... Viele Obdachlose wegen der Kämpfe in Al Dhalea – Südjemen: Abkommen weiter verschoben, anhaltender Konflikt und Kämpfe – und mehr
Nov. 2, 2019: Death toll by warfare in Yemen War hits 100,000 – Saudi attacks against farming and livelihood in Yemen – War impact on Tihama region – Many displaced by fighting in Al Dhalea province – Southern Yemen: Agreement postponed again, conflict and fighting continue – 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
cp2a Allgemein: Saudische Blockade / General: Saudi blockade
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
cp6 Separatisten und Hadi-Regierung im Südjemen / Separatists and Hadi government in Southern Yemen
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
cp7a Saudi-Arabien und Iran / Saudi Arabia and Iran
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
cp8a Jamal Khashoggi
cp9 USA
cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Wachsende Spannungen am Golf / US-Iran crisis: Mounting tensions at the Gulf
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
cp12b Sudan
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms Trade
cp13b Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage
cp13c 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
Neue Artikel / New articles
(* B K P)
Film: Why is Yemen at war?
It is a conflict with many players, including armed groups inside the country but also big rivals like Saudi Arabia and Iran.
And it is the world's biggest humanitarian crisis. Nearly 24 million Yemenis - the population of Australia - need aid to survive.
So how did things get so bad? And is there a way out?
https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/start-here/2019/10/yemen-war-191031103012254.html
cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important
Südjemen / Southern Yemen: cp6
(** B K)
Report: Death toll from Yemen’s war hit 100,000 since 2015
Yemen’s civil war has killed more than 100,000 people since 2015, a database project that tracks violence said Thursday.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, or ACLED, said in a new report its death toll includes more than 12,000 civilians killed in attacks targeting civilians directly.
The conflict in the Arab world’s poorest nation began with the 2014 takeover of northern and central Yemen by Iran-aligned rebels, driving out the internationally recognized government from the capital, Sanaa. Months later, in March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched its air campaign to prevent the rebels, known as Houthis, from overrunning the country’s south.
Saudi-led airstrikes have hit schools, hospitals and wedding parties and killed thousands of Yemeni civilians. The Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack Saudi Arabia and have targeted vessels in the Red Sea.
Civilians have suffered the most in the conflict, which has created what the United Nations says is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
ACLED said approximately 20,000 people have been killed this year, already making 2019 the second-deadliest year on record after 2018, with 30,800 dead.
The non-governmental organization said April was the most lethal month so far this year, with over 2,500 reported killed, compared to approximately 1,700 in September.
It said up to 1,100 civilians have been killed so far in 2019, with targeted anti-civilian violence was centered in the provinces of Dhale, Hodeida, Hajjah and Taiz.
The project said the Saudi-led coalition and its allies were responsible for more than 8,000 deaths resulting from the direct targeting of civilians since 2015, and the coalition airstrikes caused around 67% of all reported civilian deaths.
ACLED said that although the number of Saudi-led coalition airstrikes is at an all-time low, civilian fatalities from air raids have risen for the first time since the end of 2017, more than doubling in the third quarter of 2019, compared to the previous quarter, primarily due to a strike on a prison facility in Dhamar province that killed at least 130 detainees.
The group said it recorded over 19,000 people killed in the southwestern province of Taiz since 2015, making it the most violent province in Yemen, largely due to a four-year siege by the Houthis, the group said.
Hodeida and Jawf followed Taiz as the next most violent provinces, with more than 10,000 total reported killed in each region since 2015, according ACLED.
The data covers everything from airstrikes, shelling and ground battles between the various forces to militant bombings and violence at protests. But their numbers do not include those who have died in the humanitarian disasters caused by the war, particularly starvation.
The group, which receives funding in part from the U.S. State Department and Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, builds its database on news reports from Yemeni and international media and international agencies.
https://apnews.com/b7f039269a394b7aa2b46430e3d9b6bc
and ACLED statement here: https://www.acleddata.com/2019/10/31/press-release-over-100000-reported-killed-in-yemen-war/
My comment: The figure still is too low: Those killed by consequences of the Saudis blockade, of the consequences of the breakdown of the economy, of the breakdown of imports, of the breakdown of the health system and the supply of clean water, the total number would be 230,000 at least.
Comments: Not counting the countless lives lost from the world’s worst humanitarian crisis created by the conflict (like the conservative estimate of 85,000 children that starved to death between 2015 and 2018)
https://twitter.com/MaherFarrukh/status/1190028926850150401
"The numbers do not include people who have died in humanitarian disasters caused by the war, particularly starvation."
https://twitter.com/YemenSource/status/1189961752215248897
“The true death toll is much higher when fatalities related to the lack of medicine, food and clean water are taken into account. It is civilians who are paying the highest price of this brutal conflict."
https://twitter.com/YemenSource/status/1189962838489604096
The blockade induced fatality is much higher. We have 30K deaths due to closure of airport, 30k deaths of preventable disease among children, cancer, kidney & chronic diseases and 10Ks due to malnutrition and infections. It would be over 150k per year times 5 yrs.
https://twitter.com/AishaJumaan/status/1189948102293082113
Note that those are just combat fatalities. That doesn't include the estimated 130,000+ more that have died from disease and starvation so far
https://twitter.com/DanielLarison/status/1189926229039894528
I'm convinced the total death count from the Yemen war is quite high, at least higher than reported. Especially if you include deaths from the manmade cholera epidemic and other health related deaths.
https://twitter.com/cathrynmataga/status/1189962161809833984
True about #Yemen Over 100,000 people in #Yemen have been killed in my beloved country #Yemen since 2015. I'm expecting the number of injured in the country is more than 500,000.
https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/1190434431091322882
What if I told you the actual death toll is higher, far more if you include those indirectly died due to lack of access to basic healthcare, food and water as a result of the conflict - majority were children. A dark chapter in history of #Yemen, and a forever shame on all of us.
https://twitter.com/omeisy/status/1190371655824134144
Film: Death toll in #Yemen war reaches 100,000 - THIS IS A GENOCIDE The @UN is a disgrace. Stop pandering to Saudi/UK/US criminals and OPEN SANAA AIRPORT!
https://twitter.com/Bob_cart124/status/1190306559735353344
and
(** B H K P)
The Staggering Human Cost of the War on Yemen
Fighting in the war on Yemen has killed at least 100,000 people.
The report is counting only combat fatalities and civilian casualties, but the war has been much more destructive than this number alone would suggest. The estimated loss of life from starvation and disease caused by the war and coalition policies is more than 130,000, and that is likely to be on the low end. The humanitarian crisis driven by the war continues to take the lives of innocent Yemenis because of the disastrous conditions that have been created by more than four and a half years of bombing, blockade, and economic warfare. Oxfam released a statement in response to the news.
More than half the population lacks access to clean drinking water. Malnutrition is widespread, and two million children suffer from acute malnutrition. 360,000 of those children are under five and suffer from severe acute malnutrition. Even if the war ended tomorrow, half of all children under five have already had their growth stunted by lack of food. Twenty million are food insecure, and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that a quarter million are on the verge of starving to death now.
It is important to remember that famine in Yemen is man-made and it is being driven mainly by the actions and policies of U.S.-backed client governments. The people of Yemen are not just starving, they are being starved.
ACLED found once again that the Saudi coalition was responsible for a large majority of civilian casualties through its indiscriminate bombing campaign
Even though this has been second deadliest year since the start of the war, Yemen has once again faded into the background in most Western media coverage. It seems as if the world’s attention returns there only if there is a particularly ghastly massacre or the conflict reaches some grim milestone. Yemen needs an end to the grinding economic warfare that has been waged on the civilian population, and it needs an end to the fighting, and that need is more urgent than ever – by Daniel Larison
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/the-staggering-human-cost-of-the-war-on-yemen/
And
(* A K)
Oxfam reaction to Yemen death toll reaching 100,000
Muhsin Siddiquey, Oxfam's Country Director in Yemen, said in response: "This is further proof of the mindless destruction and injustice of the war in Yemen. The true death toll is much higher when fatalities related to the lack of medicine, food and clean water are taken into account. It is civilians who are paying the highest price of this brutal conflict.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/oxfam-reaction-yemen-death-toll-reaching-100000
(** B H K)
Five Years On, Saudi Attacks on Yemen’s Farmers Are Pushing the Whole Country into Famine
Between March 2015 and March 2019, the Saudi-led Coalition launched at least 10,000 airstrikes in Yemen that struck farms, 800 that struck local food markets, and about 450 airstrikes that hit silos and other food storage facilities.
Saudi Arabia’s now nearly five-year-old project in Yemen has decimated the incomes of Farhan and most other Yemeni farmers. Fuel is hard to come by thanks to a Saudi-led coalition blockade and the fuel that is available has become prohibitively expensive. Airstrikes targeting farm fields and orchards have rendered large swaths of Yemen’s arable land too toxic to use.
Almost immediately after March 2015, when the war began, the Saudi-led Coalition began targeting Yemen’s rural livelihood, bombing farms, food systems, markets, water treatment facilities, transportation infrastructure, and even agricultural extension offices. In urban areas, fishing boats and food processing and storage facilities were targeted.
Before the war began, over 70 percent of Yemen’s population lived in villages dispersed in the mountains and small towns with irregular, and at times torrential, summer rainfall. These rural residents relied on agriculture and animal husbandry and grew fruits and vegetables to feed their own families and to sell to markets. Yet that way of life has all but disappeared since the Saudi attacks began, undermining rural livelihoods, disrupting local food production, and forcing rural residents to flee to the city.
Now, Yemen’s nationwide level of household food insecurity hovers at over 70 percent. 50 percent of rural households and 20 percent of urban households are now food insecure. Almost one-third of Yemenis do not have enough food to satisfy basic nutritional needs. Underweight and stunted children have become a regular sight, especially amongst the holdouts in rural areas. Families that have fled to cities are often forced to beg or to pick through the trash for food scraps.
According to a recent report by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), poverty in Yemen has jumped from 47 percent of the population in 2014 to a projected 75 percent by the end of 2019 because of the war.
The intentional targeting of agriculture
The targeting of the Yemeni agriculture sector and rural livelihoods is not merely accidental collateral damage incurred while targeting military sites. Data from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture shows that in the period between March 2015 and March 2019, the Saudi-led Coalition launched at least 10,000 airstrikes that struck farms, 800 that struck local food markets, and about 450 airstrikes that hit silos and other food storage facilities in the country.
According to the Ministry, crop-area cultivation declined an average of 40 percent and crop yields by 45 percent in rural areas. Many farmers in these areas reported that they could no longer produce yields at pre-war levels due to the extensive damage to infrastructure, the high cost of diesel fuel and other agricultural inputs, a collapse in markets and the destruction of roads and storage facilities.
According to a field survey carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture in the period between March 2015 and March 2018, Saudi attacks completely destroyed 270 agricultural buildings and facilities, 43 agricultural associations, 9,017 traditional irrigation canals, 54 agricultural markets, and 45 export centers.
High precision U.S. bombs dropped by Saudi-led coalition warplanes destroyed at least 1,834 irrigation pumps, 109 artesian and surface wells, 1,170 modern irrigation networks, 33 solar irrigation units, 12 diggers, 750 pieces of agricultural equipment, 940,400 farms, 7,531 agricultural reserves, 30 productive nurseries, 182 poultry farms, and 359,944 beehives.
Yemen’s fishing sector has not been spared either. By the end of May 2019, every fish off-loading port in Yemen had been targeted by Saudi attacks. At least 220 fishing boats have been destroyed, 222 fishermen have been killed and 40,000 fishermen lost their only source of income. According to Yemen’s Ministry of Fishing Wealth, this has affected the lives of more than two million people living in coastal cities and villages.
Data shows that Saudi Coalition forces have stopped at least 4,586 fishing boats from leaving port in the directorates of Midi, Hajjah, Dabab, Bab al-Mandab, and in the Mukha districts in the Taiz governorate. Thirty fishing industry companies have left the country and about fifty fish factories have closed, causing catastrophic damage to Yemen’s fishing industry. Even before the war, Yemen’s fishermen were amongst the poorest segments of society.
As the war nears its fifth year, the Saudi-led coalition has continued to target the livelihoods of Yemen’s food producers. The coalition has expanded its military offensive to include large areas of agricultural lands and valleys in the K16, Durahami, Al-Jah, A-Tahita, Al-Faza, Jabaliya, Al-Mughrous, Al-Khokha and Hays countrysides.
Yemen’s breadbasket withers
According to a study by the Sana’a University-based Water & Environment Centre (WEC) in collaboration with the Flood-Based Livelihoods Network issued in November 2017 to assess the impact of the current war on food security in Yemen, the war is already drastically aggravating Yemenis’ ability to earn a livelihood, rapidly deteriorating the availability of food and elevating the complexity of an already dire humanitarian crisis in the country.
The study, The War Impact on Food Security in the Tihama, (Tihama is a region of Yemen traditionally known to be the country’s breadbasket) showed how agriculture in Tihama, which sustains most of the country’s population, has been seriously disrupted by the war. This, the study’s authors say, is undermining the productivity and investment capacity of the entire country.
Creating a toxic legacy
The Saudi-led coalition’s blockade on Yemen’s ports, airports and borders has only exacerbated the suffering of the country’s farmers and rural residents. The coalition has prevented the export of their products, especially to wealthy Gulf countries which imported thousands of tons of pomegranates and vegetables from Yemen before the war began. Importing pesticides, agricultural fertilizers and fuel has also become difficult due to the frequent seizure of seafaring vessels by the coalition.
For 77 days, the coalition, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has continued to hold ships loaded with oil derivatives at sea, preventing them from entering the port of Hodeida. The four ships that were allowed in carried transport fuel, not the fuel needed to power generators on which farmers rely.
Like in Tahamah, the blockade and attacks on agricultural targets across Yemen have not only destroyed machinery and infrastructure, it has had acute ecological impacts that may take decades to reverse. The accumulation of sediment in flood channels due to damaged gates and automatic barriers has caused trees to begin to reclaim now-dormant stream beds and flood plains, hampering the arrival of much-needed floodwaters to agricultural fields.
Fertile soil, especially in the border areas in Saada and Hajjah, has become environmentally polluted due to the number of weapons dropped in more than half a million airstrikes. That pollution has not only affected the soil, experts fear it could genetically alter the pomegranates, grapes and coffee that were once staple crops in Yemen.
Yet the international community has done little to curb the Saudi-led coalitions use of starvation as a tactic of war in Yemen.
