Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 429 - Yemen War Mosaic 429

Yemen Press Reader 429: 1. Juli 2018: Hodeidah: Hadi, Emirate verlangen bedingungslosen Abzug der Huthis, Angriff auf die Stadt steht bevor, Lage der Menschen schlecht ...

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... Wann hat der Jemenkrieg begonnen? – Saudi Arabien: Frauen am Steuer und Propaganda; Militärische Stärke und Abhängigkeit – USA: Alle 12 Minuten eine Bombe – und mehr

July 1, 2018: Hodeidah: Hadi, UAE claim Houthis’ unconditional retreat, assault looming, situation of civilians is bad – When did the Yemen war begin? – Saudi Arabia: Driving women and propaganda; military strength and dependence – US: A bomb every 12 minutes – and more

Schwerpunkte / Key aspects

Klassifizierung / Classification

Für wen das Thema ganz neu ist / Who is new to the subject

cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important

cp1a Am wichtigsten: Seuchen / Most important: Epidemics

cp1b1 Am wichtigsten: Kampf um Hodeidah: Deutsch/ Most important: Hodeidah battle: German

cp1b2 Am wichtigsten: Kampf um Hodeidah: Englisch / Most important: Hodeidah battle: English

cp2 Allgemein / General

cp2a Allgemein: Saudische Blockade / General: Saudi blockade

cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation

cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees

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

cp7a Saudi-Arabien und Iran / Saudi Arabia and Iran

cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

cp9 USA

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

cp11 Deutschland / Germany

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms Trade

cp13b Mercenaries / Söldner

cp13c Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage

cp13d Wirtschaft / Economy

cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism

cp15 Propaganda

cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids

cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War

cp18 Sonstiges / Other

Klassifizierung / Classification

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*

(Kein Stern / No star)

? = Keine Einschatzung / No rating

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

Für wen das Thema ganz neu ist / Who is new to the subject

Eingebetteter Medieninhalt

Einführende Artikel u. Überblicke für alle, die mit den Ereignissen im Jemen noch nicht vertraut sind, hier:

Yemen War: Introductory articles, overviews, for those who are still unfamiliar with the Yemen war here:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-einfuehrende-artikel-u-ueberblicke

cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important

Eingebetteter Medieninhalt

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When Did the War in Yemen Begin?

A common assumption, repeated frequently by diplomats, journalists, analysts, and even the U.S. Congressional Research Service, is that the war began on March 26, 2015, when Saudi Arabia launched its air campaign, Operation Decisive Storm, which became the first stage of a larger military intervention. But that is simply not true—not from a legal perspective and not from a political one. Operation Decisive Storm marked the beginning of a new phase in the war, not the beginning of the war. In fact, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the rest of their coalition partners were responding to a letter from Yemen’s internationally recognized president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, asking for them “to provide immediate support in every form and take the necessary measures, including military intervention, to protect Yemen and its people” in an already ongoing conflict.

The war—what legal scholars call a “non-international armed conflict”—began months prior to the Saudi-led coalition’s intervention. It began even before Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, fell to the Houthis in September 2014. We argue, based on the political facts on the ground as well as existing international legal criteria, that the war in Yemen can be dated to at least as early as July 9, 2014. This is the date that Houthi forces consolidated their control over the governorate of Amran, defeated the Yemeni Military’s 310th Brigade, and overran state security and military installations. From that point forward, the Houthis and the government of Yemen have remained locked in a non-international armed conflict.

Accurately identifying when Yemen’s war began has serious legal and political implications. It affects the application of international humanitarian law, and will be necessary for a proper framework for eventual peace negotiations. The date of commencement will also be significant for any future reparations mechanisms.

The Legal Criteria

International law requires that two thresholds need to be met to classify a non-international armed conflict, based on (1) the intensity of the fighting, which includes the seriousness and spread of the clashes over a period of time, the involvement of a state’s armed forces, and the use of heavy weaponry and (2) a minimum level of organization, based on five criteria, for the armed groups involved. By July 9, 2014, both of these thresholds had been met with regards to the conflict between the Houthis and the government of Yemen.

Conclusion

There has been no real discourse on the origins of the war in the public domain. This is perhaps because conflicts in Yemen have always been mixed with multiple, localized conflicts and local, tribal, and regional tensions, which makes it very difficult to precisely identify the beginning of any one conflict and the end of another.

As difficult as it may be to pinpoint, the date at which the conflict began has important political, legal, and symbolic implications for both the people of Yemen and the parties to the conflict. From a legal perspective, the evidence demonstrates that the start of the war can be dated to at least July 9, 2014 – by Ruwanthika Gunaratne, Gregory D. Johnsen, Arabia Foundation

https://www.lawfareblog.com/when-did-war-yemen-begin

My comment: The Yemen war certainly cannot be a “non-international armed conflict”, as many international, non-Yemeni powers are deeply involved.

The “Yemen war” actually is two (or even more) wars. The first phase – if we accept the date of July 9, 2014 as the staring point – clearly was an inner-Yemeni civil war between the Houthi-saleh alliance and the Hadi government as main factions. – But starting with the Saudi coalition’s air raids on March 25, 2015, the Yemen war n more had been just a civil war alone, but evienty was an “international armed conflict”, if you do not want to label it as a “war” as no war formally had been declared on the Houthis.

And even this could not be a reason not to label tis war as “war”. The Saudis and the US did not recognize the Houthi-saleh government as government of Yemen, and a formal war only could be declared to an enemy government. Thus, they just started leading a war without declaring a war. Such a procedure, as it is common for all the wars the US is leading in this time (see below, article showing that the US drops a bomb every 12 minutes without having declared any formal war), is making warfare easier on the international and national stage.

Labeling the Yemen war as a “non-international armed conflict” deflects from the role of international actors and helps whitewashing their involvement. This is not justified and inacceptable.

Comment by Haykal Bafana: I'd say the civil war in #Yemen started all the way back in 2011 (http://blog.haykal.sg/the-yemen/6-urban-artillery-civil-war-in-sanaa). Everything that followed from then to now has been a series of escalations into what is now a regional conflict, not just a Yemeni civil war.

On the suggestion that the war in Yemen remains a "non-international armed conflict", I disagree. This legal distinction based on the 1949 Geneva Convention that international armed conflict can only be between states has long become outmoded, and the Yemen war exemplifies it.

Once the 1st Saudi/UAE airstrike was launched on 26 March 2015 in Yemen, the Yemeni civil war became an international armed conflict. Indeed, this IAC line may have been crossed earlier, as a large volume of arms & war materiel was sent by Saudi/UAE into Yemen starting late 2014.

In summary, I think the more accurate legal position under international laws is that there were multiple NIAC in Yemen from 2011 (civil war phase), and it became an IAC as early as late 2014 - when foreign states started intervening - or at the latest, on 26 Mar 2015.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1012318643554840576

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Saudi Arabia is not driving change – it is trying to hoodwink the west

The country has lifted its ban on female drivers, but this is a rebrand, not a revolution. Yet many governments – and media outlets – are being taken in

If I see one more article about Saudi women being able to drive I am going to throw myself under a car. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad Saudi Arabia has lifted the world’s only ban on women driving. But I am also worried. Rather than being a meaningful step towards progress, as much of the coverage suggests, the reversal of the driving ban is quite the opposite. Allowing women behind the wheel is a PR move by Saudi Arabia, designed not to modernise the kingdom, but to render a repressive regime more palatable. Yet many western media outlets seem to be falling for this strategic “women-washing”, as you might call it, hook, line and blinker.

The irony of Saudi Arabia jailing women’s rights activists at the same time as it lifted its driving ban did not go unacknowledged by the media. However, the jailed activists were the secondary story. Most headlines have played into the narrative of reform that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing.

It was reported last year that Saudi Arabia was setting up global public relations hubs to improve its international image amid its bombing of Yemenand its embargo of Qatar. Well, the Saudi PR machine has been very busy indeed.

Saudi Arabia’s messaging points have been regurgitated by the media, too

After all, who wants to talk about war crimes and dead Yemenis when you can talk about cinemas and women driving? Particularly when the US and the UK are complicit in Saudi Arabia’s disastrous war in Yemen.

That is the salient point here. Ultimately, the celebratory coverage around Saudi Arabia lifting its driving ban is a reflection of the fact that it is in the west’s best interest for the kingdom to be painted in a good light. It is terribly inconvenient, after all, to acknowledge that your lucrative trading partner, whose war efforts you are backing, is an abusive, authoritarian regime. Far better to focus on lovely photos of women in cars – by Arwa Madhawi

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/26/saudi-arabia-is-not-driving-change-it-is-trying-to-hoodwink-the-west

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Can Saudi Arabia Fight its Own Fight? History Shows Heavy Reliance on Mercenaries, Militias and the US

Despite access to high-tech weapons and a massive military budget, Saudi Arabia seems unable to piece together a competent fighting force, instead relying on mercenaries, militias, and the US to win its wars.

In the decades since its establishment, the Kingdom has had almost no reliable experience by which to evaluate the performance of its regular army, with the exception of its previous war on Yemen in the early 1960s, which saw modest participation by the “Saudi National Guards.” Even then, Riyadh relied heavily on support from Yemen’s Mutawakkilite Imamate to achieve its military goals.

In 1990, when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and threatened Saudi Arabia months later, Saudi King Fahd made an official request to the United States to bring its troops to the “land of the Two Holy Mosques” to protect his regime from invasion. The Saudis did not have a regular army that could be relied upon; instead, the U.S. Air Force paved the way for Saudi ground forces to enter the border town of Al-Khafji, near Kuwait. The battle there helped Saudi Arabia alleviate some of the growing popular discontent over the presence of U.S. Marines on Saudi soil.

Later, Saudi Arabia’s military weakness would emerge in the 2009 “Saada War” against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The latter were able to take control of several locations and towns inside the Saudi Kingdom, reportedly killing dozens of Saudi soldiers in the ensuing battles.

As for Saudi Arabia’s ongoing war on Yemen, launched in March of 2015, the inherent weakness of Saudi ground forces manifested itself clearly through the Gulf kingdom’s heavy reliance on foreign mercenaries to fight on behalf of its armed forces, the failure to progress on fronts adjacent to the border, and the inability of Saudi forces to hold positions and villages, despite support from the Saudi Royal Air Force.

Despite Saudi Arabia failures, it has yet to establish minimum requirements for its regular army, instead relying on a strategy of using outside agents, often armed militias with Wahhabi ideology, to complete missions. This factor, coupled with a failure to invest in domestic weapons production despite the availability of money and raw materials, has left the Saudi military heavily reliant on foreign aid to secure arms, making the country a hugely profitable market for the Western arms dealers.

U.S. Marine Corps assessment

A 2008 handbook, released as part of the U.S Marine Corps Intelligence Activities Country Handbook Program, gives a candid view of almost everything pertaining to Saudi Arabia (history, geography, society) and its military. According to the document, the U.S estimates the number of Saudi soldiers in service at around 200,000 — with about 20,000 in its reserves and 15,000 in the ranks of Saudi paramilitary groups.

The document goes on to list the various branches comprising the Ministry of Defense, including the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF), the Royal Saudi Navy Forces (RSNF), the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF), the Royal Saudi Air Defense Force (RSADF) and the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG). It also lists the armament capabilities of Saudi troops and mentions the deficiencies of each branch, especially the chronic inability to garner volunteers from among Saudi youth.

Modernization in reverse

While few academics have written about the Saudi military or researched its capabilities and points of weakness, there are a few studies comprehensive enough to provide insight into Saudi Arabia’s military capabilities – by Ali Mourad

https://www.mintpressnews.com/saudi-arabia-relies-on-mercenaries-militias-and-the-us-to-win-wars/244751/

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Alle 12 Minuten eine Bombe – die unerklärten Kriege der USA haben ein absurdes Ausmaß angenommen

George W. Bush gilt in Deutschland und anderswo vor allem als Kriegstreiber. Zu Recht, warfen die US-Streitkräfte während seiner achtjährigen Amtszeit doch 70.000 Bomben auf fünf Länder. Dann kam Barack Obama, der Friedensnobelpreisträger, der in Deutschland und anderswo vor allem als Friedensbringer gilt. Zu Unrecht, steigerte sich die Zahl der von den USA nun auf sieben Länder abgeworfenen Bomben in seiner Amtszeit doch auf 100.000. Und nun heißt der Präsident Donald Trump. Während alle Welt sich über seine Tweets aufregt, erreicht die Zerstörungswut des Pentagons bislang nicht für möglich gehaltene Ausmaße – allein im ersten Jahr seiner Präsidentschaft warfen die USA bereits 44.000 Bomben und dies obgleich sie sich offiziell mit keinem andern Land im Krieg befinden.

Während der Präsidentschaft George W. Bushs warfen die USA im Schnitt jede Stunde eine Bombe ab – jede Stunde, jeden Tag, jeden Monat, die vollen acht Jahre seiner Amtszeit. Barack Obama erhöhte die tödliche Schlagzahl um fast die Hälfte auf 34 Bomben pro Tag. Zynisch könnte man fragen, ob er oder Henry Kissinger damit die Liste der kriegslustigsten Friedensnobelpreisträger anführt. Doch selbst Obama wird von Trump mühelos in den Schatten gestellt. 121 Bomben pro Tag ließ der aktuelle US-Präsident während seines ersten Jahres im Amt weltweit abwerfen – alle zwölf Minuten eine Bombe, fünf pro Stunde, also fünf mal so viel wie der „Kriegstreiber“ Bush jr.

Und auch in einer verwandten tödlichen Disziplin ist Trump auf dem besten Weg, neue Negativrekorde zu erreichen. War es zu Zeiten eines George W. Bush noch ein großes Thema, dass die USA insgesamt 57 Drohnenangriffe auf Menschen in befreundeten oder neutralen Ländern ausführten und dabei zwischen 384 und 807 unschuldige Zivilisten töteten, steigerte sich diese Zahl unter Obama auf 563 Drohnenangriffe – die Zahl der getöteten Zivilisten war bereits zu dieser Zeit noch nicht einmal mehr seriös zu schätzen, da die US-Militärs und –Dienste getreu dem Motto „fire and forget“ sie noch nicht einmal mehr protokolliert haben. Die Anzahl der Drohnenangriffe verzehnfachte sich jedenfalls unter Obama. Und unter Trump? Obgleich nun gar keine offiziellen Zahlen mehr veröffentlicht werden, sickerte durch, dass die USA in Trumps erstem Jahr alleine im Jemen und in Somalia 161 Drohnenangriffe verübt haben – das ist dreieinhalb Mal so viel wie unter Obama und dreiundzwanzig Mal so viel wie unter Bush jr.

Die Zahl der zivilen Todesopfer lässt sich dabei bestenfalls schätzen.

Unglaublich ist übrigens auch die Erklärung, nach der die Bombenangriffe und Drohnenattacken gezielt oder gar chirurgisch präzise seien. Die Trefferquote für Ziele, die auf der „Todesliste“ der USA stehen, beträgt verschwindend geringe 2%, gemessen an den gesamten Opferzahlen dieser Angriffe. Weitere 18% der Opfer werden von den USA – zu Recht oder nicht – als militärische Ziele eingestuft. Die Zahl der zivilen Opfer, die man militärisch korrekt zynisch als „Kollateralschäden“ bezeichnet, beträgt damit unglaubliche 80%. Da kann man schon fast wieder verstehen, dass die US-Dienste aufgehört haben, diese Daten überhaupt erst zu erheben und der Einfachheit halber die Definitionen geändert haben. Wer sich im Zielgebiet eines US-Drohnenangriffs aufhält, ist nun automatisch per Definition ein „Kombattant“. Zivile Opfer kann es demnach keine mehr geben.

Wann haben Sie jemals in den großen Medien etwas über diese Zahlen gelesen? – von Jens Berger

https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=44684

and an English article on this subject: https://www.truthdig.com/articles/trumps-military-drops-a-bomb-every-12-minutes-and-no-one-is-talking-about-it/

cp1b1 Am wichtigsten: Kampf um Hodeidah: Deutsch/ Most important: Hodeidah battle: German

Siehe cp7 (UN-verhandlungen)

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UN-Gesandter - Erwarte in Kürze erste Jemen-Gespräche seit Jahren

Im jemenitischen Bürgerkrieg zeichnen sich den Vereinten Nationen (UN) zufolge die ersten Verhandlungen zwischen den Konfliktparteien seit Jahren ab.

