price Spikes (ALPS) methodology, in December 2016, normal situation prevailed for vegetable oil and red beans, while wheat flour was on alert status and that for sugar continued to be at crisis level. The ALPS indicator for the cost of the minimum food basket persistently maintained normal status.
The widespread conflict in Yemen which has been ongoing for the past twentytwo months has led to a multitude of consequences that include destruction of basic infrastructure, loss of livelihoods, disruption of social services and near-collapse socio-economic situation. Salary payments for public sector employees have been suspended since September 2016 affecting nearly 7 million people who are depending on that livelihood.
The liquidity crisis coupled with lack of foreign currency is pushing the country to catastrophic emergency situation. While the most recent positive emerging developments regarding substantial amount of new notes of the Yemeni Riyals printed in Russia has arrived at the Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) in Aden would likely ease the ongoing tension, its impact on the overall desperate situation is yet to be seen.
Imports of essential commodities including food items are gravely affected by the lack of foreign currencies and continued depreciation of Yemen Riyal (YER) against US Dollar (USD) – with the average exchange rate in December 2016 reaching as high as YER315/USD in parallel markets compared to the official rate of YER250/USD.
The widespread conflict in Yemen which has been ongoing for the past twentytwo months has led to a multitude of consequences that include destruction of basic infrastructure, loss of livelihoods, disruption of social services and near-collapse socio-economic situation. Salary payments for public sector employees have been suspended since September 2016 affecting nearly 7 million people who are depending on that livelihood.
The liquidity crisis coupled with lack of foreign currency is pushing the country to catastrophic emergency situation. While the most recent positive emerging developments regarding substantial amount of new notes of the Yemeni Riyals printed in Russia has arrived at the Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) in Aden would likely ease the ongoing tension, its impact on the overall desperate situation is yet to be seen.
Imports of essential commodities including food items are gravely affected by the lack of foreign currencies and continued depreciation of Yemen Riyal (YER) against US Dollar (USD) – with the average exchange rate in December 2016 reaching as high as YER315/USD in parallel markets compared to the official rate of YER250/USD.
http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-market-watch-report-issue-no-8-december-2016 and in full: http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp289936.pdf = http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-market-watch-report-issue-no-8-december-2016
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
14.1.2017 – Terror Monitor (A K T)
#AQAP Claims 4 #Houthi Fighters Killed In #Ibb, Attack On Belt Forces In #Abyan.
https://twitter.com/Terror_Monitor/status/820188638088601600
My comment: AQAP fighting against the Houthis – alongside with pro-Saudi militia.
13.1.2017 – ORF (A T)
US-Armee tötete Al-Kaida-Führer im Jemen
Die US-Armee hat eigenen Angaben zufolge einen Anführer der Terrorgruppe Al-Kaida auf der Arabischen Halbinsel (AQAP) durch einen Luftangriff im Jemen getötet. Abd al-Ghani al-Rasas sei bei einem Luftschlag in der Provinz Bayda am 8. Jänner ums Leben gekommen, teilte Pentagon-Sprecher Peter Cook gestern in Washington mit.
Die Tötung des regionalen AQAP-Führers werde „die Terroroperationen von Al-Kaida im Jemen und der ganzen Region stören“, betonte Cook,
http://orf.at/stories/2375007/
13.1.2017 – Reuters (A T)
U.S. says al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leader killed in Yemen air strike
A senior leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was killed in a U.S. air strike on Sunday in Yemen, the Pentagon said in a statement on Friday.
AQAP leader Abd al-Ghani al-Rasas was killed in the air strike in a remote area of al Bayda Governorate in Yemen, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said in the statement.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-usa-idUSKBN14X2GC
and
13.1.2017 – NBC (A T)
Pentagon: U.S. Airstrike Kills Al Qaeda Senior Leader in Yemen
Abd al-Ghani al-Rasas, a terrorist leader in the region, died during an airstrike in a remote area of al Bayda Governorate in Yemen, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement.
"This operation is an example of the U.S. government and our allies' commitment to the people and the government of Yemen to detect, deter, disrupt and defeat violent extremists who threaten progress in the region, as well as threaten to conduct terrorist attacks against innocent people in the region and around the world," Cook said in a statement.
My comment: “an example of the U.S. government and our allies' commitment to the people and the government of Yemen “: LOL.