This, in large part, according to many Yemenis and legal scholars alike, is because Saudi Arabia enjoys the near-total diplomatic protection of the United States. Without that support, Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes, which rely on American contractors, targeting software, training, weapons, and technicians to target farmers that are concerned with little more than feeding themselves and their country, would not be possible – by Ahmed Abdulkareem
MintPress News is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License.
https://www.mintpressnews.com/saudi-arabia-attacks-yemen-famine/262620/
referring to:
(** B H K)
from Nov. 2017: The War Impact on Food Security in the Tihama Region
The household level of food insecurity is about 32.1% of the population in Yemen, 37.3% rural and 17.7% urban households indicating high inequality. Almost one-third of Yemenis (7.5 million) do not have enough food to satisfy their needs. Children being underweight and stunting is also much more pronounced in rural areas (62.1%) than in urban areas (45.4%). The average rural nutrition is poorly balanced, and the risk of micronutrient deficiencies is especially high. Food insecurity is highest among rural, nonfarm households, and livestock farmers.
Over 70% of population is living in rural areas in Yemen and about 50% of the labor depends on agriculture and its related activities for their living. Agricultural production is estimated to cover about 25% of the crop-based food needs.
The June 2015, June 2016, and March – July 2017 IPC analyses classified Al-Hodeidah , where more than 80% of Tihama is located, in IPC phase 4 (Emergency level), i.e. AlHodeidah is considered the most affected area by the ongoing war in Yemen (FSIS July 2017 IPC analysis). Between July and September 2016, WFP’s MVAM surveys found that the average of 18% of respondents in Al-Hodeidah reported large numbers of poor food consumption, with an additional 19% in the consumption borderline. During the same period
Agriculture in the Tihama region, being the main sustainment of the population, has been majorly influenced by the serious disruptions the agricultural sector is experiencing. The current war has negatively affected the productivity and investment capacity of the country. The supply and distribution of agricultural inputs and farm products to the markets have also been adversely affected. Affected people's coping mechanisms and safety nets are stretched to the limit as families adopt insufficient and negative coping strategies in order to survive (IPC Yemen August 2015)
The main objective of this assessment study was to quantify the impact of the ongoing war on food security to support the efforts of the international community to pursue their assistance for the affected poor and vulnerable population in Tihama, as well as best understand how to respond. It evaluates the food insecurity situation from two perspectives, the farmer's and the consumers', by understanding the challenges posed to establishing food security. The study also explored the direct and indirect impacts of war on food security and agricultural activities, while evaluating how those activities are in relation with food security and production. It eventually looked into coping strategies adapted by farmers and other water users, and any possible innovated simple solutions that they may be adopted to relief negative consequences on food security and thus ultimately on the livelihoods of the people.
(** B H)
International Committee of the Red Cross: Yemen: Ongoing Fighting in Al Dhaela Province Triggers New Wave of Displacement
Renewed fighting in Al Dhalea province has caused thousands of families to flee their villages under harsh circumstances.
According to the displacement tracking report by IOM, over 65,000 people had left their homes from January to September 2019. This of course does not include the new wave of IDPs, which number is unknown. Families are saying that more people are on their way or trying to find the right timing to flee.
The ICRC and Yemen Red Crescent Society teams were in Al Khobar town distributing food and essential household items to displaced people when they saw scores of newly displaced families coming from various parts of the region.
ITW Fatima Mohammed – Displaced from Subaira
“The clashes are intense. We were sitting very scared in the corner of a room. The kids were terrified and crying. The bullets reached inside our houses. Three of us got injured back there, and the rest of our families is unable to flee.”
They had to walk in the middle of the night for hours crossing areas contaminated by unexploded ordnance, with very limited access to food and water. Some people were seen on top of each other riding pick-up trucks going from one place to another looking for shelter. Newly displaced people have difficulties to find a place to settle down.
Several buildings and schools in al-Dhalea have become shelters for families who fled the fighting since the beginning of the year. These facilities are overcrowded, full of young men, women, and children who have no source of income.
Desks in the classrooms are piled up on top of each other, pushed towards the walls to make room for what would become the home of many of the displaced families. Some classrooms host two to three families (15-25 people). As water is scarce in the area, school latrines are not functioning.
Families who fled from the other side of the frontline during the past months are still displaced and unable to go back to their villages as their homes are destroyed and their areas are heavily contaminated with remnants of war. The ongoing fighting deters many to return to their place of origin (with film)
https://www.icrcnewsroom.org/story/en/1888/yemen-ongoing-fighting-in-al-dhaela-province-triggers-new-wave-of-displacement = https://www.icrc.org/en/document/yemen-ongoing-fighting-al-dhaela-province-triggers-new-wave-displacement
Snippet of film: https://twitter.com/ICRC/status/1190193686639976448
cp1a Am wichtigsten: Seuchen / Most important: Epidemics
(* B H)
25 die of cholera epidemic in southern Yemen's Lahj
Around 25 people died of cholera epidemic and acute watery diarrhea in Yemen's southern port city of Lahj during the past two months, a medical source told Xinhua on Saturday.
The source of Lahj's Health Department said on condition of anonymity that "there is an increase in the death cases in Lahj as a result of cholera and acute watery diarrhea in recent months."
He said that the emergency statistics at the Health Department of Lahj indicated that nearly 4,500 people are affected with cholera according to medical tests.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/02/c_138523671.htm
cp1b Am wichtigsten: Kampf um Hodeidah / Most important: Hodeidah battle
(A K pS)
An ambulance ran over a #landmine laid by Houthis in Al Durayhimi district, south the port city of #Hodeidah, killing one and wounding four others (photo)
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1190527194608611328
(A K pH)
In Hodeidah, US-Saudi mercenaries targeted Ad-durayhimi district with several artillery and machineguns. The mercenaries targeted Hais district with 8 artillery shells. US-Saudi aggression targeted Baet Al-Fakih district with 15 artillery shells and heavy and medium machineguns.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9573
(A K pS)
Houthis intensify attacks on southern Hodeidah
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14673
(A K pH)
Film: Aggression forces and traitors target the property of citizens in the besieged city of Duraimi 30-10-2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpvq19T5Lwo
(B K pH)
[Sanaa gov.] Hodeidah Governor: Crimes of US-Saudi Aggression Against Sons of Ad-Durayhimi Only Tip of Iceberg
Hodeidah Governor Mohammed Qahim has confirmed that what was shown on Almasirah TV in the documentary "Smuggled Messages from Ad-Durayhimi" from the crimes of the US-Saudi aggression against the sons of Ad-Durayhimi is only the tip of the iceberg.
"The crimes of aggression in the field are more than has been shown and the oppression of Ad-Durayhimi is unprecedented," Qahim said in a statement to Saba News Agency.
He explained that the United Nations is committing a greater crime by its silence towards such horrific crimes. Its silence on the blockade is considered complicity with the perpetrators, he added.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9558
(A K pH)
AGGRESSION FORCES CONTINUE TO VIOLATE THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT IN HODEIDAH
(A K pS)
Houthis target joint forces in Hays, south Hodeidah
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14659
(A K pS)
Spokesperson for the popular resistance Brigadier-General Sadiq Dwoaid said that although Houthi rebels took part in the establishment of joint frontline observation posts in #Hodeidah, they keep digging trenches and planting explosives.
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1189970240807022592
(A K pH)
Downing US-Saudi Aggression Spy Drone in Hodeidah
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9548
and
(A K pH)
Yemeni forces shoot down Austrian drone in Saudi service
Video footage shows wreckage of Austrian UAV
The military media of the Yemeni army has on Friday released video footage shows air defences shooting down an Austrian-made spy aircraft belonging to the Saudi-led invading coalition in Yemen’s Hodeidah province.
The video showed the wreckage of a Schiebal Camcopter S-100.
https://www.uprising.today/yemeni-forces-shoot-down-austrian-drone-in-saudi-service/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d86v8jm150
and also, photos: https://www.yemenpress.org/yemen/videoimages-wreckage-of-crashed-saudi-fighter-drone-in-hodeidah/
(A K pH)
US-Saudi Aggression’s Daily Update for Thursday, October 31st, 2019
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9557
(B K pS)
Film, Arabic: More than 1,000 violations and 500 martyrs and wounded militia victims in Hays
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVIiKW6d96Q
(A K pS)
Houthi Minefield Cleared in Yemen’s Hodeidah
The Yemeni National Army’s Joint Forces Engineering Team has announced clearing a Houthi minefield south of Hodeidah.
Engineer Anis Hussein Saif said that the engineering teams were able to detect and clear the mines planted by the Houthi militias before being expelled from the neighborhood of Mandhar and its vicinity, farms and roads
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1969916/houthi-minefield-cleared-yemen%E2%80%99s-hodeidah
Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjByqUnm6HU
(A K pH)
One citizen killed
A civilian was killed as a result of intensive artillery shelling of the forces of aggression east of Hays district, while four artillery shelling hit north of Hays, the security official said.
The forces of aggression targeted with artillery shells and machine guns separated areas of the district of Hays, as well as artillery shelling of the forces of aggression targeted besieged city of Duraihmi.
The invaders and mercenaries carried out an unsuccessful infiltration of army and committees sites in Kilo 16 area in Al-Duraihmi district, and hit an armored 'BMB' intensively belonging to the aggression forces north al Fazah in Tuhita district.
In west of Tuhita, the forces of aggression targeted with heavy and medium weapons separated areas of the Faza area, and combed heavily with light and medium machine guns.
Aggression warplanes launched two airstrikes on al-Muneera district in Hodeidah province,
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3077072.htm
cp2 Allgemein / General
(* A K P)
Interactive Map of Yemen War
(* A K)
MILITARY SITUATION IN YEMEN ON NOVEMBER 2, 2019 (MAP UPDATE)
https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-yemen-on-november-2-2019-map-update/
MILITARY SITUATION IN YEMEN ON OCTOBER 31, 2019 (MAP UPDATE)
https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-yemen-on-october-31-2019-map-update/
(* B K P)
Film: Legendary war correspondent Martin Bell: Arms sales to Saudi Arabia must stop!
On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to legendary former BBC war correspondent Martin Bell and current UNICEF UK Ambassador on the Yemen War. He discusses the unimaginable suffering he’s seen, the lack of mainstream media coverage of the war which is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, and demands an end to UK and Western arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Next, we speak to Hussain Albukhaiti, a Yemeni journalist based in Sanaa, on the harrowing humanitarian statistics of the Yemen War. Finally, we speak to Andrew Lownie, author of ‘The Mountbattens’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op4kl846p_Y
(* B H K)
Photos: YEMEN CONFLICT FATALITIES
https://www.lusa.pt/fotos?imageid=27391679
(B H K)
IKRK-Präsident Peter Maurer: «Wir brauchen dringend Verstärkung in Syrien»
Sie waren vergangene Woche im Jemen. Wie ist die aktuelle Lage?
Der Krieg im Jemen ist noch lange nicht vorbei. Die Situation ist schwierig. Der Konflikt ist sehr vertrackt. Von den Zahlen her ist es eine der grössten humanitären Katastrophen: 80 Prozent der Bevölkerung sind auf humanitäre Hilfe angewiesen. Mehr als die Hälfte der Gesundheitsinfrastruktur ist zerschossen und zerbombt. Verletzungen des humanitären Menschenrechts ist an der Tagesordnung. Dennoch ist der Bürgerkrieg im Jemen einer jener Konflikte, bei dem ich ein bisschen optimistischer bin – zum Beispiel bezüglich der Kriegsführung oder dem Willen der Kriegsparteien sich zu bessern und ihrem Engagement mit uns. Wir haben zum Beispiel auf allen Seiten – zwar nicht überall optimalen – aber wir haben Zugang zu Gefangenen. Dabei haben wir einiges geleistet, um eine menschliche Behandlung von Gefangenen sicherzustellen.
https://twnews.ch/ch-news/ikrk-prasident-peter-maurer-wir-brauchen-dringend-verstarkung-in-syrien = https://www.badenertagblatt.ch/ausland/ikrk-praesident-peter-maurer-wir-brauchen-dringend-verstaerkung-in-syrien-135909103 = https://www.luzernerzeitung.ch/international/ikrk-praesident-peter-maurer-nur-weil-ich-empoerung-nicht-kommuniziere-heisst-das-nicht-dass-ich-nie-empoert-bin-ld.1165092
(B K P)
Amazing observations by a #Yemeni writer: #Trump sends #American troops to protect #Saudi which sends its troops to defend #Yemen, from #Yemenis but uses other #Yemenis to protect itself from #Yemenis on its southern borders
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1190432465132949506
referring to https://twitter.com/bon2_o1sav4tjkp/status/1190356915274080257
(* B E K P)
Report: UAE still occupies 9 economic sites in Yemen
The exertion of UAE control in key strategic sites in war-torn Yemen, has been detrimental to the Yemeni economy.
According to a report by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, five years of Emirati “occupation” has led to an almost complete disruption of the production and export of oil and gas in addition to disruption of port activity and airport operations.
According to observers and officials, the nine sites controlled by Abu Dhabi are Mukha, Bab El-Mandab, Aden, the port of the interim capital, Aden airport, Rayyan airport in Mukalla, Socotra, Mayon Island and Balhaf port in the oil producing Shabwa governorate in southern Yemen.
The recent Riyadh agreement between the Yemeni government and UAE-backed southern separatists, overseen by the Saudis was intended to quell the tensions that existed over Emirati support for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), whilst the Saudi-backed Yemeni government sought to maintain unity of the country.
Although a draft has been agreed upon, which entailed the handover of Aden to the government from the STC, informed sources say that the terms are vague regarding the issue of the UAE’s continued presence in strategic areas, in spite of the widely reported gradual withdrawal of UAE forces in recent weeks.
A consequence of this, is that Yemen has lost more than $5 billion directly, which could have been pumped into the state over the past five years due to a halt in oil and gas exports. Furthermore, about ten international companies who had invested in the oil and gas sector left Yemen in early 2015 and dozens of local companies working in this and other economic sectors stopped, leaving the UAE to step in and fill the void since mid-2016.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191101-report-uae-still-occupies-9-economic-sites-in-yemen/
cp2a Saudische Blockade / Saudi blockade
(A K P)
YPC Employees Protest in Front of UN Building in Sana’a
Yemen Petroleum Company employees continued to protest in front of the United Nations Office in the capital Sana'a for the 30th Friday, entitled” UN is unable to launch oil derivatives tankers”.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9569
(B K P)
Infographic: This is the impact of the US supported Saudi/UAE blockade on Yemen. Extreme shortages of fuel devastating all services including food, health and Sanitation.
https://twitter.com/AishaJumaan/status/1190311197024743424
(B K P)
Infographic: Impact of Saudi blockade in Yemen’s essential goods. The deep drop in Nov 2017 is when they completely shut down all points of entry to #Yemen. This blockade also impacts aid provided by the UN and international agencies. This represents only 20% of the needs.
https://twitter.com/AishaJumaan/status/1189938302490529792
cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation
Siehe / Look at cp1
(B H)
Film by Ummah Welfare Trust
Feeding Yemen's Hungry in rural Ibb
Ummah Welfare Trust has been delivering food supplies to the mountainous Ibb region of Yemen in recent weeks, alhamdulillah.