Der UN-Gesandte Martin Griffiths sagte in einem UN-Rundfunkinterview am späten Donnerstagabend, beide Seiten hätten ihre Bereitschaft zu Gesprächen signalisiert. Nun wolle er sie spätestens in den kommenden Wochen zusammenbringen. Er hoffe, dass der UN-Sicherheitsrat nächste Woche zusammentreten werde, um über einen Plan für eine Wiederaufnahme der Gespräche zu beraten.

Griffiths hatte sich am Mittwoch mit Präsident Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi getroffen

https://de.reuters.com/article/jemen-un-idDEKBN1JP0XE

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Konfliktparteien wollen Friedensgespräche fortsetzen

Im jemenitischen Bürgerkrieg soll es die ersten Friedensgespräche seit Jahren geben. Wie der UN-Sondergesandte Martin Griffiths mitteilte, seien die Konfliktparteien nach zweijähriger Unterbrechung zu neuen Verhandlungen bereit. Er hoffe, dass die Gespräche spätestens in zwei Wochen beginnen könnten.

Nach Angaben der Vereinten Nationen führte der Gesandte sowohl mit den schiitischen Huthi-Rebellen als auch mit der international anerkannten Regierung intensive Gespräche. Am Mittwoch traf er demnach den im Exil lebenden Präsidenten Abed Rabbo Mansur Hadi.

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2018-06/jemen-krieg-friedensgespraeche-huthi-rebellen-regierung

Mein Kommentar: Den Optimismus von Griffith teile ich nicht. Vor allem die anti-Huthi-Koalition spielt einfach auf Zeit und sieht die UN-Verhandlungen eher als Mittel zum Zweck, damit mit möglichst wenig Einsatz einen möglichst großen Vorteil zu gewinnen.

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Jemen: "Die Flugzeuge schossen ohne Gnade auf uns" - Tausende fliehen vor saudischen Bomben

Tausende Menschen, die in der jemenitischen Hafenstadt Hodeida lebten, sind vor den dort im Gange befindliche Kampfhandlungen nach Sanaa geflohen. Anfang des Monats hatte die Saudi-geführte Koalition eine Offensive auf die Huthi-Kämpfer in der Stadt begonnen, wo auch der wichtigste Hafen für Hilfsgüter im Jemen liegt. Die Aufnahmen zeigen Menschen, die in einer Schule am Rande der Stadt Schutz gefunden haben.

Die meisten von ihnen sind Frauen und Kinder. Ein Mädchen berichtet: "Die Flugzeuge flogen über uns und schossen. Sie haben keine Gnade gezeigt, uns gequält, sie haben uns fertig gemacht."

Dr. Angela Abu-Esbaa, eine Menschenrechtsaktivistin, sagte, dass in nur zehn Tagen über 6.000 Vertriebene in Sanaa angekommen seien, und fügte hinzu, dass der Prozess der Versorgung mit Unterkünften "sehr langsam" voranginge.

Film: Für deutsche Untertitel bitte die Untertitelfunktion auf Youtube aktivieren.

https://deutsch.rt.com/kurzclips/72134-jemen-flugzeuge-schossen-ohne-gnade/ = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opWGHylL0iQ

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Film: Jemen: Kämpfer von Saudi-Arabien geführter Militärkoalition triumphieren in Hodeida

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96mJItZHNRM

cp1b2 Am wichtigsten: Kampf um Hodeidah: Englisch / Most important: Hodeidah battle: English

Eingebetteter Medieninhalt

Siehe cp7 (UN-Verhandlungen) / Look at cp7 (UN negotiations)

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Assault on Hodeida

Summary: Two full weeks into the attack, the more pessimistic scenarios are looking increasingly likely; President Hadi’s relations with the UAE improve after a meeting with MBZ; other important developments go unnoticed.

Two full weeks into the attack, the more pessimistic scenarios are looking increasingly likely, namely a lengthy ground battle, possibly hundreds of thousands of civilians killed and displaced, and further reduction of already insufficient basic supplies landing at the port.

Both the decision and the timing of the offensive raise fundamental questions about coalition and internationally recognised government motivations

The offensive has benefited from at least two elements which were absent in 2017: the collapse of the Huthi-Saleh alliance with the killing of former president Saleh last December, weakened them militarily and simultaneously strengthened the coalition which gained the active participation of Saleh-allied elite forces regrouped around Tareq Saleh, his nephew. The other element is that the UAE have obtained their own landing craft enabling them to bring troops from the sea south of Hodeida; this raises the question of the capacity/reliability of their Yemeni allies.

The ultimate outcome of the battle for Hodeida is hardly in doubt though it is likely to last longer and be bloodier than the UAE expect.

Importantly, the (comparatively) massive attention given to the Hodeida offensive in recent weeks has obscured developments elsewhere, whose long-term significance may well be greater. First and foremost, the rift between President Hadi and the UAE appears to have been healed, temporarily at least, after a dramatic worsening of relations in early May.

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) reduced its rhetoric.

These events suggest fundamental strategic changes. The Hodeida offensive is primarily a UAE operation demonstrating that, contrary to many assumptions, UAE interests go well beyond the South and are focused on maritime power and control of as many important ports in the region as possible. Second, it may indicate that, overall, the UAE is taking the lead in the coalition and Saudi involvement is being downplayed. Third, the muting of the STC demonstrates, for the moment at least, a far more subservient relationship to the UAE than many previously assumed. Fourth, the ‘reconciliation’ with Hadi has the side effect of reducing STC and other separatist movements’ hold on the south, and foresees a possible easing of North-South tensions. It may thus be a step towards the continued existence of a united Yemen in some form or other post war. Of course, all this is speculation, and alliances may shift again in completely different directions, as they have done in the past, including these recent changes – by Helen Lackner

https://arabdigest.org/visitors/sample-newsletters/assault-on-hodeida/

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Obstinacy of militias has made military action the only option in Yemen

The government of Yemen had no choice but to take military action to regain control of Hodeidah port, Yemeni Human Rights Minister Mohammed Askar said on Friday.

The decision was taken only after exercising restraint to allow UN envoys to find a peaceful solution, and agreeing to many initiatives to end the conflict. But this was impossible due to the obstinacy of the Iran-backed Houthi militias and their refusal to back down, he added.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 38th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Askar stressed that if the port of Hodeidah remained under the control of the Houthis, who are using it to receive missiles and other weapons, the security and stability of Yemen and the region, as well as international shipping, would be in grave danger.

“The Yemeni government, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, decided to proceed with a military confrontation after it exhausted all means to persuade the Houthis to hand over the port in order to save the people of Hodeidah and guarantee the security of international navigation and corridors,” he said.

He added that the Yemeni government was determined to ensure the safety of civilians, that relief aid continues to reach them, and to provide a safe refuge for those who decide to leave the province for a safer area.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1331116/middle-east

My comment: Repeating the same nonsense propaganda again and again. Judith Brown: “They don't want a peace deal - they want unconditional surrender. I don't think that will happen. So the war continues.“, https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10156807571988641

(A K pS)

Yemeni National Army drops Houthi Reconnaissance Plane in Hodeidah

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1780375

(A K pS)

Arab Coalition Thwarts Houthi Boat Attack in Red Sea

The Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen announced on Saturday that it thwarted an attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen to target international navigation in the Red Sea.

The Saudi-led alliance said that it seized Houthi fishing boats loaded with rocket-propelled grenades.

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1316496/arab-coalition-thwarts-houthi-boat-attack-red-sea

My comment: As claimed by Saudi media. These boats certainly would not have attacked “international shipping”, as propaganda claimed here, but UAE or Saudi warships trying to assault Hodeidah from the sea.

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Coalition to begin next phase in Hodeidah campaign

The UAE reiterated its support for the UN envoy's effort to safely resolve issue of port city

The UAE said that the Arab Coalition in Yemen is preparing its next phase of its military and humanitarian plan to push the Houthi rebels towards the negotiating table.

During a joint coalition meeting in Washington, UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba reiterated the Emirates’ support for UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffith’s efforts to “facilitate the Houthis’ peaceful and unconditional handover of Hodeidah port and city to the legitimate government of Yemen”.

UAE's Ambassador to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, outlined during the conference the Arab Coalition's humanitarian plan to address the needs of the Yemeni people, including the restoration of Hodeidah port and other infrastructure damaged by the Houthis.

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/coalition-to-begin-next-phase-in-hodeidah-campaign-1.745478

My comment: This is full of twisted propaganda. 1) “The UAE reiterated its support for the UN envoy's effort to safely resolve issue of port city“: Any further military assault in Hodeidah, which the UAE announces here, is contradictory to any oft he UN envoy’s efforts, is exactly the opposite of „support for the UN envoy's effort“. 2) „next phase of its military and humanitarian plan“: The military plan should be seen as to be combinated with a „humanitarian plan“. This is nonsense. Never ever a „military plan“ has anything to do with „humanitarian“: The saudi / UAE „humanitarian plan“ for Yemen is a propaganda scam to sedate the international public and to give the western backers a pretense to continue their support.

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The coalition informs the international community that the deadline for the Houthi withdrawal from Hodeidah ends on July 3

The Arab alliance told some Western countries that the Huthis had the chance to withdraw from Hodeidah until July 3, and that "if that does not happen, the battle of liberating Hodeidah will begin with full force.

The newspaper quoted coalition officials expected that the battle of Hodeidah will continue 6 weeks to resolve, noting that the coalition is considering two military options for the course of the battle either direct incursion into the city or the seizure of the port north of the city of Hodeidah only.

The paper pointed out that the difficulties faced by the international envoy to Yemen is unlikely to solve the problem of Hodeidah through negotiation.

http://www.barakish.net/news02.aspx?cat=12&sub=23&id=549218

My comment: They definitely rejected all peace efforts by the UN envoy, as this seems to show.

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Norwegian Refugee Council: Update on the situation in Hodeidah, Yemen, 29 June 2018

The fighting in Hodeidah continues but is on a relative pause while the UN envoy is allowed further time to mediate between the parties to the conflict in an attempt to restart peace negotiations.

The situation in the wider Hodeidah area is volatile, and fighting continues in Hodeidah's southern districts. Airstrikes have been ongoing around the city although they have slowed this week.

People inside Hodeidah city tell NRC staff that the situation continues to be calm, with only a few clashes reported during the night. Some roads within the city are reportedly closed or partially blocked by defensive entrenchments.

People inside the city tell NRC that most shops, especially in the southern side of the city, remain closed as shopkeepers are too scared to open them.
Electricity is still unavailable in many areas and water remains scarce. Most people do not leave their houses unless it's urgent. Many don't have adequate food in their homes and are at the brink of going hungry.

Money exchange shops are reported to remain mostly closed. This is a serious concern in Yemen, where people have been struggling with an increasing lack of cash liquidity in the past few years of the conflict. Without access to cash, and with reportedly rising prices of basic goods, civilians who could otherwise survive may be left without food and other necessities.

Some 43,000 people have been displaced since the offensive started on 13 June, with more people displaced every day. Such movement to safety brings its own risks, as there have been an increase in reports over the past week of civilians killed and injured by explosives as they travel. Many of those who have managed to flee to other Governorates are arriving in urgent need of food, medical care and protection for the most vulnerable.

While some families with the means to do so are fleeing to Sana'a, Aden and other distant areas, the majority of displaced people are seeking refuge close to home within Hodeidah governorate. Some are even fleeing from the southern districts into the city.

https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/update-situation-hodeidah-yemen-29-june-2018

(A K pS)

Large number of #Houthi militia fighters have withdrawn from a number of fighting fronts, especially the front of Nehm, east of #Sanaa, and were sent them all to fight in the West Coast front in #Hodeidah, according to private sources of the #Republican_Yemen.

https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1012800426134130688

(A K pH)

Sana'a based Saba News Agency: Yemeni Navy and Coastal Forces thwarted an attempted sea-borne landing by Saudi/UAE coalition at the western coast (no specific area was mentioned). Statement bragged about receiving intelligence abt attempted landing

https://twitter.com/Shuaibalmosawa/status/1012762239265398786 referring to http://www.saba.ye/ar/news500309.htm

(* A B K P)

Yemen Situation Report

An imminent Emirati military offensive in Yemen will jeopardize American security interests in the Arabian Peninsula under current conditions.
An Emirati-led offensive on al Hudaydah port city is almost certain. UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has not secured an agreement for an al Houthi withdrawal from the port city. The UAE set a deadline for al Houthi forces to withdraw under a negotiated settlement by June 30, after which they will likely begin an assault on the port city. Emirati-backed Yemeni forces *plan to advance north along the coastal road toward the port while simultaneously moving northeast around the city to seize the main road connecting al Hudaydah to Sana’a

Coalition officials repeatedly stated they only intend to seize the port and not the entire city. Seizing the port will still require Emirati-backed forces to advance through dense urban areas if they assault the port by land. It is unclear how the UAE plans to maintain control over the port and continue its functions while al Houthi forces control the city. Al Houthi forces are *disrupting the main supply line for the offensive by counterattacking in al Fazah and al Jah areas, located along the coastal road in southern al Hudaydah governorate.
The al Houthi movement may asymmetrically retaliate against the UAE for the al Hudaydah offensive. Al Houthi forces may *launch ballistic missiles at the UAE or Emirati bases in the Horn of Africa if the UAE assaults the port city. Al Houthi forces may also attack commercial ships in the Red Sea with surface-to-ship missiles or remote-controlled explosive boats.

The UN envoy is attempting to negotiate a settlement for al Hudaydah to prevent a possible humanitarian disaster and preserve planned talks for later in the summer.

Griffiths repeatedly warned that an assault on al Hudaydah port city will undermine peace talks. Griffiths is prioritizing preventing a military confrontation in the city over organizing negotiations to resolve the civil war, further delaying UN peace talks. An offensive on the port will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis if the fighting prevents aid and imports from entering the country.

Yemeni actors are positioning themselves for the next phase in the Yemeni conflict.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) may be leveraging attention on al Hudaydah to prepare for a future offensive.

Emirati focus on the Red Sea coast offensive has likely decreased pressure on Salafi-jihadi groups in Yemen. AQAP increased its rate of operations against Emirati-backed forces.

https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/yemen-situation-report/2018-yemen-crisis-situation-report-june-28

Comment: “An imminent Emirati military offensive in #Yemen will jeopardize American security interests in the Arabian Peninsula under current conditions”. Security interest? Please, stay serious. The distance from Sanaa to Miami is 7,740 miles (12,459 km). There hardly can be any “security interest”.

(B K)

#UAE has said that it will only assault #Hudaydah port, not the city. Hadi gov has been emphasizing you can't separate the port from the city. We touch on this in our latest report because it is unclear how the UAE intends to hold the port w/out the city

In order to seize the port by land, UAE-backed forces would still need to push through a lot of dense urban area even if they stick to the coastal road. It is also unclear how the port will function if the UAE controls the port and Houthis control the city.

https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/1012437650274504705

(* A P)

Houthis Raid Relief Warehouse in Yemen’s Hodeidah, Abduct UN Staff

Houthis militias stormed on Thursday a World Food Program warehouse in Yemen’s Hodeidah city, looting its aid relief and abducting two staff members.
Witnesses said that the Iran-backed militants raided the warehouse in the “Kilo 7” area in the southeastern part of the city and took two of the WFP staff to an unknown location.
The UN agency has yet to make an official statement over this new Houthi violation.
Local sources said the militants were looting such warehouses to distribute food on their fighters and loyalists. They were also seeking to win over new supporters.
Higher Relief Council director Abdul Raqib Fath condemned the Houthis’ ongoing violations against UN and international relief agencies operating in Yemen.

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1315366/houthis-raid-relief-warehouse-yemen%E2%80%99s-hodeidah-abduct-un-staff

Remark: As claimed by Saudi media.

(A E P)

Oil, Minerals Minister inspects oil company in Hodeidah

Minister of Oil and Minerals, Ahmad Abdullah Dars, and the Executive Director of Yemen Oil Company, Yasser Al-Wahidi, inspected on Friday the progress of the Hodeidah oil facility.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500311.htm

My comment: by the pro-Houthi Sanaa government. This sounds somewhat bizarre given the situation at Hodeidah now.

(* A P)

Three killed as Houthis open fire on prisoners in Hodeidah

Inmates rioted after rebels tried to ship them out to fight on northern fronts

Yemen's Houthi rebels shot dead three prisoners at the central jail in Hodeidah city on Thursday after the inmates rioted over plans to ship them to the frontlines to fight against government forces.

