Dies ist die Fortsetzung von Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 626, Teil 1 / This is the sequel of Yemen War Mosaic 626, part 1:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-626-yemen-war-mosaic-626
Schwerpunkte / Key aspects
Kursiv: Siehe Teil 1 / In Italics: Look in part 1
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
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
cp8a Jamal Khashoggi
cp9 USA
cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Spannungen am Golf: Englisch / US-Iran crisis: Tensions at the Gulf: English
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis
cp12b Sudan
cp13 Waffenhandel / Arms Trade
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
cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks
(* A P)
UN Security Council: Military Escalation in Yemen Threatens Potential Political Progress, High-Level United Nations Officials Warn Security Council
Houthi Militias Seek to Abort Peace Process, Says Permanent Representative, as Delegates Voice Concern over Humanitarian Situation
[Abridged] Briefings and delegates statements, Hadi gov. usual propaganda statement]
https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/sc14111.doc.htm
and a shorter report: https://apnews.com/49e8cb2a645e54df4012de18ac451d86
(* A P)
Film: UN envoy warns military escalation puts Yemen peace moves at risk
UN Special envoy to Yemen says latest violence could spread, reverse gains after lull in fighting over past year.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/envoy-warns-military-escalation-puts-yemen-peace-moves-risk-200219083527797.html = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjWa4JfAEcI
(* A P)
BRIEFING OF THE SPECIAL ENVOY OF THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR YEMEN TO THE OPEN SESSION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL
We are witnessing in Yemen what we have long feared. Since October, I have briefed this Council several times on the signs of hope and momentum towards peace. But at the same time, we have all been acutely aware that renewed violence could reverse the gains made, render peace more difficult and inflict even more severe humanitarian consequences on the population.
During the past month, since we last met, the military situation has grown increasingly dire. Both sides have announced expansive military goals and exchanged fierce rhetoric.
Despite this dire and unremittingly dire military situation, the parties have made significant progress in their efforts to build confidence and provide relief for those in suffering.
Everything I have heard, in the almost two years that I had the privilege of serving the Secretary-General and yourselves and this assignment, everything I have heard from Yemeni leaders points to a core principle that I wish to emphasize today: peace in Yemen can only emerge from a political compromise between both parties through a process mediated by the United Nations, our process that we discuss each time we meet. It will not be dictated, it will not be successfully resolved from a position of military dominance. And engagement in that UN process must be unconditional. It cannot be secondary to territorial gains, particularly when as we have so vividly seen in Yemen, there is no military solution to this conflict. So how do we move from here to the launch, at last, of that process?
And with the encouragement of this Council, we are actively working towards that goal and the re-establishment of truly inclusive de-escalation arrangements, but we realize that a reduction in violence is not enough and this has been the lesson of the past two months. We need the parties to unite around a vision for a post-conflict Yemen in line with the relevant resolutions of this Council. It is perhaps timely, Mr. President, to recall those elements: namely a genuinely inclusive government and a political transition process; a military and security arrangement and sector that safeguards all Yemenis; the chance for reconstruction and the revitalization of the country’s institutions and economy; and an acceptance finally that enmities must end while differences remain. These are reasonable, achievable goals and they’re no secrets And I insist, Mr. President, that it’s time for us also to recall them and to hope that soon we will see their realization when the political will is truly there.
Mr. President, finally, I am sometimes accused of impatience and now we see why. Hesitance on the political track allows the war drums to beat louder, allows provocations to spiral, and to multiply. The hard work that the parties have done is at grave risk of being undone. The parties must display the courage that I know they have to set aside short-term military goals and make a sustained, tangible and irreversible commitment to the political process.
and film: https://newsvideo.su/video/12287802
and the main points in short: https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/un-envoy-to-yemen-warns-surge-in-fighting-risks-peace-efforts-1.980962
(* B H)
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen - 18 February 2020
So let's start with protection of civilians. Hostilities have escalated significantly along several fronts, most notably in the governorates of Marib, Al Jawf and Sana'a. As Martin said, these are places that had been mostly quiet for the last two years.
Fighting in these areas has displaced more than 35,000 people since January.
This escalation, in addition to clashes in other places, has reversed the trend towards decreasing civilian casualties that we had seen in previous months.
The second issue is humanitarian access. Let me remind everyone that international humanitarian law requires the parties to facilitate access to people in need. Access is essential if we are to continue saving millions of lives across Yemen.
Yet the space we need to do this work has been narrowing from all directions.