Some of these distributions have been made possible thanks to generous donations from Islamic Centre Edgware and Kingston Muslim Association.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=492123834675891
(* B H)
Maps: Large-scale assistance needs and risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) likely to persist as war nears five years
https://fews.net/east-africa/yemen/food-security-outlook/october-2019
(B H)
Film: On the last day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we would like to welcome you to the first breast cancer clinic in the province of #Lahj, #Yemen implemented by Yemen Aid. Quality for #Yemen is always our priority.
https://twitter.com/YemenAid_US/status/1189924778364276737
(B H)
CARE: Addressing Food Crisis in Yemen: Executive Summary of Evaluation
In 2017, in response to the one of the world’s worst manmade crises, a consortium of CARE and Action Contre la Faim (ACF) implemented a European Union (EU)-funded Multi-Purpose Cash (MPC) project in the Abyan and Amran governorates of Yemen. The project aimed to enhance food security and to support livelihood activities, savings groups, and the resilience of communities with the rehabilitation of critical, community-identified shared assets. The program design was aligned with the Humanitarian Development Nexus framework, which focuses on a shift from supplying humanitarian assistance to those who need it to reducing the demand for humanitarian assistance by addressing the root causes of these needs.
Program beneficiaries—2,100 of the most vulnerable and food insecure households in 36 villages— received MPC over ten cycles and completed projects that rehabilitated community assets, many through Cash for Work (CFW). Community projects included rehabilitation of water sources and facilities, market access roads improvements, formation of village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), and trainings on best practices in certain livelihoods.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/addressing-food-crisis-yemen-executive-summary-evaluation
(B H)
World Food Programme: Yemen Emergency Dashboard, October 2019
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-emergency-dashboard-october-2019
(* B H)
CARE builds water tanks & latrines in Yemen for conflict-affected people
Water is scarce in #Yemen, & women and children often have to travel long distances to find water for their families. Support from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF) enabled CARE to build & rehabilitate water points & latrines in Al Dhale governorate, so that illnesses like cholera & diarrhoea are prevented from spreading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M-E8PXqRBE
(B H)
[Houthi] BONYAN FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTES 1000 FOOD BASKETS IN MARIB GOVERNORATE
cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees
Siehe / Look at cp1
(* B H)
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Shelter Cluster: Shelter Cluster Winterization Recommendations for Yemen, October 2019 – February 2020
The Shelter/NFI situation deteriorated as a result of the intensified conflict and shift of frontlines, coupled with insecurity and recurrent natural disasters in addition to the alarming deterioration of the Yemeni economy including depreciation of the local currency, unprecedented increases in the price of fuel and high inflation rates resulting in increased prices of basic commodities in local markets including household items and shelter materials. The situation of affected population will continue to deteriorate rapidly on all fronts without urgent action to end the violence and addressing the growing number of humanitarian needs.
The ongoing conflict prevented majority of conflict affected population from recovering their livelihoods, and that more people have by now exhausted their financial savings and are not able to prepare adequately for the winter season. The climate in Yemen varies greatly depending on the geographical region. During the winter season, the country experiences coolness, with frequent frost. The range of temperature can go from 19°C during the highest temperature in winter, into below 0°C at its coldest. Rain is brought in by the southwest winds. Rainfall, which comes in irregular heavy torrents, averages 130 millimetres (5.12 in) annually.
This document represents recommendations for the winterization support as part of the Shelter Cluster efforts to put in place measures to support people of concern in order to avert the risk of humanitarian tragedy and loss of life during the winter months.
https://www.sheltercluster.org/sites/default/files/docs/shelter_cluster_winterization_recommendations_2019-2020_-_v2-_en.pdf = https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/shelter-cluster-winterization-recommendations-yemen-october-2019-february-2020
(B H)
UN High Commissioner for Refugees: Yemen: UNHCR Operational Update, 1 November 2019
UNHCR, with partners NMO and NRC, distributed basic household items to 180 newly displaced, conflict-affected families in IDP hosting sites
There are now more than 1,620 IDP hosting sites identified country-wide in Yemen, according to the CCCM Cluster. As CCCM Cluster lead, UNHCR has the mandate of improving the living conditions of IDPs in these sites.
UNHCR, alongside the Protection, Shelter/NFI and CCCM Clusters, is currently conducting a rapid assessment of IDP families living in areas affected by cold climate.
Under UNHCR’s Assisted Spontaneous Return (ASR) programme for Somalis, the 37th boat left Aden with 114 Somali refugees on 28 October.
http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/UNHCR%20Yemen%20Operational%20Update%20-%201NOV19.pdf = https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-unhcr-operational-update-1-november-2019
(* B H)
International Organization for Migration: IOM: USD 54 Million Needed in 2019 for Migrant Response in Horn of Africa, Yemen
The International Organization for Migration, IOM, and its partners, released in October, an update to the Regional Migrant Response Plan for the Horn of Africa and Yemen (RMRP) 2018-2020. The updated appeal seeks to raise USD 54 million to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to an estimated 113,000 vulnerable migrants in transit or stranded in RMRP target countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen.
The RMRP is a three-year migrant-focused humanitarian and development strategy to vulnerable migrants from the Horn of Africa moving to and from Yemen.
The RMRP appeal for 2019 also includes development-oriented durable solutions that address root causes of migration in the Horn of Africa; supports governments with capacity building activities to address the humanitarian and protection needs of migrants. It also supports research on root causes and drivers of migration in the Horn of Africa and Yemen. RMRP partners have secured 32 per cent of the funding required as of October.
Along the Eastern corridor, at least 160,000 migrants are estimated to enter Yemen from the Horn of Africa by the end of 2019, and nearly 130,000 migrants are expected to return home to the region from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the same period. Approximately 5 per cent of all migrant arrivals into Yemen tracked in the first six months of 2019 are unaccompanied or separated children. This is an increase from the 2 per cent observed during the same period in 2018.
Many migrants on the perilous journey to and through Yemen experience exploitation and abuse as they attempt to reach the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in search of economic opportunities.
“Migrants undertaking this journey do so in search of a better life for themselves and their families. These migrants are often young people – in many cases children – unaware of the dangers on the route to Yemen, including exposure to extreme heat, encountering conflict and violence, and potentially falling prey to human traffickers,” said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM’s Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa.
“Migrants on the route to Yemen are amongst some of the most vulnerable and meeting the humanitarian needs of this population must remain a priority for the international community,” he added.
The October 2019 update to the RMRP reflects updated priorities for partners in each of the target countries
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/iom-usd-54-million-needed-2019-migrant-response-horn-africa-yemen
(* B H)
Yemenis fleeing civil war atrocities find safe home in Turkey
The number of houses bought by Yemenis in Turkey soared by 536% in the first nine months of the year, compared to the same period in 2015, when war broke out in the country, while the number of houses sold to foreigners increased by 98%.
According to Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data, the number of houses Yemenis bought in Turkey has increased exponentially year after year since 2015, when internal turmoil began in the country.
Taş stated: "One of the highlights in the data is the increase in the number of real estate purchases by Yemenis in Turkey... You know that there is serious internal turmoil in Yemen. Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to leave their country and their homes in recent years. This has also been reflected in statistics regarding housing sales to foreigners in Turkey. For the first time in history, Yemen entered the top 10 on the list of countries that bought housing in Turkey. The Yemenis who fled the war have found safe housing in Turkey."
My comment: If you can afford it.
(* B H)
Film: Ethiopian migrants detained in terrible conditions in Yemen
Ethiopian migrants traveling to Saudi Arabia to find work there fall into the hands of human smugglers in Yemen.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=785596308566340
and
(* B H)
Film: Yemen Migrants: Officials say thousands land in Yemen annually
Every year, tens of thousands of East Africans try to travel to Saudi Arabia in the hopes of finding work. But the trek through Yemen is perilous, and there's no guarantee that a journey that started with hope will end in the same way.
https://www.trtworld.com/video/news-videos/yemen-migrants-officials-say-thousands-land-in-yemen-annualy/5dba8b7f6e2a1a00111d2448 = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLoHYYyKPeA
and
(* B H)
Film: Yemen, the nightmare of kidnapped and tortured migrants:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAvD94zjvSw
cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis
(A P)
Houthi militia imposes illegal amounts money on school students in Hajjah
The Iranian-backed Houthi rebel militia has imposed illegal amounts money on school students in Hajjah province in return for the so-called war effort.
Local sources said that the Houthi militia obliged school headmasters in district of Shahal, north of the province, to impose an illegal amount of one thousand Y.R on each student as a war effort under the convoy of the Prophet birth .
The sources pointed out that the rebel militia formed armed militia committees affiliated to go down to all schools of the district to collect money from students.
(B P)
https://twitter.com/Macoombs/status/1190515502008848384
(A P)
Yemeni Central Bank starts campaign against money laundering
Campaign will target suspicious transactions and terrorist funding
The Governor of the Central Bank of Yemen, Dr. Rashid Abulahom, has on Wednesday affirmed the Bank’s keenness to develop the capabilities of Yemeni banking cadres to meet the international requirements of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, and to combat terrorist financing.
At the opening of the qualifying program for AML specialist certificate, organized by the Banking Studies Institute, Dr. Abulahom said that the Central Bank seeks to train 50 trainees in this field in 2019.
https://www.uprising.today/yemeni-central-bank-starts-campaign-against-money-laundering/
(B P)
Film: From the Central Prison to the Central Security Camp... The story of kidnapped persons used as human shields in Sana'a.
https://twitter.com/BelqeesRights/status/1190481155688026112
(A K P)
FM: Targeting Civilians by Aggression Sends Message of Not Being Serious about Peace
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hisham Sharaf condemned the continuation of aggression in targeting citizens' houses, violating international humanitarian law and the four Geneva Conventions.
The minister considered that the targeting of civilians by the aggression coalition is a message that it is not serious towards peace and preventing citizens from military attacks.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9568
and also https://www.saba.ye/en/news3077237.htm
(A P)
BEN HABTOOR: THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMMEDIATELY BEGIN THE EXECUTIVE STEPS OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN
Prime Minister Abdulaziz Saleh bin Habtoor said that the government would immediately put in place the executive steps of the official campaign launched by the head of the Supreme Political Council to combat corruption and address various abusive practices of the state and its duties towards citizens.
(A P)
The head of the al Houthi movement’s National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs, Abdul Qader al Murtada, claimed that the group had released six prisoners in western Yemen’s Ma’rib governorate on October 31.[3]
(A P)
THE HIGHER SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE APPROVES THE PAYMENT OF HALF OF THE WORKERS’ SALARY AS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT
The Supreme Supervisory Committee approved to correct the imbalances in the payroll, the payment of half of the salary of state employees starting next Sunday, November 3, 2019 in implementation of the directives of His Excellency Brother Marshal Mahdi Al-Mashat, Chairman of the Supreme Political Council.
In its meeting today in Sana’a, chaired by Advisor to the President of the Supreme Political Council Hashim Ismail Ali in the presence of the Minister of Finance Sharaf al-Din Ali Al-Kahlani and the Minister of Civil Service and Insurance, Driss Al-Shargabi, the committee stressed the need to continue taking measures aimed at alleviating the suffering of disciplined employees.
(A P)
Central Bank is keen to meet AML compliance requirements: Governor
Governor of the Central Bank of Yemen Dr. Rashid Abulahom on Wednesday affirmed the Bank’s keenness to develop capabilities of Yemeni banking cadres to meet the international requirements of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and combat terrorist financing.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3077068.htm
cp6 Südjemen und Hadi-Regierung / Southern Yemen and Hadi-government
(** B K P)
Yemen 'peace' deal is a fragile truce between Saudi Arabia and the UAE
To establish real peace and stability in Yemen, international actors should curtail the involvement of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi
Saudi-brokered deal to merge the Yemeni government of Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) into a unity regime has raised hopes that peace in the war-torn country is on the horizon.
Yet this “deal” is really an opportunity for external powers to shore up their own influence in the country, given that the two Yemeni factions have received divergent support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE respectively.
Strategic alliance
Yet, determined to preserve their own strategic regional alliance, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have pushed for unity between these rival factions. The UAE again withdrew some forces after Saudi troops arrived in Aden earlier this month to reclaim the city.
Though this has alleviated Saudi-UAE divisions over Yemen, in pursuit of its own geopolitical ambitions, Riyadh has temporarily regained an upper hand. It has re-empowered its favoured political actor, Hadi, while securing ties with the increasingly prominent STC, which attended the peace talks in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi must contend with Hadi’s presence, which it had tried to undermine with its secessionist ambitions.
Rather than seeking to improve Yemen's stability, Saudi Arabia supports Hadi - who is based in Riyadh - as he gives the kingdom legitimacy to intervene in the country’s politics.
This has been Riyadh’s long-term strategy in Yemen, rather than the official goal of fighting the Houthis.
Saudi Arabia has pursued a “soft power” strategy, politicising aid and investment to re-establish its traditional influence over its southern neighbour and make it dependent on Riyadh’s control. Its vehicle for this has been the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, which is pursuing dozens of “development” projects across Hadi-controlled regions.
Yet, these measures are a tool for consolidating Riyadh’s own links to Yemen. Saudi Arabia had deliberately targeted Yemeni infrastructure, food sources, agricultural centres and marketplaces under Houthi control, to weaken the faction’s prominence. This shows that it does not prioritise a strong Yemeni state, but rather supports a weakened Yemen that it can easily control.
Increasingly illegitimate
Though Hadi is the UN-recognised president, he is considered increasingly illegitimate throughout Yemeni society, particularly as he has been absent in Riyadh for more than four years. He has thus been unable to provide adequate security and services for Yemen. Saudi Arabia has still attempted to shore him up in the country, supporting his return to a parliamentary session in Sayun in April.
The STC coup initially threatened such influence, particularly as the group was primarily backed by the UAE. Had a deal not been brokered, the STC could have seized control of much of the south.