Five other prisoners were seriously injured when the rebels opened fire, said Rafeeq Domah, a spokesman for the pro-government Tihama Resistance forces.

The clashes broke out on Thursday evening when the Houthis brought lorries into the prison yard to take the prisoners to reinforce rebel fronts in northern Yemen, Mr Domah told The National.

The clashes broke out when the prisoners resisted. The Houthis started shooting at prison doors and windows to subdue the inmates protesting in their cells but the situation escalated when one rebel fighter fired directly at the prisoners, killing three of them and severely injuring five, Mr Domah said.

Yehya Sha'wah, a resident of Hodeidah, told The National that more prisoners were injured in a large fire that broke out when the rebels stormed the prison.

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/three-killed-as-houthis-open-fire-on-prisoners-in-hodeidah-1.745362 and photos: https://twitter.com/baseem_aljenani/status/1012418697376350209 and https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1012800426134130688

and somewhat differrent by a Yemeni pro-Hadi government source.

(* A P)

Insurgency in Central prison in Hodeidah, killing of a prisoner and injury of 3 others

The reporter of Almasdar online said that a prisoner in the central prison in Hodeidah has been killed and three others injured in the confrontation between the prisoners and Houthis.

The confrontations inside the prison between prisoners and Houthis due to transferring of prisoners by closed trucks to unknown locations by Houthis according to our reporter earlier.

Houthis opened fire upon the prisoners and killed one and injured 3 others and led to set one of the cells on fire.

The situation still tens and susceptible to more escalation after Houthis transferred 50 prisoners sentenced to death to an unknown location.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99887

On the other hand, other sources said Houthis tried to get one of the prisoners accused of the murder of one of them.

The source said Houthis trying to get the prisoner Jehad Alhaj out of the prison to execute him as retaliation for their member but the prisoners protected him in one of the cells and that what made Houthis open fire and set the cell on fire.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99891

Houthis now sieging the prisoners inside the prison and prevented the visitations of the families and admission of any kind of foods or drinks and one of the supervisors said: “ we will not allow any admission of anything until they comply to what we told them”.

The families of the prisoners urged the organizations to interfere and save the prisoners from the siege

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99892

(A K pS)

Photos of Houthi barricades

https://twitter.com/baseem_aljenani/status/1012360394730541057

https://twitter.com/baseem_aljenani/status/1012288061600870400

(A K pS)

Photos: The site where Houthi shelling had killed 7 on June, 27.

https://twitter.com/baseem_aljenani/status/1012011860642750466

(* A H K)

Yemen: Al Hudaydah Update Situation Report No. 6, 27 June 2018

Situation Overview

During the reporting period, fighting and shelling have significantly reduced in Al Hudaydah Governorate. However, airstrikes continue to be reported, especially in southern districts. On 27 June, an airstrike in Zabid District struck a location close to a hospital in Zabid town. No casualties were reported but the hospital reportedly sustained some damage. On 27 June, an airstrike hit a minbus in Al Garrahi District. On the same day, the Ministry of Human Rights in Sana’a issued a statement reporting that 11 civilians were killed and 11 more were injured in the strike.

In Al Hudaydah City, clashes were reported on 26 June in the proximity of the airport. Money exchange shops where people can access cash from remittances, remain closed. Limited access to cash and the reported increase of food prices may jeopardise the food security of an already vulnerable population. Displacement is affecting the capacity of institutions to provide basic social services due to absence of staff. Access to water in the city has improved following repairs to pipes that had been damaged by conflict. Many roads in the city remain blocked, but the city remains accessible from Sana’a.

Displacement continues as families seek shelter in relatively safer districts within Al Hudaydah Governorate or in neighbouring governorates. The exact numbers, locations and immediate needs are being verified by humanitarian partners. Humanitarian partners report that IDPs, who are arriving by truck, bus or private car in Amanat Al Asimah, Sana’a City, Ibb, Raymah, Dhamar, Al Bayda, Hajjah and other governorates, urgently need assistance such as food rations, medical care and protection services. Relief assistance continues to be provided to vulnerable people.

As of 27 June, some 6,000 displaced families have received some kind of emergency assistance, as detailed in the response sections below.

Al Hudaydah port is open and operational. As of 27 June, three vessels were at berth. Six vessels were in the anchorage area, three UNVIM-cleared vessels were in holding area and three vessels were en route.

https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-al-hudaydah-update-situation-report-no-6-27-june-2018

(B H K)

Map: Yemen – Hodeidah Governorate – Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) – DG ECHO Daily Map | 28/06/2018

https://reliefweb.int/map/yemen/yemen-hodeidah-governorate-emergency-response-coordination-centre-ercc-dg-echo-daily-map

(* A K P)

Battle for Hodeidah: Fears grow for Yemeni civilians as negotiations between coalition and Houthis falter

Arab coalition hopes recapturing city will break stalemate in Yemen's war, but any damage to its vital port could plunge millions of people into full-scale famine

Yemen’s exiled president has reportedly rejected a deal to place the Houthi rebel-controlled city of Hodeidah under UN jurisdiction, raising fears for the country’s civilian population as the time allocated for ceasefire talks begins to run out.

The United Nations-brokered negotiations are ongoing as of Thursday, a source close to the talks told The Independent, but all parties have so far been unable to agree on the terms of a truce which would avoid further fighting in the vital port city.

Hodeidah, on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, is a vital lifeline for the country’s embattled population.

Sky News Arabia reported late on Wednesday night that Yemeni president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi rejected the second of two offers from Houthi rebels, which would allow the Iran-backed forces to remain there but under UN supervision.

“Houthis not treated like any other terrorist militia and have dialogue with UN and opportunity to negotiate political process. Yet in threatening civilians behave like any other terrorist organisation,” UAE foreign minister Anwar Gargash tweeted. “International community must hold them to account.”

On the ground, civilians with the funds to do so are fleeing Arab coalition bombing, which activist Tawfeeq Hazmal said was near constant around southern neighbourhoods and Hodeidah airport compound.

“The situation is deteriorating very quickly,” he told The Independent.

“Most families don’t have the money to relocate outside the city, they will stay in their homes, waiting to die from hunger or bombing.”

Overnight the coalition dropped leaflets on Hodeidah’s 600,000 residents warning them to stay out of the city centre, sparking fears the full-scale assault will resume soon. Residents say the Houthis are preparing for an urban battle, planting landmines, digging out trenches and placing snipers on the roofs of residential buildings – by Bethan McKernan

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/yemen-hodeidah-latest-saudi-arabia-uae-coalition-airstrikes-houthis-a8421651.html

My comment: Gargash is putting facts upside down when objecting to the Houthis: “Yet in threatening civilians behave like any other terrorist organisation,” while most civilian victims of the war are victims of Saudi coalition air raids. According to gargash’s logic, the UAE assault to Hodeidah would be another proof that the UAE and the UAE-backed forces are behaving like a “terrorist organization”. – Dropping leaflets telling civilians to leave the city center (that’s where they live) just is the start of the war crime of displacing civilians (who in this case even have no means to go and no place to stay). Dropping leaflets entitles to nothing.

(* A K)

Arabic Coalition Flyers warns the civilians from entering Hodeida

Residents in Hodeida city and Zaydiah (west Yemen) said that the Arabic coalition led by Saudi Arabia fighters have throw flyers today Thursday warning the civilians from entering Hodeida city.

The reporter of Almasdaronline said according to the locals the flyers urges the civilians to stay away from Houthis positions or their reinforcements at the road to the city especially after the falling of civilians in coalition airstrikes in the past two days on the main roads.

The coalition said in one of the flyers” we urge the civilians not to head toward Hodeida city or its surroundings except for emergencies for your safety”.

In another flyer, the coalition said:” the coalition urges you to limits your movements and to stay at Homes except for emergencies and stay away from the conflicts areas”.

The flyers tailed by the “Arabic coalition forces west coast command” (image)

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99874

(A H K)

In the presence of the acting governor of the #Hodeidah province, Bonyan Development Foundation opens three centers to house displaced people in Hodeidah.

Bonyan Development Foundation has opened 3 shelters in the city of Hodeidah, accommodating 61 displaced families with more than 300 displaced persons.

The center has completed the processing of these centers and provided them with basic services such as electricity and water, as well as the provision of medical clinic and kitchen to provide for the needs of displaced food, and provided some of the other supplies needed by the displaced.

In the next few days, the Foundation intends to equip and open 7 more centers in Hodeidah, accommodating 145 displaced families (photos)

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1798596106860078

My comment: Bonyan is said to be Houthi-affiliated. There is no fear that they could not stay for long, as a further assault is looming.

(* A K pH)

Saudi-led aggression wages 126 air strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah

The US-backed Saudi-led coalition aggression warplanes and apache helicopters on Thursday launched over 126 strikes on Hodeidah province, a security official told Saba News Agency.

The Apaches of coalition launched 100 missiles on Tuhaita district while the warplanes waged 20 strikes at the same district since the morning, the official said.

Furthermore, the warplanes of coalition launched two strikes on a civilian’s farm in Jarahi district and four raids on Dhuha district

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500237.htm

(A K pH)

Film: in areas of #Hodeidah #Hodeida west #Yemen where there is no #Saudi #UAE strikes you can find life as normal as it used 2be C Areas that civilians left are where strikes took place

https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/1012284127280844800

Film: This is Kilo 16 roundabout (AKA the ship)n #Hodeidah #Hodeida city west #Yemen which @skynewsarabia claimed coalition forces took it hours before i recorded this video

https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/1012319402648326144

Film: This is the the type of weapons that threatens #Hodeidah #Hodeida port

https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/1012498610691428352

(* A K)

Yemeni troops capture Al-Hudaydah district: Army source

Fighting continues to rage between army, rebels over Yemen’s strategic Al-Hudaydah seaport

Yemeni forces on Thursday captured a strategic area of the coastal Al-Hudaydah province from Houthi rebels while advancing towards the nearby Al-Tahita Directorate, according to a local military source.

According to Nasser Khaddam, a Yemeni army commander, pro-government forces have captured the Al-Faza district, located on the coast road linking the city of Al-Hudaydah to Yemen’s port city of Mocha.

“Yemeni forces have advanced 14 kilometers from Al-Faza towards the Mazaraa al-Nakheel area near the capital of the Al-Tahita Directorate,” Khaddam said.

Government forces, he added, had since imposed a siege on the area in preparation for launching a major offensive.

According to the army commander, “numerous” Houthi rebels have been killed by pro-government forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemeni-troops-capture-al-hudaydah-district-army-source/1190039

Remark: “Yemeni troops”, “Yemeni forces”: here: UAE-Backed various Yemeni anti-Houthi army and militia.

(A K pS)

Film: The Forces of Al-Amaleqah Brigades have seized control over the farms of al-Fazaa, al-Tuhaita, al-Madman and al-Masabeh, south of the port city of #Hodeidah. During the battles, the #Houthis have suffered huge human and material losses https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1012244804179300353

(A K pH)

Film: Went 2c area where #Saudi #UAE strikes targeted a mini bus n Algarasi round about n #Hodeidah #Hodeida west #Yemen 19June kild 6Ppl inc 4women It was clear that only threats 2 civilians is coalition strikes, life is normal in most of the city, except area where strikes took place

https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/1012273128397996032

(A K P)

Mass rally in Hodeidah to condemn coalition massacres

The sons of Qanawis district of Hodeidah province on Thursday organized a mass rally to condemn the ongoing massacres committed by Saudi-led collation against civilians, the latest of which was the massacre of displaced persons in Jaraji, which killed and injured dozens of people.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500192.htm

cp2 Allgemein / General

(? B H K P)

Film: Humanitarian Situation at a Critical Level in Yemen as Saudi-UAE Aggression Continues

As the Saudi- UAE forces continue their push to capture the crucial port city of Al Hudaydah in Yemen, Newsclick discusses about what lies ahead for the country suffering under a severe humanitarian catastrophe.

Interview with Aijaz Ahmad, Interviewed by Prabir Purkayastha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQUlhFTTllM

Remark: For Ahmad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQUlhFTTllM

(A K P)

Iran: Saudi Arabia and U.S. must be held accountable for human tragedy in Yemen

Iran on Friday hit back at U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over his latest comments about the Islamic Republic's role in the Middle East, saying countries such as Saudi Arabia which have waged war on Yemen with a support by the U.S. must be held accountable for human tragedy in Yemen.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Washington's "illegitimate interference and wrong policies" are the root cause of the expansion of terrorism and insecurity in the region.

"Instability, extremism, insecurity and the growth of terrorism as well as other problems and crises in this region are created by the U.S. illegitimate interference and wrong policies," Qassemi said, according to Press TV.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/424900/Iran-Saudi-Arabia-and-U-S-must-be-held-accountable-for-human

(* A K P)

Hezbollah denies 8 fighters killed in Yemen

Lebanon's Hezbollah on Friday denied that any of its fighters were killed in Yemen after claims by the Saudi-led coalition that it killed eight of its members there.

The coalition battling Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen on Monday said its forces killed eight members of Hezbollah, including a commander, in the northern Maran province.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday dodged the question of whether he had fighters in Yemen but denied any had been killed.

"We've recently said that for certain reasons and interests, we do not say whether we have a presence in Yemen," Nasrallah said during a televised address.

"But whether we're there or not, I categorically deny that there are Hezbollah martyrs in Yemen -- not in the last few days nor in recent years," he said.

Nasrallah has denied sending fighters or weapons to Yemen in the past.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-5901871/Hezbollah-denies-8-fighters-killed-Yemen.html

(* A K P)

Will Iran and the Houthis attack Dubai?

The missile strikes on Saudi Arabia serve two inter-related purposes: foremost, they act both as retaliation and deterrence against Saudi air strikes on Yemeni military and civilian targets. Second, they are designed to sabotage morale inside the Kingdom and decrease the Saudi public’s support for the continuation of the war, even though there is no sign of that happening yet.

Following this logic, the missile strikes can potentially target the UAE, which would count as a massive escalation in the war. The Houthis have threatened to strike at the UAE before, a clear sign of potential intent in the event of a deterioration of Ansarallah’s fortunes on the ground.

For their part, hard line Iranian factions – with close ties to the IRGC – have also threatened to take the fight to the UAE via ballistic missiles. Last November an editorial in the hard line daily Kayhanran an incendiary headline proclaiming that following the missile strikes on Riyadh, Dubai is “next” on Ansarallah’s target list.

A ballistic missile strike on Dubai will send shockwaves around the world and would most likely generate irresistible pressure on the US and UK to intervene directly in the Yemeni conflict. This horrible scenario should serve as a warning to the United States that applying too much pressure on Iran – and specifically on the IRGC – will produce unintended consequences.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180629-will-iran-and-the-houthis-attack-dubai/

My comment: Some reasonable ideas, and a lot of propaganda bullshit related to Iran. Starting by the headline: Iran will not attack Dubai.

(A K P)

Interactive Map of Yemen

https://yemen.liveuamap.com/

(* B K P)

Make or break: UAE in Yemen

Last week, Associated Press published a particularly shocking report on abuse and torture by United Arab Emirates (UAE)–supported forces in a number of Yemeni prisons, adding another depressing layer to the conflict’s enormous scale of human suffering.

The AP report, while shocking to many Western readers, is nothing new for many Yemenis. Abuses by UAE-backed forces in the south of the country have been outed by several human rights and media organisations over the past 12 months.

What is significant is that the report is the most recent and public manifestation of a growing backlash against the UAE over its role in Yemen – which is ostensibly to support the Government of Yemen in its civil war against the Houthis, but which increasingly appears to manifest longer-term political control and influence over any future Yemeni state, or states.

Growing resentment against the UAE is not limited to its role in prisons and black sites. Over the past few months, the UAE has been involved in several spats over its perceived overreach in supporting armed actors in the south; military bases in Yemeni islands, such as Socotra; and control of Yemen’s ports, notably Aden. The UAE deployment to Socotra was particularly baffling, given that the island has been peaceful throughout the current conflict, and was far removed from the frontlines.

At a time when the Saudi-led coalition is attempting to convince the international community it can manage the humanitarian risks associated with the Hudaydah offensive, many traders have shifted their operations to overland routes running from Dubai into Yemen, due to the restrictions and obstacles faced by importers, even in Government of Yemen–controlled ports such as Aden. These restrictions and obstacles were largely set in place by the coalition states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Increasingly, many Yemenis are coming to view the Emirates as an occupying power whose agenda is to divide the country through its support of local armed actors, solidify influence over the economy, and maintain control over the strategic coastline.

