... UN-Bericht zu Menschenrechtsverletzungen, Hauptpunkte – Luftangriff auf Schulbus am 9. August – Selbstmordrate in muslimischen Ländern weltweit am höchsten – Genfer Friedensgespräche gescheitert, Huthi-Vertreter kamen nicht – und mehr
September 10, 2018: Photos: faces from Hodeidah – The impact of war on education – Importance of peace process – UN report on Human rights violations, main points – August 9 school bus air strike –Muslim countries have hightest rate of suicide worldwide – Geneva peace talks failed, Houthis did not come – 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
cp1b Am wichtigsten: Kampf um Hodeidah / Most important: Hodeidah battle
cp2 Allgemein / General
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
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
cp9 USA
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms Trade
cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
cp15 Propaganda
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
Klassifizierung / Classification
***
**
*
(Kein Stern / No star)
? = 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
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
(** B H K)
Photos: Faces of Al-Hudaydah: civilians plagued by war, disease and hunger
The situation in Al-Hudaydah – one of the most impoverished governorates in Yemen – is further aggravated by the ongoing deadly conflict that erupted in mid-June. Many health facilities have either closed down or suspended their operations due to security concerns, and water and sanitation systems have been damaged, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Electricity is unavailable in most areas, jeopardizing operations of health facilities and hospitals. Under the pressure of violence, high temperatures and spread of diseases, health needs remain dire.
While many people from Al-Hudaydah fled to neighbouring governorates, including Sana’a, Ibb and Dhamar governorates, others were forced to return to their homes and risk their lives as they were unable to cope with the cost of displacement. Their suffering is not only limited to poor living conditions, with many also enduring chronic diseases, such as kidney failure, diabetes, hypertension and cancer, as well as infectious diseases, including cholera.
Sanad, 1 year, is diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition and receiving specialized treatment in the WHO-supported therapeutic feeding centre in Al-Thawra Hospital in Al-Hudaydah. Like most families, Sanad’s mother struggles to buy medicines or pay for transportation to the hospital.
“I was advised to bring my child here to receive free treatment and formula milk. I cannot breastfeed him anymore as I am also suffering my malnutrition. My husband and I can’t afford to treat him, especially after my husband lost his job due to this war,” Sanad’s mother said.
While Al-Thawrah hospital in Al-Hudaydah continues to receive high numbers of patients and is considered the main referral hospital for health facilities and neighbouring governorates, the needs of the hospital are increasing. To ensure uninterrupted functionality, WHO provides fuel (50 000 litres per month), water, medicines, medical supplies and ambulances. Most patients coming to the hospital are very poor and cannot afford the minimal fees for medical consultations or laboratory tests. Many patients have been referred to the hospital by health facilities and centres in the city and other districts, and struggle to come up with the cost of transportation to the hospital.
(** B H)
Yemen war leaves harsh impact on education
According to a UNICEF report on education in Yemen published in March, about 500,000 Yemeni children were forced to halt their education when the conflict escalated in March 2015 — the number of children who did not enroll in school reached 2 million.
Children continue to pay the price of war, whether through deprivation or killing. Nadia Mujahed, 45, is a teacher who works as a consultant in the educational area in as-Safiyah directorate in Sanaa. She believes that the war deeply harmed the educational process and the damage is only getting worse.
Mujahed told Al-Monitor, “The educational process mainly felt the repercussions when several schools were destroyed or shut down and teachers’ salaries were unavailable. Operational financial allocations were missing, as were textbooks. The disputing parties were also exploiting the educational process, and health and psychological factors affected many students, teachers and all social classes in general.”
The Houthi rebels and local Yemeni forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition have both been accused of using schools as platforms to impose their own ideas on children outside the spectrum of educational curricula. Meanwhile, children were also recruited to fight on the battlefronts, while schools were used for military training.
The March UNICEF report reveals that “more than 2,500 schools are out of use, with two-thirds damaged by attacks, 27% closed and 7% used for military purposes or as shelters for displaced people. … At least 2,419 children have been recruited in the fighting since March 2015.”
Abdul Jabbar al-Ammari, a teacher who works at al-Nahda public school in Sanaa, explained the reason he stopped teaching and became an accountant in a small cement shop. He said that teachers’ salaries were not being paid and his family needed the money.
Ammari told Al-Monitor, “Many teachers quit teaching due to the salary cuts and took on professions that they were overqualified for. They were replaced by volunteers who were not competent, thus having dire consequences on the educational process — which will be felt for years to come.”
Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), said in a statement in October 2017 that “three quarters of teachers [in Yemen] have not received their salaries in nearly a year, and the violence has forced one in 10 schools across the country to close.”
Regarding the future repercussions and solutions, Jamil Bunyan, assistant professor of social theory at Sanaa University, told Al-Monitor, “The educational process is targeted by the disputing parties, and the impact is dire on society now and in the future. The UN has to play the role of mediator, and international organizations should pressure parties to distance the educational process from the conflict and cater to it to avoid a catastrophe.”
The Yemen war that has been raging since 2015 has been catastrophic on several levels — the harm caused to the educational process remains among the worst.
The local Seyaj Organization for Childhood Protection released a statement in February describing the Yemen educational situation as catastrophic and saying that if the danger is not avoided, the security and developmental impact on Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula will be beyond catastrophic.
The statement added that hundreds of schools were completely or partially destroyed due to air and land shelling, and the lucky children who still go to school barely have two classes per day – by Mohammed Yahya Gahlan
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/09/yemen-war-children-schools-education.html
(** B P)
Is the Yemen Peace Process Coming Back to Life?
Why the Geneva talks are important and what should happen next.
After two years of political inertia, the talks are important simply because they are happening at all. Yet we should be cautious about what can be achieved. Given the lack of diplomatic progress since 2016, and an intensification of the fighting over the past eight months, bringing the two parties together would be an accomplishment in itself. But these are essentially “pre-talk” talks. If peace is to come to Yemen through negotiations, both the government of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the Huthi rebels need to sign up to a formal process. Martin Griffiths, The UN Secretary-General’s special envoy to Yemen, is taking a first stab at getting them to do so in his still young tenure.
Given the gap between the positions of the Huthis and the Hadi government, and the lack of meaningful dialogue over the past two years, Griffiths thinks that moving directly to peace talks could do more harm than good, especially if either the Huthis or the Hadi government were to walk out early. He wants to get the two parties to agree to a framework peace plan before announcing talks. The consultations are aimed primarily at getting them in the same place to iron out details of the framework without having to resort to constant shuttle diplomacy, which is what Griffiths has been doing until now.
The envoy also hopes to broker an agreement on much-needed confidence-building measures that both demonstrate that compromise is possible and improve the lot of the millions of Yemenis caught in the middle of the war.
Both the Huthis and Hadi government have a long history of claiming to be ready to negotiate an end to the war and of accusing each other of intransigence and unreliability.
It’s also an opportunity to encourage more intensive use of back channels between the Saudis and the Huthis.
Diplomats largely agree that the war can’t be ended through negotiations unless Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman endorses the terms of the final peace deal.
The Saudis won’t approve a deal that leaves the Huthis with a degree of power – as an agreement is likely to do – without key assurances regarding border security, the Huthis’ ballistic missile capabilities and the rebels’ relationship with Iran. In turn, the Huthis need to be confident that they will have a guaranteed place at the political table in the long term, won’t have to give up all their weapons and will have access to international trade through a seaport. Most importantly, they need to be assured that the Saudis will stick to their side of the deal before signing off. Bridging this confidence gap is a crucial part of Griffiths’ job.
What are the main sticking points?
From the Hadi government’s perspective, it shouldn’t have to make any concessions at all, but should simply be promptly restored to power in Sanaa. UN Security Council Resolution 2216, issued in April 2015, calls for the Huthis to lay down their arms and for Hadi – described in the preamble to the resolution as the “legitimate president” of Yemen, without caveats – to be allowed to return to the capital and oversee the completion of the transitional process that ran from 2012 until the Huthis arrived in Sanaa in September 2014. The fact that this resolution continues to structure the mainstream debate allows the government to approach negotiations as if it were deciding the terms of a Huthi surrender. While the Hadi government has said it will allow the Huthis to participate in future governments, it wants to make clear as part of any deal who are “the legitimacy” and who “the coupists”.
The Huthis, meanwhile, describe their coup as a people’s revolution, and argue that the war they are fighting is not against the Hadi government but against the Saudis and Emiratis
A big criticism of all UN-led processes since the war began is that they oversimplify what is in reality a deeply complex conflict, and thus do not actually lay the groundwork for lasting peace. In fact, the number of groups invited to Geneva has shrunk compared to past rounds.
The coalition and the Hadi government in particular think that the tide has turned against the Huthis on the ground, and are willing to fight on to improve their position. Events on the ground could also play a role in derailing the talks, particularly if the UAE-backed forces on the Red Sea coast make a serious play for Hodeida, Yemen’s biggest port – by Peter Salisbury
https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/gulf-and-arabian-peninsula/yemen/yemen-peace-process-coming-back-life = https://lobelog.com/is-the-yemen-peace-process-coming-back-to-life/
Remark: More reports on the failed Geneva peace talks: cp7.
(** B H K P)
New UN Report Says All Parties to Yemen Conflict May be Responsible for War Crimes
A damning new United Nations report, published last week, implicates all parties to the conflict in Yemen in possible war crimes. This includes the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the government of Yemen and the Houthi armed group. The report, written by the group of eminent experts (GEE) appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council to investigate the conflict in Yemen, calls on the international community to “refrain from providing arms that could be used in the conflict in Yemen.”
Here, we outline the GEE’s key findings, highlight what is most important and significant about the report, and explain what comes next.
Key findings
The report covers a lot of ground. Some of its key findings include:
The Saudi and UAE-led coalition (the coalition) airstrikes have caused “most of the documented civilian casualties” in the Yemen conflict.
The coalition’s severe air and naval restrictions on Yemen had a foreseeable and devastating effect on the civilian population. The experts had “reasonable grounds to believe” these restrictions were imposed in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.
UAE personnel have arbitrarily detained individuals and subjected detainees to torture, sexual violence, and other forms of cruel-treatment in facilities under their control.
The Houthis and the forces aligned with former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh (who was killed in December 2017) are responsible for numerous abuses, including the shelling of civilians, impeding the delivery of humanitarian supplies and commercial goods, subjecting individuals to arbitrary detention, committing acts of cruel treatment and torture, restricting freedom of expression and belief, persecution of the Baha’i minority, and forcibly conscripting and enlisting children under 15.
All parties to the conflict have severely restricted freedom of expression by harassing and impeding the work of human rights defenders, journalists and activists.
The government of Yemen and UAE-backed forces are responsible for perpetrating acts of sexual and gender based violence.
All parties to the conflict are responsible for the forcible conscription or enlistment of children into armed forces or groups, and have used them to participate actively in hostilities. The experts specifically note that they received reports that the Houthi-Saleh forces “forcibly recruited children in schools, hospitals and door-to-door.”
Reasons Why the GEE Report Matters
The report is important for numerous reasons, some of which are highlighted below.
Firstly, it is highly significant that an independent, impartial, internationally mandated mechanism to investigate the war in Yemen echoes the many concerns raised by other parts of the United Nations, international and Yemeni human rights organizations, and journalists, about the grave abuses committed in Yemen. It is the latest indictment of the conduct of all parties to the war. Those states supporting the Saudi and UAE-led coalition—including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France—should pay very careful heed to its findings.
The report also goes further than previous U.N. reporting by concretely finding (according to the international standard of a “reasonable ground to believe”) that the Saudi and UAE-led coalition’s severe naval and air restrictions on Yemen are in violation of international human rights law and humanitarian law, and may amount to international crimes. Importantly the experts noted how, after three years of restrictions, harm to the civilian population was foreseeable, and that “no possible military advantage could justify such sustained and extreme suffering of millions of people.”
Finally, and crucially, the experts also call on the international community to “refrain from providing arms that could be used in the conflict in Yemen.” While the report does not go into detail about potential complicity of other countries in legal violations, this recommendation highlights the relevance of its findings to those states supporting and fuelling the war, including the U.S., the UK, France and Iran. These states should read the GEE report very carefully as they are potentially complicit in these war crimes.
https://www.justsecurity.org/60612/report-parties-yemen-conflict-responsible-war-crimes/
My comment: This report had been published August 28 (https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23479&LangID=E ;look at Yemen War Mosaic 451). This article very well summarizes the major points.
(** B H K)
Families of Yemen bus strike victims despair at global response
A month ago an air strike on a school bus by a Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen killed at least 29 children, drawing widespread international condemnation. But for the families still in mourning there is little to ease their sense of loss. At his home nearby, Zaid Hussein Tayyib was having breakfast with his family.
Three of his five sons were due to go on a trip marking the end of their Koran summer school, but Mr Tayyib was reluctant to let them go on a large group outing.
"We're waiting and expecting a strike at any time - in the market, in the mosque, at school, a gathering, a wedding, a funeral," he says.
Despite the risk, Mr Tayyib allowed his sons - Youssef, 14, Ahmed, 11, and Ali, nine - to go on the trip. They are also seen reciting verses from the Koran with a teacher in a tent at a "garden of martyrs" where many of the war dead are buried, before running out into the cemetery and calling out to each other.
'Indescribable pain'
At about 08:20, Mr Tayyib was waiting for a colleague near the market when the bus transporting the children stopped nearby.
Witnesses said the driver had stopped to buy drinks and snacks for the boys.
There was barely time to register the screeching of jets overhead before the bomb hit.
Mr Tayyib was in a state of shock and panic as he approached the scene. "I felt pain - pain, pain, indescribable pain," he says.
He began searching for his sons.
He lifted up the lifeless body of one child, a blue Unicef rucksack still on his back. It was only when he turned the boy's face towards him that he realised it was Ahmed.
He had found Youssef and laid his body on the pavement next to his brother when his wife called, desperate to know where their children were.
When he broke the news to her and said that Ali was still missing, she made him promise that he would not return home until he found their son.
Young victims
The rush of casualties from the strike arrived at the hospital so suddenly that there was no time for Dr Taifi to ask what had happened.
As he tended to the casualties, he was struck by their age.
Until this January, Dr Taifi had worked at one of the main hospitals in the rebel-controlled capital Sanaa and had attended to the victims of many mass-casualty attacks.
But he says the scenes following the strike in Dahyan were the most horrific he has yet witnessed.
Koran teachers
Mohammed Hajar, an official at the Houthi-run health ministry, rejected the coalition's allegations that the children were being used as human shields, saying it was "impossible" that there were fighters on the bus.
The Houthi-run education ministry said Mohammed Sitteen was a 28-year-old teacher at the Koran school - an assertion supported by parents who spoke to the BBC and children interviewed by Human Rights Watch.
t was not until five hours after the attack that Mr Tayyib got a call from the hospital telling him they had found the body of his third son, Ali.
He borrowed a neighbour's car and brought him home.
Mr Tayyib says that of all their children, his wife had a special bond with Ali.
"You know the affection of a mother after their child has been away? She hugged him as if he'd returned after being away for 100 years, she wouldn't let go."
Related Topics
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-45449978
(** B H)
Muslim countries have highest rates of suicide, murder, rape and mental health problems
A lost generation and grim future awaits if the Middle East is not stabilised, according to 25-year study of countries stretching from Morocco to Pakistan.
Suicide, murder, rape and mental health conditions are skyrocketing in a stretch of Muslim-majority countries from Morocco to Pakistan, many of which have been wracked by violence and conflict.
A major study covering data from the last 25 years shows soaring rates of death by suicide or at the hands of others. In 2015 alone, the last year for which data was used, around 30,000 people committed suicide, while 35,000 were murdered. The figures do not include deaths in places which are at war, such as Syria and Iraq, and represent increases of 100 per cent and 152 per cent respectively since 1990.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).
"In other parts of the world during the same period, the number of deaths from suicide increased 19 percent and interpersonal violence by 12 percent,” stated one of the 15 reports published this week in the International Journal of Public Health.
The researchers also found a “sharp increase” in mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. “Depression and anxiety disorders were the most common mental conditions,” according to the study.
“Intractable and endemic violence is creating a lost generation of children and young adults,” said Dr Ali Mokdad, the study’s lead author and the Director for Middle Eastern Initiatives at IHME. “The future of the Middle East is grim unless we can find a way to bring stability to the region.”
The research showed that the wars in Yemen, Iraq and Syria in particular are taking a severe toll on the health of the population in those countries. Not only are the effects immediate in terms of death and injury, but “these events will lead to increased health burden in the future as the next generation…is being raised under the harsh conditions of malnutrition and lack of preventive health services.”
Yemen has the highest proportion of its population suffering from food insecurity,at 36 per cent.
Despite the fast increasing need for mental health professionals to address the psychological fallout of conflict and poverty, the region has very few psychiatrists and psychologists. Many of the countries have only 0.5 psychiatrists for every 100,000 people. By comparison, Europe has more than 40 per 100,000.
The geographical area has endured, to varying degrees, conflict for decades.An estimated 208,179 people were estimated to have been killed by war, suicide and murder in 2015, of which 144,000 died in war. Such estimates are almost always below the true figures due to the difficulties of collecting reliable data in war zones.
But violence and the associated psychological disorders are not the only alarming findings about the region’s health trends – by Taimur Khan
cp1b Am wichtigsten: Kampf um Hodeidah / Most important: Hodeidah battle
Siehe / Look at cp1
(* A K)
Dutzende Tote bei neuen Kämpfen im Jemen
Nach den geplatzten Verhandlungen zwischen der jemenitischen Regierung und den Houthi-Rebellen sind bei Kämpfen und Luftangriffen nahe der Hafenstadt Hodeidah elf Soldaten und 73 Rebellen gestorben. Dies verlautete am Sonntag aus Krankenhauskreisen. Dutzende weitere Menschen seien verletzt worden.
https://www.msn.com/de-at/nachrichten/other/dutzende-tote-bei-neuen-k%C3%A4mpfen-im-jemen/ar-BBN5yGq
(A K pH)
A document obtained by #Yemenpress revealed that the escape of the coalition militiamen during clashes with the army in the Western Coast Front.
The document, issued by a commander-in-chief of the so-called “Amalikah brigades” supported by the #UnitedArabEmirates, Abu Zarah al-Mahrami, referred to the infiltration of hundreds of gunmen and their flight from the fronts.
(A K pH)
2citizens killed, a citizen injures in Hodeidah
Two civilians were killed and other one was wounded on Sunday when the US backed Saudi aggression warplane waged air raid on Hodeidah province, a security official told Saba on Monday.
The airstrike hit near a cow farm in Hali district.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507816.htm
(* A K pS)
Yemen’s army cuts arms supply linking Sanaa and Hodeidah
Yemen’s army has cut off an essential supply route linking Hodeidah province with the capital city Sanaa that the Houthi militia use to transport arms supplies, Saudi state-news channel Al-Ekhbariya reported.
In a statement issued through the army’s media center, the army announced that troops had advanced toward the Kilo 16 area amid major collapses within Houthi militia ranks, with the troops only meters away from the Nana plan and Red Sea silos.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1369586/middle-east
(* A K pS)
Government forces reach Kilo 10 after violent confrontations to control the main entrance of Hodeidah
The south-east of Hodeidah witnessed violent confrontations during the past night and violent and intense attacks by the Arab coalition Apache fighters.
Al-Masdar Online correspondent said that after the Apache fighters carried out an intensive sweep, the groups of Houthi fighters and their vehicles were targeted in areas leading east of Drihmi to Kilo 16.