Now Saudi Arabia seeks to appease the STC, aiming to reunite the government and separatists against Riyadh’s primary adversary in Yemen, the Houthis. Yet this risks triggering a further backlash in an already devastated country. The unification deal ignores Yemen’s dire security and stability situation.
Even though the Houthis reportedly supported a ceasefire in September, this deal could reignite another conflict, while it ostensibly seeks to halt the violence between the government and separatists.
Meanwhile, the STC has yet to renounce its calls for southern independence, viewing the deal as an opportunity to secure greater southern autonomy, particularly as its terms are vague. Saudi Arabia will have to contend with this. Riyadh would likely oppose the STC’s wish for more southern independence, as it could shore up the Houthis in the north.
Separatist backlash
Not paying heed to the STC’s wishes and imposing Hadi’s vision for the country could trigger another separatist backlash, as tensions persist between the two sides. The deal is therefore only a temporary solution, with Riyadh desperately aiming to avoid losing its influence in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia is playing a dangerous game. Yemen’s ministers of interior and transport survived an assassination attempt hours after the peace deal was finalised. While no one claimed responsibility, it shows there is still opposition to the Saudi-backed government of Hadi.
Thus, while Saudi Arabia is temporarily back in the driver’s seat, it will still face obstacles to its political goals in the country, including the UAE’s own interests.
While the peace deal and the empowerment of Hadi hinders Abu Dhabi’s ambitions, it could still use the STC to push for greater southern autonomy – by Jonathan Fenton-Harvey
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/yemen-peace-deal-shores-saudi-and-uae-influence
(* B K P)
Op-Ed: After deal, Yemen separatists allow Saudi troops in south Yemen
STC supporter Saeed Bahashwan told Middle East Eye.“The Saudi forces are in military camps and they guide the SBF when they need advice, but the SBF control the ground and there is no Saudi fighter on the ground.”" The SBF stands for the Security Belt Forces, the military wing of the STC.
Saudis not implementing their part of the deal
The UAE kept a main provision of the deal by withdrawing their forces from Aden and allowed Saudi forces to take their place. But letting the Hadi government back in Aden was supposed to involve that government giving the STC some key posts as part of a power-sharing deal. So far there is no sign of that happening. Mansur Hadi head of the Saudi-supported government is in exile in Saudi Arabia.
The Hadi government has simply insisted that it be restored to power.
The deal may be dead if the Saudis don't force power-sharing on Hadi
There is no way that the STC will keep to the deal if they get nothing in return. It is hardly surprising that they refuse to allow the Hadi government to simply return as is. Hadi make think that the Saudis will simply ignore the STC demands and let him return while keeping all the power to himself protected by the Saudis. This could result in renewal of the conflict and the deal dying. However, the UAE may not be anxious to rejoin the fray. Perhaps something will be worked out.
(* B K P)
Saudi-Brokered Deal Defuses Tensions in Yemen’s South, but Security Challenges Linger
The Saudi-brokered bargain, referred to as the Riyadh agreement, is a significant breakthrough that, if successful, will prevent the fragmentation of the country and avert a new civil war.
Although the Hadi government believes that the deal is going to reinforce its authority over the South, STC supporters think the agreement is bringing them closer to their goal of independence. For now, the Saudis and the Hadi government have made it clear that the STC should abandon its secessionist agenda. But whether the deal will benefit the government or the STC does not only depend on the agreement’s terms, but also on external factors and potential spoilers who might seek to undermine the deal and perpetuate violence.
The general reaction of Yemenis to the Riyadh-agreement has been confusion, skepticism, and even disappointment. This is likely due to both parties promising their followers an uncompromising victory during the brief, violent conflict in August in the South.
But a failure to come to an agreement would mean that the warring parties would continue to turn their guns against each other instead of fighting the Houthis.
With Saudi Arabia’s oversight and role as an arbitrator to oversee disarmament and redeployment, the Hadi government and STC are less likely to revert to violence. Moreover, the designation of an army unit to protect the Hadi government and STC leadership is a significant component of the agreement, given the precarious security environment, which includes assassination attempts
Adding to the list of challenges are potential spoilers, including disgruntled government officials who had strong positions against the STC and were affected by the conflict in Aden.
In addition, the Islah political party (loosely affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood) may not ultimately accept the agreement with the STC. While Islah’s leadership initially expressed support for the deal, the Riyadh agreement avoided addressing the STC-Islah standoff, despite a history of violence and mistrust between the two. Islah is still one of the most influential parties in Yemen. Hadi’s vice president, Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, is affiliated with Islah and a critical mass in the Parliament represents its interests, with deep convictions against the fragmentation of the Yemeni state.
The Saudis have engineered this agreement to guarantee a concerted effort against the Houthis. However, it remains to be seen if the signatories themselves understand that the pact’s success will not be measured by short-term gains for their respective political establishments but in the provision of security and stability that will unlock further potential for the South and the whole country – by Fatima Abo Alasrar
My comment: “The Saudis have engineered this agreement to guarantee a concerted effort against the Houthis”: Once again: This agreement would not be a step to reach a greater peace agreement for the whole of Yemen, but just for ramping up against the Houthis and for intensifying war against them.
(* B K P)
Mapping the Conflict in Yemen
What is the significance of this recent confrontation? How will it impact the ongoing war in Yemen? What do we need to know about South Yemen and its history? Who are the secessionist in Yemen today? Does the showdown in Eden signal a schism in the Saudi-UAE coalition?
To answer these questions, we turn to Sheila Carapico, a Professor of Political Science and International Studies at the University of Richmond in Virginia.
https://www.jadaliyya.com/Details/40175
(B P)
Understanding the Riyadh Agreement on Yemen
The Riyadh Agreement sets out measures to be taken in the forthcoming period under the supervision of the Arab Coalition
The Saudi-brokered agreement between the Yemeni government of Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) marks the end of a chapter in the Yemeni conflict that flared into open hostilities in August
First, it lays out a clear roadmap and timeframe to end the conflict between the Hadi government and the STC.
As a result, the agreement does more than “contain” the crisis in the south, and instead resolves the “southern question” in the context of the Yemeni crisis as a whole. Final judgement on its success is contingent on the parties’ sustained commitment to implementing its provisions.
Second, the agreement establishes the relationship between the government and the STC on the basis of a power-sharing formula
In view of past experience of the conflict in the north, it is unlikely that the Riyadh model is applicable there. First, the agreement with the STC is similar to the Peace and Partnership Agreement that preceded the Houthis’ 2014 September coup. Second, the Houthis do not recognise the established frames-of-reference, especially the outputs of the National Dialogue.
Third, the ideological aspect of the Houthi project is inconsistent with the agreement.
My comment: A mainly propagandistic view of the agreement. For understanding it, better read the other articles above.
(* A P)
Yemen govt, separatists to sign power-sharing deal on Tuesday
Yemen's internationally recognised government will sign an agreement with southern separatists on Tuesday aimed at ending a conflict simmering within the country's long-running civil war, Yemeni and Saudi officials said.
The power-sharing deal would see the secessionist Southern Transitional Council (STC) handed a number of ministries, and the government return to the main southern city of Aden, according to officials and Saudi media reports on Saturday.
Yemeni Information Minister Muammar al-Iryani tweeted that an official signing ceremony for the "Riyadh Agreement" would take place in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan will represent the United Arab Enmirates, the main partner in the Saudi-led coalition backing Hadi's government, Saudi ambassador to Yemen Mohammed al-Jaber tweeted.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-7642111/Yemen-govt-separatists-sign-power-sharing-deal-Tuesday.html = https://www.france24.com/en/20191102-yemen-govt-separatists-to-sign-power-sharing-deal-on-tuesday
and
(A P)
Al-Jaber says Yemeni government, STC sign agreement on Tuesday
The Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammad Al-Jaber said that signing the Riyadh Agreement between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Yemen's government will be next Tuesday.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14672
and
(A P)
Info. Minister: Riyadh Agreement will be signed Tuesday
Minister of Information Mua’amar al-Iryani has confirmed that the protocols of the formal signature of Riyadh Agreement will be held next Tuesday on November 5 under the sponsorship of King Salman Bin Abdul-Aziz and his Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
Al-Iryani told Yemeni News Agency,Saba, that the political attendance for signing the agreement confirms keenness of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Saudi Arabia on attendance of different southern components and Yemeni political elites for unifying all Yemeni efforts under President Hadi’s government for regaining the state and toppling Houthi militia’s coup.
Al-Iryani praised efforts of Saudi Arabia for accomplishing the agreement
http://en.26sepnews.net/2019/11/01/info-minister-riyadh-agreement-will-be-signed-tuesday/
(* A P)
Signing Saudi-brokered deal on Yemen postponed as fighting resumed
The Yemeni government delayed signing a power-sharing deal with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) as fighting resumed in the southern province of Abyan on Thursday, leaving six people killed.
According to a source of Yemen's government, "it was scheduled to publicly sign the power-sharing deal between representatives of two sides in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh today" but delayed due to the developments on ground.
He said on condition of anonymity that "intense clashes erupted between the STC's military units and the government forces in Ahwar district of Abyan province."
The government forces managed to capture Ahwar from the STC's military units following several hours of intense armed confrontations, the source said.
He added that the STC's military units withdrew from Ahwar district as a number of military checkpoints belonging to the government forces were set up there.
Medical sources based in Abyan confirmed to Xinhua that at least six soldiers from both sides were killed in the armed confrontations.
An officer of the STC's military units said that "government forces used around 25 military vehicles in the attack that targeted our military locations in Ahwar."
He said anonymously that the armed confrontations expanded in the area as local tribesmen gathered and joined the fighting with the STC against the government forces in Abyan's southeastern parts.
Another official of the STC's negotiating team in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh said that "the government apparently does not like to sign the deal with the STC leaders and resorted to military escalation in Abyan."
The Saudi-based Yemeni official said that "the military escalation may lead to serious consequences as it coincided with signing the deal under the auspices of Saudi Arabia."
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/01/c_138519163.htm = https://www.chinadailyhk.com/articles/25/208/203/1572583041738.html?newsId=111237
and
(* A P)
Disputes between southern political forces behind the postponement of the signing of the "Riyadh Agreement"
A government source told the Yemeni scene that the differences between the southern political components are behind the postponement of the signing of the draft "Jeddah Dialogue" Riyadh agreement between the legitimate government and the pro-UAE southern transition. The source, who declined to be named, that the differences between the southern political forces is the distribution of positions after the signing, and each political faction wants to impose itself to be the sole representative of the south and the southern issue. The source pointed out that Saudi officials intervened among the southern components.
Earlier, the Yemeni Minister of Information, Muammar al-Iryani, said that the postponement of the signing of the Riyadh agreement comes within the desire of Saudi Arabia, and what is currently being a protocol arrangements, to meet with various components and personalities of the south in order to unify efforts Al-Iryani stressed that there is no truth to the reports of some media trumpets about blocking or refusing a government to sign the Riyadh agreement with the aim of mixing papers and offending the positions of the government and misleading public opinion.
https://www.almashhad-alyemeni.com/148392
(A K P)
Mutinous mercenaries blockade port in Aden
Protesting lack of payment, mercenary units block roads to port
Dozens of gunmen on Wednesday blocked all roads leading to the container port in the Caltex area and the Mualla port in the southern Yemeni province of Aden.
According to media sources, gunmen from the Saudi-led coalition have blocked the main roads to the two ports and prevented the exit and entry of vehicles and tankers to and from the area.
The recruits’ protest came against the backdrop of their allowances by the coalition countries having been cut iff for more than three months, the sources explained.
The Hadi government in exile has stopped the payment of salaries of recruits and accused military leaders in the fourth military region of not implementing orders of its defence minister in countering the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council militias during the armed clashes that led to the latter’s control of the city of Aden last August.
https://www.uprising.today/mutinous-mercenaries-blockade-port-in-aden/
(A K P)
UAE besieging Hadi officials’ HQ in Socotra
Emirati mercenaries attacking Saudi-backed forces
The UAE occupation militias have on Wednesday imposed a suffocating siege on the headquarters of Hadi’s governor and the Central Bank on the island of Socotra, cutting off the island’s main roads and streets.
According to local sources, the UAE’s STC militias have set up tents in front of the gate of the governmental complex and the bank branch in Socotra, and prevented entry and exit to these places.
“Hadi’s forces carried out a large deployment in front and around the government compound in anticipation of any armed escalation by the UAE-backed militias,” one of the sources said.
According to media sources, military crews sent by the UAE months ago are trying to create chaos.
https://www.uprising.today/uae-besieging-hadi-officials-hq-in-socotra/
(* A K P)
Tensions flare up again between STC and Islah Party
Riyadh Agreement may not keep the two sides from fighting
Senior leaders of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council have attacked Hadi’s government and the Islah Party in particular, after signs of a failure of the Riyadh agreement between the two sides.
“Al-Qaeda in Yemen is stronger and more organized than other branches of the organisation,” Hani Bin Brik, vice president of the Southern Transitional Council, said in a tweet.
He stressed that al-Qaeda in Yemen “has become the center of the organisation’s weight and has been given full support by the al-Islah party, the partner of the government.”
In the same vein, the academic and southern political analyst Dr. Hussein Laqwer Bin Aidan said in a tweet: “the legitimacy has weakened itself more than many imagined when it appeared as a group of bandits when it tried to break into Ahwar District.
“The killings by terrorists within the legitimate forces [Hadi’s administration in exile] will not go unpunished,” he added.
https://www.uprising.today/tensions-flare-up-again-between-stc-and-islah-party/
(* A K P)
Southern Forces seized Ahwar, including al-Muhafed triangle
An official source from the Operations Command Room of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), the Security Belt Forces and the Southern Resistance in Ahwar – Abyan governorate confirmed late on Thursday evening, that the southern forces seized Ahwar including the Ahwar al-Muhafed Triangle as well as the government premises' compounds.
According to the source, on Friday the Islah terrorist militias left their positions after they suffered intense strikes from the southern resistance, leaving behind it many casualties.
The same source reported that the Islah reform terrorist militias led by Mohammed Al-Awban fled in two directions and returned Shuqra west of the governorate.While the invading forces that were stationed in the government compound and the Ahwar -Mahfed Triangle fled towards Shabwa to the east.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14665
and
(* A K P)
A resident in Ahwar tells me that six loyalists and 6 STC's were killed in the fighting that lasted for 3 hours. As many as 40 military vehicles carrying dozens of government forces stormed the town from two Shabwa and Abyan's Shouqra fronts.
https://twitter.com/saeedalBatati/status/1189891889853616129
and
(* A P)
Breaking: A senior pro-Hadi official tells me signing of Saudi-brokered deal between STC and Hadi's government was indefinitely postponed as "Saudi leaders are busy with economic conference".
https://twitter.com/saeedalBatati/status/1189901741241905153
(A P)
Shatara: Ministers who threaten Aden, who do they represent?