This fits into a wider and increasingly pronounced narrative, believed by many, that UAE involvement is part of a neocolonial conspiracy to dominate the Horn of Africa and Arabian peninsula, thus ensuring the longevity and predominance of its own ports in the region. A quick survey of UAE military bases in the region does little to dispel this, with strong presence in Somalia, Eritrea, and Djibouti, in addition to Yemen itself.

Irrespective of the fallout of the Hudaydah offensive, or how the UAE manages its internal relations in Yemen, one thing is becoming increasingly clear – the UAE’s role in Yemen is becoming more complex and problematic. This complicates its role as the Western-friendly “little Sparta” partner in the region – by Alexander Harper

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/make-or-break-uae-yemen

(* B K P)

Film: As the assault on Hodeidah makes news, we examine flaws in coverage of the war in Yemen.

https://twitter.com/AJListeningPost/status/1011915276013658112

(B K P)

America should help end a mass Yemen starvation

Remember when Aleppo became a household word? The carnage inflicted on Syrian civilians in that city by their autocratic leader, Bashar Assad – with help from Russian forces – ingrained in the world’s collective consciousness the depths a despot will reach to cling to power. Thousands died. Much of the city was razed.

Soon, Hodeida, too, may become a household word.

The United States is not a bystander in this crisis. Washington provides intelligence, munitions and aerial refuelling for Saudi and United Arab Emirates fighter jets. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has sought even closer ties with Riyadh. So it comes as no surprise that the Trump administration has said little about the peril Yemen’s people face.
But the US can’t afford to stay silent as the suffering intensifies. If it does, it risks accusations of complicity in the horror unfolding in Yemen. “The US already has blood on its hand in the Yemen crisis,” The Washington Post quoted US Representative Ted Lieu, as saying earlier this month. “We should not make them even bloodier.”

http://www.gulf-times.com/story/597803/America-should-help-end-a-mass-Yemen-starvation

My comment: from Qatar. One figure is wrong: Ca. 50,000 children die each year from starvation and avoidable diseases.

cp2a Saudische Blockade / Saudi blockade

(B P)

Saudi propaganda blaming 'Houthi militias' for Saudis' imposed blockade on #Yemen.
It is the #US-backed Coalition allowing (blocking) ships: no one else. (text in image)

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/photos/a.961595153893515.1073741828.961126490607048/1800615493324806/?type=3

(* B H P)

Overly Bureaucratic Procedures and Long Waits Cuts off Support to 22 Million Yemenis

As Yemen’s people struggle to survive amid what has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, the stranglehold by both government coalition forces and rebels over the country’s main ports of entry and distribution is cutting off a lifeline of support to 22 million people.
Amnesty International, in a report published on Jun. 22 after seven months of extensive research, said that the Saudi-led government coalition are blocking the entrance of essential humanitarian aid, including food, fuel and medicines. And any distribution of this aid is slowed by Houthi rebels within the country.

“The core aspect highlighted by the report is that humanitarian aid finds it extremely difficult to reach destinations inside the country,” Riccardo Noury, communications director and spokesperson for Amnesty International in Italy, told IPS.

Aid workers described to Amnesty International the extent of delays, with one saying that it took up to two months to move supplies out of Sana’a, the country’s capital.

“The most difficult part was getting the aid out of the warehouse once it is in Yemen,” the aid worker was quoted as saying.

It is estimated that three quarters of Yemen’s 27 million people are in need of assistance.
A third require immediate relief to survive and more than half are food insecure – with almost 2 million children and one million pregnant or lactating women being acutely malnourished, the Amnesty International report said.

Overly bureaucratic procedures and long waits for clearance

Amnesty International examined the role of the two major parties in the conflict. On the one hand there is a blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on the country’s air, road and harbour ports, while and on the other hand the slow bureaucracy and corruption of Houthi rebels compromises the flow of aid within Yemen.

http://www.ipsnews.net/2018/06/overly-bureaucratic-procedures-long-waits-cuts-off-support-22-million-yemenis/

(A H P)

Permits continue to be granted to ships heading to Yemen's Hodeidah port

The Saudi-led coalition said Thursday that permits continue to be granted to ships heading to Yemen's Hodeidah port. It also said that five ships have been anchored in the port to unload their cargo and another five ships are waiting to enter it.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1329766/middle-east

(B K)

Complete map of the Yemen Civil War – June 2018

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/complete-map-of-the-yemen-civil-war-june-2018/

https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-yemen-on-june-28-2018-map-update/

cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation

(* B H)

Film: Mona Relief: Feeding Yemen's Most Vulnerable. Adorable To Heartbreaking, Photos Worth A 1000 Words.

Mona Relief, Yemen Organization For Humanitarian Relief and Development has been delivering aid to families affected by the war since March 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQGeOQjcvwM

(* B H)

At the expense of the Yemeni people

Wafa′a Alsaidy, co-ordinator of the Yemen mission of Medecins du Monde (MdM) talks to Kai Schnier

Wafa′a Alsaidy. The problem of under-reporting on the crisis in Yemen is twofold. The first issue is the fact that Yemenis have no real way of communicating their plight internationally and are not represented in Europe or elsewhere. Whereas in the case of Syria, for example, there is a growing refugee community in the West that has the means to express itself – also because Syria had a functional educational system before the war – the situation in Yemen is quite different. Here, there was a lack of internationalisation and education even before the conflict. The second issue is the lack of access. All embassies in the two major Yemeni cities Sana′a and Aden are closed. The only way for international journalists to enter the country is via United Nations flights. And even then the authorities on the ground – from both sides of the conflict– often delay the process indefinitely.

Most importantly, the local populations on both sides of the conflict are unable to afford basic life commodities anymore. Since the beginning of the war, food and fuel prices have skyrocketed. At the same time, employment opportunities have become increasingly rare.

Right now our primary task is to prevent the imminent breakdown of important health infrastructure. Only around 50 percent of the health sector in Yemen is operational at the moment.

Q: Still, your work on the ground is probably limited by the conflict around you …

Alsaidy: Not only by the conflict itself, but also by the surrounding circumstances. For example, one of the biggest issues we face in our work today is the ongoing blockade of Yemeni ports by Saudi-led coalition forces. Officially, the blockade ended a while back. Practically, however, access to the Hodeidah port – one of the most important harbours of the country – is still controlled via the sea. We need to import drugs from France to Yemen, because the quality of the local drugs cannot be ensured. But with important supply routes cut off and many flights, even UN flights, being delayed for inspection purposes, the medicine is often exposed to extreme temperatures for weeks at a time. The same difficulties exist not only with respect to commodities, but also to personnel. Many of our staffers spend three months in our base in Djibouti before receiving their visas to enter the country. In the end, that primarily jeopardises the people we are trying to care for.

counting on an internal resolution of the conflict would be naive. In fact, inside of Yemen, the decision-makers on all sides seem to be more or less comfortable with the state of affairs. They now occupy positions that they could never have reached via a democratic, institutional process. Similarly, outside forces like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are content to control economically viable regions with access to gas and oil supplies.

https://en.qantara.de/content/interview-with-wafaa-alsaidy-co-ordinator-of-medecins-du-monde-in-yemen-at-the-expense-of

(* B H)

Renal failure patients in Al-Mahweet appeal for rescue

The patients of renal failure in the province of Al-Mahweet have appealed to the concerned international organizations to intervene urgently to save their lives following the failure of dialysis equipment kidney center in the Republican Hospital in the center of the province.

The patients said that six of the total 10 local dialysis machines have run out of order and that forty patients had been told by hospital officials that they have to travel to the capital Sana'a to get dialysis sessions at their own expenses.

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-19661

(* B H)

Dr Nevio Zagaria: An estimated 7000 kidney #dialysis patients are at risk of death as the ongoing conflict in #Yemen ravages the country’s infrastructure. People with chronic illnesses do not have access to life-saving treatment

https://twitter.com/DrNevioZagaria/status/1012403664844140544

As 2 of the country’s 32 dialysis centers have shut down, the remaining 30 lack much needed equipment and supplies. Devastating conditions of which the most vulnerable suffer the consequences

https://twitter.com/DrNevioZagaria/status/1012403899377029120

With shortages of dialysis supplies, the need for the life-saving treatment remains high across #Yemen. WHO Yemen calls on international suppliers @FreseniusKC, Gambro, Nipro, @bbraun_de to subsidize dialysis treatments and help those who suffer in silence because #YemenCantWait

https://twitter.com/DrNevioZagaria/status/1012404288927272962

cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees

Siehe / Look at cp1b2

(B H P)

‘Fake Refugees Get Out': How South Koreans Are Channeling Trump

500 displaced Yemenis stranded on visa-free tourist hotspot

Nation-wide petition protests the arrival of the immigrants

“Donald Trump is a true patriot,” Lee said. “He says, ‘America First,’ and really puts his people first. That’s what our president should do too, instead of thinking of other people like these Yemenis.”

The asylum seekers in Jeju have sparked an uproar in South Korea, mirroring immigration debates in the U.S. and Europe.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-28/-fake-refugees-get-out-how-south-koreans-are-channeling-trump

(A H P)

South Korea to tighten asylum laws as hundreds of Yemenis arrive

More than 552 people from Yemen arrived on the southern resort island of Jeju between January and May, more than the 430 Yemenis who had ever applied for refugee status in South Korea, the ministry said.

More than 540,000 South Koreans have signed an online petition to the presidential Blue House in the past two weeks, asking the government to abolish or amend no-visa entries and the granting of refugee status to applicants.

The Justice Ministry said it will revise the Refugee Act to prevent abuses.

South Korea will also increase the number of officers reviewing refugee applications so as to “quickly review and thoroughly verify identities so as to meticulously review potential for problems including terrorism and violent crime”.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-southkorea-yemen-refugees/south-korea-to-tighten-asylum-laws-as-hundreds-of-yemenis-arrive-idUSKBN1JP0RY

(B H)

Djibouti – Point de suivi des flux de populations, Tableau de bord 1, Période 1 – 31 mai 2018

L'OIM travaille en collaboration avec le Gouvernement afin de mieux appréhender les dynamiques migratoires à Djibouti et comprendre le profil des migrants qui transitent dans le pays. Le suivi des flux de population est une activité qui consiste à collecter des données dans les localités où transitent les migrants.

Cette activité a débuté en Mai 2017 dans 6 localités et a continué de grandir jusqu’à aujourd’hui avec 13 points situés dans les régions d’Arta, Ali-Sabieh, Dikhil, Tadjourah et Obock.

https://reliefweb.int/report/djibouti/djibouti-point-de-suivi-des-flux-de-populations-tableau-de-bord-1-p-riode-1-31-mai

cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis

(A P T)

Security thwarts criminal cell plans in Bayda

The security services in the province of Bayda arrested one of the criminal elements on the background of his involvement in planning, coordinating and participating with Daish organization, a security official told Saba News Agency.
The elements of the criminal cell planned to carry out a number of assassinations of social figures in the Thi-Naem district and to destabilize the security and stability in the province in favor o

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500433.htm

(A K P)

Security arrests Saudi-paid mercenary in Mahweet

The security services in Mahweet province arrested one of the Saudi-paid mercenaries after carrying out provocative activitie

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500434.htm

(A)

83 thousand student starts secondary certificate exams in Houthis controlled areas

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99916

(A K P)

Breaking : Yemeni missile force announces a successful test of a new ballistic missile

On Friday, June 29, 2018, the missile force of the Yemeni popular Committees announced a successful test of a short-range ballistic missile.

Unnamed military source clarified that the missile force conducted a successful test on a new short-range ballistic missile, adding that the missile targeted a gathering of invaders and their mercenaries in the western coast of Yemen .

The source pointed out that the missile has specifications which will be revealed in the battle field and during the coming days.

http://www.newnewss.net/breaking-yemeni-missile-force-announces-a-successful-test-of-a-new-ballistic-missile/

(A K P)

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis demonstrate in Sanaa in support of 'Fight for West Coast' / Pics, Video

Sana'a, this Friday, witnessed a massive mass march in the square of Bab Al-Yemen under the slogan "The fight of the coast is the responsibility of all." The fate of the battle for the West Coast is everyone's responsibility and Sana'a is Tehama and Tehama is all Yemen

http://en.abna24.com/news/middle-east/hundreds-of-thousands-of-yemenis-demonstrate-in-sanaa-in-support-of-fight-for-west-coast-pics-video_899740.html

films: https://www.facebook.com/almayadeen/videos/2652723141419885/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOAyJsZPU5Q

photos: https://twitter.com/AhmadAlgohbary/status/1012702234264530944

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1800033920049630

(A K P)

Jemens Außenminister: Unsere Raketen dienen der eigenen Verteidigung

Raketen, die der Jemen besitzt, dienen nach Angaben Außenministers der Regierung der nationalen Rettung der Verteidigung des Landes und Sanaa ist bereit Raketenattacken gegen Saudi-Arabien aussetzen, wenn auch Riad, Luftanangriff auf Jemen einstellt.

Im Gespräch mit dem Nachrichtensender "Al Samira" sagte "Hoscham Scharaf" am Mittwochabend, die Erklärung der US-Regierung über Raketenangriff auf Saudi-Arabien sei bedeutungslos.

Das US-Außenministerium hatte in einer am Montag verbreiteten Erklärung die Raketenangriffe der Ansarallah-Bewegung auf Saudi-Arabien verurteilt. In der Erklärung des US-Außenministeriums wurde Iran vorgeworfen, der Ansarallah-Bewegung diese Raketen geliefert zu haben.

http://parstoday.com/de/news/middle_east-i42049-jemens_außenminister_unsere_raketen_dienen_der_eigenen_verteidigung

(A H)

WFP food assistance that is supposed to go to the poor for free is sold in Sanaa markets.

https://twitter.com/Ndawsari/status/1012264906035548165

(A P)

Yemen NGOs held protest rally to denounce escalation of coalition on Western coast

Non-governmental organization of Yemen on Thursday held a protest rally in front of the United Nations Office in the capital Sanaa to condemn the escalation of Saudi-led coalition aggression on the Western Coast and Hodeidah port and airport.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500247.htm

(A P)

Reports: Houthi militants on Thursday kidnapped two UN employees in Hodeidah city in west Yemen.

https://twitter.com/FuadRajeh/status/1012320626227531777

(A P)

Houthis Kidnaps a sport journalist in Sanaa

An armed Houthis Kidnaped the sports journalist Obad Aljaradi in Sanaa according to the statement of the journalist syndicate Thursday.

The statement said that they received a notification from the journalist Obad Aljaradi colleagues that he was kidnapped by the National security Bureau {NSB) which controlled by Houthis for his professional activities.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99886

cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government

(* A B H P)

Southern Security Council Holds a Human Rights Seminar in UN Headquarters in Geneva

The seminar discussing the southern people’s suffering due to deteriorated life conditions and being target of a supplies’ war that can be described as mass punishments, that is internationally banned and contradicts with all religious and ethical values.
Abd Al-Rahman Al-Musaily, representative of the council in Geneva, described life conditions of the south as “misery” indicating that citizens no longer believe in promises or slogans as they only believe in what they are provided with in reality and what they can feel of safety, security and stable life. He added that the southern people need to eat and drink, need electricity, health and educational services as employees are humiliated to be payed, sick people don’t find a place for treatment and students lost their education.

http://en.smanews.org/southern-security-council-holds-a-human-rights-seminar-in-un-headquarters-in-geneva

My comment: This shows the failure of the Hadi government and its Emirati overlords in the “liberated” areas of Southern Yemen. It reveals further that UAE’s promises for Hodeidah (“humanitarian plan”) will be void propaganda.

(A)

A special forces soldier killed by the fire of the Taiz axis soldiers

A special forces soldier has been killed by masked soldiers follow the command of Taiz military axis at the center of the city, Friday according to a security source.

The source said to Almasdar online the soldiers of the axis (the highest military authority in Taiz) opened their fire upon a soldier in the special forces on the front of one of the restaurants at “Musalla” street.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99904

My comment: One again, anti-Houthi militia fighting against each other.