The joint forces were able to reach the Kilo 10 area, about six kilometers from the Kilo 16 triangle, which is the most important entrance to the city of Hodeidah from both the south and east, linking it to the capital, Sana'a, and to the governorates of Taiz, Rima and Mahwit, which are areas of movement and concentration of Houthis militias.
According to the reporter, in the face of heavy blows to the Houthi artillery, the joint forces retreated from the highway to the farms along the road after their control on the road lasted about two hours.
During the overnight confrontations, dozens of dead and wounded were killed by the two sides, and the number of people killed by Houthi militants was raised by the involvement of Apache fighters in the confrontations.
During daylight hours, the region is witnessing a cautious calm in which the parties are preparing for a next round.
Al-Masdar Online correspondent said the al-Houthi group is massing its fighters in the direction of Kilo 10, and there have been significant reinforcements to the joint forces and the clashes are expected to erupt again to impose control on the public road.
My comment: “the joint forces retreated from the highway to the farms along the road“: if the Houthi forces would have done this, Saudi coalition propaganda would blame them for taking civilians as „human shields“.
Films:
Southern Al-Amalaqah brigades Controlled the new generation school overlooking 16 kilos in #Hodeidah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqXy6V9Tlc&t=5s
Dialogue of the Southern Al-Amalaqah Brigades in #Hodeidah.
https://twitter.com/Mukalla_Now_EN/status/1039050724532002817
(* A K pS)
Film: The martyrdom of a girl and wounding her mother with a mortar shell fired by the Al-Houthi militias on the homes of citizens in Al-Durahmi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTW54Ve8g4Q
(* B H K)
Film: What are people from #Hodeidah escaping from?
24/7 fighting, famine, fear, bombs, airstrikes, lack of food, water. This is what the people of #Hodeidah are escaping from
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/videos/496177184230949/
(* A K)
84 dead in fighting in Yemen's Hodeida after talks fail
Clashes and air strikes have left 84 people dead around Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeida since the collapse of UN-brokered peace talks, hospital sources said Sunday.
The sources in Hodeida province, controlled by Huthi rebels, said 11 soldiers and 73 insurgents had been killed since the talks were abandoned on Saturday.
Dozens of rebels and at least 17 soldiers had been wounded.
The coalition on Sunday was positioned to attempt to seize the main road linking Sanaa, the rebel-held capital, to the port city, a military official told AFP.
The road is a key supply route for the Huthis.
(* A K pS)
Yemen’s army kills dozens of Houthis in clashes in eastern Hodeidah
Dozens of Houthi militants were killed and many others wounded in a military operation launched by units of the Yemeni army, east of Hodeidah, Saudi state-news channel Al-Ekhbariya reported Sunday morning.
During the operation, the Amaliqa Brigades — captured several militants, including leaders, as well as weapons and equipment left behind by the fleeing militia, according to a statement on the Yemeni Armed Forces official website September net.
The army also announced that the Amaliqa Brigades opened safe routes for displaced civilians to leave the areas of Kilo 16 and Kilo 10.
The military source said a large number of families fled the area where their homes were at risk of cross fire, and were escorted to safe zones where they were given medical treatment and food.
The source said the Houthis used civilians in the region on as human shields as the army advanced toward them.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1369141/middle-east
My comment: The last sentence is mere propaganda. As everywhere, there are civilians living in the area where fighting starts due to the assault. Nobody takes them as “human shields”. Thus the attackres try to put the blame on those who hold the area and defend it against those who attack.
(* B H K)
Film: A new wave of #displacement of hundreds of civilians as a result of the intensification of fighting in Al-Duryhmi and nearby areas in #Hodeidah, as local sources warn of a humanitarian disaster in these areas because of the presence of many families who couldn't leave their homes
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1038567184430194688
(* A K pH)
US-Saudi aggression Injurs 19 Civilians in Hodiedah
The US-Saudi aggression launched a number of airstrikes targeting Red Sea Mill Factory in Al-Hale district, injuring 19 civilians. The aggression launched over 40 raids on Kilo 16 area and nearby places in Al-Hale district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2696&cat_id=1
One man (worker in the factory) was killed and 20 others were injured on Saturday evening when the US-Saudi Arabian Air Force targeted the Red Sea mills in Al-Hudaydah governorate
Resulting in the destruction of mills completely ... (photos)
https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1899415193687799
aerial view, maps: https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/1038510806307151873
film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tENTjhNTBJM
(A K pH)
U.S.-Saudi warplanes launches 15 raids on Hodeidah
Saudi aggression fighter jets launched on Saturday 15 air raids on Hodeidah province, an official told Saba.
The air raids targeted al-Hally and al-Monirh districts , causing great damage to the citizens' properties, said the official.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507584.htm
(* A K pS)
Yemeni government troops fight Houthis near Hodeidah as Geneva talks falter
Yemeni government forces moved troops to cut rebel supply lines to the occupied Red Sea port of Hodeidah after Houthi rebels sparked fighting as their delegation delayed peace talks in Geneva when they failed to attend.
"The pro-government forces have been advancing deep [into Houthi territory] amid a fierce battle to capture the port of Hodeidah,” Aseel Al Sakladi, the director of the pro-government Al Amalikah brigade media centre, told The National.
“The push was started as the Houthis foiled the efforts exerted by the UN special envoy to Yemen when they refused to be engaged in the peace talks," he said.
There has been no official announcement of a renewed offensive to capture the city. However, a source in the Yemeni government delegation in Geneva downplayed Friday’s clashes as part of the ongoing operations around Hodeidah and he said that the fighting had been sparked by the Houthis.
(A K pS)
UAE- Armed forces chief of staff visits UAE troops in Yemen
Lt General Al Rumaithi inspects units participating in Hodeidah offensive
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/armed-forces-chief-of-staff-visits-uae-troops-in-yemen-1.768202
(* B H K)
Norwegian Refugee Council: Media update on situation in Hodeidah, Yemen
Quote from Reem, 26-year-old mother of three displaced from Hodeidah:
"Everything is entirely damaged now. I can't even think about what I want or hope for the future because I know we will be disappointed. I'm not in my own house, not in my own town and I am constantly wondering what will happen next."
"I keep telling my children that we can't return home and that we have to stay here in Sana'a because I don't want to lose any of you," Reem said.
"I want the world to know that we are suffering immensely from this war. We have lost our dignity. We want peace and a livable future for our children. We want to go back to how our lives were before."
Quote from Suze van Meegen, protection and advocacy adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Yemen:
"This week was due to mark a turning point in Yemen's conflict as parties convened in Geneva to chart a way forward. Instead, we have passed another week full of violence and devoid of promise. While parties to the conflict continue to operate on the basis of differences, Yemenis are united in their experience of violence, deprivation and grief. Yemenis I met this week all tell me that they are losing hope in the possibility of any solution to the current situation. They are exhausted, People are reaching their tipping point."
Latest updates:
The situation in Hodeidah city remains exceptionally fragile. Heavy fighting is currently taking place at the city's western and southern outskirts, closer than at any other point since the offensive on Hodeidah commenced in June, including around Hodeidah airport, on the city's southern border.
Airstrikes and helicopter attacks have been reported across several districts south of Hodeidah city, and missiles launched from Yemen at targets in both Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea. Reports indicate that jets have been hovering over Hodeidah city for up to 16 hours a day.
Citizens in Hodeidah described increasingly militarised conditions inside the city this week, with an increasing number of checkpoints, trenches and jersey barriers installed across the city. Most residents stay inside their houses to try to protect themselves.
Tension in and around the city continues to keep prevent tens of thousands of city residents from returning. People remaining in Hodeidah report that more than half of all businesses, shops and services have closed, including whole blocks of shopfronts locked up following the departure from the city of owner-operators. A shopkeeper selling fabric and clothing told NRC staff that he had not sold a single item since the second week of August.Open source data collected by the Yemen's Civilian Impact Monitoring Project recorded close to 1,000 casualties from violence through August. In the week since, the project has reported houses hit by missiles and airstrikes in Sa'ada and Hodeidah governorates, including several strikes in Al-Hali district within Hodeidah city.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/media-update-situation-hodeidah-yemen
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Mass exodus of the population as the battles approach in the direction of "kilo 16 " in Hodeidah
Various areas east of Hodeidah, west of Yemen, witnessed mass population displacements as battles approached.
Local sources told "Almasdar online" that the Villages "Al-Jariba, al-Zafarat and eastern Mashaqneh " saw a mass exodus of the population following the intensification of fighting.
They explained that the residents were displaced in conjunction with the progress of the joint government forces towards the Kilo 16 area east of Hodeidah City.
In the city of Hodeidah, clashes resumed in Al-Dawar area south of Hodeidah University since morning with overflights and air strikes.
Various areas east of Hodeidah, west of Yemen, witnessed mass population displacements as battles approached.
Local sources told "Almasdar online" that the Villages "Al-Jariba, al-Zafarat and eastern Mashaqneh " saw a mass exodus of the population following the intensification of fighting.
They explained that the residents were displaced in conjunction with the progress of the joint government forces towards the Kilo 16 area east of Hodeidah City.
In the city of Hodeidah, clashes resumed in Al-Dawar area south of Hodeidah University since morning with overflights and air strikes.
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Spotlight: Fighting escalates in Yemen's Hodeidah as Geneva talks stall
Yemeni government forces backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) resumed military offense against the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in the Red Sea coastal city of Hodeidah.
The two warring sides engaged in ferocious gun battles in Hodeidah and other provinces.
The operations came just hours after a new round of United Nations-led peace talks on Yemen did not take place on Thursday as scheduled.
However, fighting escalated as the UAE-backed Yemeni forces resumed anti-Houthi military operations and attacked Houthi-controlled areas in Hodeidah province, sparking fears about the fate of the UN-backed talks.
A military source said that the pro-government Giant Brigades approached from seizing full control over a main road in attempt to cut supply lines of Houthis from the capital Sanaa.
Fierce fighting was taking place around that strategic road, the source said.
Several Houthi rebels were killed and injured. Some others were captured by the government forces in Hodeidah, according to the source.
Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against the naval college controlled by Houthis and other surrounding areas, causing a series of intensive explosions.
Residents said that ambulances rushed into the targeted areas.
Local Yemeni observers said that the Yemeni government forces backed by the coalition might advance militarily to expel the Houthi gunmen out of Hodeidah after stalling Geneva talks.
"Sparking a real battle against Houthis in Hodeidah will be the expected response from the government and its allies," said Anis Abdulrahman, a political observer based in Aden.
"Resuming the military operations particularly in Hodeidah will press and force Houthis to join the Geneva talks as soon as possible," the observer added.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-09/08/c_137452695.htm
Remark: The AFP report (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-6143871/Clashes-erupt-Yemens-Hodeida-peace-talks-falter.html) gets something wrong. The coalition forces not “advanced some 16 kilometres (10 miles) along the coastal road of the al-Durayhmi district Friday”, but they advanced forwards to Kilo 16 Road which would give them the possibility to block Houthis’ further access to Hodeidah from the East.
Film: https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/1038177842029383680
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The Forces of Al-Amaleqah Military Brigades have regained control over a number of areas and villages in the district of Al-Duraihemi, south of the port city of #Hodeidah from the grip of the #Houthi militia, as they continue to advance forward towards Kilo 16
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1038150750789095424
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Media account for the Giants forces, the main #UAE-backed #Yemen force fighting around al #Hudaydah, confirms offensive on the port city resumed today. UN efforts to restart the peace process failed yesterday.
https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/1038028359727501312
#UAE and Emirati-backed forces resumed the offensive on al #Hudaydah port city today, according to several local reports, after al Houthi delegation failed to attend UN talks. Emirati aircraft have been hitting al #Houthi positions for the past few days.
https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/1038024988245348352 referring to http://tahdeeth.net/news/58692
(A K pH)
Citizen injured in Saudi-led airstrike on western coast
A citizen was injured on Thursday in Saudi-led airstrike on Hodeida district, a security official told Saba.
The air raid targeted Sweek area in Tuhyita district.
Other airstrike of coalition hit Haly district.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507526.htm
In Hodiedah, US-Saudi aggression launched 3 raids on a civilian's farm in Al-Hale district, a raid on Al-Kateeb coastal area and a raid on the Navy college in Al-Mena district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2669&cat_id=1
cp2 Allgemein / General
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Interactive Map of Yemen War
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Ansarollah: In Jemen befinden sich keine iranischen Truppen
Die Ansarollah-Bewegung hat die Behauptung der saudischen Kriegsallianz über angebliche Präsenz iranischer Truppen in Jemen als haltlos zurückgewiesen.
Mohammad al-Bukaiti, Mitglied der Asarollah-Bewegung, unterstrich in einem Interview mit dem libanesischen Nachrichtensender Al-Mayadeen, die Anschuldigungen seitens der arabischen Koalition gegen Iran, sind irrelevant.
Seit Beginn ihrer Aggression gegen den Jemen behauptet die saudische Kriegsallianz wiederholt, Iran würde Waffenteile und Raketen an die jemenitischen Militärs liefern, was allerdings durch die jemenitischen Verantwortlichen stets dementiert wurde.
(A P)
Mothers demand to release enforcedly disappeared persons
Dozens of mothers demonstrated on Saturday in the city of Taiz, demanding the international community to intervene to release their abducted sons.
The mothers appealed to the Spcial Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths to make the case of the abductees and enforcedly disappeared persons a priority in any coming talks.
The mothers said that the Houthis are brutally and systemically torturing 553 civilians and enforcedly disappearing 88 others.
Mothers had protested Wednesday in Aden, demanding to swiftly release their abducted sons or refer them judiciary, pointing out that the General Prosecution previously ordered to release them.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-22417
(B K)
Film: What arms smuggling in the Gulf of Aden looks like. Small skiffs from likely Somalia transfering arms to a Yemeni skiff before it tries to make it back into Yemen
https://twitter.com/LostWeapons/status/1038719645425971200
Ya 3azizi, you're looking at the horse ass-forward. Yemen to Somalia. That is how arms flow in this neighbourhood : Yemen to Somalia. It's almost a law.
https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/1038763588079550464
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Journalists in Yemen under attack from all sides as rival forces crackdown on critics
In its report released late last month, the U.N. Human Rights Council found that all groups involved in the Yemen conflict--from the government-controlled south, with its militias propped up by the UAE-led coalition and loyal to the secessionist Southern Transitional Council, and areas held by the rebel Ansar Allah or Houthi movement--were responsible for widespread human rights abuses.
The report's findings reflect what journalists still working in the war-torn region have told CPJ--that there is no safe place and they remain under deadly pressure from all sides. Since the start of fighting in 2014, CPJ has documented kidnaps, attacks, arson, judicial cases, and killings. As independent journalist Sami al-Kaf told CPJ, "Threats can come from all sides, without exception."
Journalists critical of the Houthis said they cannot operate safely in areas under their control, but CPJ has found that those reporting in Aden and other areas of the south that were once considered relatively safe are also being attacked and harassed by militias backed by the UAE coalition, such as the Security Belt and the Hadrami Elite Forces. These groups put pressure on the media to not criticize the UAE or other countries supporting the Yemeni government, or report on issues that implicate the militias.
The result, several Yemeni journalists told CPJ, is that they are forced to self-censor for their own safety.
https://cpj.org/blog/2018/09/journalists-in-yemen-under-attack-from-all-sides-a.php
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How America Could get Pulled into a War In Yemen
America has turned a blind eye toward Saudi excesses in Yemen, which has provided Riyadh with the incentive to continue its harsh bombing campaign.
How that the struggle for Syria is all but over, Yemen has become the focal point for the tussle for power and influence between Saudi Arabia and Iran—the two major powers competing for primacy in the Persian Gulf and the broader Middle East. The Saudis, having lost in Syria, are doubling their effort to deny what they perceive could be another victory for Iran in Yemen next door. The war launched by the Saudi and Emirati forces and their Yemeni allies against the Houthis, Zaidi Shias now in control of the capital Sanaa and broad swathes of northern Yemen, can, therefore, be expected to escalate and may even lead to direct confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This sounds plausible given threats by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) to take the war to Iran.
The conflict in Yemen is portrayed in the Western press and in statements by American leaders as a sectarian battle between Sunnis and Shias. For example, President Obama, talking about conflicts in the Middle East in general, stated that they are “rooted in conflicts that date back millennia.” Leading New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman declared that in Yemen “the main issue is the 7th century struggle over who is the rightful heir to the Prophet Muhammad—Shiites or Sunnis.”
Such statements demonstrate an appalling lack of knowledge about conflicts in the Middle East in general and in Yemen in particular
Just as in Syria, where the Saudi-Iranian geopolitical rivalry based on realpolitik motives, was played out at the expense of the Syrian people, the Saudi-Iranian struggle for preeminence is a major factor in the Yemeni civil war. While the details of the two cases are not the same, Yemen, like Syria, demonstrates that it is not a sectarian fight with the Saudis supporting the Sunnis and the Iranians supporting the Shias.
The Saudi role in Yemen in the earlier civil war was determined by strategic considerations, primarily the House of Saud’s fear that Nasser’s Egypt was spreading a pan-Arab and republican ideology that threatened its rule. It had nothing to do with sectarian considerations since most of the Republican side, like the Saudis, were Sunnis while the Imam of Yemen was a Zaidi Shia.
The same applies to Saudi Arabia’s policy today when it opposes the Houthis, the modern political incarnation of the Zaidi imamate that it supported not so long ago, because of their supposed association with the Saudis’ latest nemesis Iran. The difference in the two episodes is that in the 1960s Saudi involvement in the Yemeni civil war was discreet. Its current intervention in the war, the brainchild of Crown Prince MBS, is very brazen. Fighter jets belonging to Saudi Arabia and the UAE have strafed and inflicted heavy casualties on the common Yemenis killing hundreds and injuring thousands. They have also caused great damage to the already meagre infrastructure in Yemen, literally bombing it back to the Stone Age – by Mohammed Ayoob
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/how-america-could-get-pulled-war-yemen-30852
(A P)
Good news from Yemen: academics & activists on Saturday launched "Yemen Secularist Network". Founders believe that secularism can contribute to ending a three-year conflict between Saudi-backed Sunnis & Iran-backed Shiites in the country. As an atheist, this is a brilliant idea.
https://twitter.com/FuadRajeh/status/1038546099542392832
(B H K)
Film: A Yemeni girl's message to the World
We are the children of Yemen ... Do you hear our cries? Do you feel our pain?
Enough... enough of this cruel war.... We are tired and our hearts are bleeding
Why our lives don't matter to the world?
https://www.facebook.com/nafisa.alharazi/videos/vb.576227789/10156654947782790/?type=2&theater
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Audio: Shireen Al-Adeimi on Yemen Crisis
We talk about the crisis in Yemen and the US responsibility with Shireen Al-Adeimi, assistant professor of education at Michigan State University. Al-Adeimi’s recent article with Sarah Lazare, “Trump Quietly Overrides What Little Civilian Protections Remain in Yemen War,” appeared in In These Times.
https://fair.org/home/shireen-al-adeimi-on-yemen-crisis-alyssa-peterson-on-campus-assault-rules/
(B K P)
Film: ICYMI: Why aren't we talking about Yemen?
At first glance Yemen’s war seems to have it all: disease, famine, air strikes against civilians and schools. This is all great stuff for the morning headlines. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be enough to attract the grizzled Western war reporters streaming out of Syria.
ICYMI looks at why the Middle East’s poorest nation just can’t get any attention.
At first glance Yemen’s war seems to have it all: disease, famine, air strikes against civilians and schools. This is all great stuff for the morning headlines. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be enough to attract the grizzled Western war reporters streaming out of Syria.