Member of the Presidency of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Lutfi Shatara raised an important question on the Yemeni government ministers who threaten the capital with military invasion.
Shatara wrote on his official Twitter account "If the legitimacy reached an agreement with the STC in Jeddah to be signed in Riyadh under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, those (who launched a military operation against the Southerners) in Ahwar and Shuqra along with those ministers who threaten Aden with military invasion by enormous army that its elements could cover the areas from Shuqra to Seiyun and Marib, who do they represent?"
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14671
(* A K P)
Riyadh agreement delayed, clashes erupted in Abyan
Riyadh agreement between the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Yemen's government which expected to be held on Thursday, has reportedly been delayed. The exact reasons reason still unknown, a new date will be determined later.
In another development, fierce fighting erupted in Abyan, east of Aden, between the Security Belt forces and the government forces that launched large-scale attacks on Shuqraا and the district of Ahwar, imposing a siege on the two southern areas, Security Belt official told the press.
Local sources said that the tribal leaders of Ahwar called on all the tribes to fight and drive back the Islah-linked troops that came from the northern regions to invade their lands.
The clashes broke out a few hours before signing the Saudi-mediated deal in Riyadh in a bid to disrupt the political process.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14658
(A P)
Foreign Minister: Riyadh agreement is an important step to unite the ranks to face the Iranian Houthi project
Yemen's Foreign Minister said on Wednesday the deal Saudi Arabia brokered between his government and STC rebels in Aden is crucial for unifying ranks in Yemen against the Houthis who are advancing Iran's expansionist agenda in the country.
In a meeting with the deputy chief of the US diplomatic mission to Yemen Junaid Munir here on Wednesday, Mohammed al-Hadhrami appreciated the Saudi efforts in backing the Yemeni government to restore the Yemeni state to power.
https://almasdaronline.com/articles/173562
(A P)
A Historical Agreement will be Inaugurated.
Interview with Aidarous al Zubaidi (President of the Southern Transitional Council STC)
I wanted to explore the heart of the loyal southerners who operate with the heart of one man, Commander Aidroos Al Zubeidi. I took the opportunity and spoke to him by phone. I asked permission to publish my interview with him in the "Okaz" Newspaper, to my delight he agreed.
I asked him directly, what are the most serious difficulties and challenges the Southern Transitional Council and Aidroos Al-Zubeidi personally faced during the process of the Jeddah dialogue, which led to signing the agreement?
He replied: "In fact, there is nothing to be described as "dangerous" but the challenges that we faced were, how to reach a common ground that would preserve what was confined in the Southern Transitional Council’s documentation.
As long as we agree to the aims of the Arab coalition and its Arab project in our country, we are never at odds with our political project and the aspirations of our people but some parties do not welcome the Saudi Arabian Kingdom's efforts."
My heart was pounding with joy, but fear leaked into my limbs, so I asked Commander Aidroos. How did you deal with the southerners who rejected dialogue and insisted on disengagement?
He replied: "Basically the STC’s project will go through many stages, which will take into account many political factors internal and external this requires wisdom and patience. We need to secure our people as we promised them on the first day.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14660 = https://www.southarabianews.com/2019/11/interview-with-aidarous-al-zubaidi.html
My comment: Southern separatists’ view, in a flattering interview of separatist leader.
(A P)
Saudi private plane carrying officials to attend Riyadh agreement
On Thursday, a saudi private plane transported a delegation from the Authority and what so-called Reference of Hadramaut Valley Tribes headed by Hadramout Valley undersecretary Essam Al-Katheri to the Kingdom to attend the signing of the Riyadh Agreement.
https://almasdaronline.com/articles/173574
(* B P)
Hadramout and the Riyadh Agreement. Balanced geography and oil reservoirs out of the equation
Ahead of the signing of the Riyadh agreement, which is to be baptized in an official ceremony in the coming hours between the Yemeni legitimate government and the so-called separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), disgruntled voices have raised to the surface.
Statements from several tribal and political figures and components showed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the dialogue that led to an agreement with the Transitional Council by Saudi mediation.
Hadramout has been of great importance to all parties, as it has been the main state treasury for years because it is the most productive oil province, which covers about 70% of the state budget.
These statements raised questions in Hadhrami’s street about Hadramout’s status in Riyadh agreement and fears that it would be marginalized because those statements gave indications of objection and dissatisfaction from the issuers.
For more than a month, Hadhramaut governor General Faraj al-Bahsani visited Saudi Arabia after a therapeutic trip where he met with President Hadi, his deputy, the prime minister and a number of foreign ambassadors.
Disgruntled statements
Mohsen Basurrah, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, from Hadhramaut province, called on the Hadhrami’s components of all directions to take advantage of opportunities to meet Hadramout’s demands.
In a statement, Hadhramaut Valley and Desert Tribes called on President Hadi to include them in any agreements or consultations.
This came in two letters by what so-called the reference , a copy of which was received by Al-Masdar online, sent to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and another to Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.
The president of the Hadhramaut Conference Sheikh Amr bin Habrish two days ago, sent a letter to President Hadi, in which he stressed that any arrangements concerning national issues, especially southern ones, which Hadhramaut is considered one of its pillars, does not include the gathering Conference of Hadramout, which represents in its output the Hadhrami consensus, it does not concern them. and does not represent them and will have a position on it.
Hadhrami politician Mohammed Balateef told Al-Masdar Online that Hadhramaut is not a key party to the conflict Agreement discussed in Jeddah since Hadramout was away from the ground conflict.
According to Balateef, the elites and the Hadhrami components are required to raise in the coming days their demands that confirm Hadramout’s specificity in any future settlement if Hadramout's demands are not met.
He stressed that Hadramout will inevitably find a response, especially since Saudi Arabia is the sponsor of this settlement and is closer than others to understanding and sympathizing with the Hadhrami situation.
Analyst Suleiman said Hadramout should resort to wealth sources and impose its conditions through it, as it succeeded last month in obtaining some of its demands.
https://almasdaronline.com/articles/173561
(* A K P)
UAE-backed militia besiege Yemen governor of Socotra amid fears of coup
UAE-backed militias yesterday imposed a siege on the residence of the Yemeni Governor of Socotra, Ramzi Mahrouz, who opposes Emirati involvement on the island.
Local sources also say the so-called Security Belt militia have cut off access to the island’s central bank and main roads. It has been reported that tents have been set up in front of the gate of the Mahrouz’s residence.
In spite of the UAE withdrawing its forces from the mainland port city of Aden as part of the handover agreement with the Saudis, there has been an escalation in tensions in recent days on Socotra.
The UAE has been unloading cargo from its military ship in the island’s port on Tuesday, after weeks of being prevented from doing so by government forces, according to Yemen Press.
UAE representative, Khalfan Al Mazrouei, also met on Tuesday with elements of the separatist affiliated militia, with sources pointing out that Mazrouei equipped its members with weapons and deployed near the governorate building controlled by government forces.
The militia were said to have been deployed in close proximity to the port of Hulaf and organised a women’s protest demanding that the Governor Mahrouz step down citing corruption and the obstruction of development programmes – presumably funded by the UAE – on the island. The Yemen Press Agency stated that the women’s protests were used as a pretext by the militia to stage a coup.
Local news source, the Socotra Post stated that the unrest was caused by a decision by Mahrouz to prevent the entry of foreigners to the island, without a visa from the official authorities.
and
(* A K P)
UAE UNLOADS MILITARY SHIP IN SOCOTRA PORT
Socotra island is witnessing a major escalation by the forces of the Socotra security belt affiliated to the UAE in coinciding with the emptying of a military ship Tuesday in the port of the island.
Local sources said that the UAE unloaded its military ship in the port of Socotra island after weeks of being banned by Hadi’s forces.
The sources pointed out that an Emirati military ship unloaded its cargo in the port of Hadibo, noting that the President of the Transitional Council in Socotra was present during unloading of the ship.
Hadi’s forces prevented UAE military ship to unload last week at the port of Al Jazeera, and accused the UAE of supporting its militias outside the local authority in reference to the forces of the security belt loyal to the UAE.
In the same context of the sources said that the UAE representative, Khalfan Al Mazrouei, met on Tuesday with elements of the security belt, pointing out that Mazrouei equipped its members with weapons and deployed near the governorate building controlled by government forces.
https://www.yemenpress.org/yemen/uae-unloads-military-ship-in-socotra-port/
(A P)
Socotra Governor said that supporters of UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) attempt to prompt chaos by blocking roads in #Socotra Island.
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1189594604699574274
(* A K P)
VAE-Truppen kehren nach erfolgreicher Befreiung und Stabilisierung von Aden zurück
Das Generalkommando der Streitkräfte der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate hat die Rückkehr seiner Truppen aus dem Gouvernorat von Aden im Jemen angekündigt, nachdem es seine Rolle bei der Befreiung und Stabilisierung von Aden erfolgreich erfüllt hatte und der Übergabe seiner Anklage an Saudische und jemenitische Truppen, die nun die Sicherheit und Stabilität des Gouvernorats gewährleisten.
Die VAE-Truppen wurden von Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Staatsminister für Verteidigungsangelegenheiten, und Generalleutnant Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Stabschef der Streitkräfte der VAE, empfangen.
Das Generalkommando sagte heute in einer Erklärung, dass die Streitkräfte der VAE den Prozess der verantwortungsvollen Übergabe gemäß einer militärischen Strategie abgeschlossen hätten, um die Konsolidierung der militärischen Gewinne zu gewährleisten.
http://www.wam.ae/de/details/1395302799043
Mein Kommentar: So hört sich das in der offiziellen Verlautbarung an.
(* A K P)
UAE forces leave Yemen’s port city of Aden
It comes before the expected signing of an agreement between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council
As UAE’s forces leave Yemen’s port city of Aden, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash praised the military for completing their task with "honour, pride and sacrifice."
Tweeting on Thursday ahead of the expected signing of a joint agreement between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council over control of the city, he praised the UAE military.
"This is the victory force and the vanguard of the liberated triumphal liberation. They liberated Aden and saved it and its surroundings from the clutches of the Houthis,” he said.
A UAE official confirmed to The National on Thursday that while the bulk of forces have now left Yemen, a number will remain to maintain counter-terrorism operations as well as to support humanitarian and development work.
On Wednesday evening, UAE army chiefs announced the return of soldiers serving in Aden.
The military also released images of soldiers being welcomed back to the UAE by Mohammed Al Bowardi, M
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/uae-forces-leave-yemen-s-port-city-of-aden-1.931347
Comment: Key questions -Can #UAE-trained southern forces be merged successfully into Hadi's forces? -How will terrorism be defined?
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1189848589855608832
(B P)
Suffering created by the #UAE-backed Security Belt Forces in #Aden... Watch this video
https://twitter.com/BelqeesRights/status/1189895337231695879
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
(A P)
Mr Griffiths: I always Pushed for the Inclusion of Southern Voices in Yemen’s Political Process
"The United Nations still optimistic on the political peace process in Yemen for peace in Yemen after recent progress to end the civil war," special envoy Martin Griffiths told The National.
“We have seen recently small signs of hope in an overall devastating war,” Mr Griffiths said in an exclusive interview.
"Reduction of violence in the north, release of a limited number of prisoners and detainees, permission of fuel ships to enter in Hodeidah, humanitarian access in the city of Al Duraihimi, establishment of joint observation posts in Hodeidah are some of these positive signs that encourage us to continue our work with regained optimism.”He added.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14664
cp7a Saudi-Arabien und Iran / Saudi Arabia and Iran
Siehe / Look at cp9a
(* B P)
From 2017: What is really behind the Saudi-Iranian cold war?
The conflict between Iran and Saudi Arabia is routinely explained away as a sectarian rift, but this paper argues that the rise in sectarian tensions is a consequence, rather than the cause, of the rivalry between the two regional powers. The Kingdom has resorted to playing the sectarian card in response to the ideological challenge posed by Iran, which tries to woo Sunni Muslims to its side by advocating a political system that combines Islam and a democracy of sorts. For its part, the Islamic Republic prefers to downplay the Sunni-Shiite split and emphasises the need for Islamic unity against foreign enemies, notably Israel and the US. In addition, both Riyadh and Tehran are concerned about regime survival, which is a major factor in their foreign policy and how it is framed.
https://www.academia.edu/34614962/What_is_really_behind_the_Saudi-Iranian_cold_war?auto=bookmark
(* B P)
from 2018: Playing with Fire: Trump, the Saudi- Iranian Rivalry, and the Geopolitics of Sectarianization in the Middle East
This paper was commissioned by the Barcelona-based European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) and appears in its Mediterranean Yearbook 2018. In it, my co-author Nader Hashemi and I examine the deterioration of sectarian relations in the Middle East, with a focus on the escalation of the Saudi-Iranian regional rivalry. We show how the Trump administration in particular has exacerbated these already volatile dynamics and suggest a shift in the policies of Western governments toward the region aimed at defusing the sectarianization process.
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
(A P)
"Saudi Arabia remains not only a rogue state by most international standards — it also makes an unstable strategic partner for the United States and others," writes @AliAlAhmed_en
https://twitter.com/elopezgross/status/1190001909228290050
(A P)
WWE VERY UPSET ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA HOLDING SUPERSTARS
WWE has a full schedule and they need Superstars to perform at those events. This is a huge issue because Saudi Arabia won’t let a majority of those Superstars leave after Crown Jewel.
We’re not sure what the situation is specifically, but it is said to be serious. Now we’ll have to see what kind of show they will have for SmackDown tonight.
https://www.ringsidenews.com/2019/11/01/wwe-very-upset-about-saudi-arabia-holding-superstars/
(* A E P)
Saudi Crown Prince approves kick-off of Aramco IPO on Sunday: sources
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday agreed that the initial public offering of state oil giant Aramco will be announced on Sunday, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The world’s top oil company will announce its intention to float (ITF) on Nov. 3, the sources said.
“The crown prince finally gave the green light,” one source said.
Aramco declined to comment.
Saudi Aramco officials and advisers have held last-minute meetings with investors over the past few days in an attempt to achieve as close to a $2 trillion valuation as possible ahead of an expected listing launch on Sunday, according to sources.
The final meeting by the Saudi government on Friday evening was to decide whether to go ahead with the listing.