(A T)

Unprecedented. Bloody night in Wadi Hadhramaut : 3 Hadhramis shot dead on Al Jazaa'ir Steet in Seiyun town, and 1 more Hadhrami shot dead near Shibam town, all by unknown assassins who escaped.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1012791072479764480

(A P)

So far 6 Mahri tribes have announced their distance from this week's protests against "unofficial military forces" (#Saudi coalition) in #Mahra. This is less out of love of outside forces & more out of suspicion of handing borders & security back to same corrupt elites

https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1012732807553183744

(A P)

Prime Minister urged the Cabinet's members to return to the interim capital Aden

Council of Ministers held its weekly meeting Thursday presided over by Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Obeid Bin-Dagher.

The Prime Minister urged the Cabinet's members to carry out President Hadi's instructions that all government's institutions should be reinstated and all government's officials must return to the interim capital Aden and government-held regions.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99875

My comment: And they were told the well-known propaganda bullshit.

(A P)

Southern Transitional Council of Khour Maxar Launches Cleaning Campaign in the Directorate’s Streets and Districts.

http://en.smanews.org/southern-transitional-council-of-khour-maxar-launches-cleaning-campaign-in-the-directorates-streets-and-districts

My comment: Southern separatists care for public services, by this further delegitimising the Hadi government which is unable to provide nearly anything.

(A T)

A Dangerous Terrorist Arrested in Dofes – Abian

http://en.smanews.org/a-dangerous-terrorist-arrested-in-dofes-abian

Lahj Security Department Arrests Four Terrorists Including a Foreigner

http://en.smanews.org/lahj-security-department-arrests-four-terrorists-including-a-foreigner

(* B P)

Judith Brown: Hadi has been allowed back to Aden. Well this is interesting because the UAE was strongly against Hadi and it was said that UAE favoured Saleh returning to power and organised talks between representatives of Saleh and KSA last year. It was reported that UAE wouldn't allow Hadi to land in Aden a year or more back, and it was even said he was under house arrest in Riyadh and certainly his voice was never heRd. When Saleh was killed in Sanaa at the end of last year there was no plan B by Saudi Arabia and the issue was - who can we hand Yemen over to in any peace deal? Well it seems that UAE has relented.

When Hadi returned to Aden a few days ago he met UAE officials and made an announcement that he was supporting the coalition's push in Hodeida. Now he seems to be making press releases all the time. And he is meeting with officials who had earlier said his return was not on the table - an opinion piece by Nawal Al Maghafi printed in Middle East Eye from the Kuwait peace talks outlined her surprise at the open rebuttal by the diplomatic community any claim of Hadi to return as president. Now I guess he is the international communities' plan B - whatever Yemenis think of him. And I don't think that many Yemenis want him and there will be resentment if he is foisted back on them.

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10156801658388641

cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks

(* A K P)

Uno-Gesandter will Eskalation in jemenitischer Stadt Hudaida verhindern

Die Huthi-Rebellen sollen sich bereit zeigen, die Kontrolle über den Hafen in Hudaida an die Uno zu übergeben. Damit gibt sich die jemenitische Regierung aber nicht zufrieden.

Die Huthi-Rebellen haben laut der Nachrichtenagentur Reuters angedeutet, dass sie bereit seien, der Uno die Kontrolle über den strategisch wichtigen Hafen in Hudaida zu übergeben. Der Uno-Gesandte Martin Griffiths führte am Mittwoch in Aden Gespräche mit dem jemenitischen Präsidenten Abedrabbu Mansur Hadi.

Hadis Aussenminister sagte nach dem Treffen, der Präsident begrüsse die Bemühungen der Uno. Jedoch müssten die Huthi nicht nur den Hafen, sondern die ganze Stadt verlassen. Einen Tag zuvor betonten auch die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, dass eine friedliche Lösung nur möglich sei, wenn die Rebellen sich komplett aus Hudaida zurückzögen.

https://www.nzz.ch/international/uno-gesandter-will-eskalation-in-jemenitischer-stadt-hudeida-verhindern-ld.1398667

(B P)

My view: It is not legal for the Houthis or President Hadi to agree to cede control of Hodeidah port and city – or any other part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of #Yemen – to any foreign country or any foreign organization such as the United Nations. High treason.

Further, I think it ridiculous that the United Nations envoy is even proposing such a move, when it is clear that the UN intends to hand over Hodeidah port's operations to CTG Global, a firm which is basically the UK's government-linked Blackwater.

Do the Houthis and President Hadi even know that UK's Blackwater will be in charge of Yemen's Hodeidah port, on behalf of the United Nations? Do they even care? But for the sake of Yemen and all Yemenis, this must NOT be done.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1013135825993945091

After Hodeida port, UK firms will seek to operate Aden port and SAFER using the UN as a cover?

https://twitter.com/Dip_Ye/status/1013142394882134017

Bingo. They aim for Hadhramaut, coastal and inland too. The British military attache is already sniffing out things with some Hadhrami gabili sheikhs.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1013142970525155329

(** A P)

Yemeni Government says political solution should start with unconditional withdrawal of Houthis from Hodeidah

The Government of Yemen has emphasised that any political solution in Yemen must be based on three main pillars, namely; the Gulf initiative and its Executive Mechanism, the outcomes of the National Dialogue and UN Security Council resolutions in support of legitimacy, particularly Resolution 2216.

In a statement carried today by the Yemen News Agency (Saba), the Yemeni Government expressed its grave concern over the continued violation of international resolutions and the continued breach of laws and norms by the Houthi terrorist militias. It also denounced their stubbornness with regards to accepting possible political solutions.

"Emanating from our national duty to protect the people of Yemen and to maintain the unity and safety of Yemen's territories, the Yemeni forces are ready to liberate Hodeidah and the rest of the Yemeni lands. At the same time, we emphasise our continuing support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Yemen, which seek to achieve an unconditional withdrawal of the Houthi militia (from Hodeidah) and to push forward the negotiation process," the statement added.

It said that any efforts designed to achieve a ceasefire will fail if the Houthi militia maintain their stubborn position on refusing to withdraw from the Governorate of Hodeidah and from other Yemeni Governorates, in particular because, during previous rounds of negotiations, the militia has demonstrated its refusal to commit to any ceasefire agreement.

http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302696822 and also https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1780500

Comment by Judith Brown: They don't want a peace deal - they want unconditional surrender. I don't think that will happen. So the war continues.

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10156807571988641

My comment: Exactly. These few words tell everything. And it was this way from the very beginning. – It’s odd how propaganda wants to turn this upside down: „stubbornness with regards to accepting possible political solutions.“ What they call „possible political solutions“ simply is accepting that the Houthis should capitulate. – The Houts‘ „refusal to commit to any ceasefire agreement“?? The Houthis often asked for a ceasefire claiming taht for a ceasefire, the Saudi coalition’s air raids should have to stop. This normally would belong to a ceasefire, wouldn’t it? But the coalition had refused several times now to agree.

(A P)

The Foreign minister warned from “Reviving the Buried Kerry initiative”

For his part, Yemen's Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Yamani warned on Friday from “reviving the buried Kerry initiative.”
He said there would be no political procedures before UN actions.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99910

Remark: Hadi government FM. – Kerry initiative : https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-kerry-saudi-idUSKCN10Z2XS . The hadi government does not want peace (which always would include compromise and power sharing) but supremacy. The reference to the Kerry initiative should make this clear to the UN envoy.

(* A P)

Arabic coalition: we welcome the political solution in Yemen with full withdrawal of Houthis from cities

Arabic coalition: we welcome the political solution in Yemen with full withdrawal of Houthis from cities

The Arab-led military coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen said Friday that it would welcome a political deal to end the conflict but indicated it would keep insisting on a complete withdrawal by the Houthis from territory seized since 2014.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/99913

This is really twisted propaganda. The wording should suggest that any political solution would contain a „full withdrawal of Houthis from cities“: be aware, it’s not just Hodeidah now! Translated to reality: We „welcome“ / we insist on the Houthis to withdraw from the greatest part of the territory they held / to capitulate. – Thi does not have anything to do with a „political solution“.

(* A K P)

U.N. hopeful for Yemen peace deal but Saudi coalition unlikely to drop demand for Houthi withdrawal

The Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen said on Friday it would welcome a political deal to end the conflict but indicated it would keep insisting on a complete withdrawal by the Houthis from territory seized since 2014.

The statement from the alliance came after U.N. Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths said he hoped to get the warring parties to the negotiating table in the next few weeks to end fighting at the port city of Hodeidah, a lifeline for Yemen.

The United Nations hopes a breakthrough at Hodeidah could lead to a wider solution to the three-year-old conflict

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/u-n-hopeful-for-yemen-peace-deal-but-saudi-coalition-unlikely-to-drop-demand-for-houthi-withdrawal-idUSKBN1JP0W7

(* A K P)

Arab coalition: military pressure is bringing Houthis to negotiations

Even as the military offensive continues in Hodeidah there is a path, Arab coalition officials argued, toward a negotiated settlement under UN auspices and envoy Martin Griffiths, but only if the Houthis agree to fully withdraw from the Yemeni city.

Mr Griffiths, who is in Oman today to meet some of the Houthi leadership in Muscat before returning to Sana’a, has been conducting shuttle diplomacy to reach a political deal over the fate of Hodeidah.

The battle in the Red Sea port city has been ongoing for two weeks, and Yemeni forces with support from the Arab coalition have taken control of the airport from the Houthis, but have not waged a battle for the city centre yet.

“The military pressure has worked so far on the Houthis, finally they started a conversation with Martin Griffiths,” one official from the coalition said during a briefing with reporters at the UAE embassy in Washington.

Another official from the coalition argued that the Houthis’ willingness to negotiate now is due to losses incurred on the battlefield across Yemen – not only in Hodeidah. The official revealed that the negotiations are around a four-point plan by Mr Griffiths and that the coalition will only accept the full proposal.

The four points according to the official are:

  1. UN supervision over Hodeidah port
  2. Yemeni forces to help secure the port
  3. Allowing free access of aid to the port
  4. Revenues from the port will be kept in Hodeidah’s branch of the Central Bank and not transferred to the capital Sana’a which is under Houthi control

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/arab-coalition-military-pressure-is-bringing-houthis-to-negotiations-1.745315

My comment: “Arab coalition: military pressure is bringing Houthis to negotiations” is nonsense, the correct meaning is: “Arab coalition: military pressure is bringing Houthis to accept all our preconditions for any negotiations”. – The “Arab coalition” simply thinks they can use the UN negotiations as an instrument to get Hodeidah (and the revenues from the port) into their hands the cheapest way.

(* A K P)

A 'pause' is not a ceasefire in Yemen war

The world’s next humanitarian crisis is delayed — but perhaps only by a week or so. The level of fighting in the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah has abated temporarily.

Since June 23, the UAE has been giving United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths a chance to make peace. Foreign governments have been told that the “standstill” lasts for “seven to 10 days,” implying until June 30 through July 3. So far, there has been no breakthrough. The UAE is insisting the Houthi tribesmen who seized power in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014 give up control of Hudaydah. The Houthis, backed by Iran, are showing no willingness to do so.

Latest reports from the front line suggest a messy situation. The Emirati-led forces continue to control Hudaydah’s airport on the fringes of the city but are contested by Houthi fighters holed up in the adjoining suburbs. The “standstill” is not a “ceasefire.”

According to a video report by the Middle East correspondent for the London Times, UAE officials initially saw the Hudaydah operation as lasting six weeks. The operation to seize the airport took a week, implying another five weeks to go, now delayed by the standstill. The UAE’s challenge, assuming no Houthi concessions, is to advance from positions to the south of the Red Sea port to either seize Hudaydah port, which lies on the northern side of the city, or cut off the road inland towards the capital.

Reality is often different from self-perception – by Simon Henderson

We are not apparently on the cusp of any resolution to the Yemen crisis.

http://thehill.com/opinion/international/394512-a-pause-is-not-a-ceasefire-in-yemen-war

(** A K P)

De-escalation of fighting in Hodeida is key to ‘long-overdue’ restart of Yemen peace talks: UN envoy

As Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths had sought to avoid a military confrontation in the port city of Hodeida in the past few weeks, which has been racked by fighting between Houthi rebels and government forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.

However, in an exclusive interview with UN News, he pointed out that his “principal and over-riding responsibility” was to bring about negotiations to end the war. “Hodeida is an extraordinary and important issue,” he said, “but it is not more important than the issue of an overall political solution.”

Confirming that avoiding an attack on Hodeida is one of his top priorities, Mr. Griffiths said that it was clear from discussions with all parties that the solution to the Hodeida crisis was “tied up intrinsically with a restart of political negotiations”.

He cited as an achievement towards the political solution, an offer to give the United Nations a lead role in managing the Hodeida port. Both the Government of Yemen and the Ansar Allah leadership of the Houthi rebels have accepted this provision, dependent on an overall ceasefire in the governorate, he said.

Regarding a timeline for the negotiations, Mr. Griffiths said he would like to get the parties together within the next few weeks. The restart of negotiations were “long overdue” and the Yemeni people expect it to happen as soon as possible, he said, adding that he hoped the Security Council would meet in the coming week.

He also highlighted the importance of establishing a government of national unity as a priority for the ordinary people of Yemen, “all of whom cry out for peace”.

Reiterating that all parties were called on to de-escalate the violence as part of their negotiations, he recalled his earlier statement to the Security Council that “it is the war that will stop us bringing the parties together”. (with interview in audio)

https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1013492 = https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/de-escalation-fighting-hodeida-key-long-overdue-restart-yemen-peace-talks-un-envoy

My comment: I do not think his optimism is realistic, but what should he do?

Comments by Haykal Bafana, Moon of Alabama:

This proposed United Nations plan to take over management of a specific sovereign asset like Hodeidah port is without precedent, as far as I recall. It is far divorced from the more usual UN administration or co-administration as a quasi-government of a state or part thereof.

Is this analogous to a UN peacekeeping force under Chapter VII of the UN Charter? Will such a UN military/security force also take over all security functions for Hodeidah port & city? Or is Hodeidah port to be managed as an international trusteeship under Cap XII of the Charter

Many troubling issues. I'm not sure if Yemen government or Houthis fully understand the legal ramifications under international laws of ceding control of a sovereign Yemeni territory like Hodeidah port to the UN. I also doubt both parties have the legal capacity to do so.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1012765371990851584

How then will this be used to blockade Houthi heartland from food and other items?

Will the UN sign off on such a blockade? Will the UAE set up roadblocks (to be blown up by Houthi)?

https://twitter.com/MoonofA/status/1012769161821474816

(* A K P)

UN talks help stall Saudi-led assault on strategic Yemen port

Hodeidah coming under UN supervision and wider ceasefire being discussed, says envoy

A full-scale assault on the strategic Yemen port of Hodeidah by a Saudi-led coalition has been forestalled by discussions about the possibility of a wider ceasefire. This includes handing over the port to the UN for supervision, the UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has said.

He was speaking for the first time about his private efforts to mediate an end to the conflict around the port, which has the potential to lead to a blockade of the badly-needed aid required to keep Yemen from a drastic shortage of food, water and oil.

He told UN Radio “the fact there has been so far no major attack on the port or the city of the Hodeidah is something that has been attributed to the talks we have been having with the parties. The Ansar Allah leadership was able to give us, the UN, the offer of having a lead role in managing the port, dependent on an overall ceasefire in the governorate”.

He said this had been accepted by the Saudi coalition, but hinted the coalition was not yet willing to drop its plans for an offensive on the city, as opposed to the port.

Griffiths said further talks were needed to narrow down what is needed to push off any attack on Hodeidah.

“It was clear to me that the issue of Hodeidah is intrinsically tied up with the restart of political negotiations.”

He continued: “Both sides had shown a willingness to come to negotiations, saying such talks were long overdue. The people of Yemen expect this to happen as soon as possible. My principle and overriding responsibility is to bring about negotiations to end this war. The issue of Hodeidah is an incredibly important issue but it is not more important than the issue of an overall political solution.”

He said the main challenge to a political settlement, and a government of national unity, was the continuance of military activity.

He said: “The other challenge is to make sure that the totality of Yemen is brought back into a state of civil government. It is estimated that there are one million combatants fighting in Yemen in various militia.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/29/un-talks-help-stall-saudi-led-assault-on-strategic-yemen-port

My comment: Reading the statements of the UAE and the Hadi government, I cannot share his optimism.

(* A K P)

Yemen's warring sides will return to peace talks, U.N. says

Yemen's warring sides will return to peace talks, U.N. says

U.N. Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths expects to get the warring parties in Yemen back to the negotiating table for the first time in years, and both sides have confirmed their willingness to talk, he said in a U.N. radio interview late on Thursday.