12.1.2017 – Reuters (A T)
U.S. says it killed three members of al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen strikes
The U.S. military said on Thursday it killed three members of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in two strikes in central Yemen last week and in late December.
A strike on Jan. 8 killed one AQAP operative and a strike on Dec. 29 killed two members of AQAP, U.S. Central Command said in a statement. Both strikes occurred in the al-Baydah Governorate, the statement said. It did not say how the strikes were carried out.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-usa-idUSKBN14W2ZK
My comment: Doubt as always. Those killed by US drone strikes are Al Qaida members just because of having been killed by US drone strikes.
cp15 Propaganda
13.1.2017 – Max Abrams (A P)
Sunni Gulf-funded Atlantic Council says Iran--not Qatar, Saudi Arabia or Turkey--is al-Qaeda's main state sponsor.
https://twitter.com/MaxAbrahms/status/819863650831892480
referring to http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/events/webcasts/combating-al-qaeda-in-syria-a-strategy-for-the-next-president
My comment: Ridiculous.
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (* A K PH)
Saudi fighter jets continue brutal strikes against citizens in provinces
The US- backed Saudi aggression continued strikes against citizens in several province overnight, targeting private and public properties, a military official told Saba on Saturday.
In Taiz province, Saudi war planes waged six strikes on al-Omari Junction in Thubab district and five raids hit citizens' house in al-Mocha district, leaving several dead and wounded among citizens, as well as dropping two sound bombs on al-Wazaiah district.
In Sa'ada province, al-Takhaih, Al-Majda areas of Baqim were hit three times by Saudi aggression warplanes, while two airstrikes targeted al-Buqa crossing point and another one Khalab valley area of al-Dhaher district.
In Hodieda province, the enemy's fighter jets launched three strikes on a fuel station in al-Dhuha district, one strike on al-Duraihamy district, and another one on al-Zaidaih district.
The hostile warplanes waged also two raids on al-Howaimai area in Karash district of Lahj province.
The aggression's fighter jets waged a strike on al-Katab area and another one on al-Madfaon area in Nehm district of Sana'a province.
In Asir province, the enemy's war jets launched five strikes on al-Rabuah area.
The Saudi warplanes waged raid on al-Shorfa area in Najran province and another strike on Hamadhah village in Jizan province.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452900.htm
14.1.2017 - Legal Center (* A K PH)
The violations and crimes that are committed by Saudi Arabia and its alliance in Yemen 13/1/2017 (full list)
13.1.2017 – Legal Center (* A K PH)
Thursday, 12/1/2017
- Place of Violation: Saada, Sana’a, Taiz, Al-Hodeida, Sana’a Capital, Shabwa,
Violator: Saudi - led Coalition "war on Yemen"
Casualties and damages (full list):
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=756874077796293&id=551288185021551
12.1.2017 – Legal Center (* A K PH)
Wednesday, 11/1/2017
- Place of Violation: Saada, Sana’a, Taiz, Hajja, Al-Hodieda and Sana’a Capital
Violator: Saudi - led Coalition "War on Yemen"
Casualties and damages (full list):
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=756437461173288&id=551288185021551
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Saudi aggression fighter jets launch 3 strikes on Mareb
Saudi aggression warplanes launched on Saturday three strikes on Serwah district of Mareb province, an official told Saba.
The warplanes hit Hailan strategic Mountain three times.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452866.htm
14.1.2017 – Almasdar Online (A K PS)
Coalition fighters bomb Houthis camp in Dhamar governorate
he fighters of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition launched on Friday six air raids on military camps controlled by the Houthis and Saleh forces in Dhamar governorate, central Yemen.
Eyewitness confirmed that four air raids had targeted the Police School in Dhamar al Qarn area and two raids targeted Sama military camp, eastern the governorate
http://almasdaronline.com/article/87998
14.1.2017 – Almasdar Online (A K PS)
Heavy airstrikes on Houthi and Saleh forces sites in Hodeida
The Saudi-led Arab Coalition fighters launched on Wednesday heavy airstrikes on military sites controlled by the Houthi and Saleh forces in the Hodeida costal governorate, western Yemen.
A local source told Almasderonline that the fighters launched 11 raids on different locations in the Costal Defense camp in al Saleef district, northern Hodeida.