(* A E P)
Business forum boosts Saudi image, but some say more rehab needed
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince showed up only briefly this week at the kingdom’s flagship investment forum, which largely drew leaders and firms with strategic interest in the Gulf state and wrapped up with relatively meagre deals and an anticlimactic finale.
It was a far cry from the inaugural Future Investment Initiative (FII) in 2017 when Mohammed bin Salman, embraced then by the West as a bold reformer, shared his vision of a modern, tolerant kingdom that would build futuristic cities.
However, as Riyadh prepares to assume the Group of 20 presidency, its ability to once again draw big names after a Western boycott of last year’s event showed it starting to recover from the damage to the prince’s image that followed the murder of a prominent Saudi journalist.
“The staging of this edition of the FII felt as though the kingdom is about to turn a corner as investors begin to take another look at the opportunities, though many chose to keep a low-profile,” said Neil Quilliam, senior research fellow at Britain’s Chatham House think-tank, who attended.
Some participants, speaking on condition of anonymity, said unease remained about the October 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi
“I don’t think any of us feel that things are all back to normal. There are still a lot of unanswered questions,” a Europe-based executive said, but added the region was important for transformative technologies.
and pro-Saudi propaganda by UAE media:
(A E P)
UAE Press: The transformation of Saudi Arabia
A UAE newspaper has highlighted the importance of Future Investment Initiative by Saudi Arabia, saying that such activities are changing perceptions of this region around the world.
"It is a place that is open for business, and there is opportunity in Saudi Arabia for growth and a significant return on investment. Economic change is bringing social change too," Gulf News wrote in an editorial on Saturday.
For three days earlier this week, more than 6,000 delegates from more than 30 nations listened to some 275 speakers from around the world, all focused on Saudi Arabia, its Future Investment Initiative, and realising business opportunities that, on the first days of the summit alone, totalled more than $15 billion (AED55.05 billion) in value.
"In any language, that’s a good day’s work indeed," the paper noted, adding that in Saudi Arabia, it’s just one strand in a strategy that will transform the kingdom in a leading economic powerhouse in this hemisphere. And what’s good for Saudi Arabia is good for the UAE, a strategic long-term partner.
http://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395302799281
(B P)
‘Professional cycling becoming associated with repression’: Human rights group condemns new race in Saudi Arabia
The organiser of the Tour de France announced a new stage race in the Middle East
The decision to launch a new stage race in Saudi Arabia has been condemned by a human rights organisation, which says “cycling is increasingly associated with repression.”
This week Tour de France organiser ASO announced a new week-long race will be held in the Middle East early next season.
But the decision to host the new Saudi Tour has been met with criticism from some fans, journalists and human rights groups.
The director of the International Service for Human Rights, Phil Lynch, is one of those to speak out strongly against the decision.
Mr Lynch, also a cycling fan, said: “Historically, cycling has been a sport associated with values of egalitarianism and freedom, both of movement and expression.
(* B P)
Film: Escape From Saudi
The women who make it and the ones who don't.
Rahaf is one of the lucky ones; not every woman gains her freedom. In this dramatic investigation, Four Corners reveals how Australia has become a hotspot for women attempting to escape the oppressive Saudi regime. Not everyone makes it.
"They beat her. They taped her mouth shut. They bound her arms and legs together, and dragged her onto a plane kicking and screaming, and nobody did anything. This is a grown woman." Author.
The program shows the tactics used and the pressure applied to try to stop these young women.
"The Saudi state is active in exerting its diplomatic influence to try to interdict them." Human rights investigator.
Those lucky enough to make it to Australia say they are still at risk. The investigation has uncovered multiple cases of Saudi women here in Australia, living in fear, telling reporter Sophie McNeill of the attempts to intimidate or trick them into returning them home.
"They are trying to reach the girls and speak to them to convince them to return back to Saudi." Saudi woman in Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/escape-from-saudi/10778838
cp8a Jamal Khashoggi
(B P)
@ReemaAH_RT starts off asking Bakhtiyor Avezdjanov about the UN’s non binding report about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi
The report found that the murder of #JamalKhashoggi was a premeditated, state sponsored murder
The team investigating the murder faced a number of challenges, including getting certain states to talk about evidence, Avezdjanov says
#Khashoggi's murder is emblematic of the challenges facing journalists everywhere, Bakhtiyor Avezdjanov says. Public officials have a duty to ensure their words do not condone acts like this in the future
Avezdjanov says that not all is negative when it comes to the international community's response to the #KhashoggiAffair. US Congress is likely to pass a bill punishing Saudi Arabia and that will have a ripple effect & other states will act too
Bakhtiyor Avezdjanov says he'd be afraid if he was a journalist. #Khashoggi's murder sent the signal that some deaths matter while others do not
https://twitter.com/ArabCenterWDC/status/1189945359583367169
cp9 USA
Siehe / Look at cp13a
(* A K P)
For 9th Straight Year, US Grants Waivers to Countries Violating Anti-Child Soldier Law
The White House recently announced the US was granting full or partial waivers to the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) to Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Iraq, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
For the third straight year, President Donald Trump has issued waivers to a law that prohibits US military assistance to nations whose armies or proxy militias include children among their ranks.
The White House recently announced the US was granting full or partial waivers to the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) to Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Iraq, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, seven of the 11 nations identified in the State Department’s 2019 Trafficking In Persons Report (TIP) as being eligible for sanction under the law.
Yemen: The TIP notes that the Yemeni government has pledged to address the issue of child soldiers, although allied militias “continued to unlawfully recruit and use some child soldiers.”
(A P T)
Film: Families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks want the truth, and they deserve the truth. Join me in demanding all information regarding Saudi involvement in 9/11 attack: http://tulsi.to/911
https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1190253922776051712
(* B K P)
When Trump Finally Gets Serious About Bringing U.S. Troops Home, Yemen’s A Good Place To Start
Unfortunately, the Trump administration has yet to match such words with deeds.
American meddling in Yemen’s civil war is far from our largest, longest, or most expensive Mideast misadventure, but it is perhaps the most universally unpopular.
Americans oppose continued U.S. intervention, and a mere 13 percent support ongoing arms sales to U.S.-partnered combatants, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
That was before multiple investigations by the Pentagon and CNN found American weaponry in Yemen is now being used against the forces Washington supports.
Just as we saw with similar arms distribution debacles in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, the ubiquity of American weaponry is giving all sides in Yemen the ability to escalate and prolong the conflict. In this case, it’s a conflict that has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
As is too often the case in today’s strategy-free foreign policy, there is no argument to justify this counterproductive disaster, nor is it necessary for American security.
Our government’s intervention — unauthorized by Congress and unsupported by the American people — is disconnected from our national defense. Backing the Saudi coalition is making things worse for Yemen and undermines U.S. interests and values – by Bonnie Kristian
cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Wachsende Spannungen am Golf / US-Iran crisis: Mounting tensions at the Gulf
(* B P)
Iran, Saudi Arabia and the ‘Trump variable’
In the immediate aftermath of the Aramco strike, both Saudi Arabia and the United States blamed Iran, further straining Riyadh-Tehran ties already stretched by a series of fast-paced hostile developments. Yet calls for deescalation from Saudi Arabia are now growing here and there.
For its part, Tehran says it has been persistent in pursuing reconciliation. Even before the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, Iran on different occasions had stressed the importance of deescalation with regional countries in general, and Saudi Arabia in particular.
Riyadh, however, mainly gave those gestures the cold shoulder. And with Donald Trump entering the Oval Office in 2017, Saudi Arabia thought its long-unfulfilled hopes of containing Iran's regional influence were moving closer to reality. But now, three years into the Trump presidency, Washington's refusal to retaliate for the downing of an American surveillance drone by Tehran, preceded and followed by multiple oil tanker incidents in the Persian Gulf, has seemingly forced Saudi Arabia to accept that Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign is nowhere near what Riyadh had hoped. The Saudi establishment under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seeking a compromise with Tehran with considerable eagerness.
Earlier, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — another regional foe of Iran — started its own deescalation efforts.
On Sept. 30, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the Saudi leadership's messages for reconciliation had been delivered to the Iranian president. But Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir tweeted that the Iranian statement was “not accurate,” even as he didn’t deny the mediation efforts.
Iran's top diplomat, Mohammad Javad Zarif, raised hopes. "If the Saudis look for solutions at the negotiating table and not through killing people, they will definitely enjoy Iran's support,” Zarif said.
A senior Iranian diplomat said Tehran has repeatedly conveyed messages through intermediaries to the Saudi government and has even called for direct dialogue. "But Riyadh insists on keeping the door closed until it gains full dominance over the Arab countries of the region," the diplomat told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.
"Everyone acknowledges Iran's influence in some of the regional countries," the diplomat added. "This is the natural fruit of the bonds Iran maintains with those nations, whereas Saudi Arabia was to gain that influence through forceful measures — a policy that met with failure in Syria, Yemen and even in Iraq and Lebanon."
The Saudi outreach toward Iran is also seen in its internal politics.
Mohammed bin Salman "is preparing the ground for [his] kingship. For that to be achieved, one prerequisite is cooling things off with Tehran," said Kamran Karami, an Iranian analyst focused on Persian Gulf issues.
There is little doubt that Saudi Arabia has been pinning its hopes on the workability of Trump's "maximum pressure" policy against Iran and will continue to go out of its way to help intensify the campaign. However, with those hopes appearing less bright on the horizon, Riyadh realizes it can’t afford to shut the door to diplomacy and deescalation with Tehran – by Jaeid Jafari
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2019/10/iran-saudi-dialogue-tensions.html
(* A E P)
U.S. imposes new Iran sanctions, but waives others
The United States said on Thursday it had imposed sanctions on the Iranian construction sector and trade in four materials used in its military or nuclear programs, even as it waived sanctions to let foreign firms continue non-proliferation work in Iran.
The decisions announced by the U.S. State Department reflect an effort to increase pressure on Iran by putting wider swaths of its economy under sanctions, while leaving a door open to diplomacy by allowing work to proceed at Iranian nuclear facilities that makes it harder for Iran to develop a nuclear bomb.
The State Department said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had determined Iran’s construction sector was controlled directly or indirectly by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington regards as a foreign terrorist organization.
As a result, the sale of raw and semi-finished metals, graphite, coal, and software for integrating industrial purposes will be sanctionable if the materials are to be used in Iran’s construction sector, the department said in a fact sheet.
In a second determination, Pompeo identified four “strategic materials” as being used in connection with nuclear, military, or ballistic missile programs, making trade in them subject to sanctions.
In a separate statement, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the determinations gave Washington the ability “to prevent Iran from acquiring strategic materials for the IRGC, its construction sector, and its proliferation programs.”
and by Press TV Iran: https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019/11/01/610095/US-Iran-sanctions-construction-sector
(A P)
US envoy: Iran has spent $16 billion on militias in Iraq, Syria
Remarks by Brian Hook come amid growing concern in Israel over potential attack by Tehran in retaliation for efforts to thwart arming of Iranian proxies
The US envoy for Iran said Thursday that Tehran has funded militia groups in Syria and Iraq to the tune of $16 billion.
US State Department Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, who made the comments in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, did not specify over what time period the money was sent.
Iran has longstanding ties to a number of armed Shiite groups in Iraq and was a key backer of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a paramilitary group that fought against the Islamic State jihadist organization.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-envoy-iran-has-spent-16-billion-on-militias-in-iraq-syria/
My comment: A new round of propaganda and of aggressive stance. Where does this figure come from, , the US will not have insight here. How much money the US had spent on dubious militia world wide??
And
(A P)
US State Department Accuses Iran of Spending $ 1 billion to Support Groups Loyal to It
Iran has spent about $ 1 billion to support groups linked to it, the US Department of State said.
It pointed out that countering Tehran's terrorism is a priority for the United States of America.
The US State Department's counter-terrorism coordinator, Nathan Sills, told a news conference today on the U.S. report on terrorism for 2018 that Iran's Revolutionary Guards have spent $ 1 billion to support groups linked to Tehran such as Hezbollah,
"Tehran continues to fund terrorist groups in the region, notably Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Iranian terrorist arm, which has suffered heavily from US sanctions," Sills said.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992296
(* A P)
Chinas Botschafter: US-Ausstieg aus Atomabkommen basiert auf Unilateralismus
Der chinesische Botschafter in Teheran hat die Vereinigten Staaten kritisiert, weil sie sich aus dem iranischen Atomabkommen von 2015 zurückgezogen und unilaterale Sanktionen gegen die Islamische Republik verhängt haben.
In einem Interview mit Press TV am Mittwoch sprach sich Chang Hua entschieden gegen die "einseitigen" Sanktionen, die die USA Iran auferlegt haben. Er sagte, dass China, als einer der Unterzeichner des Atomabkommens (JCPOA) das Abkommen nachdrücklich unterstütze und es als "große Errungenschaft des Multilateralismus" bezeichne.
Chang forderte ferner alle Unterzeichner der JCPOA auf, "ihre Verpflichtungen im Rahmen des Abkommens vollständig umzusetzen". Er unterstrich, dass die verbleibenden Parteien im Atomabkommen praktische Maßnahmen ergreifen sollten, um Teherans wirtschaftliche Dividenden des Abkommens gegen US-Verbote zu schützen.
(* A P)
China envoy to Tehran: Exit from Iran deal driven by US unilateralism
China’s ambassador to Tehran has lambasted the United States for withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and re-imposing unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic, saying such a move is the result of Washington’s embrace of unilateralism.
In an interview with Press TV on Wednesday, Chang Hua expressed his country’s firm opposition to the “unilateral” sanctions and the so-called “long-arm jurisdiction” that the US has imposed on Iran.
He said that China, a signatory of the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), firmly supports the deal, describing it as a “great achievement of multilateralism.”
Chang further called on all signatories to the JCPOA to “comprehensively implement their obligations” under the accord.
He said that the remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal should take practical measures to protect Tehran’s economic dividends of the agreement against US bans.
Film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFuG9PGOFlc
(* A P)
U.S. to renew waivers allowing non-proliferation work with Iran - sources
The United States plans to allow Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue work at Iranian nuclear facilities to make it harder for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
The Trump administration, which last year pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, will let the work go forward by issuing waivers to sanctions that bar non-U.S. firms from dealing with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said the sources on condition of anonymity.
While the waivers’ renewal would allow non-proliferation work to continue at the Arak heavy water research reactor and the Fordow fuel enrichment plant, which AEOI oversees, it may also signal that Washington is leaving the door open to diplomacy.
My comment: “The United States plans to allow Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue work at Iranian nuclear facilities”: How on earth it could be up to the US to “allow” companies of foreign countries to work in another foreign country??