“I’d like to get the parties together within the next few weeks at the very latest,” he said. “I’m hoping that the (U.N.) Security Council will meet next week and we’ll put a plan before them as to how we’re going to bring the talks back.”

Griffiths said that in the last few days he had met President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in the southern city of Aden, temporary headquarters of the exiled government, and Mohammed Abdul-Salam, chief negotiator of the Houthi group fighting against the government.

“Both parties have confirmed to me their willingness to come to the table to restart negotiations. I think it’s long overdue that that should take place. It’s been about two years since the last talks on Yemen.”

He said he believed the discussions the U.N. had had with the warring sides had so far prevented a major attack on the port facilities or city of Hodeidah, which is a vital lifeline for Yemen’s population.

“At the moment we are still in negotiations as to whether a U.N. role would help to avoid an attack, and more importantly, and this is where I think we’re going, whether in fact the restart of negotiations will mean the attack on Hodeidah or the move towards war will be avoided.”

Griffiths expected more talks with the Houthis in the next few days to be clear about the timing and details of negotiations between the two sides.

“The aim of the peace process I hope we can begin in the near future is to return to the state and government of Yemen a new government of national unity, the monopoly of force we consider normal in every other country.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/yemens-warring-sides-will-return-to-peace-talks-u-n-says-idUSKBN1JP0W7?rpc=401&

(* A K P)

Yemen rivals agree to hand Hudaydah over to UN: Envoy

Aden, Houthis both willing to see strategic seaport placed under UN auspices, Martin Griffiths asserts

The Houthis’ proposal, he went on to explain, would give the UN a “lead role” in managing the seaport.

“Both the Yemen government and the… Houthi rebels have accepted this provision, dependent upon an overall ceasefire,” he said, without providing a timeframe for the proposal’s implementation.

Control of the strategic seaport, Griffiths added, “is an extraordinarily important issue, but it is not more important than the issue of finding a comprehensive political solution [to the wider Yemen conflict]”.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-rivals-agree-to-hand-hudaydah-over-to-un-envoy/1191008

(A K P)

UN envoy hopes Hodeidah agreement can be precursor to peace in Yemen

Martin Griffiths' comments came as fierce clashes were reported along the Red Sea coast

The UN special envoy to Yemen has said he hopes an agreement in Hodeidah can be a precursor to a wider peace agreement Yemen’s three-year war.

The comments from Martin Griffiths followed meetings with Houthi officials in Muscat, ending a round of peace talks that has seen him shuttle between Aden and Sanaa in an effort to avert a military confrontation over the city and its port.

Mr Griffiths tweeted: “Negotiations ongoing. The SE had a constructive meeting with President Hadi in Aden, looking @ ways to turn #Hudaydah crisis into an #opportunity to resume the political process in #Yemen.”

He added that he “hopes to make Hudaydah the first step towards peace in #Yemen instead of a step further towards war.”

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/un-envoy-hopes-hodeidah-agreement-can-be-precursor-to-peace-in-yemen-1.744970

(A P)

The other party backed by coalition is who obstructs peace efforts: FM

Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf on Thursday said that the other party supported by the aggression coalition is the one who rejects and obstructs the peace efforts led by the UN envoy to Yemen.
This came during his meeting with Special Envoy of Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Sweden to Yemen and Libya, Ambassador Peter Semneby and his accompanying delegation.

Sharaf confirmed that the Supreme Political Council and the National Salvation Government support the option of peace and the political negotiations that will led to stop the aggression and lift the siege on the Yemeni people.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500236.htm

Remark: Sanaa government FM. He is right, look at the reports on Griffith’s peace efforts in YPR 428, cp7. The “other party” insists on an unconditional withdrawal of the Houthis from Hodeidah, and already even more, from Hodeidah province or even the whole west coast. And evidently this only will be one step to achieve the nest goal, which would be to bring the war to Sanaa.

(* A P)

Yemen’s government insists on complete withdrawal of Houthis from Hodeidah

Yemen’s legitimate government emphasized the need for a complete withdrawal of Houthi militias from the city of Hodeidah and its ports as a main condition before starting the peace negotiations.

This comes following a meeting between the UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur where Griffiths said that a deal was struck with the Houthis who reportedly agreed to allow Hodeidah to be placed under UN surveillance.

Yemen’s foreign minister Khaled al-Yamani said in a statement that the government’s main demand from the start was the complete withdrawal of the militias, and the entrance of government forces to guarantee the security of the area and reopen ports to receive humanitarian aid.

Yamani stressed that managing the ports and ensuring security cannot happen if they are isolated from the city.

“Security and stability cannot be achieved in the west coast, and the protection of international navigation without the withdrawal of all Houthi militias from the city, including the ports of al-Salif and Raas Issa,” Yamani said.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2018/06/28/Yemen-s-government-insists-on-complete-withdrawal-of-Houthis-from-Hodeidah.html

Comment by Judith Brown: And here is the rub. Hadi - whose term as president has expired and is unwanted in most of Yemen - is named as the 'legitimate' president in 2216. So he can make the rules. He has been intransigent in peace negotiations by sticking to his right to return to rule. And he is intransigent here. If there is a military victory in Hodeida it is so unlikely that peace will erupt in Yemen. Instead a long long war of resistance and resentment. There has to be a fair political settlement for peace to come to Yemen: https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10156801583028641

(* A K P)

YEMEN: SAVE THE CHILDREN STATEMENT ON UN SECRETARY-GENERAL’S CHILDREN & ARMED CONFLICT REPORT

Save the Children is disappointed that the Saudi- and Emirati-led Coalition fighting in Yemen has been exonerated for attacks on schools and hospitals in this year’s Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) Report by the UN Secretary-General. This is despite at least 19 verified aerial attacks on schools and five verified attacks on hospitals/health centres attributed to the Coalition in 2017. The Coalition remains listed for killing and maiming children.

Misty Buswell Regional Advocacy, Media and Communications Director for the Middle East and Eurasia at Save the Children, said:

“We find it remarkable that despite continued attacks against civilian targets including schools and hospitals, the Saudi- and Emirati-led Coalition is being partly absolved of its responsibilities as a party committing grave violations of children’s rights in Yemen.

“While the Saudi- and Emirati-led Coalition is still listed for killing and maiming children in Yemen, clearing it of attacks on schools and hospitals when the evidence shows otherwise is deplorable. Unfortunately, the UN Secretary-General has failed to apply the same standards to all parties in the conflict and missed an opportunity to hold them to account for all the grave violations committed against children in Yemen.”

https://www.savethechildren.net/article/yemen-save-children-statement-un-secretary-general-s-children-armed-conflict-report

Remark: For this report, YPR 428, cp1.

(* B P)

New Project: Reshaping the Yemen Peace Process

Yemen’s crisis cannot be addressed meaningfully without a political settlement but international efforts to broker peace between the main armed factions have thus far been unsuccessful and have not fully included the heterogenous population and regions that make up Yemen.

To move towards a resolution, recognising that the time may not yet be ripe for a meaningful peace agreement, ORG’s Strategic Peacebuilding Programme and the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies (SCSS) have initiated work to strengthen local capacity for more inclusive and strategic dialogue in two of Yemen’s key regions, Marib and Hadhramout. This aims to lay the foundations for more effective peacebuilding efforts and to contribute to the country’s future political transition. This will mean rethinking long-held assumptions about the nature and form that the peace process should take, and exploring and engaging with creative models, thereby forging new possibilities for lasting peace.

In its first year, the project aims to strengthen the prospects for a successful peace process and post-agreement transition in Yemen by:

Providing a platform to identify, discuss and channel frustrations among groups with shared Interests at the local level in Yemen.

Building local capacity to facilitate collective strategic thinking forums and participate fully in the country’s peace process and future democratic development.

Strengthen the UN-led peace process and other international peacebuilding efforts by allowing them to connect with issues experienced at the local level in Yemen.

Funding for the pilot year of the project (2018-2019) has been provided by the UK Government’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

https://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/news/new-project-reshaping-the-yemen-peace-process

(A H P)

New UN HR Chief: Will He or She Impact Besieged Communities in Yemen?

The United Nations will soon appoint its next High Commissioner for Human Rights – one that the international civil society expects to directly impact the besieged communities in Yemen.

The role is formidable. She or he is tasked with promoting and protecting all human rights for everyone, everywhere. This is an immensely challenging mandate in itself, more so in Yemen and Gaza.

At a time when fundamental human rights are in retreat across the world, particularly in occupied Palestine and in the poorest country in the Arab world, it is even more crucial that a talented and effective individual is appointed, who can rise to the occasion, ignore US-Saudi-Israeli pressures and actually get it right in both places.

The world is watching. The UN is on its knees financially. The US is looking for cuts and Saudi Arabia and Israel calling for those cuts to fall on the UN’s already underfunded human rights mechanisms. This is happening already in peacekeeping, but is unlikely to stop there.

The new commissioner should keep in mind that humanitarian aid alone is not sufficient to meet the needs of the Yemeni population, who also rely on commercial imports of essential goods such as fuel, food and medical supplies. The unnecessary conflict is exacerbating the matter, which needs to come to an end immediately.

The new commissioner should call for the UN to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible for obstructing humanitarian assistance and for committing other violations of international humanitarian law. He or she should call on the Saudi-led coalition forces to end the criminal blockade, stop the indiscriminate airstrikes on civilians, and allow prompt delivery of humanitarian aid and commercial flights into the war–torn country.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970409001149

cp7a Saudi-Arabien und Iran / Saudi Arabia and Iran

(* A P)

US threatens sanctions against countries that fail to cut off Iranian oil imports, meets resistance

Washington may slap sanctions on governments that fail to reduce Iranian oil imports to "zero" by early November, a senior State Department official has warned. But some partners seem reluctant to follow the demand.

The US administration has been pushing its allies to follow US President Donald Trump's lead after he decided to pull out of the landmark nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers. A senior State Department official told reporters on Tuesday he had been traveling to Europe and Asia to convince allies to isolate the "stream of Iranian funding."

Washington's allies, including those dependent on Iran’s oil, should ultimately refuse the imports by November 4 or else face secondary US sanctions. It was stressed that there are no waivers planned.

This mean that the Trump administration will not allow countries to gradually phase out Iran’s oil exports over the duration of many months like the Obama White House did.

https://www.rt.com/news/431026-us-sanctions-iran-oil/

(* A P)

US threatens sanctions on India for Iran oil imports; says, ‘no exemption’ for anyone dealing with Iran

Issuing a strict warning, the US on Wednesday threatened all countries including India and China to stop oil imports from Iran or face sanctions.

https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/us-threatens-india-trump-warns-sanctions-against-any-country-dealing-with-iran-key-things-to-note/1222238/

My comment: the US treating the world as vassals. – And the effect is:

(* A E P)

Saudi king said will boost oil output if needed: White House

The leader of Saudi Arabia promised President Donald Trump that he can boost oil production if needed and the country has 2 million barrels per day of spare capacity available, the White House said on Saturday.

The White House statement undercut a tweet by Trump earlier in the day when he wrote that Saudi Arabia had definitely agreed to produce more oil.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-saudi-trump-oil/saudi-king-said-will-boost-oil-output-if-needed-white-house-idUSKBN1JQ0ES

cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

Siehe / Look at cp1

cp9 USA

Siehe / Look at cp1

(* A K P)

Judge Rejects CIA’s Absurd Secrecy Claim on Botched Yemen Raid

In a win for government transparency about its lethal actions overseas, a federal judge has told the CIA that it can’t refuse to “confirm or deny” whether it knows anything about a military operation when the agency’s director was present at the White House dinner where the action was approved.

The judge rejected the Trump administration’s extreme secrecy claim in a ruling Wednesday in our Freedom of Information Act lawsuitseeking records on the January 2017 raid in Yemen that killed as many as 25 Yemeni civilians and one Navy SEAL.

By rejecting the CIA’s blanket secrecy arguments, the court is sending a clear signal: The CIA is not outside the law, and it cannot continue to hide its actions without good reason. It’s a warning the CIA needs to hear.

https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/targeted-killing/judge-rejects-cias-absurd-secrecy-claim-botched-yemen-raid

(* B H P)

Trump May Deport 1,200 People To Yemen As The U.S. Bombs The Country

The Homeland Security Department will soon decide whether to end temporary protected status for Yemenis in America.

Aldailami is one of about 1,200 Yemenis with temporary protected status (TPS), a program that allows foreigners to stay and work in the U.S. if their homelands enter a crisis while they are away and returning could be fatal. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has to decide by July 5 whether to extend the program for Yemenis ― and potentially open it up to the handful more who have arrived in recent months ― or to force people like Aldailami to return to what the United Nations calls the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. On Thursday, a department spokesman told HuffPost she had not made up her mind.

Nielsen’s dilemma is the latest powerful reminder of how U.S. immigration policy and U.S. foreign policy are inextricably linked. In recent months, President Donald Trump’s team has moved to deny refuge to more than a million people, many of them fleeing societies left desperately weakened by past American intervention. Now the administration might end the protection for Yemenis as U.S. planes help U.S. partners drop U.S. bombs on their country.

“It would be unconscionable for our country to actively support this war and then refuse to protect those who flee from it,” three former U.S. ambassadors to Yemen wrote in a June 26 blog post.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-deport-yemen-us-bombs_us_5b36693ee4b007aa2f7fab19

(* B P)

The United States Sticks Its Head in the Sand on Torture in Yemen

Yet, the United States maintains that it has seen “no substantiating information” to support these allegations. Given the consistency of the evidence that has now been public for a full year, this is a preposterous claim. The United States needs to get its head out of the sand regarding torture in Yemen.

The United States’ role in Yemen

The United States has directly participated in the fight against AQAP since the Bush administration, partnering with the Yemeni government when it could as well as with regional partners such as the UAE. The United States also provides substantial military support to the Saudi and Emirati war against the Houthis.

the only public statements or information from the U.S. government concerning these allegations have been denials. That is simply unacceptable.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly and explicitly called for the United States to return to torturing detainees in the fight against terrorist groups, even proposing to use torture techniques more severe than those the United States employed during the Bush administration.

If the AP, U.N. experts, and human rights groups can uncover this scale of UAE-led torture and abuse of Yemenis, the only way the Defense Department could not have found any supporting evidence is if it didn’t even try. The department must be forced to do so—now.

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/news/2018/06/29/452979/united-states-sticks-head-sand-torture-yemen/

(* A K P)

The War on Yemen and Pompeo’s Pathetic Propaganda

The Trump administration keeps desperately trying to shift the blame for the catastrophe in Yemen away from the Saudi coalition and the U.S.:

The administration has consistently focused on the small Iranian role in Yemen and exaggerated its importance while doing everything possible to cover for the Saudis and Emiratis at the same time that the U.S. has aided and abetted their bombing campaign and the many war crimes they have committed. Even now that the coalition is launching an offensive on the major port of Hodeidah that serves the vast majority of the population, the U.S. is not calling them out for their destabilizing and destructive activities. Instead of condemning the coalition for putting millions of Yemeni lives in jeopardy, the U.S. helps them to attack their impoverished neighbor. Instead of using its influence with these governments to rein in their abuses and alleviate the civilian population’s suffering, the U.S. gives them carte blanche.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is the worst in the world, and the coalition blockade and bombing campaign are principal causes of that crisis. If the administration were even slightly concerned with addressing the suffering of Yemen’s people, it would not be providing weapons, intelligence, and refueling to the coalition, and it would be holding them accountable for their numerous and egregious war crimes and crimes against humanity. They aren’t concerned, and so they continue to support the war on Yemen no matter what the coalition does. Support for this war is indefensible, so it is no wonder that top U.S. officials have to try to distract the world from what our government is enabling in Yemen. It is the Saudi and Emirati governments along with ours and the coalition’s other Western patrons that need to be called out and held accountable for creating the disaster engulfing the people of Yemen – by Daniel Larison

www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-war-on-yemen-and-pompeos-pathetic-propaganda/

referring to:

(A P)

Secretary Pompeo: #Iran’s support for Houthis in Yemen not only enables attacks on Saudi Arabia & UAE, but also risks increasing Yemen's already massive humanitarian crisis. Ayatollah Khamenei must be held accountable for destabilizing Gulf's security & prolonging suffering of the Yemeni people

https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1012443612213280768

And this is coming at the same time.

(A K P)

US Central Command head, General Joseph Votel, called on Iran to stop supporting the Houthis.

He told reporters: “They [Iran] have sent advance missiles into north-west Yemen, being used to threaten Saudi and other countries on the Arabian Peninsula.