ICYMI looks at why the Middle East’s poorest nation just can’t get any attention.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hitH26AxsV4
(* B H K)
Film: What does peace mean to you ? I want life to be peaceful and living safely so we can plan, go to park buy the toys we love, Ayah 12 years old girl answer . If you asked that question to the whole #Yemen's children the answer would be the same as Ayah's answer.
https://twitter.com/MohammedHojily/status/1038098699451285504
(* B K P)
As peace talks falter, crisis in Yemen deepens
The United Nations has starkly described Yemen as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis." What is the Canadian government's role in this crisis and how did climate change and water scarcity exacerbate the tensions that led to the conflict?
Yemen is another painful example of the intersection of wars largely unseen by the world, imperial alliances, weapons sales, war crimes, the present day consequences of climate change and water scarcity, displacement, migration, and lives lost.
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/brent-patterson/2018/09/peace-talks-falter-crisis-yemen-deepens
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What the US-Backed Slaughter of Children in Yemen Looks Like: 'Warning: The Images... Are Extremely Graphic'
The missiles fired on a school bus last month was made in the United States. New video offers just a glimpse of what those bombs did to children when they hit.
As part of the effort by anti-war progressives to bring an end to the U.S. involvement with the ongoing war in Yemen, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a new video released Friday morning shows the horrific aftermath of a bombing last month that left scores of children dead after their bus was bombed with American-made weapons.
Produced by the advocacy group MoveOn.org, the video makes the case against the U.S.-backed Saudi-coalition while first showing video clips of the young children on their bus just prior to the bombing followed by scenes of the gruesome aftermath—the small severed hands and feet of victims and the shredded, lifeless bodies of young boys lying in the back of a pickup truck—in the wake of the airstrike.
As the group notes, "the images in this video are extremely graphic":
video: https://twitter.com/MoveOn/status/1038052552212996097
My comment: Who really follows Yemeni media and social media from Yemen, had seen all this already before. This is no new material; it’s just the Western media neglecting evidence which lets look this a “new video”.
(* B K P)
USS Dunham Seized 2,500 AK-47s from Skiff off Yemen
The crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham has finished the tally of the illicit weapons shipment they seized off Yemen on August 28. The stateless skiff they boarded was carrying 2,521 AK-47 automatic rifles, shipped from an unknown source to an undetermined destination.
The count follows an initial estimate of more than 1,000 rifles.
“As a part of our counter-trafficking mission, we are actively involved in searching for illegal weapons shipments of all kinds,” said Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet. “Ensuring the free flow of commerce for legitimate traffic and countering malign actors at sea continue to be paramount to the U.S. Navy and its regional partners and allies.
My comment: And it is still unknown where this shipment came from and where it should go to. – It would be necessary someone would seize all the arms shipped from the US, the UK and others to any state in the Arab Pensinsula.
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Islamic Relief: Yemen: Tens of thousands civilians could die unless warring parties seize chance for peace
Warring parties in Yemen cannot afford to waste another opportunity to agree a meaningful ceasefire and halt the ever-escalating humanitarian crisis, Islamic Relief warns ahead of peace talks in Geneva.
The UN sponsored talks are the first to take place in more than two years, and must be a sized upon as an opportunity to resolve the conflict in which thousands have been killed.
The war, now in its fourth year, is an entirely man-made catastrophe in which diseases like cholera have been allowed to run rampant, medical treatment has become scarce and malnutrition rates have risen.
Islamic Relief’s CEO Naser Haghamed warned that any further delays in securing a meaningful ceasefire will deepened the already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
Siehe / Look at cp1
(* B H)
Slide Show. Child Victims of the War in Yemen
Children in Yemen are facing a massive crisis. As the conflict rages on, the needs of vulnerable children continue to grow. Children in Yemen now face a triple threat – hunger, disease and bombs.
https://www.albawaba.com/slideshow/child-victims-war-yemen-1183014
(B H)
Film: Activist supports Yemen's poorest women and children
Dame Nouria Ahmed Nagi, director and founder of Yemen Education and Relief Organisation (YERO), and her team
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4a1i3FHP6k
(* B H)
Audio: Yemen children suffer as peace talks stall
Featured:
Um Abdel Malek, Yemeni mother
Sawsan Hussein Hatem Al-Hababi, International Rescue Committee
Julie Gill, Yemen Chief of Unicef Child Protection
Abdullah Al-Khawlani, Yemeni mother
Film: Teamchef von "Ärzte ohne Grenzen" über die Situation im Jemen
Die Vereinten Nationen bezeichnen die Lage im Jemen als die "schlimmste humanitäre Krise der Welt". 22 Millionen Menschen brauchen dringend humanitäre Hilfe, das sind rund drei Viertel der Bevölkerung. Ghassan Abou Chaar hat ein Jahr lang für "Ärzte ohne Grenzen" im Jemen gearbeitet. Im Gespräch mit Nazan Gökdemir berichtet er von der Situation vor Ort.
(B H)
US Agency for International Development: Yemen - Complex Emergency Fact Sheet #11, Fiscal Year (FY) 2018
Airstrikes and insecurity result in civilian casualties, population displacement, and humanitarian access constraints in Al Hudaydah
Relief agencies provide humanitarian assistance to nearly 357,000 Al Hudaydah IDPs
Health actors respond to a recent increase in suspected cholera cases amid a potential third wave of the cholera outbreak
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-complex-emergency-fact-sheet-11-fiscal-year-fy-2018
Map: Yemen ‑ Active USG Programs for Yemen Response (Last Updated 09/07/18)
https://reliefweb.int/map/yemen/yemen-active-usg-programs-yemen-response-last-updated-090718
(* B H)
'Yemen alarmingly facing growing cases of malnutrition'
Sawsan Hussein Hatem Al-Hababi is a doctor with the International Rescue Committee. He spoke at a medical clinic in central Sana’a on Friday, reporting “a significant increase” in the number of cases arriving.
She said that the number had increased “especially after people have been displaced from Hudaydah to Sana’a.”
Hababi said most of the cases that recovered with medical help “have relapsed” because of the economic situation.
Um Abdel Malek, mother of three-year-old Abdel Malek Mastoor who is being treated for malnutrition, said she tried to buy him milk but she cannot afford it.
"If I can, I go out and buy him milk. If I can't, I don't. I can't provide it for him," she said. Abdel Malek is the skinniest of her five children.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 1.8 million children are acutely malnourished in Yemen.
Sherin Varkey, deputy representative of UNICEF in Yemen, warned that there was little time to waste for children like Abdel Malek.
“We urge the parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and respect the rights of children. The children have gone through unimaginable suffering over the last three years. The time for peace is now."
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/09/07/573450/Yemen-Malnutrition-
(* B H)
World Health Organization: Statement attributable to Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, on the health situation in Yemen
The scale of human suffering and health needs in Yemen today is unprecedented. An entire country and its health infrastructure has been brought to its knees. People who have survived more than three and a half years of war now find themselves facing additional threats of hunger and disease.
Malnourished mothers are unable to breastfeed their equally malnourished babies. Parents have lost their children as entire families are afflicted by cholera and repeatedly infected with other diseases. People thrown into extreme poverty due to the war are unable to buy food for their families, with some families living only on bread for sustenance. As the Yemeni Riyal continues to plummet, poor families who could afford very little, will be left with nothing.
While medical care is free in public health facilities, many Yemenis can barely afford the cost of public transport to get to these facilities, and families are forced to sell all their belongings to buy medicines. Health care workers have not received their salaries in two years.
The need for our lifesaving work in Yemen has never been greater.
Despite serious challenges impeding our response, our commitment to saving lives in Yemen continues.
cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees
(B H)
UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Yemen UNHCR Update, 16 - 31 August 2018
The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, is observing a surge in protection needs as a result of ongoing hostilities, particularly within the Governorate of Al Hudaydah. As a result, UNHCR has ramped up its response to meet the most urgent protection needs of tens of thousands of families that are being displaced by fighting in Al Hudaydah.
During focus group discussions with displaced persons from Al Hudaydah, UNHCR identified a series of protection needs requiring urgent attention. Most prominent among them are the specific needs of children who may be separated from their families, and women, who may be at high risk of sexual harassment and violence either during flight or when living in overcrowded settings. Another common concern is the loss of livelihoods, exacerbated by a decline in purchasing power due to increasing food prices and the decline in value of the Yemeni currency, the Riyal.
Incidents with high civilian impact are continuing at an alarming rate, the vast majority of which are in the northern governorates.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-unhcr-update-16-31-august-2018
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Amnesty International Yemeni refugees on South Korea’s holiday island deserve hospitality not hostility
Since arriving, however, the Yemenis have experienced mostly hostility than hospitality. In July 2018, more than 714,000 people in South Korea signed a petition urging President Moon Jae-in reject their applications for asylum, alleging that they were “fake refugees” only seeking to take advantage of South Korea’s economic stability. This is the largest petition the President has received since taking office in 2017.
After their arrival, South Korean social media was hit by a blast of baseless allegations that multiple women in Jeju Island were killed by Yemenis. Against this backdrop, protests in Jeju Island and Seoul were held. Among the protesters were some women’s rights organizations, warning that the rapid influx of foreign nationals with different cultural backgrounds would harm public safety.
South Korea is not a common destination for asylum seekers. Although South Korea signed the Refugee Convention, it accepts only a handful of people seeking asylum annually, either by recognizing them as refugees or by granting permission to remain on humanitarian grounds. According to NANCEN, a South Korean refugee rights NGO, 1.5% of nearly 10,000 applications for refugee status were granted by South Korea in 2017. This lack of familiarity with welcoming refugees may be part of why so many Koreans are wary of accepting these 550 Yemenis.
Show humanity
Welcoming people who have been forced to flee their homes is not about providing charity to non-citizens. It is about living up to our responsibilities to fellow human beings. South Korea’s leaders, as well as its people must consider what kind of society we all want to create for ourselves and our children to live in. We all have a stake in making the world a safer place, and that includes hosting people who cannot go home and giving them a place where they can be safe from danger.
President Moon is now required to respond to the petition calling for him to reject the Yemeni asylum claims.
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
(A K P)
Yemen is destined for victory. Yemen resists US-Saudi-UAE occupation with: Everything it has! After4 years of intentional starvation, All this food, money&weapons was sent to fighters in battlefield this week, ONLY from one tribe,in one small place,Bani Hushaish,east Sanaa (photos9
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/1039018380609695744
(A P)
Houthis in Ibb to execute a wounded citizen
In the central Yemeni province of Ibb, Houthi militia executed a wounded gunman who was wounded during armed confrontations between local residents and Houthi militants.
According to a local source for "al-Masdar online ", the gunmen executed a wounded man called "Osama Qaied Ali ", who was shot as a result of clashes in the center of Al-Odain branch in West Ibb between residents of the area "Wadi al Makarmah" in the isolation of Al Akhmas and the militants of the Houthi leader "Nabil Azab" Houthis assigned director of the Security Directorate of Al- Odain branch.
According to the source, the wounded during the clashes remained for hours on the ground, but after he was found by al-Houthi militants they executed him
http://almasdaronline.com/article/houthis-in-ibb-to-execute-a-wounded-citizen
(A E P)
The capital #Sanaa has witnessed today a surprise crisis in fuel derivatives after many gas stations shut down, leading to a sharp increase in the prices of fuel in the black market to reach over 10,000 YR for 20 litres of Gasoline. #Houthii authorities are behind this, sources.
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1038851897891991557
My comment: The rise of prices has little to do with „Houthi authorities“, but with the downfall of currency due to the war.
(A K P)
Meeting in capital held in capital to deal with mobilization efforts to confront to Saudi-led coalition
A meeting that was held on Sunday under the presidency of Capital Sanaa Mayor Hamoud Obad discussed several topics related to mobilization efforts in capital for deterring the attack of the US-backed Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
The meeting evaluated the local authority and Sheikhs role in supporting the campaign aiming to supporting the fronts with men through return them to their military units.
During the meeting Obad affirmed the attention of the local authorities in capital and executive apparatus in supporting these efforts to achieve the National duty.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507785.htm
(A H P)
Yemen, UN discusses water situation in Yemen discussed
Minister of Water and Environment Eng. Nabil Al-Wazeer met on Sunday with United Nations Resident Representative Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Lize Grande.
He discussed with her a number of topics related to the water situation in Yemen.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507790.htm
(A P)
Unidentified people kidnap international immigration officer in Sana'a
An international Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Sunday that one of its Yemeni employees was kidnapped earlier by unidentified assailants in the capital, Sanaa.
The organization did not explain who abducted the staff member.
and
(A P)
IOM: We are very concerned for the safety of one of our Yemeni national staff members, whom we understand was abducted by persons unknown. IOM is working with authorities in Sanaa and UN Yemen to secure his release. We strongly appeal to those responsible to set him free immediately.
https://twitter.com/UNmigration/status/1038490567565602817
(A P)
Three coalition collaborators arrested in Amran
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507638.htm
(A P)
Saudi, allies trying to strangle Yemen through economic pressure: Houthi
The leader of Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement says Saudi Arabia and its regional allies, which are involved in an atrocious military campaign against Yemen that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and left the country’s critical infrastructure in ruins, are seeking to choke off the Yemeni nation through economic pressure.
Addressing his supporters via a televised speech broadcast live from the Yemeni capital city of Sana’a on Saturday evening, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi stated that American statesmen were making economic and political interests out of the Saudi-led aggression on Yemen as it had poured billions of dollars into the US Treasury.
He warned that Yemen’s economy was under attack; and that the Riyadh regime and its allies eyed oil-rich regions inside the conflict-plagued Arab country and were trying to wrest control over them.
(A P)
Rally organized in Hajah condemns Saudi-led coalition economic war on Yemen, its crimes
The citizens of Hajah province condemned on Fraidy during their rally organized to condemn the US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition's crimes against the Yemeni people.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507594.htm
(A K P)
100 million Yemeni rials, 300 trucks loaded with fruits mostly grapes,sheep,cows& oxen Sent yesterday to fighters in battlefields as tribal support only from the tribes of Bani Hushiash eastern outskirt of Sanaa
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/1038291337622286336
(A P)
Ibb.. Death of child "Attran" affected by a gunshot wound by Houthi gunman
Abdirahman Akram Attran, a child, died of a gunshot wound to the head from an armed Houthi pistol while playing football with his companions in an alley in the city of Ibb "center of Yemen ".
A medical source told al-Masdar online that the 14-year-old child, Abdul Rahman, died late Saturday evening two days after being shot in the neighborhood of the College of Education at the University of Ibb after the football was thrown towards one of the gunmen who took out his weapon and grabbed the head of the child and shot him and left him bleeding on ground in a dreadful spectacle.
The child was taken to the Al-Thawra hospital and stayed one night, after which he was transferred to a private hospital in the light of his deteriorating health in the midst of a wave of anger and widespread dissatisfaction in Ibb province as a result of the proliferation of weapons and the expansion of security chaos, which killed dozens of dead and wounded.
The Killer named Abdullah al-Daylami one of the Houthi group, which has been in control of the province since October 2014. (photos)
https://twitter.com/NaBiLAlbaydani/status/1038122863994261505 referring to https://twitter.com/dr_fuadbadani/status/1037874129599430656
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1038175577121988608
(A P)
Yemenis slam Saudi Arabia for barring Houthi delegation from attending Geneva talks
Thousands of Yemeni people have taken to the streets of capital Sana’a to protest against a Saudi-led military coalition for its alleged refusal to allow a delegation of the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement to fly to Geneva to attend the United Nations-sponsored peace talks in the Swiss city.
Speaking amid the protest rally on Friday, Loay al-Shamy, a senior Houthi official in the Ministry of Information, said that the Houthi delegation had been ready to leave Sana’a International Airport for Geneva, but the UN, under pressure by the so-called coalition, “could not fulfill what was agreed on, which is to provide an Omani plane for the delegation that will participate in Geneva and offer the assurances required for the return of the delegation.”
(A P)
Mass Rally in Sana’a Condemning US-Saudi Aggression Economic War
The capital Sana'a, on Friday afternoon, witnessed a mass march under the slogan "Manipulating currency and the high prices are tools of aggression." The participants held US, Saudi Arabia and their mercenaries responsible for the rise in the price of foreign currency against the national currency.
The participants condemned the economic war led by the coalition of aggression aimed at starving the Yemeni People in conjunction with the military war and the suffocating siege imposed on the country for four years.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2666&cat_id=1
Film: https://www.facebook.com/212667712919967/videos/vb.212667712919967/1818894778146586/?type=2&theater
Film by Aljazeera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOLL3u82t3Y
photos: https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/1038095710837764096 and https://twitter.com/WalkerBragman/status/1038100497473916929
cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government
(A P)
The Reform Party “Islah” calls the Government to exercise its functions in accordance with a public, transparent and declared budget
The Islah party has demanded that the government exercise its functions in accordance with a transparent and publicly stated budget based on the collection and supply of state resources from gas, oil, minerals, taxes, customs, etc. to the State treasury of the Central Bank of Yemen.
In a statement issued by its General Secretariat, urged the government to rationalize public spending, curb financial corruption and choose the competent and impartial leadership, economic, financial and monetary positions.
It called on President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the government to activate the general State institutions--the House of Representatives, the shura, the judiciary, the central authority for oversight and accountability, and the reconstitution of a national anti-corruption body--so that these institutions can play their role in monitoring and curbing the sources of financial and administrative corruption.
(A T)
Activist survives assassination attempt in Aden
Alsahwa Net- An activist of the Islah party Marwan al-Ra’e on Sunday survived an assassination attempt as an explosive device was implanted inside his car.
Al-Ra’e found out the device before riding his car and informed security services which came to dismantle it.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-23457
(* B P)
1-Former minister says Saudi Arabia is annexing Yemeni land in #Jawf (Hadramout & Saada). 2-Saudi Arabia signs a contract with French Huta Group to build oil terminal in Yemen's eastern province of Mahra. 3-UAE controls Yemen seaports & islands for military bases & investment.
https://twitter.com/FuadRajeh/status/1038743046404427780
(* A E P)
Belhaf oil facility in Shabwah are targeted by artillery from pro-UAE forces
Firefighters in the Yemeni liquefied natural gas company (LNG) managed to extinguish a fire at the Belhaf station in the Arabian Sea province of Shabwah, after targeting the facility by pro-UAE elite forces, with a shell that landed inside the project facilities near the port of export.
The "new Arab" newspaper quoted government oil sources as saying that the missile was fired by pro-UAE forces and landed on the coastal side of the facility, specifically in a location called "Whiskey One" near the staff housing.
The sources said that the company's fire trucks rushed to the scene and managed to control the fire.
The sources indicated that the fire was spreading rapidly and threatened to completely destroy the facility as a result of the seriousness of the place, and that without the speed of the firefighters ' response, there was a real disaster.
The targeting of the Belhaf liquefied gas station by the forces it is protecting is a clear threat letter to the government by pro-and-UAE separatist groups, especially since it comes after the announcement of economic measures including the resumption of gas production and export, in an effort to save the local currency, it said. .
Abu Dhabi controls the Belhaf natural gas facility through pro-local forces called the "elite", which the UAE has trained, paid and imposed as protection forces on the project despite the Government's internationally recognized opposition.
My comment: That’s heavy, really.