(A P)
Tehran says Saudi Arabia frees 19 Iranian fishermen: Tasnim
Saudi Arabia has freed 19 Iranian fishermen detained 10 months ago by the kingdom’s coastguard, an Iranian official was quoted as saying on Thursday, following talks between the two regional rivals.
The crews of two separate fishing boats had been captured when “bad weather forced the boats into Saudi Arabia’s territorial waters”, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency quoted Iranian foreign ministry official Ali-Asgahr Arablou as saying.
(* A K P)
All Israeli Air Defences on Alert Amid Fears of Possible Iranian Attack
Israeli Air Force chief Amikam Norkin stated on 30 October that all layers of the country’s missile defences, including long-range Arrows and Patriots, the medium-range David’s Sling, and short-range Iron Dome, are "on alert". According to the military official, this state of readiness is linked to general expectations that Iran could launch a massive attack against Israel.
According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli military believes Tehran may try to retaliate for Tel Aviv's continual strikes against Iran's alleged proxies in the region. Norkin stated that the Islamic Republic's response might not only include regular missiles, but also cruise missiles and drones similar to those used in the attack against Saudi Aramco facilities in September, attributed by some countries to Iran.
My comment: This is politics based on permanent aggression and propaganda, keeping the own population in a permanent state of fear.
(A P)
US treasury secretary: Washington will ramp up pressure on Iran
While on a trip to Jerusalem, top US official responsible for sanctions promises 'more, more, more' against Tehran.
United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday that the US would increase economic pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme, making the pledge during a Middle East trip that includes visits to allies Israel and Saudi Arabia.
"We have executed on a maximum pressure campaign for sanctions. They have worked, they are working, they are cutting off the money," Mnuchin said.
He told Netanyahu: "We will continue to ramp up, more, more, more ... I just came from a very productive working lunch with your team. They gave us a bunch of very specific ideas that we will be following up [on]."
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
(A P)
Yemen – Question – in the House of Lords.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the deal brokered by the government of Saudi Arabia in Yemen and the prospects for lasting peace there.
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2019-10-30a.950.2
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
(* B H P)
Slave markets found on Instagram and other apps
Drive around the streets of Kuwait and you won't see these women. They are behind closed doors, deprived of their basic rights, unable to leave and at risk of being sold to the highest bidder.
But pick up a smartphone and you can scroll through thousands of their pictures, categorised by race, and available to buy for a few thousand dollars.
An undercover investigation by BBC News Arabic has found that domestic workers are being illegally bought and sold online in a booming black market.
Some of the trade has been carried out on Facebook-owned Instagram, where posts have been promoted via algorithm-boosted hashtags, and sales negotiated via private messages.
Other listings have been promoted in apps approved and provided by Google Play and Apple's App Store, as well as the e-commerce platforms' own websites.
"What they are doing is promoting an online slave market," said Urmila Bhoola, the UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery.
"If Google, Apple, Facebook or any other companies are hosting apps like these, they have to be held accountable."
After being alerted to the issue, Facebook said it had banned one of the hashtags involved.
Slave market
Nine out of 10 Kuwaiti homes have a domestic worker - they come from some of the poorest parts of the world to the Gulf, aiming to make enough money to support their family at home.
Human rights violated
The team were urged by app users, who acted as if they were the "owners" of these women, to deny them other basic human rights, such as giving them a "day or a minute or a second" off (with film) – By Owen Pinnell & Jess Kelly
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50228549
(A P)
France expresses concern to Saudi Arabia about Yemen’s humanitarian situation
France maintains a demanding dialogue with Saudi Arabia on human rights and the death penalty.
As regards the Khashoggi affair, France is asking for the facts to be clearly established on this extremely serious matter and for all the necessary investigations to be carried through to the end. The French President has clearly expressed this expectation.
Yemen is also regularly discussed with the Saudi authorities. France is very concerned about the humanitarian situation in that country. All in all, 24 million people – i.e. nearly 80% of the population – today need humanitarian aid, and 2.4 million people are still displaced inside the country.
France constantly asks the parties to respect the principles of international humanitarian law in the conduct of hostilities, particularly the principle of proportionality.
Yemen – Reply by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to a written question in the National Assembly
It is an issue France is tackling with members of the coalition, which, as party to an armed conflict, has responsibilities in this respect. It has also urged all the parties to carry out transparent, impartial and credible investigations into violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Yemen, in accordance with international standards, and bring the perpetrators to justice. It is paying the closest attention to the work begun by the United Nations mechanisms for monitoring the human rights situation in Yemen.
France has also stepped up the level of vigilance in its procedure to review export licence applications in this context. Export licences are issued under the Prime Minister’s responsibility, following the opinion of the interministerial commission for scrutinizing war material exports.
My comment: The French government is hypocrite – France had supported and armed the Saudi coalition and even had started a conflict with Germany when Germany had restricted arms exports to Saudi Arabia.
cp12b Sudan
(* B K P)
Houthis Demand Sudan Withdraw From Arab Coalition in Yemen
The Houthi movement has addressed Sudanese people to demand that their country withdraw from the Arab coalition in Yemen, urging them to look at heavy casualties their military is allegedly suffering.
"You overlook the number of your soldiers who have been killed while fulfilling tasks of the enemy coalition. There are hostages, as well as those killed and wounded. Changes in Sudan seem incomplete against the backdrop of Sudan's continued involvement in the coalition’s actions," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria said in a televised address.
According to the spokesman, 4,253 Sudanese soldiers have been killed since the coalition became involved in the Yeme
Photos: https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/1190620856571121664
cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade
(* B K P)
Why the EU has double standards on sanctions and arms sales
In an attempt to threaten Turkey over its limited cross-border operation in Syria, many European countries discontinued selling arms to Ankara, while they continue to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia to fuel its full-scale war in Yemen.
The EU nations were however called out by many experts and rights advocates for displaying stark double standards and for not taking similar measures against Saudi Arabia, a country that has been waging a bloody war on Yemen since 2015.
“In the past, there has even been public pressure in several European states to ban arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but governments have tended to resist those pressures,” said Associate Professor Jennifer L. Erickson from Boston College, while speaking to TRT World.
“Combined with the US-Saudi relationship offering veto-power protection from a UN Security Council arms embargo, I am much less surprised at the absence of an EU arms embargo in the Saudi Arabia case,” Erickson added.
In light of human toll and misery caused by the war in Yemen, European nations have faced criticism for turning a blind eye to Saudi-led coalition's devastating role in protracting the conflict and continuing to arm them.
What is behind the EU’s double standard?
PhD Candidate and Political Analyst Nicolai Due-Gundersen, at Kingston University, said the reason why the EU does not halt arms sales to Saudi Arabia is that they regard the House of Saud both as a strategic ally and energy providers, which encourages EU states to turn a blind eye to the kingdom's actions in Yemen.
Under the Trump administration, Gundersen told TRT World, the EU's relations with Middle East states are often influenced by the US.
“The EU is less reliant on Turkey for energy solutions, but very aware of Turkey's geostrategic location and NATO membership, which also affects how EU states perceive any military action by Turkey in the Middle East.,” he said.
“Oil and energy needs are crucial in how the EU (and US) treat Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is aware of this and planning to increase its oil supply to Europe over the next two years.”
Being a traditional US and Western ally in the Middle East is another factor for the European countries for their stance against Saudi Arabia, he added.
“Saudi Arabia has the largest defence budget in the region but also outsources some security to Western firms. In addition, large arms purchases by Saudi Arabia from European weapons manufacturers allows EU states to indirectly project hard power in the Middle East,” Gundersen said.
https://www.trtworld.com/europe/why-the-eu-has-double-standards-on-sanctions-and-arms-sales-31038
My comment: The Turks now emphasize this point. Well, they are right – even if their main goal, to justify the Turkish incursion into Syria, cannot succeed.
(* B K P)
US ARMS SALES INCLUDE DISCOUNTS FOR DICTATORS
A new piece by Bloomberg’s Anthony Capaccio underscores the lengths that the US government will go to in promoting weapons exports, regardless of whether they serve long-term US interests. The article focuses on the practice of offering discounts on major sales of US arms, at a cost of billions of dollars.
These discounts are the result of the routine practice of providing waivers of fees that are supposed to be imposed on foreign buyers of US arms to reimburse the United States for a share of the cost of developing those weapons in the first place. According to a 2018 report by the Government Accountability Office, waivers were granted in an astonishing 99% of sales between 2012 and 2017 for a total of $16 billion. Many of the exceptions were made for non-democratic governments, including a $3.5 billion discount to the Saudi regime for a Lockheed Martin missile defense system. These waivers are good news for arms clients and weapons companies, and bad news for US taxpayers.
The waivers are a longstanding practice predating the Trump administration. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) has successfully inserted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require advance notice to Congress before discounts are provided. Her perfectly reasonable proposal has generated howls of protest from the Pentagon and the arms lobby, arguing that giving Congress input up front would unnecessarily slow down the foreign military sales process, perhaps costing the US key deals in the process.
Creating greater transparency over arms sales subsidies is unlikely to put a dent in the United States’ dominant position as the world’s leading arms trading nation. But blocking the ability of Congress to scrutinize the financial details of major arms sales does benefit one key constituency – major weapons contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, and General Dynamics. To cite just one example, these four firms have been involved in roughly 90% of the $125 billion in US arms offers to Saudi Arabia over the past decade. Many of those deals for equipment that Saudi Arabia used in the brutal war in Yemen. There is a real question as to whether these sales to Saudi Arabia should be happening at all – offering them at a discount just adds insult to injury.
Arms sales discounts are just one element of a full-court press on the part of the Trump administration to bolster US arms exports. The president routinely touts US weapons offers as evidence of his skills as a deal maker, making hugely exaggerated estimates of the US jobs resulting from these exports along the way – by William D. Hartung
https://inkstickmedia.com/us-arms-sales-include-discounts-for-dictators/
referring to
(* B K P)
Pentagon Backs Contractors to Limit Disclosing Foreign Discounts
The Pentagon and major defense contractors are opposing a congressional effort to force more complete disclosure of discounts that are given to foreign governments for weapons purchases at the expense of U.S. taxpayers.
“It would give Congress the information it needs” before a sale is final “to safeguard taxpayer dollars by stopping the DoD from letting wealthy Gulf nations off the hook when it comes to the money they owe the U.S. for our valuable research and development,” said Representative Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who serves on the House Armed Services Committee.
The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency approved $16 billion, or 99 percent, of waiver requests for various reasons from 2012 through 2017, according to the Government Accountability Office.
cp13b Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage
(A P)
WAR-TORN YEMEN DEMANDS RETURN OF JEWISH TREASURES NOW IN THE U.S.
The demand by the Yemeni government was filed with the Cultural Property Advisory Committee, and a hearing was held on late October.
Yemen's government has filed a request for a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the US State Department in an attempt to claim ownership over Jewish cultural items it claims were smuggled out of Yemen illegally, Fox News reported.
Among the items are a centuries old Torah scroll that was smuggled to Israel by the family of Manny Dahari, whose family has owned the scroll for at least 300 years.
Dahari told Fox News that if the request was granted by the US, then, “basically it would criminalize anyone who brings any of these items to the United States, or takes them out of those countries,"
The Yemeni government submitted the claim under the guise that the Jewish items are “national cultural artifacts.”
Jewish groups worldwide have asked the US government not to honor by Yemen’s request.
“Jewish cultural property such as Torah Scrolls does not constitute the national heritage of governments who expel or who forced their Jewish communities to flee antisemitic prosecution,” Sarah Levin, the executive director of Jews Indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa [JIMENA], said.
JIMENA wrote on their website that, "MOUs demand that the governments themselves show they are taking measures to preserve and protect the heritage in their own countries and the Yemeni government is complicit in the bombing and shelling of cultural sites, including museums."
and also https://anash.org/yemen-demands-return-of-torah-scrolls/
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-34029
cp13c Wirtschaft / Economy
(A E)
Safer raises crude oil production to 10,000 barrels per day
A source at Sefar Production and Exploration Company told Al-Masdar Online on Thursday that the company has increased crude oil production to 10,000 barrels per day,
https://almasdaronline.com/articles/173573
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
(B T)
US-British-Saudi Support to Salafi Terrorists Led to Decades of Suffering, Says Analyst
An author and analyst based in Sweden highlighted the root causes of the emergence of the Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) terrorist group, whose leader was recently killed in Syria, and said the US-British-Saudi support to Salafism has produced suffering and destruction by such groups.
“The US-British-Saudi support to “Salafist jihadism” has produced incredible suffering and destruction over the past three decades,” Hussein Askary said in an interview with Tasnim.
(A T)
U.S. drone strike kills 2 suspected al-Qaida operatives in Yemen
At least two people were killed when a U.S. drone strike hit a vehicle in Yemen's northeastern province of Marib on Friday, pro-government media reported.
According to Almasdar Online news website, the air raid killed "Khamis bin Afraj and his brother Turki in Raidan area north of Marib."
"The men were suspected al-Qaida operatives," the website cited unnamed Yemeni government security officials as saying.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/02/c_138521904.htm
and also https://almasdaronline.com/articles/173642
(* B P T)
The axis of evil returning al-Qaeda to Yemen and warning America of disaster
US State Department report: UAE is a transit station for terrorist organizations, Saudi Arabia continues arrests under the pretext of terrorism
The US State Department's Global Terrorism Report 2018 described the UAE as a regional and international station for the movement and movement of terrorist organizations and accused Saudi Arabia of continuing to arrest activists and academics under the pretext of terrorism laws.
Saudi Arabia continued to provide some support for intolerant views in a number of countries.
He said some Saudi textbooks still contain language that incites discrimination, intolerance and violence.
He pointed to the arrest of activists, academics and clerics during 2018, and the Kingdom defended those arrests on the pretext that they are crimes against national security and classified as a terrorist.
The US State Department report described the UAE as a regional and international station for the movement of terrorist organizations and a center for receiving and sending financial support.
He said political considerations were an obstacle to the UAE government freezing and confiscating terrorist assets.
He stressed that the ongoing rift between Qatar on the one hand and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt on the other, continues to hinder regional cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
In the Yemeni file, the report criticized the inability of the Yemeni government to implement international resolutions to combat the financing of terrorism.
Iran has also been a major state sponsor of terrorism and is pumping about $ 1 billion a year to support its proxies in the region, despite Washington's toughening sanctions, the report said.