The source added that the fighters also launched three airstrike on the rebels sites near al Nakhela area in al Doraihmi district.
Earlier on Tuesday evening, the coalition fighters launched four airstrikes targeting a training camp for the Houthis and Saleh forces in Herfa area, near the Air Defense headquarter in al Saleef port, killing 22 militants and injuring others, according to the source.
http://almasdaronline.com/article/87994
14.1.2017 – Almasdar Online (A K PS)
Coalition fighters bomb Houthis camp in Hodeida
Eyewitnesses said on Friday that the fighters of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition had launched several air raids on Houthis and Saleh forces sites in Hodeida governorate, western Yemen.
Almasderonline reporter quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the fighters had bombed the Combat School in al Dhuha district, northern Hodeida, which is controlled by the Houthis, but and no further details about the casualties were mentioned.
It is noteworthy that the coalition fighters have intensified the aerial bombardment during the past few days on the Houthis and allied forces in Hodeida governorate and the western coastal areas of Yemen.
The aerial bombing have come in coincidence with a military operation waged by the government forces, backed by the coalition forces, to liberate the western coast of Yemen and secure Bab el Mandeb Strait.
http://almasdaronline.com/article/87999
13.1.2017 – Sanaa at daytime (A K)
Intense airstrikes in Sana'a now. Sounds of massive explosions not as scary as roaring of frenzied fighter jets criss crossing sky.
https://twitter.com/omeisy/status/819948534501875712
Three airstrikes so far while our neighbor are celebrating a newborn baby! We shall live after all, we shall..
https://twitter.com/Hanaalshowafi/status/819949199806627840
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
US-Saudi aggression warplanes launch raids on Nehm
The US-Saudi aggression warplanes waged four raids on Nehm district of Sana'a province, a local official told Saba.
The hostile warplanes targeted several areas in the district, causing huge damage to citizens' houses and their properties.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452805.htm
13.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (A K PH)
Sana’a: Saudi American Aggression Waged Three Raids on Bait Bawse Region
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60805&lang=en
13.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (A K PH)
Hodeidah: Saudi Warplanes Waged a Raid on Duraihmi District
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60803&lang=en
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (* A K PH)
US-Saudi aggression warplanes kill 15 in Taiz
At least 15 civilians were killed on Friday in the US-Saudi aggression warplanes air raids on the western neighborhoods of Taiz city, a local official said.
The official added the US-Saudi aggression warplanes targeted Kimiko factory in al-Rubaie area in al-Taezeyah district in Taiz, killing the 15 of the factory workers and injured others.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452782.htm
13.1.2017 – Hussain Albukhaiti ( A K PH)
Civilians Casualties of #Saudi #UAE today strikes on Alrrabiei district of Altaeziah area n #Taiz province reached17kild&14injurd
https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/819817154451148801
and
13.1.2017 – Hussain Albukhaiti (* A K PH)
#Saudi #UAE 3strike on Alrrabiei area n #Taiz targetd a small motel where drivers use 2rest 17kild It also set a huge fire2 a diesel trucks (photos)
https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/819940484466536449
and film by Yemen Today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzlejD-qqTI and by Al Masirah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfbYF-GEoRU = https://twitter.com/Hona_Almasirah/status/820024028018647040
and
13.1.2017 – Almasirah TV / Yemen Today / Yamanyoon (* A K PH)
Shocking images of the victims of the massacre of US-Saudi aggression in Mokha
Killed three people and wounded six others were injured as the result of a preliminary result of raids Airline Saudi American aggression on Tuesday targeted residential areas and shops citizens in the Directorate Mokha western coastal province of Taiz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewSqoyoLA-M
andhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zeETVjMCLcandhttp://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60843
My comment: A restaurant. The man in the white T-shirt is looking for the body of his son - and finds him, totally burned.
12.–13.1.2017 – Sanaa at night (A K)
Heavy bombardments in Sanaa now. Fighter jets are still hovering above the city.
https://twitter.com/alasaadim/status/819622109555126273
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Aggression warplanes wage raids on Sanhan-Bani Bahlol district
The US-Saudi aggression warplanes have waged two air raids on Sanhan and Bani Bahlol district of Sana'a province, a security official told Saba.