In the south, humanitarian agencies have to wait too long to get projects approved. Last year, we estimate that about 30 per cent of NGO projects were not taken forward because the Government failed to agree them. Efforts to carry out a multi-sectoral needs assessment have recently stalled.
We also remain concerned over proposed Government regulations that would hinder humanitarian agencies ability to move around the country as necessary in order to meet urgent needs. This past week the Government returned eight trucks, with medical supplies, held by Government forces in Marib since 30 January. However, after initial inspection, it appears that up to 70% of the supplies were missing. We appreciate the ongoing dialogue with the Government on these issues.
But it is important to be clear that we have much more serious problems in the areas controlled by the Ansar Allah authorities.
Last year, they issued more than 200 regulations on humanitarian action. By the end of the year, the number of reported incidents disrupting assistance had risen by a factor of six. About half these incidents constrained movements of relief supplies or staff, and about a quarter involved attempts to influence decisions on who receives help or otherwise interfere with programmes.
Ansar Allah authorities asked NGOs to sign agreements that would not be consistent with humanitarian principles. About 40 per cent of NGO projects last year went unapproved - that is 10 per cent more than in the south. It has also been suggested that NGOs pay a 2 per cent tax to fund the authorities' aid coordination body.
The situation is unacceptable. Stopping the world's largest aid operation would be fatal for millions of people.
Last week, Ansar Allah authorities returned food that had been taken from a WFP warehouse in Hajjah.
They also announced they were dropping the proposed 2 per cent levy.
They also wrote to WFP saying that they would implement a long-pending agreement on biometric registration and other issues.
We welcome all these announcements. And we are looking forward to seeing them implemented.
There are several other issues, including:
First, project approvals, especially agreements with NGOs;
Second, moving forward with urgently required assessments, including updating food security assessments;
And third, approving more monitoring missions, all of which still require progress.
These are activities which the humanitarian principles require humanitarian agencies to conduct.
Important discussions are ongoing with the relevant parties to cover all these and other points.
Amidst all these challenges, the humanitarian operation has continued to deliver.
I want to commend again the humanitarian workers - and especially the Yemeni staff - who are delivering this response. They are unquestionably saving millions of lives.
No one has suggested the emergency in Yemen has improved over the last year. But key assessments remain blocked, complicating efforts to adjust programmes based on the latest evidence. This makes it difficult to know with certainty whether there are large pockets of unmet needs across the country.
(* B H)
Yemen’s Houthi rebels ‘restricting aid’: UN
Group tried to levy 2% tax on aid groups, divert supplies, compel humanitarians to sign dodgy documents, says UN aid chief
UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned Tuesday of severe and unfair restrictions being placed on humanitarians in Yemen and singled out the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel group as the worst offender.
Addressing the UN Security Council in New York, Lowcock, the emergency relief coordinator said the Houthi rebels who control the capital, Sanaa, and much of the north, have stepped up attempts to divert and control aid flows in recent months.
“Last year, they issued more than 200 regulations on humanitarian action. By the end of the year, the number of reported incidents disrupting assistance had risen by a factor of six,” said Lowcock. “About half these incidents constrained movements of relief supplies or staff, and about a quarter involved attempts to influence decisions on who receives help or otherwise interfere with programs.”
Restrictions on aid workers are a problem across Yemen, said Lowcock, but while 30% of schemes get blocked in the south, humanitarians see 40% of their projects stalled in the Houthi-run north.
“Ansar Allah authorities asked NGOs to sign agreements that would not be consistent with humanitarian principles,” said Lowcock, using an alternate name for the Houthi tribal militia of mostly Zaydi Shiites. “It has also been-suggested that NGOs pay a 2 percent tax to fund the authorities’ aid coordination body. The situation is unacceptable. Stopping the world’s largest aid operation would be fatal for millions of people.”
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-s-houthi-rebels-restricting-aid-un/1737750
(* A P)
Limited hopes on Yemen
Local Yemeni and UN sources confirm the largest prisoner exchange deal is imminent in Yemen, including 1,400 prisoners of war between the two sides. However, the details and prisoner names are still unknown. A Yemeni human rights source told Al-Ahram Weekly there is a possibility that prominent figures such as former defence minister General Mahmoud Al-Sebehi, or the president’s brother, General Nasser Mansour Hadi, or renowned leading figure in the Yemeni Reform Party Mohamed Qahtan, will be released.