(* A P)
Peaceful Angry Marches in Shabwa Reject Negotiations that Overcome the Southern Public Will and Protest Against Deterioration of National Currency
Protesters resented the corruption of the legitimacy government that led to this catastrophic situation. Protesters also declared their rejection of any consultations or negotiations that overcome the southern public will and their rightful cause. Protesters issued the following statement:
Therefore, we assert the following:
1. Standing against anyone who caused deterioration of national currency, high prices and poor living condition and full rejection of any consultations or negotiations that overcome the southern public will and its rightful cause.
2. Warning the legitimacy authorities against the consequences of its stubbornness, failure and corruption that negatively affects people’s lives.
- Massive breakout of epidemics and illnesses in Shabwa, without any tangible response from official authorities, is a sufficient reason not only to overthrow these authorities but also to file them to courts of justice.
https://en.smanews.org/peaceful-angry-marches-in-shabwa-reject-negotiations-that-overcome-the-southern-public-will-and-protest-against-deterioration-of-national-currency
My comment: Southern separatists now bring the people into the streets to protest against the Hadi government.
(* A P)
In Response to the Call of the Southern Transitional Council, Citizens od Aden Organize a Public Event and Massive Marche Supporting the Council’s Statement and Rejecting the Corruption of Yemeni Government
In response to the call of the Southern Transitional Council, thousand of Adani citizens gathered from all directorates at Al-Shaheed Al-Guniadi Square in Kriter to support the final statement of the council’s presidency and to denounce the corrupt and humiliating policies of the Yemeni Legitimacy Government against southern people.
Crowds marched the streets, headed by Brass Section Music Bands, down Queen Arwa street as they were yelling with revolutionary slogans and holding banners in support of the final statement. Crowds clearly indicated their confidence in all decisions taken by the council’s leadership in upcoming political talks.
Crowds also protested against hunger and humiliation policies of the Yemeni Legitimacy government towards southern people as such corrupt policies led to deterioration of national currency and poor living conditions that suffocate ordinary people in the south.
In Response to the Call of the Southern Transitional Council, Public Marches in Abian Denounce Any Negotiations that Overcome the Southern Public Will
In Response to the Call of the Southern Transitional Council, Angry Marches in Al-Mahra Demand Overthrowing of the Corrupt Government
Angry protesters held banners saying “Economy Collapses and the People Are Dying” and “Down with the Corrupt Government” in addition to other slogans asserting that any negotiations that exclude the southern people and its resistance are not acceptable.
(A P)
Angry Marches Sweep Al-Houta – Lahj
Protesters came from all over the governorate to protest against the absurd policies of the legitimacy government that led to deterioration of national currency, high prices and poor services conditions. Protesters yelled against the corruption of legitimacy government demanding its dismissal.
https://en.smanews.org/angry-marches-sweep-al-houta-lahj
(A P)
Angry Protesters Against Legitimacy Corruption Block the Main Road in Al-Anad – Lahj
(A P)
Al-Awlaki: No Future for the South Except Inside its Arab Surrounding, and All Tries of Iran and Qatar Will Fail
Salem Thabit Al-Awlaki, spokesman of the Southern Transitional Council, indicated that the south has no future outside its Arab surrounding.
In a post on his official account on face book, Al-Awlaki said: “We are part of the Arab Coalition as the Coalition is part of us. No future for the south except inside its Arab surrounding. It is a matter of harmony, integration and destiny. We learn from near history lessons”.
Al-Awlaki also indicated that tries of Iran and Qatar to distort the role of the Arab Coalition will fail saying: “All tries of Iranian and Qatari intelligences to penetrate, through their tools represented in Al-Houthis and Muslim Brotherhood, and to distort the role of Saudi Arabia and UAE will fail”. He also asserted that the Arab Coalition will remain the best ally and supporter to the south.
(A P)
In a dangerous precedent the supporters of the transitional attack the march of the Revolutionary Council in Saen (photo)
https://twitter.com/fadibaoom/status/1038072894415417344
Hundreds demonstrated today in #Aden to strongly reject living under humiliation. (photo)
https://twitter.com/MuradAbdu/status/1037714902520131584
Remark: Earlier reporting on unrest in Southern Yemen in: Yemen War Mosaic 454, cp6; 453, cp6.
(A P)
Haidar al-Attas Advisor to the President of #Yemen: The Yemeni unity was created by mistake, and the chaos that occurs in the south is the result of the signing of the 1994 agreement "Unity of Yemen", and there who supported Ali Saleh against the South.
https://twitter.com/Mukalla_Now_EN/status/1038030797331197952
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
Siehe / Look at cp1
(* A P)
Friedensgespräche in Genf gescheitert
Die Jemen-Friedensgespräche sind vorerst gescheitert. Nach drei Tagen vergeblichen Wartens auf die Delegation der Huthi-Rebellen brach UN-Vermittler Griffiths das Treffen ab.
Martin Griffiths mühte sich redlich. Der UN-Sondervermittler für den Jemen versuchte, Optimismus zu verbreiten. Sorgfältig wägte er seine Worte ab. "Wir haben uns auf den Weg gemacht zurück zu Friedensgesprächen", so Griffith.
Wie unendlich mühsam und lang dieser Weg für den Jemen ist, hat sich in den vergangenen drei Tagen gezeigt, in denen es Gespräche in Genf gab.
die Delegation der Huthi-Rebellen kam trotz stundenlanger Verhandlungen nicht in die Schweiz. Die Gespräche waren damit gescheitert, ehe sie begonnen hatten. uch hier versuchte Griffiths, optimistisch zu klingen und blieb vage: "Ein Neustart ist immer ein schwieriger, ein empfindlicher Moment. Die Delegationen sehen vielleicht, dass nicht alle ihre Forderungen erfüllt sind oder dass Gespräche keinen Erfolg bringen. Da ist es nicht ungewöhnlich, dass so etwas passiert. Ich werte das jedenfalls nicht als Blockade der Friedensgespräche."
https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/jemen-genf-101.html
(* A P)
Jemen-Friedensgespräche in Genf wegen Fernbleibens der Huthi-Rebellen geplatzt
Die geplanten Friedensgespräche zwischen der jemenitischen Regierung und den Huthi-Rebellen unter UN-Vermittlung sind geplatzt. Es sei nicht gelungen, die Rebellen an den Verhandlungstisch zu bekommen, sagte UN-Vermittler Martin Griffiths am Samstag in Genf. Da Rebellenchef Abdulmalik al-Huthi in der Folge zum Widerstand gegen die Regierung aufrief, könnte der Konflikt in Jemen nun weiter eskalieren.
Die Rebellen hatten drei Bedingungen für eine Anreise gestellt: Dass die Delegation in einem Flugzeug des Oman nach Genf geflogen wird, dass Verletzte von Sanaa aus in die omanische Hauptstadt Maskat geflogen werden, und eine Garantie, nach den Friedensgesprächen in Genf nach Sanaa zurückkehren zu können.
Zwar genehmigte das von Saudi-Arabien angeführte Militärbündnis, das die jemenitische Regierung unterstützt und den Luftraum des Landes kontrolliert, nach eigenen Angaben den Flug. Ein Vertreter der Regierungsdelegation warf den Rebellen aber vor, bei den auszufliegenden Verletzten handele es sich um Kämpfer.
Griffiths, der dritte UN-Jemen-Gesandte seit 2014, konnte nicht sagen, wann ein weiterer Gesprächsversuch unternommen werden soll. Er kündigte jedoch an, in den kommenden Tagen nach Sanaa und Maskat zu reisen.
(* A P)
Huthi-Delegation reist nicht an: Rebellen lassen Jemen-Gespräche platzen
Die Verhandlungen zwischen den Konfliktparteien im Jemen sollen zu einem Signal der Hoffnung werden. Doch die Delegation der Rebellen reist erst gar nicht nach Genf. Nach dem Scheitern der Gespräche befürchtet die UN eine Eskalation der Lage im Bürgerkriegsland.
Die ersten Jemen-Gespräche seit zwei Jahren sind gescheitert, bevor sie überhaupt beginnen konnten. Das angepeilte Treffen zwischen den Konfliktparteien in Genf endete am Samstag, nachdem die Rebellen-Delegation nicht angereist war. "Wir haben es nicht geschafft, die Delegation aus (der Hauptstadt) Sanaa hierher zu bekommen", sagte UN-Vermittler Martin Griffiths. Die Ereignisse können nach Einschätzung von Beobachtern zu einer weiteren Eskalation im Jemen führen.
Griffiths betonte, dass die Huthi-Rebellen den Willen hatten, in die Schweiz zu reisen, dies aber nicht konnten. Es handle sich um einen "fragilen Moment" für das Bürgerkriegsland. Er werde in den nächsten Tagen auch nach Sanaa fliegen, um die Huthis zu treffen. Die Aufständischen hatten in den Tagen zuvor ein bereitgestelltes Flugzeug der Vereinten Nationen abgelehnt und eine andere Maschine verlangt, die nicht durchsucht werden dürfe. Die Aufständischen hatten das damit begründet, dass die Vereinten Nationen bei früheren Gesprächen in Genf den sicheren Transport nicht hatten garantieren können.
Griffiths dazu: "Wir haben keine ausreichenden Bedingungen geschaffen, um sie hierher zu bringen."
https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Rebellen-lassen-Jemen-Gespraeche-platzen-article20613950.html = https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/politik/ausland/jemen-krieg-friedensgespraech-gescheitert100.html
Mein Kommentar: Deutschsprachige Berichte neigen dazu, die Huthis als die Schuldigen hinzustellen. Wie so oft, erfährt man nur auf Englisch genauere Hintergründe.
(* A P)
Hopes of lasting peace in Yemen fade after Geneva talks failure
The exhausted Yemeni citizens started their preparations for the worst after their expectations of a permanent peace from Switzerland's Geneva faded away again for the fourth time.
"The failure of Geneva talks means that our future will be more difficult," said Amjad Abdullah, a Yemeni citizen, adding that "all the warring factions will engage in fighting instead of peace talks because they don't care about the suffering of ordinary people."
"We expected that this year would be the last one with fighting and suffering but unfortunately it turned out that we were wrong because more years of war will come," he said.
"The Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels only keep exchanging accusations and ultimatums because they did not receive instructions from Iran or from Saudi Arabia to engage in peace talks to end the war," Haitham Haidrah, a political activist and observer said.
The international community must take necessary measures to bring peace to Yemen by preventing foreign interventions that keep fueling proxy wars in Yemen, said local observers.
http://www.china.org.cn/world/2018-09/09/content_63201061.htm
(* A P)
Yemen peace talks collapse in Geneva after Houthi no-show
An attempt to hold peace talks for Yemen was abandoned on Saturday after three days of waiting for the Houthi movement’s delegation, but the United Nations envoy vowed to press ahead with diplomacy.
(* A P)
Yemen consultations have started, insists top UN negotiator
A positive environment exists for building trust between the opposing parties involved in discussions for a political solution to the Yemen conflict, despite the absence of one of the delegations in Geneva and insecurity on the ground, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths said on Saturday.
Acknowledging the “elephant in the room” - the fact that the Ansarullah-Houthi delegation was not present in the Swiss city for the consultations - the UN negotiator insisted it was not a “fundamental blockage” to his work.
“The important aspect of these last three days is that we’ve started consultations,” he said, before adding that the “environment for discussions is fairly positive. Despite what’s happening on the ground and despite the fact that we did not of course get the opportunity to receive the Ansarullah delegation.”
Both the people of Yemen and the “remarkably united” international community wanted him to succeed, Mr Griffiths insisted, adding that he intended to meet Houthi representatives in Muscat, Oman, and in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, which they control.
“We will have similar consultations with Ansarullah,” he explained. “Because one of the advantages of consultations is, that you don’t actually need to be in the same room, you don’t actually need to be in the same city. It’s more convenient – it’s what we planned, I don’t want to underplay that – but we will go, and we will discuss with them the fruits of the discussions we’ve had here. So we will be going to Muscat and Sana’a to take up the issues that we will have discussed here. This is what I mean by, ‘We have begun.’”
He insisted on the Houthi delegation’s willingness to engage in the UN-organized political process.
“I think it’s important to note that Ansarullah also wanted to be here, and they’re disappointed not to be here,” he said. “It’s important to make that point very clear. We have had extensive discussions with their representatives in Sana’a and in Muscat this past week and I have no doubt about that, whatever you may think. And they’re very keen to take this process forward, and so is the international community, who are remarkably united.”
During three days of “very fruitful” discussions with the Government of Yemen Mr Griffiths underscored the progress made on so-called confidence-building measures
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018791
film, press conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKWMHkH7Ri8
and full statement:
(* A P)
Note to Correspondents: Press remarks by UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths
I can imagine it’s been quite a frustrating week for you. And I am sorry that was the case. And I am sorry it has taken so long to get here. Anyway, I will do as you say: give a few opening remarks and take some questions. So, for me the important aspect of these last three days is: we have started consultations. The process of beginning the road back to peace has started. Not quite in the way that we would have wanted, but it has begun.
We have had three days, as planned indeed, of very fruitful discussions, consultations with the Government of Yemen delegation who arrived in the city on the 5th. I appreciate their commitment and I appreciate the engagement on the issues and the details of the issues that we have discussed. We focused on, as I mentioned the other day, confidence-building measures; sorry to use that cliché term, but that covered - and it still does by the way, because we are going back after the speech to have a further discussion with the Government delegation - it covers issues like the release of prisoners, the opening of Sana’a airport, economic issues which are of extreme importance now, as we see the protest particularly in the south of Yemen, and a wide range of humanitarian issues, as is normal in a war, to reduce fighting and open up access routes to the stabilized areas where this is possible. And we are talking about specific parts of the country, as well as issues like pauses for vaccination of children - I think I mentioned that the other day. So, we made some good progress. And in fact, I think I mentioned the other day that the environment, oddly enough - you may think it’s a bit of a contradiction - but the environment for discussions is fairly positive, despite what is happening on the ground and despite the fact that we did not of course get the opportunity to receive the Ansarullah delegation.
But of course, the elephant in the room, we didn't manage to get Ansarullah’s delegation, the delegation from Sana’a to come here. And we were engaged throughout these days in discussions and negotiations and arrangements and options and alternatives to get them here. I am not going to go into the details of what those options and arrangements might be – I am sure you have heard a lot and reported a lot, but you will not hear more from me on that. However, I should say that it's not unusual - it's not unusual even in the Yemen context, but it’s certainly not unusual in other conflicts - that a restart, I mention this the other day, is a very delicate, fragile moment.
It is too early for me to say when the next round of consultations will take place or will be held. That's obviously going to be high on the agenda so that we don't go through a repeat of this week.
(* B P)
Yemen peace talks
The world body is putting a brave face on things. There is talk of getting the logistics right next time. As well as underscoring that the moot, which would have been the first in two years, did not represent so much potential peace negotiations as a simple confidence-building measure. Be that as it may, there is much to be done in the interim at the international level.
A good place to start might be the question of arms sales to Riyadh. Admittedly, some nations have already begun halting supplies of weapons of mass destruction.
Thus as a second step, these arm supplying countries ought to think about paying into a humanitarian trust fund of sorts; preferably set-up by the UN. As a means of paying compensation to the Yemeni people. Regardless of whether or not moves are (hopefully) made to equate arms sales to war crime complicity. For in today’s Yemen, some 11 million children — a number greater than the entire population of Switzerland — are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Every. Single. Day.
Let that sink in. And then decide who is to blame for the tragedy that has befallen one of the world’s poorest nations.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/295019/yemen-peace-talks/
(A P)
Ansarallah Executive Office Calls for Clarification on Geneva Consultations
The executive office of Ansarullah, on Sunday, called on all Yemen's and UN's delegates to clarify the truth to the world and to obstruct the peace process called for by the United Nations.
The Executive Office of Ansarullah confirmed that the only language that will force the Aggression to resort to the table of consultations and negotiations is the continued support of the people in the fighting fronts and the continued strengthening of the strategic options emphasized by the Leader of the Revolution.
The Office pointed out that the aggression's alliance deals with any dialogue or consultations as tactical and not a strategic choice, saying that the alliance of aggression blocking the delegation of Sana'a is a disregard for the peace process.
The Executive Office also noted that the United Nations was unable to impose its political plan.
The United Nations was under pressure from the United States and was unable to implement the delegation's logical demands.
In the same context, the Executive Office stressed that those unable to impose the course of consultations on an aggressive alliance is certainly unable to stop this unjust war and the suffocating siege on this oppressed people.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2707&cat_id=1
(* A P)
Yemen's Houthi leader says Saudi-led coalition obstructed his peace delegation
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi on Saturday accused the Saudi-led coalition opposing it in Yemen’s war of blocking the Houthi delegation from traveling to U.N.-hosted peace talks in Geneva.
In a speech broadcast on the group’s al-Masirah TV, al-Houthi said his movement’s only condition had been to arrive “safely in Geneva”.
“We all know that the talks collapsed because of the obstruction of the national delegation from leaving and traveling to Geneva by the coalition forces,” al-Houthi said.
(* A P)
Saudi-Led Coalition Was Not Serious About Reaching A Peace Solution : Sayyed Abdulmalik Alhuthi
Quotes from Sayyed “Abdulmalek Badreddin Al-Houthi” speech about Saudi coalition obstructing Sana’a national delegation from reaching Geneva :
The coalition’s intention to foil Geneva negotiations was deliberate and with prior intention because they – the US-Saudi Coalition – do not want a fair and just peace solution.
– When the US-Saudi coalition countries realized that they will not reach their goals through diplomatic method, they tend to deceive and chicanery.
– There’s no justifications for obstructing the national negotiating delegation who their only demands were to reach Geneva safely, and return to Sanaa safely after the negotiations ends.
– What the national delegation asked for was not a condition but a natural & legitimate right.
– The US-Saudi coalition had previously hampered the negotiating delegation in Djibouti & prevented it from passing through certain countries, during that period the delegation was in danger and insecure.
– In the first round of negotiations in Geneva the negotiating delegation was subject to numerous risks and was asked to waive any compensation if it was targeted.
– The national delegation members were unable to return home, not until after an exchange took place after the Yemeni homeland security arrested US spies and exchanged them with the delegation.
– We did not oppose China, Russia, and even Kuwait to be the country that guarantees the safe travel of the negotiating delegation to Geneva.
– The Saudi-led coalition was not serious about reaching a peace solution in these negotiations. They did not agree to send a Saudi or an Emirati delegation to Geneva.
– If Hadi’s government delegation does not have the decision even in their personal affairs, how can they go to Geneva and lead negotiations on key issues to find solutions to stop this aggression war on Yemen?
– The US administration does not want to stop this aggression war against Yemen because it benefits from it economically, politically and to strengthen it control of the region.
– The US has a critical role in the war on Yemen, yet all crimes are calculated against the Saudi & Emirati regimes, while the Americans presents themselves peace sponsors.
(* A P)
#Geneva UN Negotiations -Sayed Abdulmalek Al-Houthi, in his speech today, commenting on what happened:
Yemeni national delegation requested a secured transport means from Capital Sanaa to Geneva. We proposed any country that would guarantee safety of our delegation, including #China 🇨🇳, #Russia 🇷🇺, #Oman 🇴🇲, & even #Kuwait 🇰🇼, but the coalition would refuse and insist on UN plane transport, where from past experience, UN planes were directed by the coalition.
During 1st round of negotiations, Geneva 2016, our national delegation was purposely left stranded outside Yemen 🇾🇪 and faced major security threats. The delegation was offered to WRITE A WAIVER IF TARGETED AGAINST ARRANGING A #UN PLANE THAT WOULD TAKE THEM BACK HOME TO YEMEN!