“We call on Iran to play a more constructive role in the region and stop supporting these proxy groups.”

US Central Command head, General Joseph Votel, called on Iran to stop supporting the Houthis.

He told reporters: “They [Iran] have sent advance missiles into north-west Yemen, being used to threaten Saudi and other countries on the Arabian Peninsula.

“We call on Iran to play a more constructive role in the region and stop supporting these proxy groups.”

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/un-envoy-hopes-hodeidah-agreement-can-be-precursor-to-peace-in-yemen-1.744970

My comment: This statement again (as the one of Pompeo above) shows the even more than foolish US logics. It’s doubtful whether Iran could send any arms to the Houthis, as the US / Saudi blockade would not let pass almost any pistol bullet. US arms sales counting more than 100 billion US$ in the Obama years alone are not just used to “threaten” another country but already have greatly destroyed it. The country playing the most destructive role in Yemen demands another country to “play a more constructive role”. Insane.

(* A K P)

U.S. lawmaker holds back support for munitions sale to Gulf allies due to Yemen

A top U.S. Senate Democrat said on Thursday he cannot support for now a Trump administration plan to sell high-tech munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over concerns about the war in Yemen, a decision that could derail the sale.

Senator Bob Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said the administration had not satisfied his concerns about the sale to members of a Saudi-led coalition of thousands of precision-guided munitions, or PGMs, which could be used to kill Yemeni civilians.

His position could sink the deal for Raytheon Co, the largest maker of the PGMs in the United States.

“I remind you that the American public has a right to insist that the sales of U.S. weapons to foreign governments - especially those of this magnitude and lethality – are consistent with U.S. values and national security objectives,” Menendez said in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-arms-yemen/u-s-lawmaker-holds-back-support-for-munitions-sale-to-gulf-allies-due-to-yemen-idUSKBN1JO2HA and menendez’ letter: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/6-28-18%20RM%20Letter%20to%20Pompeo%20Mattis%20UAE%20Yemen.pdf

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

(A P)

Ballistic Missiles Launched by Houthis, in Yemen, Transferred from Iran -UN British Permanent Representative Stresses

T he British Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dame Karen Pierce stressed, during a UN Security Council session, that the United Kingdom has taken notice of the UN Secretary-general evaluation of the situation, in Yemen, and concluded that the ballistic missiles used by the Houthis have been transferred from Iran.

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1780216

My comment: This is just picking what fits to the own agenda of selling arms to the Saudis and their allies for many billions.

(A P)

[Written questions and answers in parliament]

Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has made an assessment of whether UK-licensed military goods were used in the Saudi-led operation in Hodeidah port; and if he will make a statement.

A [by Minister Alistair Burt]: The UK has licensed the export of a wide range of military items to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. These include combat aircraft and components as well as precision guided munitions that have been used by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. We do not have specific information on whether equipment licensed by the UK has been used in operations in Hodeidah. We will not licence the export of items where we assess that there is a clear risk that they might be used in the commission of a serious violation of international humanitarian law or international human rights law.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-06-20/155910/

My comment: If this answer would be true, Britain would export no more arms to Saudi Arabia at all.

(A P)

[Written questions and answers in parliament]

Q: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia his Department has received in the last 12 months.

A [Minister Alistair Burt]: As at 25 June 2018, the total number of alleged instances of breaches or violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Yemen listed on the "Tracker" database maintained by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is 356. Of these, 14 are duplicate entries.

Dis-aggregating this information to the last 12 months would be misleading without the addition of sensitive contextual information, which I am withholding as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and other States.

The MOD does not investigate allegations of IHL violations. The Saudi-led Coalition is best placed to do this, and does so through its Joint Incident Assessment Team.

https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-06-20/155906/

My comment: British govrenments' answers to these questions are more or less absurd. here, the government concedes that there had been 356 violations - and they say the violator himself would be the best to investigate.

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

(A K P)

India on Gulf outreach as injured Yemeni soldiers ready to fly in

India has teamed up with the United Arab Emirates in providing major humanitarian and post-traumatic medical support to the soldiers of Yemen who were injured in the ongoing war against the rebels of that country, a source familiar with the ongoing effort told The Hindu.

The operation has been intensified in the backdrop of this week’s visit by Foreign Minister of UAE Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed.

“In the coming week, we are scheduled to receive the largest contingent of injured soldiers and civilians, including children, from Yemen,” said the person in charge of logistics on the Indian side. Sheikh Abdullah’s visit ended on Saturday and an aircraft from the UAE is expected to fly in 63 injured Yemenis and 27 caregivers and support staff early next week.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-on-gulf-outreach-as-injured-yemeni-soldiers-ready-to-fly-in/article24300859.ece

My comment: India as back military hospital of the Emirates for their Yemeni mercenaries, certainly not for free. And some civilians for propaganda as well.

(* B P)

Gulf Rivalries Extend Into the Horn of Africa, Further Destabilizing Somalia

The bitter Arab rivalry in the Persian Gulf is reshaping traditional spheres of influence and exacerbating fault lines farther south, in the Horn of Africa, the continent’s most volatile region. The spat between fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which began a year ago when Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates led an embargo of neighboring Qatar that shows no sign of ending, has sparked frantic diplomatic and economic activity across the Red Sea, with serious security consequences.

Thrust center-stage into these changing political geographies is Somalia, among the world’s poorest and most conflict-prone countries. The fragile nation, fighting a terrorist insurgency and rebuilding after state collapse and civil war in 1991, has been caught between the UAE and Qatar, as well as Qatar’s close partner, Turkey. While the Western-led international community is simply urging Somali leaders to work together for the common good, proxy contests and regional feuds are playing out in a scramble for resources, influence and prestige.

https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/24946/gulf-rivalries-extend-into-the-horn-of-africa-further-destabilizing-somalia

(* B K P)

Human Rights Watch: UAE Continues To Flout International Law

The UAE continued its sustained assault on expression, speech and association, and directed proxy forces that have arbitrarily detained, disappeared and tortured men and boys in Yemen.

Others in the UAE who speak out about human rights abuses remain at serious risk of arbitrary detention, imprisonment, and torture, and many are serving long prison terms or have felt compelled to leave the country. The UAE’s repressive cybercrime law remains on the books, despite numerous UPR recommendations calling for its amendment.

During the UPR review, the UAE emphasized efforts made to provide “humanitarian assistance” and “protect civilians.” Yet, since 2015, the UAE has played a leading role in the Saudi-led coalition that has indiscriminately bombed schools, homes and markets in Yemen, blocked aid, and used widely banned weapons like cluster munitions. The UAE funds, trains and directs proxy forces which have arbitrarily detained, disappeared and brutally mistreated men and boys in Yemen. They run prisons where many have been disappeared and reported horrific abuse. Now, as this Council meets, the UAE is pushing forward the coalition’s offensive on Hodeida, Yemen’s key port, with reports of civilians killed just this week in additional coalition airstrikes. Activists in Yemen who have criticized the UAE’s actions in their country have been subject to slander campaigns, threatened, harassed and detained.

The UAE has not only failed to implement states’ recommendations, but continues to brazenly flout international rules, and to detain, threaten, harass and condemn those activists—at home and abroad—who call for real reform and rights protection.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/06/29/uae-continues-flout-international-law

Comment: Since the 1990s the #UAE has spent millions of dollars, worldwide, on PR to build an image and a 'vision'. The reality is far from glittering, though

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1799352323451123

(* A K P)

Malaysian troops to withdraw from Saudi, defence minister confirms

Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu confirmed today that the government is pulling out its security forces from Saudi Arabia.

He said the Cabinet made the decision last week.

“This is a Cabinet decision. Already discussed, already taken decision.

“The army will discuss this, with regards to the time and everything, but the Cabinet already made decision last week,” Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, told reporters in a select media interview at his ministry here.

He said that his ministry will further discuss with the Foreign Affairs Ministry on a suitable time frame to bring the troops home.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/malaysian-troops-withdraw-saudi-defence-062610640.html

(A P)

Protest rally in Belgium against Saudi-led coalition war crimes in Yemen

Dozens of Yemeni and Arab activists have organized a protest rally in Belgium’s capital, Brussels, to condemn the war crimes committed by the Saudi-led coalition fighter jets against citizens in Yemen

http://en.abna24.com/news/europe/protest-rally-in-belgium-against-saudi-led-coalition-war-crimes-in-yemen_899489.html

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade

(A K P)

Belgium: Council of State suspends arms export licences to Saudi Arabia

The Council of State has suspended four export licences issued by the Walloon regional government for sales of weapons by FN Herstal to Saudi Arabia.

The Council of State is an independent judicial body whose job is to scrutinise all matters of governmental action, from communal to federal levels. The complaint was brought at the end of last year by the French-speaking Human Rights League and the pacifist organisation CNAPD.
The Council found that the Walloon government had not carried out enough research into whether the arms in question would be used in a manner in keeping with Belgian law on arms exports. Among which: whether they would be intended for use against their own or other people outside of self-defence. Saudi Arabia is currently involved in a civil war in Yemen.

http://www.brusselstimes.com/business/11781/council-of-state-suspends-arms-export-licences-to-saudi-arabia and also https://sputniknews.com/military/201806301065919753-belgium-saudis-arms/

(A K P)

VIDEO: The first MH-60R #SeaHawk helicopter built for the Royal #Saudi Naval Force taxis and takes off (photo)

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/1012643740006182917

Remark: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikorsky_SH-60_Seahawk

(* A K P)

#LockheedMartin has been awarded a $1.12 billion contract for the production of (16) F-16 V Block 70 aircraft for the Royal #Bahraini Air Force. ETC by Sept. 30, 2023. FMS funds in the amount of $551 million are being obligated at the time of award.

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/1012243386621988864

(* A K P)

#Boeing has been awarded a $1.5 billion contract for the production and delivery of (22) F/A-18E and (6) F/A-18F Super Hornets for the #Kuwaiti Air Force. ETC by January 2021. FMS funds in the amount of $1.5 billion will be obligated at time of award.

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/1012244162375225345

cp13b Mercenaries / Söldner

(A K pH)

Army arrests UAE officer in western coast: official

The Yemeni army on Thursday arrested a UAE officer after battles in the western coast, a military official told Yemen Press Agency.

The arrested also holds the US nationality.

and said he is working in the UAE Security Agency.

The arrested also admitted he is working in the UAE Security Agency and the US Blackwater firm.

http://en.ypagency.net/28278/

Remark: More details on the Blackwater mercenary, earlier reporting YPR 428, cp13b.

cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism

(A T)

Pro-#alQaeda wires confirm Sheikh Abu Bishr Muhammad Darama has been killed by #drone in #Yemen. Darama, from Abyan, is described as #AQAP judge by pro-AQ wires.

https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1012401251370389504

cp15 Propaganda

(* A P)

Son of UK Bishop of Canterbury, who heads Tony Blair's Catholic neo-Opus Dei thingy, inspired by the Saudi Holy Spirit, launches crusade on @thetimes : "#Yemen Houthi rebels should be treated like ISIS. Hodeidah battle is critical to ending the war in Yemen and saving lives," (text in image)

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1013176756520603648

Please read this letter in today's @TheTimes. We are neutral scholars & the longer version was more nuanced. But the astonishingly poorly researched piece by Peter Welby (at Tony Blair Institute until last year) in last week's Times likening #Yemen's Houthis to #ISIS was nonsense (text in image)

https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1013073360560025600

(A P)

UAE reiterates long-term support for Yemeni people

The UAE’s ambassador to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, outlined the Arab Coalition’s humanitarian plan to address the needs of Yemenis

The UAE is keeping to its promise to help the people of war-torn Yemen, reiterating its readiness to help them rebuild and develop their country after the defeat of the Houthi rebels.

UAE ambassador to the UN, Lana Nusseibeh, outlined the Arab Coalition’s humanitarian plan to address the needs of civilians, including the restoration of Hodeidah port and other infrastructure that has been damaged by the Iran-backed militias.

"Our efforts are now dedicated to implementing Security Council resolution 2216, which demands that the Houthis end their use of violence and withdraw their forces from all the areas they have seized. We believe liberating Hodeidah is vital in order to restart the political process," she said at a joint coalition meeting in Washington on Friday.

"Our vision for Yemen's success doesn't end with Hodeidah. When a political agreement is eventually reached and the conflict ends, the recovery will require stability, development and investment.

“The UAE stands ready to help rebuild and develop the country when that time comes."

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/uae-reiterates-long-term-support-for-yemeni-people-1.745589

My comment: This is really ridiculous propaganda. The “humanitarian plan“ is little more than propaganda, compared to the destructions of Saudi coalition air raids and the effects of the coalition’s blockade. – „infrastructure that has been damaged by the Iran-backed militias“: compared to the destructions achieved by the saudi coalition’s air raids, those due tot he Houthis are almost neglectible (apart from Taiz and Aden). And so on. – The UAE’s and the Saudis’real goal related to Yemen is: to keep this country in their grip.

(A P)

Assistant of UN Secretary General for UN Security and Safety Office (UNSECOORD) Praises the Projects Initiated by UAE in Yemeni Liberated Governorates

http://en.smanews.org/assistant-of-un-secretary-general-for-un-security-and-safety-office-unsecoord-praises-the-projects-initiated-by-uae-in-yemeni-liberated-governorates

(A P)

Panel Discussion on Iran: IRGC and Meddling in the Region

Second panel discussion on Iran starts: IRGC and meddling in the region, moderated by Mr. Walid Phares, Expert, global terrorism and Middle Eastern affairs.

Raid Yassine, Ambassador of Yemen in Paris, former Foreign Minister of Yemen:

The reason the Iranian regime meddles in the region is instituted in its constitution. This highlights the fact that they will continue what they have been doing.

Deputy Commander of the Quds Force said Yemen is more important than Lebanon. They infiltrated a huge country with 27 million people.

We have been receiving aid and support from Saudi Arabia, Egypt , etc. We did not receive any support from Iran . Instead, we discovered spy networks. In January 2013.

Ret. General Charles Wald, former Deputy Commander of U.S. European Command: “The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has not moderated the behavior of the Iranian regime. The JCPOA was pretty much a failure.”

“Security of the Iranian regime depends on the export of revolution by that regime. Currently, Iran’s regional ambitions constitute its control over Syria. They provide troops for Assad.”

James Conway, General (Ret.), former Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.: We have been using the term “meddling” for years, but I think that word no longer satisfies. Iran is today calling the shots in all Middle Eastern capitals.

I have seen their (regime) activities described with terms “interdiction”, “subversion”, “cancer” and even “takeover.”

https://freedomstarblog.wordpress.com/2018/06/29/panel-discussion-on-iran-irgc-and-meddling-in-the-region/

(A P)

US needs to draw a line in the sand with Iran over Yemen

No need to repeat mistakes of Afghanistan, but Washington must make it clear to Tehran that it will block bases and weapons in Yemen with airstrikes

Yemen is a corrupt, ungovernable, backward, warlike country. A military victory by the Saudi/UAE/Yemen government “coalition” over the Houthis wouldn’t fix that and would leave the “victors” with an occupation that would necessarily last indefinitely and bleed the occupiers.

If there is a case for doing “something” in Yemen, it is that the country sits in a strategic position – the nexus of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and in the “heel of the boot” of Saudi Arabia. Iran would love to have a base on the western side of the Saudis – its arch-rival. Thus, Iran has been supplying the Houthis with military “advisors” and weapons including ballistic missiles. An Iranian political and military takeover of Yemen would allow it to have naval and air bases that can threaten the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, threaten Israeli, Saudi, Egyptian, and Jordanian shipping, and curtail America’s ability to operate freely in the region.

It is Iran that must be dealt with, not Yemen. The US must make its strategic interests and its position absolutely clear – that the United States will not tolerate a highly armed Iranian proxy state in Yemen. And it must be prepared to enforce red lines. The US must:

Make it clear to Iran that any attempt by the Islamic Republic to set up bases in Yemen will be blocked by US air strikes.

Interdict Iranian and neutral cargo ships carrying contraband cargo to Yemen. Specifically, this means stopping the transfer of long-range weapons – primarily ballistic missiles and anti-ship missiles. The UN has already banned Iranian arms exports, but Iran has flouted the UN without penalty. This would mirror the Proliferation Security Initiative.