My comment: In the case of Iran, this refers to the Houthis, Hamas, Hizbollah, groups in Syria and Iraq. – Keep in mind that the US’ view on who is “terrorist” includes groups which just are opposing the US and Israel, without fitting to “terrorism”. For instance, look at Lebanon’s Caretaker Interior Minister to CNN: Hezbollah Part of Lebanese Social Fabric, Represented in Parliament, http://english.almanar.com.lb/862809 and https://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2019/10/31/connect-the-world-raya-haffar-el-hassan-pt-2-intv-vpx.cnn
(A T)
Round up of #alQaeda's October activity in #Yemen: 1 video 2 nashids 8 ops (1 on Houthis, 7 on ISIS, 0 on military) 2 statements calling out ISIS for endangering public roads with bombs (but note #AQAP also set off 3) Lots of chat re. spying & the wicked ways of #ISIS
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1190279871840374784
cp15 Propaganda
(A P)
From Iraq to Lebanon, Iran's expansionist project is under siege
Tehran's leaders are in a state of panic – but the country has only itself to blame for this crisis
Iran’s projects in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen are coming under siege to such an extent that its leaders are in a state of panic. In Syria, the Iranian project has been set back by a Russian-approved US-Turkish deal, effectively blocking the strategic causeway Tehran was planning to complete its crescent of power, stretching all the way from Tehran to the Mediterranean via Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. In Iraq, there is a Shiite backlash against Iran’s excessive meddling in Iraq, to the point that protesters are chanting: “Iran get out”, despite a violent backlash from the IRGC-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces, who have fired live ammunition at protesters in Karbala, the consecrated heartland of Shiite religious doctrine.
In Lebanon, fear of Hezbollah has collapsed along with the unity government of accord it forms part of and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah is reduced to pointing the finger of blame. In Yemen, Iran’s expansionist project is facing a setback as the Saudi-Emirati exit strategy from the war is bearing fruit, giving Houthis a new path of belonging to a federalised Yemen, instead of looking towards Iran and its attempts at warmongering, with funds dwindling under US sanctions.
It is not clear what Iran will do under these circumstances but it faces some hard choices, especially if it insists on refusing to adjust and reform the regime’s expansionist logic. Perhaps the only thing Iran’s leaders can do now is to bet on US President Donald Trump not getting re-elected. This is now a distinct possibility.
(A P)
In Middle East: Pull Down Facades
For years, Tehran has been trying to sell its expansionist strategist in the Middle East as a great success not only for the Islamic Revolution but also for Iranian nationalism.
In building their empire, the mullahs made a big mistake: they prevented the emergence of genuine local authorities, including national armies that could hold things together in a semi-autonomous way.
In the recent attack on Saudi oil installations, the Houthis heard about their own imaginary role in the operation from foreign media quoting Iranian sources. Tehran did not even have the courtesy to tell the Houthis that they would be mentioned as authors of the attack before releasing the claim to world media.
The Houthis, the Assad clan, Hezbollah, PMF and kindred groups are puppets in a surrealistic show scripted by faceless puppet-masters in Tehran. That they, in turn, hide behind secondary puppets, playing president and/or prime minister, makes for an even more absurd flight into fantasyland.
https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1971341/amir-taheri/middle-east-pull-down-facades
(A P)
Bad News for Israel: Iran Has a New Missile
Iran has unveiled a kit that appears to convert unguided surface-to-surface rockets into guided weapons.
This development worries Israeli military experts, who note that Hezbollah – Iran’s proxy army in Lebanon – has an estimated arsenal of 150,000 rockets aimed at Israel.
However, if Iran can convert an unguided rocket into a guided weapon, this would dramatically change the rocket’s effectiveness.
That the Israelis are worried are no surprise. Already concerned about Hezbollah firing massive volleys across the Lebanese border into Israel, now the Israel Defense Forces must consider the possibility of massive salvoes of guided weapons aimed at strategic targets – by Michael Peck
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/bad-news-israel-iran-has-new-missile-92556
My comment: And, what? Israel itself has a lot of these weapons – even with nuclear heads, and permanently bombs its neighbours in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria. So it might be better to be quiet and to become more peaceful.
(A P)
Arab Parliament Stresses Need to Implement Stockholm Agreement in Yemen
The Arab Parliament, the legislative body of the Arab League, reiterated the need to hold the Iran-backed Houthi militias liable to the Stockholm agreement, otherwise known as the UN-brokered Hodeidah ceasefire agreement. It also renounced the Houthis oppression against lawmakers.
My comment: This “Arab Parliament” is a Saudi propaganda tool. Could you imagine anything which could fit less than “Saudi Arabia” and “parliament”?
(A P)
Tighter US sanctions are weakening Iran’s grip on Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq: Hook
The recent tightening of US sanctions on Iran has weakened the regime’s grip on Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, raising the prospect of reform and peace across the region, America’s top Iran advisor told Al Arabiya in an exclusive interview.
The Trump administration has imposed a “maximum pressure” campaign - increasing targeted sanctions on the Iranian regime since leaving the Obama-era nuclear deal in 2018, which has succeeded in decimating its industrial sector, reduced its funding of conflict across the Middle East and offers hope for resolution of some of the region’s most long-standing conflicts, US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said in an interview in Saudi Arabia.
“We are sanctioning Iran on an almost weekly basis and there is still plenty left for us to do. And, unfortunately for the Iranian regime, this is the price that they are paying for an expansionist and revolutionary and violent foreign policy that has caused so much suffering,” said Hook, mentioning September’s attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, which the US has attributed to Iran, and attacks on Saudi Arabia by the Iranian-backed Houthis.
Hook said the US administration is making it harder for Iran to conduct foreign interference operations as “Iran doesn’t have the money that it used to.”
“This is money that the regime spends in places like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen,” said Hook.
The Trump administration’s oil sanctions on Iran, which Hook described as unprecedented, have led to “a complete collapse of Iran’s oil sector.” Hook said US sanctions have collapsed Iran’s petrochemical, industrial metal, and precious metals sectors, as well. Meanwhile the administration announced Thursday that it imposed sanctions on Iran’s construction sector.
(A P)
Spotlight: UAE continues anti-terror fight in Yemen after military pullout
Experts based in Yemen's Aden believe the UAE won't leave a chance for the terror groups to expand in the country's southern regions following the withdrawal of its troops.
"During the upcoming period, the mission of the UAE forces will be concentrated on fighting the terrorist elements who are still seeking to seize areas in the southern provinces," said Mohammed Bin Yahya, a retired Yemeni military official.
"The UAE achieved great success in combating terror groups in Yemen during the past years and it will move to the second phase which is supporting the local security forces to do the task," he added.
Following the departure of the UAE troops from Aden, several youth activists said the UAE's military participation in Aden and other southern provinces left an indelible impression on local people.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/31/c_138518428.htm
My comment: Xinhua parrots UAE propaganda here.
(A P)
More Saudi coalition „We are benefactors“ propaganda
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992256
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992255
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992252
http://www.wam.ae/de/details/1395302799186 (Deutsch)
http://www.wam.ae/de/details/1395302799044 (Deutsch) = http://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395302798963 and http://en.adenpress.news/news/14662 (English)
http://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395302798963
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1991894
http://en.adenpress.news/news/14657
https://wam.ae/en/details/1395302798449
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
(* A K pH)
The airstrikes by Saudi savage warplanes reportedly hit house of a citizen in (Asha) area of (Baqam) district (Saada province), causing casualties.
Another source said Saudi warplanes had hit (Baqam) district, resulting in the deaths of 2 people, and injured 4 others, a number of them children.
https://www.yemenpress.org/yemen/saudi-airstrikes-against-childhood-in-saada-videoimages/
In Sa'ada, a young man and a woman were killed and 4 others were injured, including children, with aggression's airstrikes targeted civilians' houses in Baqem district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9573
Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/2141353056160677
https://twitter.com/yemennotatarget/status/1190353881802428418
https://twitter.com/AhmadAlgohbary/status/1190377843114557441
https://www.yemenpress.org/yemen/saudi-airstrikes-against-childhood-in-saada-videoimages/
https://en.farsnews.com/imgrep.aspx?nn=13980811000700
Films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBUY4DvImzY = https://www.yemenpress.org/yemen/saudi-airstrikes-against-childhood-in-saada-videoimages/
https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/1190324183634468864 = https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/1190423163731169280
and what the pro-Saudi coalition news sites told:
(A K pS)
Coalition airstrikes target Houthi militia in Sa’ada
The Arab coalition to support legitimate government launched on Friday several airstrikes on positions of Iran-backed Houthi militia in the east of Sa’ada province, northern Yemen.
The coalition airstrikes targeted today’s morning gatherings and sites of Houthi militia in the valley of Kharasheep in Ketaf district.
Several Houthi militants were killed and injured and also a number of their combat vehicles were destroyed
http://en.26sepnews.net/2019/11/01/coalition-airstrikes-target-houthi-militia-in-saada-3/
and also http://en.adenpress.news/news/14669
(A K P)
Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) issues statements 1–5
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992024
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992025
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992026
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992027
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1992030
My comment: These statements are repeating those from Oct. 24:
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1986078
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1986079
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1986083
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1986085
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=1986086
More, and links to evidence, https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-590-yemen-war-mosaic-590, cp16.
(A K pH)
33 Saudi-led aggression airstrikes on provinces
Aggression warplanes launched two airstrikes on al-Muneera district in Hodeidah province, 12 airstrikes on Haradh district and 16 on Hiran district and a raid on Bakil al-Mir district in Hajjah province.
Aggression warplanes carried out four airstrikes on al-Dhahra area in Khab Wa aSha'af in Jawf province, and two raids on Majazah area in Asir.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3077072.htm
(A K pH)
More Saudi coalition air raids recorded on:
Nov. 1: https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9573 and https://www.saba.ye/en/news3077232.htm Sanaa p., Hajjah p., Saada p., Asir
Oct. 31: https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9557 Saada p.
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
Siehe / Look at cp1b
(A K pS)
Houthi militia kills little child by shelling in al-Dhale
A little boy on Friday was killed by the indiscriminate shelling of the Iran-backed Houthi militia in the southern province of al-Dhale.
Local sources told ‘September Net’ that the rebel militia targeted the villagers in the region of Hajr with mortar shells this afternoon, killing five-year-old boy Mohamed Abdullah Alsarehi while he was playing football.
http://en.26sepnews.net/2019/11/02/houthi-militia-kills-little-child-by-shelling-in-al-dhale/
(A K)
Two Saudi soldiers killed near Yemen border
SPA says two soldiers killed in southern Jizan region near Yemen border
https://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/two-saudi-soldiers-killed-near-yemen-border-3504325
(A K pH)
In Saada, Saudi missiles and artillery shells targeted civilians properties in Baqem district. US-Saudi aggression launched 3 raids on Ketaf district.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9573
(A K pH)
Jemen: Armee schießt 11 Mio. Dollar US-Drohne ab
Die Luftabwehr der jemenitischen Armee hat eine US-Spionagedrohne, die dabei war Aufnahmen im Grenzgebiet zu Saudi-Arabien zu machen, abgeschossen.
Wie Al-Masirah berichtete, werden diese US-Drohnen im Werte von je 11,5 Millionen US-Dollar verwendet, um militärische Positionen vor einem Bombardement zu identifizieren. Während des Irak-Krieges nutzte das US-Militär diese Drohnenart für mehr als 6.000 Aufklärungsflüge.
und auch https://de.sputniknews.com/politik/20191101325940705-huthis-abschuss-us-drohne-grenze-saudi-arabien/
(A K pH)
Yemeni Army Downs US ’Scaneagle’ Spy Drone in Asir
Air Defenses of the Army and Popular Committees downed on Friday morning a US spy plane while carrying out hostile missions in Asir.
Armed forces spokesman Brigadier Yahya Sare'e said, "the downed US spy drone is of a Scaneagle type. It was carrying out spying missions."
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9562
and also https://www.saba.ye/en/news3077256.htm
My remark: For Scaneagle, read: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_ScanEagle
(A K pH)
In Saada: A child was killed with US-Saudi gunshots in Razih district. Saudi missiles and artillery shells targeted populated villages in Baqim.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9557
(A K pH)
[Sanaa gov.] Armed Forces Spokesman to Reveal Data of Losses of Sudanese Mercenaries
Armed forces spokesman Brigadier Yahya Sare'e said on Thursday that he will reveal at a press conference on Saturday about the losses of Sudanese army mercenaries on various fronts since the start of the Sudanese participation in the aggression.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=9544
(A K pH)
In Saada province, a missile and artillery shelling targeted separated areas of border Razih district.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3077072.htm
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
(-)
Tripadvisor: Socotra Island, Jemen
https://www.tripadvisor.de/Tourism-g1420957-Socotra_Island-Vacations.html
(* A)
Yemen: Cyclones Kyarr and Maha - As of 1 November 2019
Two cyclones off the coast of Oman in the Arabian sea were expected to affect Yemen between 2 and 8 November.
The first, Cyclone Kyarr, has weakened in the last hours and was downgraded to a “Depression”. However, it continues to move towards Socotra bringing strong winds and heavy rains to the island. At least 68,000 people are likely to be exposed to tropical storm conditions (winds up to 150 km/h) on 2 November.
The second cyclone, “Maha”, is forecasted to move towards Oman and remain in the eastern part of the Arabian Sea before curving back towards India. Current projections show that it could possibly progress towards Al Mahara and Hadramaut at the end of the week. More accurate projections will become available by 2 November.
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-cyclones-kyarr-and-maha-1-november-2019
(A H)
Film: Yemen|International Literacy Week art exhibition in the field of media and information Under the slogan of "Education and the tragedy in a picture" and on the occasion of the International literacy week in the field of media, and information, the platform of "Human of Taiz" sponsored by the culture office in Taiz province held an artistic exhibition, with the participation of photographers from different governorates' in Yemen, and that's to express the suffering and hardships of education in the middle of the situations that Yemen experience, through paintings that reflects the war effects on education, and what it left from destruction for schools and universities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdP6mOwb3kg
(B H P)
Film: ATIAF ALWAZIR on the relevance of art in peacebuilding
Atiaf Alwazir is a Lead Associate of Gender Associations.
"#Art and #culture are very important in times of #conflict as a means of expression, including for women who have undergone violence” Atiaf Alwazir @WomanfromYemen 's tells us about art, healing and peacebuilding in Yemen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-4rOF1Rcjc
Vorige / Previous:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-592-yemen-war-mosaic-592
Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-592 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-592:
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/
Liste aller Luftangriffe / and list of all air raids:
http://yemendataproject.org/data/
Untersuchung ausgewählter Luftangriffe durch Bellingcat / Bellingcat investigations of selected aur raids:
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