The delegation continued to be stranded and COULD ONLY RETURN TO YEMEN VIA AN EXCHANGE PROCESS WITH #USA 🇺🇸, #CIA AGENT, who were arrested then by the Yemeni National Security.
Today, our national delegation did NOT put any conditions, requesting to ensure its safety against the reckless actions of the coalition via a third neutral party, which the US-Saudi coalition rejected, proving that they are NOT willing to establish peace in Yemen ..
This genocide war has proved profitable to the USA 🇺🇸, UK 🇬🇧, France 🇫🇷, etc so they care leas about Yemenis’ sufferings, killing, destruction and famine.
The USA 🇺🇸- Saudi coalition refused that ANYONE accompanies our national delegation on the same plane, including INJURED AND PATIENTS WHO REQUIRE MEDICAL CARE OUTSIDE YEMEN 🇾🇪, and those stranded for many months outside Yemen. This is not the first time this is done but this time thE coalition rejected it and it is not their RIGHT to dictate who leaves Yemen and who stays!
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1915521221834232 = https://www.facebook.com/mohamad.alshami.90857/posts/144247246514499
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1915520078501013
and also http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507693.htm
full speech (in Arabic) https://www.facebook.com/212667712919967/videos/vb.212667712919967/335663027178853/?type=2&theater
(* A P)
Yemen rebel chief urges 'resistance' after peace talks collapse
The head of Yemen's Shiite Huthi rebels called Saturday for "resistance" as UN-brokered peace talks with the government collapsed after the insurgents stayed away.
"Our choice is steadfastness and resistance to aggression on all fronts," rebel chief Abdulmalik al-Huthi said in a defiant speech.
"I appeal to the free and honourable people of Yemen today to go to the fronts ... We must move on all fronts to recruit for our defence."
Huthi's representatives failed to show up at the talks in Geneva this week, prompting UN envoy Martin Griffiths to call off the attempted negotiations.
In his first reaction to the collapse of the talks, Huthi said he did not negotiate with "mercenaries" and "traitors", referring to the government.
"The delegation of mercenaries ... in Geneva does not even make its own decisions," he said in a speech broadcast on the rebels' Al-Masirah TV.
"If the delegation ... does not have the decision even in its personal affairs, how can it go to Geneva and lead negotiations on key issues, including finding a solution to their aggression?"
The peace talks, initially scheduled to open Thursday, would have been
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Abdel Salam: UN Failed to Set Up Consultations and Reopening of Sana’a Airport Is Humanitarian Priority
The United Nations has failed or has been failed to obtain the necessary authorization for the national delegation to go to the Geneva consultations, said Ansarullah spokesman, head of the national delegation to Geneva consultations Mohamed Abdel Salam, stressing that the reopening of Sana’a airport is a humanitarian priority.
Abdel Salam posted on Facebook that “the coalition of aggression claimed as usual that we impose conditions.”
He pointed out that the coalition "went so far as to exaggerate the claim that the wounded are Iranians and Lebanese in political bankruptcy and media coverage used by the coalition from the first day of aggression.”
"The United Nations informed us that, in line with Saudi concerns, we will be allowed to leave Sana'a directly to Geneva," he said. "We agreed to take with us patients and wounded for treatment in Europe due to their critical condition while the airport has been closed for more than two years.”
The United Nations has failed or has been failed to obtain the necessary authorization for the national delegation to go to the Geneva consultations, said Ansarullah spokesman, head of the national delegation to Geneva consultations Mohamed Abdel Salam, stressing that the reopening of Sana’a airport is a humanitarian priority.
Abdel Salam posted on Facebook that “the coalition of aggression claimed as usual that we impose conditions.”
He pointed out that the coalition "went so far as to exaggerate the claim that the wounded are Iranians and Lebanese in political bankruptcy and media coverage used by the coalition from the first day of aggression.”
"The United Nations informed us that, in line with Saudi concerns, we will be allowed to leave Sana'a directly to Geneva," he said. "We agreed to take with us patients and wounded for treatment in Europe due to their critical condition while the airport has been closed for more than two years.”
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2702&cat_id=1
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Houthi delegates were reportedly prevented by Saudi Arabia from attending peace negotiations in the Swiss city of Geneva earlier this week.
Ansarullah accused the Saudis of planning to strand the delegation in Djibouti, where their plane was to make a stop en route to Geneva.
The Saudis were “still refusing to give permission to an Omani plane” to land at the Yemeni capital Sana’a and take the delegation to Geneva, the movement said.
Loay al-Shamy, a senior Yemeni Information Ministry official in Sana'a, said, "Regarding the peace talks, the delegation was formed and their names were announced and were ready to go but the UN, under pressure from the United States and Britain could not fulfill what was agreed on."
The agreement was "to provide an Omani plane for the delegation that will participate in Geneva and offer the assurances required for the return of the delegation,” he said.
“We saw during the last talks that the delegation was stuck abroad and the UN could not bring them back home," Shamy noted.
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Yemen crisis back to 'square zero'
Houthi brinksmanship deals damaging blow to special envoy's drive for peace
According to diplomats close to the talks, the set of Houthi conditions that scuppered Geneva were issued just three days before the meeting.
Delegations had already been agreed. In fact, Sanaa's team contained a strong set of GPC members as well as the Houthi representatives (GPC members are also in the government of Yemen delegation).
The Houthis refused to fly on a UN plane, suggesting instead that an official Omani aircraft be provided.
A second condition was that 100 injured Houthi fighters plus a “companion” for each. That meant a Russian-owned Boeing 747 was put on standby at short notice. There were also conditions about guarantees of a safe return.
Khaled Al Yamani, the head of the government delegation and foreign minister, surfed the twists with forbearance. “They insist on an Omani flight, I don’t know why,” he said at one point. “I said to Martin, there is something you should know: You should be accommodating but not pleasing. They need to know the Special Envoy can be firm.’”
In fact, a separate deal had already been done on evacuees and the first flight is expected to leave for Cairo next week. “They have something hidden in insisting on this,” Mr Al Yamani added.
Inside the bubble, amid attempts to get back on track, there were divided opinions. Sources said that Matthew Tueller, the US ambassador to Yemen, was one of those who concluded the no-show demonstrated the Houthi leadership and their backers were not prepared for talks or compromises at all.
A missile launch into Saudi Arabia on Thursday night from Houthi-controlled Yemen appeared to deal another death blow.
Yet efforts to find an acceptable means of transporting the Sanaa delegation went right to the wire. Phone calls to Yusuf bin Alawi, the Omani foreign minister, tried to trash out the minute details of planes, flight paths, third country clearances and guarantees of a safe return. No one wanted a repeat of the three-month stand-off in Muscat that came after the talks broke down in 2016.
Mr Griffiths has announced his intention to fly to Muscat and Sanaa to keep his initiative going.
Despite Mr Griffiths robust determination to get back on a plane to shuttle between the two sides, the failure of one side to turn up is a significant indication of the prospect of success. “We are, at best, at square zero,” is how Mr Salisbury puts it – by Damien McElroy https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/yemen-crisis-back-to-square-zero-1.768150
From the same news site: https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/yemen-talks-delayed-after-houthi-no-show-but-still-fruitful-1.768177
My comment: This is from an Emirates’ news site. Of course: Blame the Houthis1
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UN envoy to Yemen seeks to downplay non-start of talks
The U.N. special envoy to Yemen has sought to downplay the significance of the failure of peace talks to start, saying he will head back to Yemen "within days" to try and agree on a new date.
Addressing a news conference in Geneva on Saturday, Martin Griffiths declined to blame either side for the failure to start the talks, saying apportioning blame would not help Yemen.
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Road to Peace in Yemen Begins Despite Houthis' Absence at Talks – UN Envoy
The road to peace in Yemen has begun despite the fact that the Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, had failed to arrive in Geneva for consultations, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said at a press briefing on Saturday.
"The important aspect of the last few days is that we have started consultations. The process of beginning the road back to peace has started, not quite as we wanted, but it has begun," Griffiths stressed.
According to the envoy, the United Nations would still have consultations with Ansar Allah.
"We will go and we will discuss with them the fruits of what we have discussed here," Griffiths said, adding that he would be visiting Muscat for talks with the Houthis.
He also stated that the United Nations can start preparing for the next round of consultations between the Yemeni government and the Houthis movement in order to get prisoners released, open Sanaa airport and get humanitarian access open in the city of Taiz.
He added that the United Nations would do what it could to accommodate the views of both parties.
"The fact that we haven’t achieved what I wanted to achieve … is not an exception to our push towards peace. We will do what is necessary to accommodate the views of the parties," Griffiths said.
The official concluded by saying that the UN would continue to hold consultations on Yemen, as the real solution to the conflict exists.
"If I didn’t think, if the Secretary-General didn’t think, that there was a desire for peace and that there was a real solution, we wouldn’t be here wasting your time," Griffiths said.
https://sputniknews.com/world/201809081067856970-yemen-peace-negotiations-un-geneva/
and also https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemen-peace-talks-collapse-geneva-after-houthi-no-show-1875968881
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-6145901/Yemen-talks-falter-begin-rebels-stay-away.html
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Yemen govt slams UN envoy for 'appeasing' rebels
Yemen's foreign minister slammed a UN envoy Saturday for "appeasing" Huthi rebels by not squarely blaming them for the failure of peace talks in Geneva.
"I believe that the words of the Special Envoy... were unfortunately appeasing the coup plotters and giving them excuse," Khaled Yamani told reporters.
His comments came shortly after UN envoy Martin Griffiths announced that talks scheduled this week had ended after the rebels failed to show up. "We didn't manage to get... the delegation from Sanaa to come here... We just didn't make it," he told reporters, insisting however that the Huthi delegation had wanted to come and were "disappointed not to be here."
Asked who was to blame for the stillborn negotiations, he insisted: "It's not my job to find fault. It's my job to find agreement."
"I'm not in the business of finding fault with one side so that the other side allegedly can be happier."
His comments certainly did not please Yamani
https://www.afp.com/en/news/205/yemen-govt-slams-un-envoy-appeasing-rebels-doc-18y1xx3
and also http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302707169
Comment: Let the drums of blame-game commence. And for war to continue
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1915019995217688
My comment: Griffith is totally right. – The Saudi coalition / Hadi government believe that their side always must be preferred, that the UN envoy must side with them. But this is odd if he should be an intermediator.
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Yemen govt delegation to leave Geneva as talks falter
Yemen govt delegation to leave Geneva as talks falter
Yemeni government representatives, who had flown to Geneva to take part in long-awaited UN-sponsored peace talks, will return home on Saturday after rebels failed to show up, a delegate said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the government representative said the delegation had decided to return home after the talks were put on hold for three days.
The Huthi rebel delegation had declined to attend until the United Nations met several demands including providing guarantees it would be able to return to the Yemeni capital Sanaa afterwards.
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'We just didn't make it,' UN envoy says as Yemen talks falter
UN-backed talks between Yemen's warring parties ended Saturday before properly getting off the ground, with the UN envoy acknowledging it had not been possible to convince the rebels to come to Geneva.
"We didn't manage to get... the delegation from Sanaa to come here... We just didn't make it," Martin Griffiths told reporters in Geneva.
He said it was "too early to say when the next round of consultations will take place.
https://www.afp.com/en/news/23/we-just-didnt-make-it-un-envoy-says-yemen-talks-falter-doc-18y1a23
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Jemen-Gespräche verzögern sich wegen Rebellen-Verspätung weiter
Die Gespräche der Konfliktparteien im Jemenkrieg in Genf verzögern sich wegen der Verspätung der Rebellen-Delegation weiter. Die Regierungsdelegation droht dem Saudi-Arabien nahestehenden Nachrichtenkanal Al-Arabija zufolge mit dem Platzen der Gespräche, falls die Rebellen bis Samstag nicht in Genf einträfen. Eine Sprecherin der UNO erklärte, zu einer solchen Frist habe sie keine Informationen. Die Vertreter der Huthi-Rebellen befanden sich unterdessen weiter in Jemens Hauptstadt Sanaa. Sie lehnen eine bereitgestellte Uno-Maschine ab und verlangen stattdessen ein Flugzeug der omanischen Airline Oman Air. Die Aufständischen hatten das damit begründet, dass die Vereinten Nationen bei früheren Gesprächen in Genf den sicheren Transport nicht hatten garantieren können.
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Yemen’s peace process needs ambition and international pressure
To increase the chances of a diplomatic breakthrough, the scope of the peace process should widen to include the most complex issues and drivers of the conflict. Skeptics would say widening the scope of the talks and making them more inclusive, when trying to bring the two main parties to the table is already a challenge, would reduce the chances of reaching a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Too many disagreeing voices, the argument goes, will only add more complexity to a problem that already looks like mission impossible. But without more ambition in the peace process, any agreements between the warring parties are unlikely to go beyond momentary pauses for humanitarian purposes, and the endless cycle of fighting will not be broken.
The conflict is not defined only by the Houthis versus the Yemeni government, and betting on these unreliable pauses to get the proper peace negotiations going has not worked so far. The present focus of the team led by the capable Martin Griffiths, the UN special representative for Yemen, is on confidence-building measures that can translate into specific opportunities to mitigate the human cost of the war.
A few matters seem to be on top of the list: Potential prisoner exchanges, a resumption of flights into Sanaa and, most relevant, the status of Hodeidah port, the entry point for the great majority of supplies of food, medical aid and fuel to the more populous north of the country.
The creation of a national unity government would be a difficult but natural place to start. Guaranteeing relevant seats for the main warring factions, especially the internationally recognized government and the Houthis, would be inevitable. But this process cannot be focused only on satisfying the desires of the two main parties to the conflict, which are themselves fragmented. Other groups, such as factions within the General People’s Congress, should be included.
The same applies to the reinvigorated southern separatist movement, now called the Southern Transitional Council.
Deeply interlinked with wider participation in the process is the need to revive plans for a federal Yemen. This is the only mechanism that can address the root causes of the conflict, including fair representation for all major factions, distribution and access to resources, and other critical matters such as the southern question – by Manuel Almeida
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1368426
My comment: I was really astonished to read such a sound opinion on a Saudi website by this author who already had spread a lot of Saudi propaganda nonsense. Of course, further down propaganda starts (Iran, Hezbollah). – I agree with the author that it is necessary “to revive plans for a federal Yemen”. But this should be quite different from what then-president Hadi tried to impose in the 2012/14 “National Dialogue Conference”.
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Sources: Griffiths to issue statement on Geneva talks amid Houthi absence
In the latest development related to the Geneva talks sponsored by the United Nations on the Yemeni crisis, UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths is expected to issue a statement on the fate of the Geneva talks in the absence of the Houthi delegation, according to western sources.
Earlier on Friday, Griffiths said that he will continue his negotiations with the delegation representing the Yemeni legitimate government and other diplomats in Geneva, while working on bringing the Houthi delegation to Geneva
Meanwhile, Al Arabiya news channel correspondent reported that the delegation representing the Yemeni legitimate government will stay in the Swiss city, regardless if the delegation representing the Houthi militias arrives there to take part in the negotiations.
For his part, the United States ambassador to Yemen said on Friday, that Geneva talks will resume within two weeks, if it does not start tomorrow.
My comment: It’s the US who really decides what is going to happen??
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Yemen foreign minister reveals UN talks to be postponed
UN-led Yemen consultations were set to be formally postponed on Saturday having failed to secure participation of representatives of the Houthi delegation.
The Sanaa faction failed to show up in Geneva after raising a series of last-minute demands and according to the Yemeni Foreign Minister Khalid Al Yamani the UN envoy would temporarily halt the process at a press conference on Saturday.
“As a results of the [Houthis] absence the process will be postponed and we look forward to more serious and engaging process in the future,” Mr Al Yamani told the National.
Consultations in Geneva were supposed to convene on Thursday but were postponed as the rebels’ representatives were refusing to fly from Yemen on Friday. The government negotiating team arrived in the Swiss city on Wednesday and have held several informal meetings with the UN special envoy for Yemen, Mr Griffiths.
The Yemeni minister who is leading the government delegation called on the international community to put more pressure on the Houthi rebels to engage in UN led consultations.
“We don't want to jump into conclusions that the Houthis are not ready to achieve durable peace in Yemen,” he said, adding that peace can only be achieved “when we're sitting through a table of negotiations.”
My comment: It’s propaganda nonsense to blame the Houthis for this stalemate as long as the “International Community” acknowledges that the Saudi coalition has any right to decide on the flights to and from Sanaa airport, which is the underlying problem of this failure. – This also is shown by the following statement:
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[Hadi government] Foreign minister: We will not accept the transfer of unidentified wounded aboard the Houthi delegation's aircraft
Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani said on Friday that the legitimate government would not accept the transfer of wounded people on board the Al-Houthi delegation, which is supposed to participate in the Geneva consultations to resolve the Yemeni crisis.
In a brief statement from Geneva, al-Yamani added, "Legitimacy will not accept the travel of any unidentified wounded aboard the aircraft designated to transport the Houthi delegation from Sana'a to Geneva."
My comment: It’s not acceptable that the Hadi government should have to decide anything in this matter.
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Hadi government Embassy to the US: The Government of #Yemen holds the #Houthis responsible for thwarting the peace process, and calls up on the international community to take a strong position towards the Houthis' intransigence and reckless actions which are intended to undermine the UN envoy’s efforts for peace
https://twitter.com/YemenEmbassy_DC/status/1038181443594330113
Comment: Strange
https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/1038181970470232069
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Yemen's Houthis want U.N. guarantees for delegation as peace talks in Geneva stall
Yemen’s Houthi group said on Friday it was still waiting for the United Nations to guarantee that the flight carrying its delegation to peace talks in Geneva would not be inspected by Saudi coalition forces and could evacuate some of its wounded.
U.N.-brokered talks to end Yemen’s three-year war were meant to begin on Sept. 6, but only representatives of the Yemeni government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi turned up as the Houthis insisted their plane to Geneva be allowed to evacuate dozens of injured people to neighboring Oman.
“The United Nations is now facing a choice where it should prove that it refuses the violation of the international and humanitarian law .... not allowing the Omani plane to take the delegation and the wounded is a flagrant violation,” a Houthi leader, Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, said late on Friday on Twitter.
Houthi said his group also wanted guarantees that their plane supplied by Oman would not have to stop in Djibouti for inspection in both directions, after being “sequestrated” there by the Saudi-led military coalition last time for months.
film by Aljazeera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INq0kdO5NYo
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Saudi-Backed Yemeni Government Blocking Houthi Plane from Reaching Peace Talks
A peace delegation from the Houthi movement to the UN-sponsored negotiations in Geneva to try and find an end to the Yemeni Civil War is being blocked from flying out of Yemen ‒ by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government they’re supposed to be negotiating with.
However, the Houthis' Al-Masirah TV said the UN had been unable to "secure authorization" from the Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government for an Omani plane to land in Sana'a and transport the rebel delegation, along with wounded fighters, out of the country.
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CEOs of major NGOs call on Secretary General to demand a ceasefire ahead of peace talks in Yemen
Faced with the ongoing belligerence of parties to the conflict – whose recent escalation in violence indicates the ongoing pursuit of a military solution – the efforts of UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths to bring parties to the table for peace talks have been nothing short of heroic, and his consultations this week represent the best hope for peace that Yemen has seen in over two years. We are encouraged by Griffiths’ efforts to also ensure that the process is inclusive, as a sustainable solution to the conflict will not be possible without the voices of those most affected – especially women and young Yemenis. Yet the ongoing reckless disregard for civilian life by all parties to the conflict – as documented most recently by the UN’s Group of Eminent Experts last month – not only carries a devastating human cost; it risks undermining Griffiths’ vital work before it even gets off the ground.