Before the two sides exchanged prisoner lists, sources asserted Brigadier General Khaled Abdullah, operations commander in the government’s Fifth Military Zone, will be released based on mediation by a Houthi leader five years after Abdullah’s detention in Sanaa. The source added that other predictions include the release of the crew of the Tornado fighter jet that Houthis shot down in Al-Jawf province on Friday, but there is no confirmation. What is certain is that among the prisoners are Saudi and Sudanese nationals, and the exchange will include one or two of four leading figures.
Riyadh’s efforts with the UN mission and Red Cross for the release of the Tornado crew accelerated the prisoner exchange deal that had been on the backburner for a long time, due to obstacles over the past 14 months since the signing of the Stockholm agreement which regulates prisoner exchanges between the two sides.
The Chairman of the Prisoner Exchange Committee on the Houthi side, Abul-Qaderah Al-Mortada, said the prisoner exchange will be facilitated by the UN and Red Cross, and will include some 900 Houthi members and 520 supporters of the internationally-recognised government. Al-Mortada said the next round of talks will begin in the Jordanian capital Amman in the last week of March, will include the exchange of the remains of those killed in battle, and the next phase of prisoner exchanges.
(A P)
Holding future talks with Houthis depends on progress in Stockholm deal, says Yemeni [Hadi] government
Yemen's government said on Tuesday holding any future talks with the Houthi rebel militia will depend on what concrete progress is achieved on the Stockholm Agreement from December 2018.
The permanent representative of Yemen to the United Nations, Abdullah Ali Fadhel al-Saadi, said in an address to the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the decision to hold future "is related to things getting clear; if the Stockholm consultations have succeed or not."
Al-Saadi made clear the Houthi disregard and sidestepping of the Stockholm Agreement turned the post-Stockholm Agreement period to a new level of escalation in the conflict and suffering of the Yemenis.
"It is regrettable that after more than one year, the Agreement did not bring about anything. But it marked the beginning of a new level of escalation and further suffering," Al-Saadi said.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2036426
My comment: This is propaganda. The Stockholm agreement actually DID slow down fighting at Hodeidah. – Even if there permanently is “disregard and sidestepping of the Stockholm Agreement” by BOTH sides, not just by one side as claimed here. – For Hodeidah, the Hadi government did not achieve its goals: getting full control of Hodeidah by using the Stockholm agreement as a tool.
(A P)
Film: Statement Jürgen Schulz - Jemen / Huthi-Konflikt
Stellungnahme für die Bundesregierung durch den Stellvertreter des Ständigen Vertreters der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in der 8725. Sitzung des Sicherheitsrats der Vereinten Nationen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExM6-9TDBP0
(A P)
[US,China and UK statements]
https://usun.usmission.gov/remarks-at-a-un-security-council-briefing-on-the-situation-in-yemen-8/
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-02/19/c_138796940.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_chBf7NbIs [British delegate answering to the press]
(A P)
Detainees’ female relatives demand inclusion of all abductees in upcoming release
Female relatives to arbitrary detainees staged on Tuesday’s morning a sit-in before office of the United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to Yemen in Sana’a demanding inclusion of all abductees in the upcoming release.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-37963
(* A P)
Head of Prisoners’ Affairs Committee: Signed Agreement Includes Release of 900 Prisoners
The head of the National Committee for Prisoners Affairs, Abdulqader Al-Murtadha, said that the committee signed a draft agreement, which provides for the implementation of the first stage of prisoner exchange with the Saudi side in the Jordanian capital, Amman. It states the exchange of 1400 prisoners from both sides.
Al-Murtadha said in an interview with Al-Thawra newspaper today, Monday, that "the agreement, which includes 900 from our prisoners and 520 from theirs, is based on the Stockholm Agreement, which is an integral part of it, and a stage of its implementation."
He pointed out that it is based on four main pillars, the first of which is the unanimous agreement of the parties to adopt the phasing of the solution, so that this will be the first stage, while the second stage of this agreement will be implemented in the second by exchanging 1400 from both parties. The third stage will be the formation of field committees to recover bodies from all fronts and regions, provided that the last stage includes an agreement on a new round of consultations on March, 23rd, in Amman, to track the implementation of this agreed phase.