The official said on Thursday the hostile warplanes targeted Dabwah area, causing huge damage to citizens' houses and their properties.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452783.htm
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
US-Saudi aggression warplanes launch raids on Dhamar
The US-Saudi aggression warplanes waged on Friday raids on Dhamar province, a local official told Saba.
The official added that the aggression warplanes targeted Police General training center in Dhamar al-Qaran area in Dhamar city with six air raids.
Air raids caused damage in the neighboring houses nearby the center, the added.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452793.htm
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
US-Saudi aggression warplanes injure three civilians in Sa'ada
Three civilians were injured on Friday in a series of the US-Saudi airstrikes on a number of areas in Sa'ada province, a local official told Saba.
The US-Saudi aggression warplanes waged five raids on Barkan in Razeh district in Sa'ada, two raids clusters caused the injured of three civilians, the official said.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452795.htm and http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60811&lang=en (with photos)
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
US-Saudi aggression warplanes wage raids on Serwah-Mareb
The US-Saudi aggression warplanes launched on Friday five air raids on houses and their agricultural farms in Serwah district of Mareb province, a local official told Saba.
The official added the hostile aggression warplanes targeted al-Makhdra, al-Rabe'ah and al-Hajlan with five air raids, causing huge damage to citizens' houses.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452796.htm
12.1.2017 – Yemen Today TV (A K PH)
Film: Saudi Mulls aggression in the destruction of buildings Technical Institute of the Department of Insurance neighborhood Al Nahda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sXaiq0LXic
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Saudi aggression warplanes launch 8 strikes on capital Sanaa
Saudi aggression warplanes resumed striking the capital Sanaa, launching at least eight strikes on downtown the capital overnight, an official told Saba on Thursday.
The strikes targeted al-Siyana area of al-Thawra district, causing damages to residents houses and private, public properties.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452657.htm
13.1.2017 – Legal Center (* A K PH)
12-1-2017
The warplanes of Saudi Arabia and its alliance launched 1 airstrike that targeted the house of the civilian (Jama’i Esmail Moshasha), which led to Kill (7) civilians including (4) children and (3) women, injure (2) others including 1 child, the airstrike destroyed the house in Al-Jaj area in Bait Al-Faqeeh district, #AlHodieda.
#Killed_Names:
1- Saeeda Yahya Mahmari - 20 years old
2- Ahmed Ali Al-Jama'ae - 2 years old
3- Saeed Ebraheem Habl - 15 years old
4- Abdullah Jama'ae Esmaeel - 15 years old
5- Mohammad Jama'ae Esmaeel - 8 years old
6- Fatima Jama'ae Esmaeel - 17 years old
7- Ekhlas Jama'ae Esmaeel - 10 years old (with photos)
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=756876924462675&id=551288185021551
and
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Fresh Saudi criminal airstrikes kill 4 children, 3 women in Hodeidah
Fresh US-backed-Saudi aggression warplanes killed four children and three women in when an air strike hit a family home in al-Hodeidah port city early on Thursday.
The home belongs to citizen Gumaee Mashasha in AL-Jah area in Bait Al-Fakeh district.
Thursday air strike on the Yemeni family was accompanied with a series of other air strikes and missile shelling from Saudi aggression warships that targeted several residential areas in the Red Sea port city.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452651.htm
and
12.1.2017 – Press TV Iran (A K PH)
Fresh Saudi aerial attacks kill seven in Yemen
At least seven civilians have lost their lives when Saudi military aircraft carried out a series of airstrikes against residential areas in conflict-ridden Yemen.
A local source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said three women and four children were killed as Saudi fighter jets bombarded an area in the Bayt al-Faqih district of Yemen’s western coastal province of Hudaydah on Thursday morning, Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported.
and more photos
https://twitter.com/AliMahaqeri/status/819552731178340352
https://twitter.com/JosephJo1221/status/819553774356353025
https://twitter.com/JosephJo1221/status/819550192793952256
https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1626233584339296
and film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Cx8pOHuZ8
and the father was the only to survive...