We strongly urge you to use your unique position, including the weight of the United Nations as the guardian of the rules-based international system, to issue a public statement demanding all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire, to end the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and to engage in good faith with the peace process led by the UN Special Envoy. What Yemen needs most right now is a ceasefire by all parties to the conflict, to spare Yemen’s beleaguered civilians from further violence and give this week’s consultations in Geneva time and space to mature and progress.
The worsening situation on the ground makes clear that Yemen can’t wait for the parties to come to their senses. The collapse of the Yemeni rial risks pushing millions more civilians into starvation. In the face of a third wave of cholera, the ongoing refusal by the Yemeni government to pay public sector workers also accelerates the collapse of health and sanitation systems, and steals the right to education from an entire generation of Yemeni children.
The UN system and humanitarian organisations alone cannot stem this catastrophe. Ultimately, only a political solution will end the crisis in Yemen. But until that political solution is achieved, the international community must use all diplomatic means to demand that parties to the conflict comply with the repeated requests made by the UN Security Council to end violations against civilians, and to stop exacerbating the humanitarian crisis with obstructions to humanitarian and commercial access and the denial of public sector salary payments.
It must be made clear to all parties to the conflict that there will be no impunity for their continued violations.
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U.N. Special Envoy still awaits Houthis at Yemen peace talks in Geneva
The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths has discussed issues including prisoners, humanitarian access and the reopening of Sanaa airport with Yemen Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani, a U.N. spokeswoman said on Friday.
But Griffiths, who began consultations with the Yemen government delegation in Geneva on Thursday, still awaits representatives of the Iranian-allied Houthi movement from the capital Sanaa, U.N. spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told a briefing. “He is still working on getting the Ansarullah delegation to Geneva,” she said.
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Houthis will attend Geneva talks 'if demands are met'
Yemen's Houthi rebels are prepared to attend UN-sponsored peace talks in Geneva if three of their demands are met, a member of the group's delegation has told Al Jazeera.
Hameed Assem, part of the Houthi delegation that was supposed to fly to Geneva, told Al Jazeera on Friday that the three demands from the Houthi group included "transport of wounded rebels to Oman, repatriation of rebels who have already received treatment there and a guarantee that the Houthi delegation attending the talks in Geneva would be allowed to return to the rebel-held capital Sanaa after the talks end"
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/houthis-attend-geneva-talks-demands-met-180907093710133.html
Remark: Earlier reporting: Yemen War Mosaic 454, cp7.
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Supreme Political Council Held US-Saudi Aggression Responsible for Obstructing Participation of National Delegation in Geneva
An official source in the Supreme Political Council, on Thursday, held the US-Saudi aggression forces responsible for blocking the transfer of the National Delegation, participating in the Geneva consultations. In a statement the Council explained that the aggression still refuses to grant permission to an Omani plane to transport the National Delegation. Noting that the political leadership is keen to ensure the security and safety of the delegation as a result of past experiences, where the United Nations had failed to ensure a safe and smooth transition and was unable to arrange for their return from Kuwait for three months.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2654&cat_id=1
and also https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2653&cat_id=1
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Elisabeth Kendall: Is there reason to be optimistic about the #Yemen peace talks in #Geneva? The Houthi delegation still hasn't arrived & each side is blaming the other for the delay. Here's a short clip from my interview on France 24 yesterday.
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1038063406098595840
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Iran: US Blames Us for ‘Horrors’ of Its Own Creation Across Middle East
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused US President Donald Trump of flipping the script on destruction across the Middle East by blaming Iran instead of looking at US policies that have delivered “horrors” in the region.
The foreign minister's remarks came in the form of a tweet following revelations that Trump would chair a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting in New York City on September 26 focusing on Iran's "violations of international law and the general instability Iran sows throughout the entire Middle East," US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told reporters on Tuesday.
https://sputniknews.com/world/201809051067784480-Iran-US-Horrors-Across-Middle-East/
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'#Yemen: there cannot be a final military solution.
Only a fully-fledged dialogue between the 'official authorities', Houthis and the Southern Movement could still stop the growing national catastrophe that threatens to turn into a great war in the Middle East and even a military confrontation on a world scale.'
Evgeny Ben, The Pravda, Sept. 9 2018
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/photos/a.961595153893515/1915171041869250
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
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The West's love affair with Saudi Arabia must end
The West must stop turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses and take a more harsh approach towards the kingdom
Friedman is not alone in fawning over MBS and the kingdom's so-called progressive makeover he's portrayed to the world. Other US outlets including 60 minutesand CNBCrendered him a revolutionary and disruptor. Of course finally allowing women to drive, a crackdown on corruption and a raft of other reforms that bring the country in line with what he might call "moderate Islam" is music to the ears for the West.
The likes of the US and the UK in particular never wanted to give up on one their most lucrative relationships while having to battle outrage time and again over its deplorable human rights record.
In the beginning half of the year Donald Trump signed off on a billion-dollar arms deal. The UK has sold £10,358,879,720-worth of controlled goods through export licences to Saudi Arabia over a ten-year period, much of which involves military goods.
Saudi Arabia is the largest trading partner in the Middle East for both the US and the UK and it's the biggest supplier of oil to the US market. For its custom, Saudi Arabia gets backing for pursuing its own interests in the region, be it a proxy war in Syria or full-on offensive in Yemen.
Unfortunately, the sheen that MBS and the kingdom have tried to apply to the country's tarnished record is fast wearing off - and for good reason. Allowing women to drive apparently comes at a cost, which is to lock them up when they speak out of turn. It's not just a crackdown on corruption but a crackdown on free speech or any defiance of the kingdom's goals.
A quote from Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa Director Sarah Leah Whitson sums it all up:
"Every day the Saudi monarchy's unrestrained despotism makes it harder
The kingdom is most likely counting on foreign support though. Its own internal support base is sketchy, having made enemies from its corruption crackdown and religious reform efforts. The disenfranchised youth are also weary from scant opportunity and low oil prices damaging the economy.
Somewhere it probably is unwilling to be. If the US has indicated its support is not unconditional and there is only so much it will tolerate that will surely resonate with them somewhere. The kingdom needs allies in the US and the UK as much as the other way round. Key trading partners they are but the unrelenting support of an internal and external (in Yemen) campaign of terror is damaging their own standing on the international stage and nationally as well.
The UK public thinks little of the relationship the government has with Saudi Arabia and this is something it may want to reflect on come election time.
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2018/9/7/the-wests-love-affair-with-saudi-arabia-must-end
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Saudi journalist accuses Oman of war against neighbors
Saudi newspaper editor of al-Riyadh al-Yaum claimed that Muscat by supporting Houthis of Yemen, has declared war against the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC).
Sami-al-Othman wrote in Tweets that Oman clearly supports Ansarullah Movement in Yemen.
He added that they sent their allied Houthis to Geneva with the Omani aircraft.
A few days ago, Mohammed al-Masoori, a lawyer for former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was in Riyadh, claimed that Muscat unrestrictedly supported the Ansarullah Movement in Yemen.
The Arab-American coalition, which has targeted Yemen over the past three and a half years, accuses any country that has taken a different path to support the Houthis in Yemen.
The US think-tank Stratford recently said in a report that Oman is trying to maintain a balance of relations policy in regional and international engagements referring to the pressure from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to shift the country into a policy in favor of the two countries.
Oman is trying to pursue neutrality in the Persian Gulf conflict
http://www.irna.ir/en/News/83026680
My comment: What is written in Saudi media, is approved by the government. – Oman does not support any party in Yemen; it is just neutral. The Saudis seem to start bullying a smaller neutral country in a way which rarely could be seen before, even Nazi Germany had respected the neutrality of Switzerland and Sweden in WW II.
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Exclusive: Saudi king's brother is considering self exile
Prince Ahmed Abdulaziz stands by comments he made to Yemeni protesters outside his London home
Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the brother of King Salman of Saudi Arabia is considering not returning home after comments he made to Yemeni and Bahraini protesters outside his London home earlier in the week in which he distanced himself and the rest of the Al Saud family from the actions of his brother and his nephew, the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), a senior source close to the prince told Middle East Eye.
SPA said Prince Ahmed was merely saying the royal family was responsible because of their positions in the government
The source close to the prince told MEE that he stood by his original remarks. He said the report by state controlled SPA was fake and that the words quoted by the agency were not his, according to the source.
After the video surfaced, a hashtag in Arabic went viral. It read: “We pledge allegiance to Ahmed Abdulaziz as king.”
Breaking the silence
This is the first time a member of the Al Saud family of the prince's rank and seniority has broken the family code of silence. The prince has publicly and deliberately distanced the family from the reign of King Salman. If the prince confirms his decision not to return, his act would be biggest public challenge yet to Salman's rule.
Prince Ahmed's remarks to the Yemeni protesters about the position of the royal family clearly allude to the days when big decisions, such as the decision to launch air strikes on Yemen, were made collectively in consultation with other leading members of the family. Under King Salman and his son Mohammed, the crown prince, this is no longer the case.
Ahmed’s unhappiness with the power that his young nephew MBS now wields is well known.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-saudi-kings-brother-considering-self-exile-841116473
Remark: Earlier reporting: Yemen War Mosaic 454, 453, cp8. The whole story of Prince Ahmed also here: https://sputniknews.com/military/201809091067883875-saudi-royals-bicker-over-yemen-war/
And
(A P)
Contacts disclosed between Houthis and Saudi princes
Houthi leader Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi has disclosed contacts with princes of the Saudi Arabian royal family, it has been reported. The head of the Supreme Revolutionary Committee formed by Ansar Allah group in Yemen used Twitter for his disclosure.
“Prince Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz’s statements are positive and show a great sense of awareness from the part of the prince, who rejects the aggression against Yemen,” claimed Al-Houthi. “Will the Saudi system be aware of following such an insane path that has been rejected by everyone even the royal family? Or will the hunger for shedding the blood of the steadfast people of Yemen prevail?”
Prince Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz has apparently revealed an internal dispute in Riyadh about the Yemeni situation, which is an attitude shared by several members of the Saudi royal family, as they are said to have confirmed to Al-Houthi.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180908-contacts-disclosed-between-houthis-and-saudi-princes/
Remark: Title is misleading as Mohammed Ali Al Houthi was actually commenting Prince Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz's statement capture on video
https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1915141781872176?
(A P)
Bin Salman Handed All Money of Saudi People to Trump
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has handed over all the money of the Saudi People to US President Donald Trump, the secretary-general of the Saudi Karamah movement said.
"There is opposition against Mohammed bin Salman in the army, the royal family and the religious establishment," al-Jarba said in an interview with Al-Mayadeen channel. "Bin Salman will not be able to marginalize the religious establishment because it is rooted in 100 years."
He explained that "there is a plan to transform the kingdom from the Kingdom of Al Saud to the Kingdom of Al Salman," calling for a referendum on the system of government in Saudi Arabia.
As for the war on Yemen, Jarba said, "We were against the war on Yemen since the first day, and Bin Salman considered it a paper to reach the throne."
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2664&cat_id=2
Remark: Karamah: Muslim Woman Lawyers for Human Rights. Report: https://english.alahednews.com.lb/41668/269#.W5NIVOgzaUk
(A P)
My sister and i need your help. Help us to share our story to human rights and to #canada where they can help us to seek asylum. We are stuck in Hong Kong, our transit country, where we supposed to go to Melbourne, but Saudi consulate stopped us from catching our plane.
We’re going to share Live Video. We’re going to Consulate of Canada and seek for asylum. Please help us to share it. We need help.
https://twitter.com/Exmuslim77/status/1037935886803988482
cp9 USA
(A K P)
Pentagon chief Mattis holds talks in UAE after Yemen warning
Abu Dhabi's crown prince says 'defence and military ties' and 'issues of mutual interest' discussed in the meeting.
US Defence Secretary James Mattis has held talks with Abu Dhabi's crown prince in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), days after warning the Gulf state that Washington's support for its military intervention in Yemen was not unconditional.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed tweeted on Saturday that his meeting with the Pentagon chief late on Friday covered "the enhancing of defence and military ties" and "issues of mutual interest."
He did not give further details.
My comment: mattis’ “warning” had been a hot air bubble just to comfort the US public, nothing more.
(* B P)
Pull the plug on US support of the war in Yemen
Indeed, further complicity in a conflict rife with human rights violations does nothing but undermine the moral standing of the United States.
For American resources to be deployed, without congressional authorization, in support of parties known to have repeatedly disregarded obligations to avoid harm to civilians is untenable.
This is not a partisan issue. Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump might not agree on much, but both proved too supportive of the Saudi-led coalition’s actions.
Unfortunately for the people of Yemen, Congress has, to date, been all too willing to cede its constitutional authority over war powers to the executive branch.
Congress has to step up and stop giving up its authority just because it’s easy — and politically convenient, in a horse-trading sense — to do so.
It is unacceptable for the United States to support a coalition that bombs school buses, funerals and weddings. That shouldn’t be hard for any member of Congress with any decency or integrity to understand.
Once again, we urge Congress to do its job and pull the plug on support for the Saudi-led coalition.
https://www.dailynews.com/2018/09/07/pull-the-plug-on-us-support-of-the-war-in-yemen/
(* A K P)
Film: Rep. Ro Khanna Denounces Support for Saudis in Yemen and Interventionist Foreign Policy
Ro Khanna addresses the war in Yemen and his new bill co-sponsored with Bernie Sanders that would force billionaires like Jeff Bezos to pay fair wages or face penalties
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM6AlKeVhds
(A P)
Film: Activists Arrested for Blocking Boeing Arms Plant Speak Out Against Yemen War
To protest the US-Saudi war on Yemen, peace activists blocked a Boeing weapons facility in Missouri with a bus — a symbol of the 40 Yemeni children on a school bus massacred by Saudi Arabia with a US-made bomb. The anti-war protesters speak with TRNN’s Ben Norton
https://therealnews.com/stories/activists-arrested-for-blocking-boeing-arms-plant-speak-out-against-yemen-war = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4bTkmAQmvo&t=13s
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
(B E K)
After Trump’s border jails, Scots pensions now linked to Yemen school bus atrocity
SCOTS council pension funds have shares worth £110 million in US arms giants linked to an alleged war crime in Yemen when 40 children were killed, we can reveal.
We can reveal Lothian Pension Fund has £24m invested in General Dynamics and £86m in Lockheed Martin where another big council pension fund, the Strathclyde Fund, has invested £1.6m. Meanwhile, Scottish Enterprise has given Lockheed Martin nearly £200,000 in grants since 2013.
Critics have condemned both the pension fund investments and the awarding of taxpayers’ money to the biggest arms company in the world.
My comment: Many other pension funds will have done the same.
(* A P)
Tony Blair Confirms Receiving Millions in Donations From Saudi Arabia
The Tony Blair Institute wrote flattering articles about Bin Salman during the crown prince’s visit to the UK early this year.
Tony Blair’s relationship with Saudi Arabia has come under scrutiny following the revelation that the non-government organisation set up under his name has received millions of pounds from Riyadh.
Accounts published yesterday by the Tony Blair Institute confirmed earlier reports that Blair had received donations of up to $12 million from the Kingdom.
The Saudi donation, according to the Financial Times, comes from an organisation called Media Investment Limited (MIL), which is a subsidiary of Saudi Research & Marketing Group, registered in Guernsey.
Publication of the accounts confirmed July reports that Tony Blair Institute had made an agreement with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, effective ruler of Saudi Arabia, earlier this year to help with a programme of modernisation for the Kingdom.
The agreement was said to be the first major deal to have emerged involving the Tony Blair Institute, which Blair established in 2016 after winding down his commercial operations.
The report in the Telegraph prompted the institute to defend its dealing with the Saudi Kingdom saying that the former prime minister did not receive any payment from Riyadh and profits are not generated from its consultancy work. They insisted that their mission was to promote stability and reform in the Middle East – with staff based in the UAE, a key ally of Saudi Arabia.
Following the revelation, questions were raised over some of the institute’s decision, including Blair himself, who supported UK intervention in Syria; a policy that would have primarily benefited the Saudi-backed opposition groups.
Blair’s institute also wrote flattering articles about Bin Salman during the crown prince’s visit to the UK early this year. “Britain should learn from Saudi Arabia and how it has demonstrated a clear commitment to tackling the politicisation of Islam to inform policymaking,” one article read.
It also endorsed Bin Salman’s vision. “As part of his broad, sweeping and ambitious plans to revolutionise Saudi Arabia, economically, socially and religiously, the crown prince has demonstrated a level of conviction, clarity and coherence in identifying and understanding the nature of Islamist extremism that Western policymakers should seek to learn from.”
https://www.mintpressnews.com/tony-blair-saudi-arabia-millions/248915/
Remark: This already had been reported earlier.
(* A P)
Saudis admit error over deaths of second group of Yemeni children
Coalition’s latest admission focuses on strike in August in which 26 children died
Alistair Burt, the Middle East minister, on Tuesday described the report by the joint incidents assessment team last weekend as “almost unparalleled in terms of admitting error and pointing out where that error was. I think that the hand of the United Kingdom can be seen in the work that we have done with the coalition over time in order to ensure that should things go wrong, there is proper accountability”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/06/yemen-campaign-hit-civilians-saudi-coalition-admits
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180907-saudi-arabia-admits-killing-civilians-in-yemen/
My comment: The Saudi admittance alreadxy had been reported earlier. I repeat it here because of the British government’s reaction: Above all, the British government wants to keep up the close connection to the Saudis and the arms exports. Burt is praising the Saudis are praised for a pure PR measure. It’s of no impotance at all that they had committed this and other criminal air raids.The Saudi coalition’s “investigations” are by no means “independent”, transparent and realistic. The purpose is to whitewash the coalition, to deflect any blaming and – in cases like these horrible August 2018 eraids against children – to limit PR damage on the lowest possible level.
(B P)
So UKGov is "unable" [or unwilling] to say how many weapons are being exported, still doesn't think they'll be used in IHL violations [despite overwhelming evidence] and still welcomes #Saudi-led coalition investigations into their own warcrimes. Utterly shameful. (questions to the government, text in image)
https://twitter.com/julie_maxon/status/1038000251280478208
(* B K P)
The UK has licensed at least £4.7bn of arms exports to Saudi Arabia since the start of the Yemen War
The UK has licensed at least £4.7bn of arms exports to Saudi Arabia and £860m to its coalition partners. These don’t include all licenses but also not all licenses result in goods ultimately being exported.
https://fullfact.org/news/uk-has-licensed-least-47bn-arms-exports-saudi-arabia-start-yemen-war/
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
(* A K P)
Pakistan Denies Support for the Saudi-Led Coalition in Yemen: Report
Pakistan denies a request made by the Saudi regime, for the second time, to participate in the war on Yemen.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has refused to send Pakistani forces to fight in Yemen, stressing that his country will not take part in wars for other countries.
“If there is one coherent institution in Pakistan at present, it is the army,” Khan said in a speech from the army headquarters in Punjab province, according to the local Geo News channel. Additionally, he pursued civil and military institutions to push the country forward.
“The Pakistani army is doing its best to avoid interfering in politics,” he said, stressing that such an interference would “destroy institutions,” he added.
Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan to participate in the Saudi military campaign in Yemen with warships, military aircraft, and Pakistani militants.
Nevertheless, Pakistan’s parliament voted to remain neutral in order to avoid being dragged into a ”sectarian” regional conflict, because the civilization in Pakistan is a mixture between Sunnis and Shias.