Quarantine Yemen the same way the US quarantined Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis.* The quarantine will be aimed at Iran and any other power operating on behalf of or financed by Iran to deliver missiles or objectionable weapons or equipment to Yemen – by Stephen Bryen and Shoshana Bryen, Senior Director of the Jewish Policy Center in Washington DC.

http://www.atimes.com/article/us-needs-to-draw-a-line-in-the-sand-with-iran-over-yemen/

My comment: A new propaganda campaign seems to have started, focusing on Iran and in a bizarre way overstressing the Iranian role in Yemen. Now, openly Israel-bound lobbyists seem to be involved. The claim “Quarantine Yemen“ is new here and is dropping from one C+P‘ing „author“ to the other. Look at the follwing two articles.

(A P)

Keeping Iran off balance may allow Yemen deal

Realistically, the Houthis have to believe that they have been defeated before they will agree to a lasting deal, and to the international policing that any deal is likely to require. One prerequisite for this is that they no longer feel that Iran has their back. Since — as the UN has again recently suggested and most studies by experts strongly support — they continue to be supplied with missile technology and perhaps other weapons systems by Iran either directly or indirectly, this does not seem to be the case at the moment.

Far more could be done to interdict these supply routes.

A combination of concerted and coordinated pushback against Iranian forces or their allies and proxies in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, combined with calibrated economic pressure on the regime, would at least keep them off balance. This, in my view, is a necessary preliminary to reaching an enduring settlement in Yemen that guarantees the domestic security of Saudi Arabia and the states of the lower Gulf — threatened directly again this week by more missiles fired toward Riyadh — and producing an agreement over Syria that keeps the Iranians, Hezbollah and their allies away from positions where they could threaten Israel and Jordan (and therefore provoke a major and highly destructive conflict).

But behaviors come with a price tag and, if both victory and defeat are out of the question, then we need to make this price reflect the real cost of disruption. In Yemen, at some point this might involve quarantining the Houthis in their heartlands while reconstruction happens elsewhere — in Hodeidah, Taiz, Ibb, Aden, Marib and Mukalla, for example.
Iran might in the end quarantine itself – by Sir John Jenkins, a senior fellow at Policy Exchange. He was the British ambassador to Saudi Arabia until January 2015.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1330441

My comment: And more fact-free propaganda focused on Iran.

(A P)

Freeing Yemen's Port City From the Iranian-Backed Houthi Militia

Renewed drama in Yemen. This time, though, Iran’s rivals are gaining ground

Per credible international media reports, after taking the Hodeidah airport, the Saudi and UAE-led coalition has postponed an offensive into the city and seaport, urging the Houthi side a chance to withdraw and avoid an urban stand-off that would likely be accompanied by civilian suffering. The Arab coalition has given diplomacy a chance, waiting as a UN team tries to persuade the Houthis to transfer port control to an international administration. The world is watching with apprehension over what may unfold next.

This is not the only humanitarian crisis in the region.

The Iranian apparatus has shown no qualms about contributing to human disaster in Gaza, having funded and urged its Hamas client to arm itself at the expense of basic civilian infrastructure investment and economic development. Iran has shown no humanitarian remorse for the people of SyriaSince the radical militia occupied the city in October 2014, Hodeidah’s main import has had a decidedly anti-humanitarian and destructive commodity: Iranian-supplied arms. The seaport has been the conduit for Tehran to supply the Houthis with advanced weaponry, including long-range ballistic missiles, mines, drones, and explosive-laden boats. This is Iran’s modus operandi wherever it acts directly or through proxy.
Besides advancing Iran’s hegemonic regional agenda in Yemen, the free flow of these tools of destruction have allowed its local proxies to threaten a diverse range of neutral parties; civilian oil tankers and cargo ships in the Red Sea en route to the Suez Canal, U.S. Navy vessels ensuring international freedom of navigation in the strategically vital Bab el-Mandab Straits, and passengers of various nationalities transiting at Riyadh International Airport – by Ido Aharoni, ex-Israel ambassador

https://www.newsmax.com/idoaharoni/yemen-hodeidah-iran-israel/2018/06/29/id/869247/

My comment: What a propaganda bullshit. The golden bullshit propaganda palm of the week for this piece. Might-be the most bizarre: “Hodeidah’s main import […]: Iranian-supplied arms.”

Comment: Ambassador Aharoni is described as a 25-year veteran of #Israel’s Foreign service, a public diplomacy specialist and his article is a copy and paste of Saudi's disinformation machine

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1800051006714588

(A P)

Will Iran and the Houthis attack Dubai?

In policy terms, Yemen’s lack of centrality to Iranian national security priorities has created a degree of multipolarity in Tehran, with several key power centres making a contribution to the policy-making process. Whereas in Syria – and to a lesser extent Iraq – Iranian policy is dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the situation is more complex in respect to Yemen.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180629-will-iran-and-the-houthis-attack-dubai/

My comment: heavily overstressing the role of Iran.

(A P)

Houthi Militia imposes ideological pattern and fuels sectarian struggle in Yemen

The Yemeni researcher Mustafa Naji Al-Jebzi said that the Iranian-backed Houthi militia imposed their ideological style in the areas of control and instigated a sectarian struggle through the attacking mosques and controlling public space to impose their religious rituals.
This came in a paper presented at a seminar organized by the Yemeni Coalition to Monitor Human Rights Violations at the United Nations in Geneva where Al-Jebzi said that sectarian minorities and other sects were also subjected to arbitrary acts, harassment, arrests and trials on trumped-up charges, pointing out that Iranian-backed Houthi militias undermined the state and ended the work of the constitution, which included the legislative principles that reflect the main guarantees of individual rights.
Al-Jebzi said that the Houthi militias have inflicted collective punishment on entire cities.

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1780185

My comment: Looking at the context, this report and the following are placed at “propaganda” here.

(A P)

Yemeni Minister Accuses Houthis of Recruiting 15,000 Child Soldiers

Yemen’s Human Rights Minister, Mohammed Askar, has accused Houthi insurgents of recruiting more than 15,000 child soldiers and sending them to the battlefronts without appropriate training since 2014.
At a symposium organized on the sidelines of the 38th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, Askar said that the militias have also resorted to gross human rights violations against Yemeni children, including mutilation, sexual violence and stopping aid access.
The Houthis killed more than 1,372 children since 2014, in addition to committing other crimes such as planting mines that have caused the death of hundreds of Yemenis, according to the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
Askar lauded the efforts exerted by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and rehabilitate child soldiers.

https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1315441/yemeni-minister-accuses-houthis-recruiting-15000-child-soldiers

(A P)

PAINFUL BUT LIFE SAVING

Clearly, safe operation of the port is a vital factor for Yemen’s well-being.
The international community understands well that the port must remain in responsible hands. Unfortunately, the Houthi track record of port authority management is one of irresponsibility. Since the radical militia occupied the city in October 2014, Hodeidah’s main import has had a decidedly anti-humanitarian and destructive commodity: Iranian-supplied arms. The seaport has been the conduit for Tehran to supply the Houthis with advanced weaponry, including long-range ballistic missiles, mines, drones and explosive-laden boats. This is Iran’s modus operandi wherever it acts directly or through a proxy.
Besides advancing Iran’s hegemonic regional agenda in Yemen, the free flow of these tools of destruction have allowed its local proxies to threaten a diverse range of neutral parties.

The campaign to free Hodeidah is unfortunate but necessary precision surgery to remove a malignant tumor spreading throughout Yemen. The Arab allies seek corrective measures to heal Yemen, in the first place, to keep the Houthi-held seaport intact, rather than destroy it, to defuse, rather than preserve, the myriad undersea explosive devices placed by Iran’s local proxy, restoring maximal foreign access to the port, to boost, rather than reduce, the port’s facilities and handling capacity, permitting humanitarian aid and commercial imports to reach levels well beyond the nearly four years of Shi’ite militia control.

https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Painful-but-life-saving-561157

My comment: The Jerusalem Post is spreading odd propaganda on Yemen, fully adopting the most absurd of Saudi / UAE propaganda – because Iran is the main goal of it.

(A P)

Saudi women will now drive and lead in larger arenas

This is an introduction to the talk about the new era ushered in Saudi Arabia, or the new Saudi Arabia, as some like to call it.

What’s new is that it changed economic foundations which first pillars were established at the hands of the founder King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman al-Faisal (may God have mercy on him) who started building a modern state by relying on wells full of black oil. His sons completed this project after him.

The term the ‘new’ Saudi Arabia refers to a change brought about by two factors — the first factor is economic and springs from the belief that oil will not last, and that investing in young minds can produce creative ideas which is the only way to build a productive and lasting economy.

The other factor is that the new Saudi Arabia has chosen to follow moderate Islam, just as it was followed during the times of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), 14 centuries ago.

We must recall that extremists made a living out of intimidating people through their lectures, recordings and speeches until their bank accounts got full at the expense of the good souls who love and fear God, so they ingenuously started believing and following them.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2018/06/28/Saudi-women-will-now-drive-and-lead-in-larger-arenas.html

(A P)

Is Lebanon on its own, or with Iran?

Among the promises which the venerable Lebanese government and presidency made was guarantee that Lebanon will “dissociate itself” from the region’s wars, and of course including Yemen’s war.

What’s the Lebanese government’s position from this incident which is only one example of Hezbollah’s involvement in terrorism and war on Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other countries – a war which Nasrallah said it was the most honorable war he’s fought in his life?
I do not know the secret of this coldness or this approach of turning a deaf ear adopted by the Lebanese state towards this so-called Hezbollah, which is involved in international terrorism.
How does Lebanon want to be a normal state with a secure banking and financial system when there is this terrorist organization within its core?

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2018/06/27/Is-Lebanon-on-its-own-or-with-Iran-.html

My comment: The own propaganda story on Yemen is used to open a new propaganda fire to pummel Lebanon again. Keep in mind: In Lebanon, Hezbollah is one of the great political parties which just had won the elections.

cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids

(* A K pH)

Saudi coalition air raids day by day:

June 29: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/pb.551288185021551.-2207520000.1530356965./1060882457395452/?type=3

June 28: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/pb.551288185021551.-2207520000.1530356965./1060881967395501/?type=3&theater

June 27: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/pb.551288185021551.-2207520000.1530356965./1060881464062218/?type=3&theater

(A K pH)

Civilian injured in 15 Saudi-led airstrikes on Saada

A civilian was seriously injured and water digger was destroyed when the US-backed Saudi-led coalition warplanes on Friday launched 15 strikes on several areas of Saada province, a security official told Saba News Agency on Saturday.
The civilian was injured in an airstrike targeted the water digger in Farwa area of Sehar district.
The warplanes resumed striking the water digger and Mahather area with four strikes as well as an airstrike was waged on the near of Mahather market of Sehar.
The warplanes also waged an air raids on

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500325.htm

photos: http://www.yamanyoon.com/?p=115864 and http://www.yemenextra.net/2018/06/29/saudi-led-coalition-targets-a-water-digging-machine-in-saada-reports-of-casualties/

(* A K pH)

Report: Saudi-led coalition wages 47 airstrikes, 100 missiles on Yemen over 24 hours

http://sabanews.net/en/news500272.htm = http://en.abna24.com/news/middle-east/saudi-led-coalition-wages-47-airstrikes-100-missiles-on-yemen-over-24-hours_899658.html and also http://en.abna24.com/news/middle-east/saudi-committed-crimes-on-yemen-in-june-29-2018_899783.html

(A K)

Now: #Saudi fighter jet screaming low over #Yemen capital Sanaa. Houthis can't do anything about it. A neighbour nearby is having a wedding.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1012307798305181696

(* A K pH)

More Saudi coalition air raids recorded on:

June 30:

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500431.htm Saada p.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500425.htm Sanaa city

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500411.htm Hodeidah p.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500343.htm Saada p.

June 29:

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500240.htm Hodeidah p.

June 28:

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500260.htm Hajjah p.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500240.htm Hodeidah p.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news500237.htm Hodeidah p.

cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War

Siehe / look at cp1b

(A K pS)

Film: In a swift push yesterday at Hajjah front, #Yemeni forces backed by the #Saudi-led coalition advanced 12 km south to the old sea port of Habl, and 6 km east to Bani Fadil. Naval elements of YNA also sank 2 #Houthi boats and seized 3 more loaded with weapons.

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/1012994041259192320

(A K pH)

Saada prov.: Several houses were damaged by Saudi artillery and rocket shelling on residential areas within the border districts of Razih, Shada, Baqem, and Munebah.

http://en.abna24.com/news/middle-east/saudi-committed-crimes-on-yemen-in-june-29-2018_899783.html

(A K pS)

Lots of fronts operating right now. I would expect airpower to be ramping up a lot, and artillery support. It is not the sleepy optempo we had even three months ago. Elements of six Saudi Land Forces, SANG, naval and border brigades operating inside Yemen now.

https://twitter.com/Mikeknightsiraq/status/1012703482418061316

referring to map from Saada province: https://twitter.com/abduljabbar1612/status/1012701066691936261

cp18 Sonstiges / Other

(B)

Film: Kat-Konsum im Jemen: Bäuerin baut lieber Gemüse statt Drogen an

Den besten "Kat", Jemens Volksdroge, baut Ahlam Al-Alaja an. Doch die Pflanze stellt für die Wirtschaft des armen Bürgerkriegslandes eine Bürde dar. Die Bäuerin erfüllt sich nun einen Traum: Statt Drogen möchte sie lieber Gemüse anbauen. Das stößt auf Widerstand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDzHojOj950

(A P)

Film: Shaykh al-Sudais challenged regarding Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen

The Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Shaykh as-Sudais, is publicly accounted by a member of the congregation in Geneva Mosque for praising America as a "peacemaker" and backing #SaudiArabia's war in #Yemen and boycott of #Qatar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_uOxhAFZu8

(B P)

Pilgrims to Yemen non-violent radicals

The groups from Kerala that have gone to Yemen for religious studies are ‘nonviolent radicals’ who are against any form of violence, it is learnt.

Those who study Yemeni Salafism said that it was an error to equate Dammaj Salafis (Dammaj is a city in Yemen) with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS), though their views on certain issues are dangerously close to that of the IS.

The two families from Kasaragod who were missing since June 15 are believed to have landed in Hadramout in Yemen and are pursuing course on Hadees under Sheikh Abu Bilal Hadrami.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/pilgrims-to-yemen-non-violent-radicals/articleshow/64788986.cms

Comment by Haykal Bafana: To join the #UAE's training camps for Salafi militias in upper Hadhramaut, I figure. Fine line.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1012606572302880768

For "non-violent radicals" of Kerala in India, #Yemen's Hadhramaut province is the new Salafi Dammaj for Islamic studies

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1012602907974422528

Comment by Hari SP: Old story dating back to 2016, the @timesofindia is trying to portray them as peaceful men. Muslims in Kerala are distrustful of their motives.

https://twitter.com/Hari_Nuranian/status/1012608708054937605 referring to

http://twocircles.net/2016jul20/1469021723.html

(B)

Ana Insan Madani with Mokhtar al-Khanshali

‘Ana Insan Madani’ can best be translated as ‘I am a citizen’. In this regular feature, we meet prominent Yemenis from various backgrounds and fields and hear their thoughts on matters related to Yemen, being a citizen and what ‘madaniya’ means to them.

Historian, community organizer and coffee innovator Mokhtar al-Khanshali envisions a world where industry empowers rather than exploits, uplifts rather than represses. Growing up between Brooklyn, San Francisco and Yemen, Mokhtar comes from an ancient lineage of coffee farmers that traces back to when the world’s first coffee was cultivated in his home province of Ibb, over five centuries ago.

In 2013 Mokhtar began focusing on his family’s roots as coffee farmers in Yemen.

https://www.almadaniyamag.com/english/2018/6/17/ana-insan-madani-with-mokhtar-al-khanshali

(-)

Two amazing pics of Dar Alhajar, built on a rock. One of Yemen's wonderful attractions in terms of beauty and design.

https://twitter.com/HanaalShowafi/status/1012702531586146304

Vorige / Previous:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-428-yemen-war-mosaic-428

Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-428 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-428:

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

http://yemenwarcrimes.blogspot.de/

http://www.yemenwar.info/

Dieser Beitrag gibt die Meinung des Autors wieder, nicht notwendigerweise die der Redaktion des Freitag.
Geschrieben von

Dietrich Klose

Vielfältig interessiert am aktuellen Geschehen, zur Zeit besonders: Ukraine, Russland, Jemen, Rolle der USA, Neoliberalismus, Ausbeutung der 3. Welt

Dietrich Klose

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