14.1.2017 - Ahmad Alghobary (A K)
I cried blood . I visited the father of this family in Hudidah today.when he realized that I came to report this crime, he hugged me
https://twitter.com/AhmadAlgohbary/status/820403305184657411
12.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (A K PH)
Warplanes of Saudi aggression waged a raid on Hidan district of Saada, and kill a citizen
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60718&lang=en
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
14.1.2017 – AFP (A K PS)
Yemen clashes leave dozens dead in key battle for coastal region
At least 26 Yemeni fighters died in fresh clashes and an air strike as government forces advanced against Shiite Huthi rebels near a key shipping strait, medics and officials said Saturday.
A week-long assault by government forces and their allies aims to expel the Iran-backed Huthis from Dhubab region, close to the Bab al-Mandab strait linking the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
Twelve bodies of Huthi insurgents were taken early Saturday to a hospital in rebel-held Hodeida, a medical official said, adding that the facility received 23 others wounded.
He said the casualties were from clashes on Friday night in Dhubab.
An overnight air strike by a pro-government Arab coalition on a rebel assembly in Zaydiya, in Hodeida province, left another nine Huthis dead, a security official said.
A medical official at a hospital in Aden said five pro-government fighters were killed in overnight clashes around Dhubab and 14 others wounded.
Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and allied fighters from the Popular Resistance have entered the town of Dhubab and seized its local government headquarters.
Popular Resistance commander Abdelrahman al-Muharami said the loyalists had also recaptured large parts of Al-Omeri military base in mountains overlooking the coast.
But the rebels still control nearly all of Yemen's Red Sea coast to the north, posing what the coalition says is a threat to international shipping.
http://www.france24.com/en/20170114-yemen-clashes-leave-dozens-dead-key-battle-coastal-region
My comment: A typical AFP article, as mostly always only relying on pro-Hadi, pro-Saudi sources and telling their stories (propaganda?). The other side tells a different story.
14.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (A K PH)
Burning Military Mechanism in Al Jouf
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60869&lang=en
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
The Saudi enemy's artillery and missile bombing targeted citizens' houses in al-Shiekh, Omar and Afrah areas of Monabah district in Sa'ada.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452900.htm
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Saudi-paid mercenaries' artillery pounded several areas of Serwah district, Marib province.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452866.htm
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army snipers kill 2 enemy Saudi soldiers in Najran
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452827.htm
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Artillery hits Saudi-paid mercenaries in Taiz, kills dozens
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452853.htm
14.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (A K PH)
Army and Popular Committees Kill 3 of Aggression Mercenaries in Taiz province
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60859&lang=en
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army foils mercenaries' attempt to progress in Jawf
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452891.htm
14.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Ballistic missile hits mercenaries' gathering in Jawf
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452873.htm
14.1.2017 – Fars News (A K PH)
Saudi Arabia's Military Positions in Asir, Najran Provinces Hit Hard in Yemen's Artillery Shelling
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13951025000687
Remark: And more successes of the Houthi / Saleh side, as reported by Iranian media.
13.1.2017 – Almasdar Online (A K PS)
5 Houthis killed, 8 injured in coalition raids in Shabwa governorate
http://almasdaronline.com/article/87993
13.1.2017 – Almasdar Online (A K PS)
Al Baidha: 9 Houthis and 2 resistance elements killed in violent clashes
http://almasdaronline.com/article/87996
13.1.2017 – Almasdar Online (A K PS)
Dhamar: clashes broke out in al Hada following Houthi storming campaign
http://almasdaronline.com/article/88000
13.1.2017 – Almasirah TV A( K PH)
Film: 13.01.2017. Big hunting Houthis on armored personnel carriers Saudi mercenaries in the area Kahbub, province of Taiz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUDxstSEZK0
13.1.2017 – Hussam Al Sanabani from Al Masirah TV (A K PH)
A week of failure to Saudi mercenaries in Dhubab #Yemen. Footage of sweeping operation. Jets can't stay & when it comes back won't find any.
https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/820037166571159553
A week of failure to Saudi mercenaries in Dhubab #Yemen. Footage of Hunting mercenaries armor carrier.
https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/820029380613337088
A week of failure to Saudi mercenaries in Dhubab. More than100 strike & Apache Participation did not succeed to impose change on the ground
https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/820026744270966784
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army destroys Abrams, Bradley in Najran, Jizan
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452815.htm
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Military clashes were broke out by militants mercenaries at al-Tahrir al-Asfal and al-Ala areas, al-Dhabo'ah, De Lux, Jamal Street and al-Masbah areas in the downtown of Taiz .