(* A K P)
Spanish government under pressure over Saudi defense deals
Shipbuilders are blocking roads in southern Spain amid fears that Saudi Arabia could scrap a $2.1 billion-purchase of warships in retaliation to a move by Madrid to halt a shipment of bombs to Riyadh.
The new center-left Spanish government said earlier this week that it was not planning to deliver the 400 laser-guided precision bombs over worries they may be used to target civilians in Yemen.
Saudi diplomats in Madrid declined to comment on whether that could lead to Riyadh canceling a July deal to buy five navy corvettes from Spanish company Navantia.
https://www.ksl.com/article/46387641/spanish-government-under-pressure-over-saudi-defense-deals
and
(* A K P)
Spain defends Saudi warship deal after blocking bombs sale
Madrid says it is working to defend a lucrative warship contract with Saudi Arabia amid reports the deal is in trouble after the government blocked the sale of 400 bombs to Riyadh
Madrid said Friday it was working "to defend" a lucrative warship contract with Saudi Arabia amid reports the deal is in trouble after the Socialist government blocked the sale of 400 bombs to Riyadh, which is involved in the bloody Yemen conflict.
A report in online daily El Independiente said that Riyadh now planned to cancel a 1.8-billion-euro contract with Spain to build five Corvette warships.
This has created huge concern in shipyards of Spanish company Navantia in the southern region of Andalusia, where thousands of jobs are at stake.
"The government is working to maintain good relations with Saudi Arabia and to defend the contracts for the construction of five Corvettes in Navantia's shipyards," government spokeswoman Isabel Celaa told reporters.
"That implies maintaining the government's international commitments," she added, raising the question as to whether the government was considering reversing its decision to block the sale of the bombs.
"I don't think there is a diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia," Celaa said.
Spain's deputy trade minister Xiana Mendez meanwhile told lawmakers in the parliament's defence commission that the government was "aware of the importance of this... splendid contract worth 1.8 billion euros, with close to 6,000 jobs" involved.
"As far as I know, this contract is still in force."
She called for "calm", adding "the government will not endanger" the sale of these warships.
and
(* B K P)
Sale otro barco con armamento para Arabia Saudí dos días después del veto de Defensa a la venta de bombas para atacar a Yemen
[Wednesday, a new ship loaded with arms sailed from Santander port off to #KSA, almost a month after the same country bombed a schoolbus.
-Saudis usually hide the name of the Spanish port from which the shipments depart]
Los puertos de Santader y de Motril forman parte de la nueva ruta de salida de productos de guerra para la monarquía absolutista, responsable de los salvajes ataques contra la población yemení. El Ejecutivo asegura que estudiará este tipo de comercio.
España mantiene unos negocios privilegiados con los máximos responsables de esta matanza.
El ejemplo más cercano está en el puerto de Santander. Este miércoles, un nuevo barco ha cargado allí armamento con destino a Arabia Saudí, casi un mes después de que ese mismo país bombardease un autobús escolar.
Menos de 48 horas después de que el Gobierno anunciara la paralización de la venta de 400 bombas de precisión a la monarquía saudí, el barco Bahri Hofuf (perteneciente a la naviera de capital público Bahri) ha atracado en el puerto de la capital cántabra, del que ha partido con varios contenedores con munición y explosivos con destino al régimen saudí, según confirmaron a Público fuentes portuarias.
“Es una tremenda contradicción”, destacó a Público Luis Arbide
https://www.publico.es/sociedad/sale-barco-armamento-arabia-saudi.html
and
(* B K P)
Así usa Arabia Saudí las armas que le venden países como España
El papel de España
España vendió el pasado año material de defensa por más de 361 millones de euros a los países que forman parte de la coalición internacional liderada por Arabia Saudí.
Así consta en el informe 'Estadísticas españolas de exportación de material de defensa, de otro material y de productos y tecnologías de doble uso' del año 2017, que anualmente remite la Secretaría de Estado de Comercio a las Cortes Generales.
En total, España exportó 4.346,7 millones de euros el pasado año en material de defensa y doble uso, un 7,3% más que en 2016 y la cifra más elevada de los últimos años.
Entre ellos, Arabia Saudí es el principal cliente de la industria de defensa española fuera de la OTAN y la Unión Europea. En concreto, España exportó al país 270,2 millones de euros entre los que se encuentran un avión de transporte, repuestos para aeronaves, drones, plataformas portamorteros, granadas de mortero, munición de artillería, equipos de detección y cámaras de infrarrojos.
El abril de este año, el Gobierno de Rajoy reconoció que no existe, "ni nunca ha existido en España", un protocolo que detalle los procesos a seguir para la vigilancia de las armas que vende la industria de armamento una vez que estas llegan a su destino.
Cuando las armas españolas atraviesan las fronteras es imposible su fiscalización
https://www.eldiario.es/internacional/Arabia-Saudi-venden-paises-Espana_0_812269005.html
(* B K P)
Canada: How can we defend human rights while selling arms to Saudi Arabia?
Arms deals are not merely a financial transaction. They are a powerful expression of political support and partnership between two governments. When Stephen Harper signed the $15-billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia in 2014 – the largest contract in Canada’s history – he attempted to justify the controversial deal by pointing to Saudi Arabia as a partner in the fight against Islamic State. He also argued that cancelling the contract would unjustly punish the 3,000 Canadian workers who manufacture the weapons in London, Ont.
Chrystia Freeland’s tweet last month, which called for the release of detained human-rights activists in Saudi Arabia, triggered a Canadian-Saudi spat in which Saudi Arabia abruptly cut diplomatic and new-trade ties with Canada. It also pulled thousands of Saudi scholarship students from Canadian universities.
Ms. Freeland’s tweet and previous calls by the Canadian government for the release of arbitrarily detained activists and dissidents in Saudi Arabia are in line with Canada’s professed human-rights-conscious foreign policy. The continuation of its multibillion-dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia is most definitely not.
After Saudi Arabia’s punitive response to Ms. Freeland’s tweet, she stated that Canada would continue to stand up for human rights at home and around the world. But Canada’s so-called feminist and human-rights-oriented foreign policy rings hollow in the ever-expanding gravesites of Yemen.
That Canada continues to supply Saudi Arabia with arms, despite the horrific atrocities being committed in Yemen on a daily basis by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, is puzzling – if not absurd.
and
(A K P)
Film: Canada’s Yemeni Community Calls on Trudeau Government to End Arms Sales to Saudis
Hamza Shaiban says arms sales to Saudis cannot be reconciled with Canada’s commitment to ‘stand up for human rights’
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade
Siehe / Look at cp12
(* B K P)
Why More And More Countries Are Blocking Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia And The UAE
The largest arms suppliers to Riyadh are the U.S., with $8.4bn worth of sales since 2014, followed by the UK ($2.6bn) and France ($475m).
The governments of these three countries show little or no interest in curbing their lucrative deals with Gulf countries. However, a growing number of other governments are taking a different approach and, even in London, Paris and Washington, there are regular legal and political challenges to the trade.
Meanwhile, other governments have been taking a different view. Over the past year the list of exporters either pausing or blocking arms sales to the combatants in the Yemen war has been steadily growing, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE the two countries most often affected.
Officials in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are unlikely to be too concerned about the loss of these smaller suppliers. Their main concern will be ensuring there is no let-up in the flow of arms from the key countries of the U.S. and UK and, to a lesser extent, France.
cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy
(A E P)
Decision to ban the entry of ships carrying petroleum derivatives and goods that do not have funds through the central bank
The Ministry of Transport has been directed not to allow the entry of commodities and petroleum derivatives that do not have funds, collections and documentary remittances through the Yemeni central bank of Aden.
The Yemeni government issued a decision in its attempt to save the Yemeni economy, which focused on restricting the import of essential goods and petroleum derivatives through credits, collections and documentary remittances through the central bank of Yemen.
Remark: Hadi government.
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
(* A T)
Suspected US drone strike kills 4 al-Qaida members in Yemen
Yemeni tribal leaders say a suspected U.S. drone strike has killed four alleged al-Qaida militants including a field leader in the country's south.
The tribal leaders said on Sunday that the operatives were killed when an unmanned aircraft targeted a group of al-Qaida militants in the district of Ahwar, one of al-Qaida's strongholds in the southern Abyan province.
(* B T)
Are the US and UK empowering al-Qaeda in Yemen?
Washington and London continue to arm Saudi Arabia, whose coalition has formed a tacit alliance with AQAP fighters
A recent investigation by the Associated Press found that militias in Yemen backed by the Saudi-led coalition, of which the US and UK are a de facto part, have been recruiting hundreds of al-Qaeda militants to fight Houthi forces to reinstate the ousted government of Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.
According to the International Crisis Group, AQAP “has acquired a wide range of new weaponry, including heavy weapons from Yemeni military camps or acquired indirectly from the Saudi-led coalition”.
Middle East Eye revealed last year that the largest Salafi militant force in Taiz received arms and money from the coalition
These arms supplies are longstanding and are contributing to the growth of AQAP. Joke Buringa, a Dutch foreign ministry adviser on Yemen, noted nearly three years ago that “Saudi Arabia has been delivering arms to al-Qaeda, (which) is expanding its sphere of influence”.
Washington and London try to demonise Iran for supplying arms to the Houthis and posit the Yemen conflict as a Saudi-Iranian one, rather than a war for Riyadh’s control of the whole of Arabia.
Yet, as noted by Michael Horton, a Yemen expert at the Jamestown Foundation, a US analysis group that tracks terrorism, “AQAP - far more than the Houthis - has benefited from the influx of weapons to Yemen” while “currently, Iran has little influence with the Houthis, who are distinctly Yemeni and deeply rooted in a very Yemeni socio-cultural context”.
US and British arms
If arms from Saudi Arabia and the UAE are reaching al-Qaeda militants in Yemen, could these be the same kinds of weapons that Washington and London are supplying to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi?
the UK government cannot categorically state that its weapons are not ending up in the hands of al-Qaeda, a risk that will continue as long as London keeps the arms flowing to Riyadh.
The UK government is not only complicit in Saudi war crimes, evidenced in its direct role in the war (supplying arms, storing and issuing weapons used in bombing and maintaining the Saudi warplanes), but it is also contributing to the rise of AQAP.
Fighting terrorism?
The US claims to be fighting terrorism in Yemen, and its drone strikes against AQAP targets have increased since Trump took office. But its larger mission is to win the civil war against the Houthis, and in that conflict, al-Qaeda militants are effectively on the same side as the coalition.
By positioning itself as a disciplined Sunni force capable of countering the Houthi insurgents, AQAP has established itself as a de facto coalition partner.
This is further illustrated in the current battle for the strategic port of Hodeidah
Once again, Washington and London find themselves - as in Syria, Libya and many other conflicts - regarding terrorist militias as proxy forces to achieve broad foreign policy aims – by Mark Curtis
https://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/are-us-and-uk-empowering-al-qaeda-yemen-1513529836
cp15 Propaganda
(A P)
Saudi Ambassador: All parties wants political solution except the Houthis
The Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Jaber has said that all parties wants a political solution for Yemen conflict except the Iran-backed Houthis.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-23455
My comment: LOL. It’s the Houthis who could win most by a peace deal – and it is the Hadi government who will loose most.
(A P)
Yemen Vice President Urges Int’l Community to Take Firm Stance against Houthis
Yemeni Vice President Ali Mohsen Saleh called on the international community to take a firm and decisive stance against the Iran-backed Houthis, especially after their obstruction of this week’s consultations in Geneva.
(A P)
THE HOUTHIS AND ISRAEL
Netanyahu argued that Israel’s maximum pressure strategy should focus on expelling Iran from southern Syria, and strengthening cooperation between Israel and the Gulf monarchies.
Although the front-line of the Yemen conflict is located over 2,000 kilometers south of Israel’s borders, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who dominate most of western Yemen, pose a considerable threat to Israel’s security. The Houthi movement’s ideology is overtly anti-Semitic, with the slogan “Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews” featuring prominently on its flag. The Houthis have also been accused of attempting to forcibly convert Yemen’s Jewish population to Islam, and of instigating anti-Semitic violence against Yemen’s Jewish community.
The Houthi movement’s propagation of anti-Semitism has attracted the attention of Hezbollah.
To compound the threat to Israel, the Houthis are also well-trained in the use of Iranian ballistic missile technology.
on August 1, when Netanyahu stated that Israel would join the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen if Iran closed the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Yet even in the absence of this provocative step from Iran, Israel should consider providing air and logistical support for the Saudi-led coalition, as an Israeli intervention in Yemen would greatly weaken the Houthis and immeasurably strengthen Israel’s relationship with the Gulf monarchies.
If Israel’s collaboration with the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen proves successful, Israel could make expanded security cooperation with Saudi Arabia contingent on Riyadh establishing diplomatic relations with Israel
https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-Houthis-and-Israel-566731
My comment: The Jerusalem Post propagating Israel should take part in the Yemen War.
(A P)
Houthi rebels: Four years of political intransigence
The Iran-backed Houthi militias have once again proved themselves to be the party that should be held accountable for the failure of the UN efforts to find a peaceful solution to the situation in Yemen after they had intentionally absented themselves from the UN round of negotiations in Geneva, which was held in the presence of United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths.
The Houthi rebels, who perpetrated a coup against the legitimate government of Yemen in 2014, are notorious for their intransigence and attempts to circumvent any tangible international and regional efforts to sort out a solution to the crisis.
Their rejection to comply with international resolutions are perfectly going in line with their failure to abide by all relevant resolutions to ensure a ceasefire in the crisis-ridden country or withdraw from the territories they have forcibly occupied in defiance with UNSC resolutions.
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302707327
My comment: The Houthis are “intransigent” because they do not comply to biased UNSC resolutions which had been dictated by Saudi Arabia and the US and demand them to capitulate. – Propaganda could be some more intelligent, folks.
(* A P)
International symposium urges Human Rights Council to correct fallacies, prejudices in UN report on Yemen - First & Last Add
Following their meeting today, the symposium's participants issued the following statement
The suffering of the Yemeni people is still ongoing, ever since the Houthi extremist militias overthrew the elected government and Yemen’s legitimate authority, and took control over the country’s resources and cities.
The importance of this issue is evident by the UN Security Council's preoccupation with the Yemeni crisis, having issued a number of resolutions calling for the restoration of legitimacy in Yemen and the abolition of the Houthi militias control. As such, the Arab Coalition states have acted to implement and execute the requirements of these resolutions and provide support to the legitimate authority in Yemen to regain its power and protect the citizens of Yemen from the human rights violations and war crimes inflicted by the extremist militias.
The Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights have been preoccupied with the Yemeni cause, since the Houthi coup against legitimacy, and have issued several resolutions to protect human rights in the country. In September 2017, they issued a resolution to assign a team of experts to evaluate human rights conditions in Yemen, to report findings and conclusions to the Human Rights Council.
In August 28, 2018, the team has submitted its report to your esteemed Council, to be reviewed during its upcoming session, which begins on September 10, 2018. The report documents a number of violations and offenses that break the values and norms that have been agreed by the International Community to reach the truth and stop the suffering of civilians in the world.
This had prompted us to launch the International Symposium, in which human rights experts and a number of civil society organizations have took part in, to evaluate the findings of experts' report on Yemen and present their visions and perceptions that contribute to alleviation and the ending of the Yemeni civilians’ suffering, while holding those responsible accountable for their violations, regardless of their political and sectarian agendas, and the interests of individual countries and regional and international powers.
Participants of the International Symposium, have decided to issue the following statement, which includes the findings of international experts and representatives of civil community organizations, in hopes that you take into consideration the findings and resolutions of the International Symposium that was organised by the UAE Journalists Association, in order to achieve justice for the Yemeni people. This statement will be published internationally and documented in the relevant offices of UN bodies.
The International Symposium recommends to study and evaluate the team of experts’ report, as follows
The need for the Human Rights Council to take note of the report that conducted by the team of experts, which followed distorted methodology, in terms of assessing information and the cooperation of other parties concerned with the situation of human rights in Yemen. The report also used double standards in its evaluation of the efforts undertaken by the various parties involved in the providing humanitarian assistance to civilians, as well as its assessment of the various parties’ cooperation with the team. Worse yet, the report’s faulty methodology had resulted in issuing convections on the parties that cooperate with the team, while ignoring other teams that did not cooperate, which led to a distorted image that condemned some parties at the expense of others that did not cooperate with the team in its investigations.
The need for the Human Rights Council to rectify the team of experts’ report in line with the decisions of the Security Council and other UN reports, in terms of describing and characterizing the different parties involved in the Yemeni conflict. The report should also use the international resolutions as basis for portraying parties involved in the conflict, as it is used as basis for taking stances and decisions relating to the responsible parties for human rights conditions in Yemen.
The need for the Human Rights Council to adjust the findings of team of experts’ report, as they are based on testimonies presented by ambiguous and questionable local, regional and international that lack credibility. These testimonials were not based on field investigations and were carried out in war and conflict zone, and were inconsistent with a number of human rights reports about the humanitarian conditions in Yemen.
The need for the Human Rights Council to take into consideration the fact that the team of experts ignored the Arab coalition states refute of the allegations and claims related to the violations, and did not include the official responses that they were given, thus devoiding it from credibility and balance.
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302707300
My comment: The Saudi coalition’s rejection of the August 28 UN report is repeated here, now with the camouflage of an “international” symposium of “An elite list of international human rights activists, representatives of civil society forces, non-governmental organisations, and experts on international humanitarian law and international law”. We are only given very few names (article below). Keep in mind that the place where the UAE and other Saudi coalition states want to hold people like these is jail. – My rejection of the Saudi coalition’s rejection of the UN report in Yemen War Mosaic 451, cp1: https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-451-yemen-war-mosaic-451
Here we get a few names, they all repeating just the same:
(A P)
Arab Coalition carries message of peace, building, development in Yemen: Officials, human rights specialists to WAM
Mohammed Al Hammadi, Chairman of the UAE Journalists Association, said that the member countries of the Arab Coalition have a leading humanitarian history, while pointing out that they are building, developing and promoting peace in Yemen, as well as championing legitimacy and confronting the greed of the militias.
He added that the seminar, organised by the association, aims to clarify the imbalance in the report, while noting that it is involved with leading regional and international figures in the area of human rights.
Nabil Abdul Hafiz, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights of Yemen, said that the goal of the legitimate government aims to achieve peace in Yemen, and is dealing positively with relevant UN initiatives, the latest of which is the Geneva negotiations, which is being met by intransigence by the militias.
He added that the UN’s recent human rights report included many inaccuracies and is a politicised report that lacks impartiality, while pointing out that the legitimate Yemeni government recently announced its complete rejection of the report and is working on an official response, which will be sent to the UN.
Issa Al Arabi, Chairman of the Arab Human Rights Union, highlighted the necessity of forming a team of international human rights and law experts to study and refute the report, while pointing out that the report’s outcomes were biased and exceeded its mandate.
He added the report described the Yemeni crisis as a struggle for authority, which is a clear disregard of UN Resolution No. 2216.
Ayman Nasri, Head of the Ecumenical Alliance for Human Rights in Geneva, stated that the report is politicised and contained information from organisations that lack integrity and transparency, while pointing out that the report did not mention the violations of the Houthi militias, such as recruiting children and targeting civilians with IEDs.
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302707344
My comment: The names appearing here are not quite convincing. Hammadi: A journalist and media functionary in a state without a free press (http://www.ecssr.com/ECSSR/print/prf.jsp?lang=en&prfId=/Profile/Profiles_2969.xml ). Hafiz: A Hadi government Saudi coalition puppet deputy minister. Al Arabi: Rather otally unknown before, just google: "Issa Al Arabi", Arab Human Rights Union. His „Arab Human Rights Union“ could be a totally new creation, just for this PR event, google: "Arab Human Rights Union". – Nasri: Just google together "Ayman Nasri" "Ecumenical Alliance for Human Rights in Geneva", you also find no other matches than this PR symposium. Google "Ecumenical Alliance for Human Rights in Geneva" alone, no other matches. Google „Issa Al Arabi” alone, apart from this “symposium” you just find one reference to “researcher Issa al-Arabi form the School of Higher Studies, University of the Arab Gulf“: https://www.isesco.org.ma/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Strategy-for-Benefiting-from-Muslim-Competencies-in-the-West1.pdf . That’s it. Really, this is the „elite list of international human rights activists, representatives of civil society forces, non-governmental organisations, and experts on international humanitarian law and international law”!!!
(* A P)
UAE to host international event to respond to UN human rights report on Yemen
An elite list of international human rights activists, representatives of civil society forces, non-governmental organisations, and experts on international humanitarian law and international law will gather in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 9th September, for an international symposium to present an analytical, objective and critical reading to the United Nations, UN, report released last week by the Group of International and Regional Eminent Experts on Yemen.
Speakers will cast the spotlight on mistakes, inaccuracies and gross malpractices in the international standards, principles and values committed by the commission of inquiry and fact-finding missions and will also review the human rights situation in Yemen, egregious human rights, crimes against humanity and war crimes being committed by the Houthi militia since their coup against the legitimate government in 2014 until the release of the report on 28th August, 2018.
Organised by the UAE Journalists' Association under the title ''Expert Group Report: Exacerbation of Violations and Continuation of Suffering'', the event will refute and debunk allegations and bias stated in the report which the Houthi militia took as a mechanism to prolong the humanitarian crisis, exacerbate the human rights violations and crimes against humanity and war crimes perpetrated by the rebels in light of the international silence and inability to stop them at their limit.
The event also aims to enlighten the regional and world public opinion, media persons, jurists, human rights defenders, politicians, lawmakers, and representatives of civil society, centres for strategic studies and research on the best mechanisms to respond to politically and ideologically-motivated human rights reports.
Participants will highlight how the Group of Experts’ report has presented a biased document that does not give a true, objective overview of the human rights situation in Yemen and provide clear-cut proposals to end these violations and ease concerns by the international community about the suffering endured by the Yemeni civilians. According to the organisers, the report has ignored the role still being played by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition in maintaining peace, security and stability in Yemen and promoting respect for human rights there.
The event will issue a media declaration which will be sent to the UN and underline the UAE Journalists' Association's solidarity with other peer media organisations to confront conspiracies and hostile agenda from well-known parties.
http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302707117 = http://gulftoday.ae/portal/ad0edf6f-4430-4827-8a28-dc857cd389ed.aspx
My comment: This will be a great propaganda event: propaganda instead of facts.We really can look forward who will be this “elite list of international human rights activists, representatives of civil society forces, non-governmental organisations, and experts on international humanitarian law and international law“ playing th role of propaganda mouthpieces for whitewashing war criminalks and Human rights offenders.
(A P)
Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy to Save Yemenis from Al-Houthi Obscurantism, Clericalism Appreciated
Chief of Staff of Yemeni National Army Major General Taher Al-Aqeeli has expressed his country's highly appreciation and gratitude to the Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen for its actively contribution to the rescue of Yemenis from Al-Houthi obscurantism and clericalism.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1811469
My comment: LOL. This really would be set a thief to catch a thief. Regarding “obscurantism and clericalism”, the Saudis would top everyone. Saudi Wahabism is the maximum of “obscurantism and clericalism”.
(A P)
UAE's Anwar Gargash: Houthis are 'not committed' to Geneva peace talks
UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said Iran-backed rebels' conditions portrays how uncommitted they are to a political solution in Yemen
The delay by Yemen's Houthi rebels in attending UN-mediated negotiations shows their lack of seriousness about finding a political solution to the country's war, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash said on Friday.
“When the Houthis feel they are under political and military pressure, they set conditions of transporting hundreds of wounded [fighters] abroad on the eve of the consultations, this portrays how uncommitted they are,” Dr Gargash said on Twitter.
On the other, he said, the government had shown a "positive attitude towards the political solution".
(A P)
Iran is sabotaging UN talks says Yemeni president’s adviser
Mohammed Mousa Al Amiri says Houthis do not want peace
Iran is sabotaging UN-led efforts to resolve the war in Yemen, an adviser to President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi said after a delegation from the Houthi rebels failed to show up for talks in Geneva.
“Iran is behind all the problems that are occurring in Geneva and Yemen. The Houthis’ ideology, activities in Yemen are Iranian,” said Mohammed Mousa Al Amiri, who is part of the government delegation that travelled to the Swiss city for negotiations scheduled for Thursday.
(B P)
Shias are doing better in Saudi Arabia
As long as they don’t cross the crown prince
LAST year Saudi Arabia’s young and powerful crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman, pulverised Awamiyah, a rebellious Shia town near the eastern coast. Throughout the summer Saudi forces shelled its 400-year-old neighbourhoods and erected siege walls to trap some 200 gunmen. But in February, when the rebels stopped shooting, he sent in his engineers, diggers and cranes to clear up the damage. Six months on, new roads, shopping centres and a small hospital are rising from the ruins of the levelled town. A new highway, stretching across Eastern Province, runs past Awamiyah, which had been largely isolated. By next March the $64m facelift will be complete.
Prince Muhammad hopes the reconstruction will send multiple messages. In exchange for absolute loyalty, he is offering to treat his 2m-3m Shia subjects much like his 18m Sunnis.
https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/08/30/shias-are-doing-better-in-saudi-arabia
Comment: When the Economist hails the fair treatment of religious minorities in Saudi Arabia: “The board of Neom, a planned $500bn high-tech city, has a Shia member, as does the national football team.”
https://twitter.com/asadabukhalil/status/1037895883033997312
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
Siehe / Look at cp1
(* A K pH)
More Saudi coalition war crimes recorded on:
(A K pH)
2citizens killed, a citizen injures in Hodeidah
Two civilians were killed and other one was wounded on Sunday when the US backed Saudi aggression warplane waged air raid on Hodeidah province, a security official told Saba on Monday.
The airstrike hit near a cow farm in Hali district.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507816.htm
(* A K pH)
17 US-Saudi Airstrikes Targeted Border Areas During The Last 24 Hours
The US-Saudi Air Force launched 17 raids on Saada and Hodeidah provinces.
Security source pointed that a woman killed and seven citizens wounded during air raids attacked sadaa governorate in razih province while in sheda province a citizen wounded by air raid, the source mentioned that five citizens wounded by air raid targeted a van in sahar district.
The aggression air force targeted saqain and haidan districts with two air raids.
In Hodeida province the Saudi air force launched 3 air raids on a farm in Al halo district and another raid on the navy force collage in the port district.
http://www.newnewss.net/17-us-saudi-airstrikes-targeted-border-areas-during-the-last-24-hours/
(* A K pS)
Five civilians, including three women, killed in coalition shelling in Serwah, Marib
Five civilians, including three women, were killed on Saturday in a raid by Arab coalition fighters, targeting citizens in Serwah district, Marib Governorate, east of the Yemeni capital Sana'a.
A raid targeting civilians in the Wadi Habab area of Serwah district resulted in two people being killed, according to sources for Almasdar online.
Three women tried to rescue the two civilians, but a second raid targeted them, killing them, raising the death toll to five, the sources said.
(A K pH)
In Al-Dhalea, a pregnant woman was killed and a child was critically injured by targeting their car by mercenaries' gunshots.
In Sa'ada, a civilian was killed by Saudi missiles and artillery shells bombing that targeted populated villages in Razih border district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2713&cat_id=1
(A K pH)
3 civilians killed in Saudi-led coalition on Yemen
According to Almasirah news network, two civilians were killed in an airstrike on Al-Hal city in Al-Hudaydah province, west of Yemen.
Meanwhile, a woman was killed in an attack on an automobile in Naqil al-Khashba of al-Dhalee province.
http://www.irna.ir/en/News/83028253
(A K pH)
US-Saudi Air Strikes Target Civilian’s Car Loaded with Humanitarian Supplies in Sa’ada
US-Saudi air strikes targeted a civilian's car loaded with humanitarian supplies in Sa'ada for the poor people in Ghafer area, in AdhDhahir, A security source reported.
The US-Saudi Aerial Aggression on Sunday launched tow raids on Qahzah area, in Sa'ada.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2705&cat_id=1
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2705&cat_id=1
and what Saudi propaganda makes of it:
(A K pS)
Arab Coalition Destroys Houthi Missile Vehicle in Yemen’s Saada
Saudi-led Arab coalition jets destroyed on Saturday a ballistic missiles vehicle belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi militias.
Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said that the jets destroyed the vehicle in the al-Aamshieh region in the Saada province, a Houthi stronghold.
He added that the attack took place at dawn on Saturday.
(* A K pH)
Aggression’s Daily Update for Saturday, September 8th, 2018
In Marib, two civilians were killed by an airstrike targeted a motorcycle in Serwah district and three women were killed by another airstrike targeted them when they were trying to succor the last airstrike.
In Saada, US-Saudi aggression launched two airstrikes on a civilian's house in Baqim district, an airstrike on Adhdhaher district and two airstrikes on Razih district, destroying a house and a mosque.
In Hodiedah, 19 civilians were injured following airstrikes targeted Red Sea Mill Factory in Kilo 16 in Al-Hale district.
A hysterical bombing, with over 40 raids, targeted Kilo 16 and nearby areas in Al-Hale district and 10 raids targeted Jabal AlMelh in Al-Monerah district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2688&cat_id=1
(* A K pH)
US-Saudi aggression Injurs 19 Civilians in Hodiedah
The US-Saudi aggression launched a number of airstrikes targeting Red Sea Mill Factory in Al-Hale district, injuring 19 civilians. The aggression launched over 40 raids on Kilo 16 area and nearby places in Al-Hale district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2696&cat_id=1
One man (worker in the factory) was killed and 20 others were injured on Saturday evening when the US-Saudi Arabian Air Force targeted the Red Sea mills in Al-Hudaydah governorate
Resulting in the destruction of mills completely ... (photos)
https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1899415193687799
aerial view, maps: https://twitter.com/HussainBukhaiti/status/1038510806307151873
film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tENTjhNTBJM
(* A K pH)
5 civilians martyred in 2 Saudi-led airstrikes on Mareb
Five civilians were killed on Saturday in two airstrikes launched the fighter jets of the US-backed Saudi-led aggression coalition on Mareb province, a security official told Saba.
An airstrike hit a motorcycle in Habab area, which led to martyr of a man and a child, who were abroad.
Other airstrikes killed three other women during the work of recovering the victims.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507609.htm
film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAsPLCRn-Ww
(* A K pH)
Saudi rocks and artillery forces hit Saada
Six citizens were killed on Friday when the Saudi' missiles and artillery targeted many places in Saada province, a security official told Saba on Saturday.
The Saudi' fighter jet waged air raid on general road in Beni-aweer in Sahar district which target a Truck causing five civilians were killed.
While the other civilian was killed when the Saudi hit Shatha district.
Meanwhile, the coalition waged a raid on Maran area in Haudan district, other raid on al-Manmar mount in Sakin district, causing huge losses in properties of the citizens.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507579.htm
(A K pS)
Coalition fighter jets destroy Houthi missile site in Yemen
Fighter jets from the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen on Saturday destroyed a ballistic missile launcher belonging to the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Al-Amshiah area of the As-Safra district, in Saada governorate.
Coalition Spokesperson, Col. Turki Al-Maliki, said that the launcher’s location was detected and the coordinates of the site were passed to the fighter jets, which targeted and destroyed the vehicle at dawn on Saturday.
Coalition aircraft also destroyed a radar site used by the terrorist group. The radar was tracking the coalition aircraft in the Mount Anem area.
Al-Maliki said the radar site was targeted and destroyed on Friday night, killing a number of Houthi experts.
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1368961/saudi-arabia
(A K pH)
US-Saudi Aggression Destroys Citizen House in Sa’ada
The US-Saudi Aerial Aggression directly targeted a citizen's house in Al-Zaher Border district, in Saada Governorate.
The targeting resulted in almost total destruction to the house, killing a number of livestock belonging to the citizen. (photo)
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2700&cat_id=1
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507517.htm
Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o1PpwqiwwY
(A K pH)
Citizen injured in Saudi-led airstrike on western coast
A citizen was injured on Thursday in Saudi-led airstrike on Hodeida district, a security official told Saba.
The air raid targeted Sweek area in Tuhyita district.
Other airstrike of coalition hit Haly district.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507526.htm
In Hodiedah, US-Saudi aggression launched 3 raids on a civilian's farm in Al-Hale district, a raid on Al-Kateeb coastal area and a raid on the Navy college in Al-Mena district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2669&cat_id=1
(A K pH)
Aug. 7, Saada province: 5 civilians were injured by an airstrike targeted a truck in Sehar district. US-Saudi aggression launched 7 raids on Baqim district, a raid on Maran area in Haidan district, a raid on Saqayn district and two raids on AsSafra district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2669&cat_id=1
(* A K pH)
More Saudi coalition air raids recorded on:
Sept. 9:
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2695&cat_id=1 Saada p.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507766.htm Saada p.
Sept. 8:
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507584.htm Hodeidah p.
Sept. 7:
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507494.htm Jawf p.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507517.htm Saada p.
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
Siehe / Look at cp1b
(A K pS)
Yemen’s army calls displaced persons to return to home
Yemen’s army has called people of Saada to return to their areas after the army backed by the Arab Coalition could recapture a number of villages.
The army also called those people who were misguided by the Houthis and who are still fighting with them to disengage them and return to live safely in their areas.
The army recaptured the district of Baqem in the northwestern Saada and other neighboring areas in confrontations in which “dozens” of Houthi fighters were killed and captured.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-22419
(* A K pS)
Among the Houthi crimes. Four children and two women killed in al-Jawf mine blast
Four children and two women were killed when a landmine exploded from the remnants of the al-Houthi militia, in al-Jawf province, north of Yemen, on Saturday.
Sources told "Almasdar online " that a mine exploded in a car that was a family in at the general line in the area "Ma'imara ", the Directorate of Al motoon, west of Al- Jawf.
The sources explained that two women and four children were killed and three were injured, all from one family.
The rest of the injured were taken to a hospital in the province, the sources said.
(* B K pH)
During August, 53 Saudi Soldiers Killed, 23 Injured
In August, the Yemeni Army and Popular Committees has killed 53 Saudi soldiers and injured 23 others in a new statistic monitored by Almasirah Net, numbers are gathered from Saudi official and non-official media.
Almasirah Net published the number and names of the killed and injured as a result of the military operations on the fronts of Jizan, Najran and Asir, while the official Saudi Press Agency reported only 22 deaths.
A military source in the Army and the Committees confirmed that the real numbers of them are more than being announced in the Saudi media. The Saudi regime has been hiding its losses for the fourth year in a row of its aggression on Yemen.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2708&cat_id=1
(B K pS)
#RSAF’s CH-4 drones have seen considerable involvement in combat especially in patrolling missions along the #Saudi-#Yemeni borders to counter #Houthis infiltration attempts.
https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/1028318211400458240
(A K pH)
2 Civilians killed in Saudi-led mercenaries shelling in Nehm
A woman and her husband were injured, while the Saudi-led artillery shelled on Thursday the houses of citizens on Nehm district, a security official told Saba.
The shelled caused damages in citizens' houses.
http://www.sabanews.net/en/news507592.htm
(A K pS)
Operation to target international navigation in Red Sea by Houthi booby-trapped boat aborted
Yemeni army's naval formation forces foiled a bombing operation in which the Houthi militia was planning to attack international shipping in the Red Sea with a booby-trapped boat.
A military source in the fifth military region in Yemen said that the naval formation in the region, with the support of the coalition to support the legitimacy, managed to seize a booby-trapped boat by sent by the militia Houthi towards the international waters in the Red Sea.
The source added that the booby-trapped boat was carrying explosive devices and traveling at a high speed of 35 miles per hour on its way to international waters in the Red Sea to intercept one of the merchant ships there.
The source pointed out that the naval military teams of the Yemeni army was able to intercept it until they was able to stop it at one of the unpopulated islands.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1811639
My comment: The Saudi propaganda reading of this Houthi boat is nonsense: It just would make sense if there wold be no Saudi coalition war ships in the Red Sea. These are the targets of such operations.
(A K pH)
3 Citizens Killed and Injured by US-Saudi Aggression Strikes in Saada
In Sa'ada, a woman was killed and 2 civilians was injured by Saudi missiles and artillery shells targeted Razih district
Saudi Army targeted several areas on Adh dhahir, Shida, Razih and Baqim border districts with over 100 missiles and artillery shells during past hours, damaging civilians' houses and farms.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2669&cat_id=1
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2663&cat_id=1
(A K pH)
Film: crimes of aggression in the provinces of Taiz and Nahm 07-09-2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSDgPgdE83E
(* A K pH)
Yemeni Forces Launch Drone Attack On Abha Regional Airport
Yemeni forces staged drone attack on Abha regional airport on Thursday, military source told Yemen’s Al-Massirah TV channel.
Flights were halted following the attack on the airport, the source said.
Abha airport was attacked with a Qassef-1 drone for the third time.
http://www.newnewss.net/yemeni-forces-launch-drone-attack-on-abha-regional-airport/
(* A K pH)
Rocketry Force Targets Saudi Camp in Aser
Rocketry Force fired a ballistic missile, Badr1, at recently constructed Saudi camp in Aser.
A source confirmed that the ballistic missile hit the target accurately and left losses in lives and equipment in the targeted camp.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=2667&cat_id=1
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
(* B C)
Yemen du Nord 1977
An amazing finding. We go back to 1977 and three girls who decided to visit North #Yemen, though briefly.
A jewel of another world.
brief text translation:
'Again, I followed the travelers' route of the 1970s. India, Afghanistan, and Yemen were fashionable countries.
In 1977 there was a civil war in Yemen. North and South were divided into two distinct countries.
We were three girlfriends, and we went completely free on a Syrian flight, with a night spent in Damascus, and a stopover in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
So we went only to Yemen North.
We did not realize the risks at the time ... when we returned, but everything went well during the trip.
On the plane we met a couple of travelers, and two boys, and we decided to meet to rent a land-rover with Yemeni driver (who did not speak English), and this for a week .
A trip in full Ramadan and in full civil war
We did not realize we were going to travel in the middle of Ramadan. We used to eat tin cans of English "baked beans", "cream-biscuits", and "laughing cow". In the evening it was chicken rice.
We could not go north or east (Marib region) because there was still war, and we were told that armed kids were shooting everywhere, a little on all. In any case, the military blocked the roads and prevented the cars from coming forward when they saw our foreigners' heads there.
The second week we all separated, and we remained three of us, the girls. We traveled back and forth, from Sanaa.
Everything went well. We took the collective taxis and we even made hitchhiking, for lack of taxis.
There was a rumor that something big was going to happen, that the airport would be closed for how long? We could not know it.
We felt a disturbing atmosphere
We were tired of not finding food.
We decided to go back a week before the scheduled date.
When we returned to France, we learned that two French girls had just been murdered.
http://jocie.free.fr/pages/page4_yemen.html
Vorige / Previous:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-454-yemen-war-mosaic-454
Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-454 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-454:
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/
und alle Liste aller Luftangriffe / and list of all air raids:
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