The militants mercenaries used medium weapons in the military clashes.
The military clashes caused a state of panic among civilians in the city who started to leave their homes.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452782.htm
My comment: In pro-Saudi / pro-Hadi propaganda only the Houthis are shelling at Taiz. We,, as in every fighting, both sides do.
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
several areas in Munabah borer district, Saada province, was hit by Saudi aggression-missile strikes.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452795.htm
13.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (A K PH)
.Taiz: Three Saudi Mercenaries Killed in Asifrah and 40th St
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60809&lang=en
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Saudi-paid mercenaries pounded several areas in Serwah, Marib province, with artillery.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452796.htm
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army launches rocket on Saudi-paid mercenaries in al-Waze'ayah
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452784.htm
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army re-secure al-Emam military camp in Thubab-Taiz
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452788.htm
13.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army pounds Saudi-paid mercenaries' gatherings in Mareb
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452779.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army recaptures, secure sites in Lahj, dozens of mercenaries killed
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452698.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army kills tens of Saudi-paid mercenaries in border Alab crossing
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452703.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army shoots down Saudi aggression spy drone in Mocha
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452705.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army launches offensive, kill dozens of Saudi-paid mercenaries in Mareb
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452712.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army, popular forces hit enemy Saudi military bases in Jizan
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452717.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Army kills tens of Saudi-paid mercenaries in Alab crossing border
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452703.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Rocketry Force hit Saudi-paid mercenaries in AL-Jawf
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452664.htm
12.1.2017 – Saba Net (A K PH)
Rocketry Force hit Saudi military bases in Najran
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news452656.htm and is probably the same as http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60704&lang=en
12.1.2017 – Yamanyoon (A K PH)
Army and Popular Committees Burning a tank of Hypocrites in Marib
http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=60716&lang=en
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
13.1.2017 – South Hirak (A C)
Film: On this day in 2009 #SouthYemen separatist protesters were shot by North #Yemen Gov.20k+ killed & 200k+ imprisoned in 2 decades
between 1994 & 2014 20K+ were killed and 200k+ were imprisoned
This is just 1 of a few clips of southerners being killed at peaceful demonstrations. North Yemen's "Unity or Death!" was not just a slogan it was every day practice. look out 4 our future tweet on it
https://twitter.com/SouthHirak/status/819911846950014977
11.1.2017 – Omar A. Alkumaim (A H)
Dear Noble Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai,
Yesterday (Tuesday Jan 10th 2017), Ishraq Almua'fa was leaving from her school when a US-backed Saudi led-Coalition fighter jet bombarded her school (Alfalah School in the city of Nihm east of the capital Sana’a), which resulted in the death of Ishraq along with 5 other students, the school principle, a teacher, and wounding 15 others.
A recent UNICEF report stated that the war have claimed the life’s of 1,400 child and injuring 12,140 children so far. Moreover, the US-backed Saudi led-Coalition have bombarded more than 500 Schools all over Yemen, since the war broke out on 26th of March 2015.
The situation in all life aspects is deteriorating day after another due to the war, blockade, and the failing of many peace resolutions and ceasefire agreements before they even start. On the other hand, the International News Agencies have not covered this ugly war as they supposed to, and the world public awareness is minimal.
Malala, you and Ishraq would have been best friends if she had survived and she would have looked up to you as her Idol. Thus, please speak on behalf of Ishraq, assist, support and be the hero of 6 million Yemeni students whom are trying to receive education regardless of the dangerous environment they are in. Help them feel safe by rising the awareness of their suffering, and be their voice and reason for this mercilessly war to end.
Yours Truly
Omar A.Aziz N. Alkumaim
Sana’a, Yemen
Jan 11th, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/alkumaim/posts/10101532679000990
Vorige / Previous:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-252-yemen-war-mosaic-252
Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-252: / Yemen War Mosaic 1-252:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose oder / or
http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm
Der saudische Luftkrieg im Bild / Saudi aerial war images:
(18 +, Nichts für Sensible!) / (18 +; Graphic!)
http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm und / and http://yemenwarcrimes.blogspot.de/
Dieser Beitrag gibt die Meinung des Autors wieder, nicht notwendigerweise die der Redaktion des Freitag.
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