With regard to the first stage, Al-Murtadha said that consultations are still ongoing, and that the two parties are working on preparing, revising and correcting the lists
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=11252&cat_id=1
and
(A P)
@abducteesmother on recent @OSE_Yemen announcement of prisoners exchange are calling to give priority to forcefully disappeared persons & arbitrary detained with health conditions. They are concerned that the exchange only focus fighters & ignores arbitrary detained civilians (Arabic text in image)
https://twitter.com/RashaJarhum/status/1230805253920055298
and
(* A P)
According to the agreement, at this stage, only one of the four main prisoners will be released: Minister of Defense Major General Mahmoud Al-Subaihi, Muhammad Qahtan, Brigadier Faisal Rajab, and Brigadier Nasser Mansour Hadi, along with Saudi and Sudanese prisoners.
https://twitter.com/MohammedGhobari/status/1229052238473125889
This is important. The Hadi government wants the four 2216 prisoners released. Three of them were taken on day one of the war in 2015. One is Hadi's family member. Another was Minister of Defense at the time. The fourth, Mohammad Qahtan, is a key Islah party leader.
https://twitter.com/ElanaGulf/status/1229814175297306627
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
(A P)
While @SecPompeo met with his #Saudi @kingsalman, a top Saudi prince Khaled AlFaisal ordered the arrest of a black woman for making this clean rap video (film)
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1230850806347444226
On the day a black woman was arrested on the orders of a top #Saudi prince for making a clean rap video, #American spokesperson @statedeptspox shows a black woman protecting the racist #Saudi monarchy (photo)
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1230847300223881217
(A P)
Under the Saudi G20 Presidency, the First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting to be Held Tomorrow in Riyadh
Riyadh is set to host the first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting under the Saudi G20 Presidency on 22–23 February 2020.
The meeting will bring together Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from G20 countries and invited countries, as well as heads of international and regional organizations.
The meeting will be chaired by the Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan and the Saudi Central Bank Governor Ahmed Alkholifey.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2037458
(* B P)
Scandal-Hit Saudi Prince Fusses Over Details As G-20 Offers Redemption
The top-level attention to detail reflects what's at stake for Saudi Arabia as it welcomes leaders from the world's biggest economies
While many are likely to find irony in Saudi Arabia hosting global meetings focused on climate change and female empowerment -- the conservative Islamic kingdom is an oil powerhouse where women were only recently allowed to drive and strict dress rules are being cautiously relaxed -- Saudi officials see only opportunities.
Presiding over the club that represents at least 80% of global economic output will provide an opportunity, they hope, to improve that badly tarnished international reputation and advertise efforts to establish the kingdom as a business and tourism destination, key pillars of Prince Mohammed's push to diversify the economy.
"The spotlight's on the kingdom," said Saudi media minister Turki Al-Shabanah, on stage beside Toonsi at an event in Riyadh this week. "How can we take advantage of this chance to tell our story and talk about it in a positive way?"
That's no simple task after two years dominated by stories about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents, the detention of activists, and most recently an allegation by Amazon.com boss Jeff Bezos -- vehemently denied by Saudi officials -- that Prince Mohammed personally hacked his phone.
Several of those incidents remain unresolved.
While there was no indication that attendees were boycotting the G-20, as they did previous events in Saudi Arabia in the wake of Khashoggi's killing, there will be some notable absences this weekend However, it's the simultaneous political crackdown that's dominated global headlines since 2017, when Prince Mohammed led a controversial anti-corruption campaign, detaining dozens of the kingdom's most powerful men in the Riyadh Ritz-Carlton hotel, the same venue where the G-20 will be held.
Saudi officials want to turn that narrative around. Toonsi pointed out that Saudi's G-20 presidency coincides with the kingdom opening for tourism. Officials plan to roll out the red carpet of Saudi hospitality, showing visitors the changes going on in the kingdom, he said (Bloomberg)
(* B P)
Saudi Arabia to Execute Dozen Shia Minor Dissidents Amid Major Crackdown
Saudi authorities will execute a dozen imprisoned minor dissidents from the oil-rich and Shia-populated Eastern Province, amid a crackdown led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman against pro-democracy campaigners, Muslim preachers and intellectuals in the kingdom.
Lebanon-based Arabic-language al-Ahed news website, citing sources from the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), reported that the Qatif residents are facing death penalty at various levels of litigation.
Among the detainees already on the death row is Muhammad Issam al-Faraj, born in 2002, who faced charges before reaching the age of ten.
A local source, requesting not to be named, told al-Ahed that judgment is issued by one authority and there is no room for self-defense or the appointment of a lawyer.
The source added that the defendants have no knowledge whatsoever about when and how the hearings were conducted and what were involved. The defendants should only submit to the court order, and their families will not be informed until after they have been executed.
(A P)
#Saudi activist @nasema33 has been transported from Mabahith prison in #Dammam to #Riyadh, where her trial session is due TOMORROW. She's been detained since July 2018 without charge or trial. I call on @KingSalman to release her immediately & unconditionally.
https://twitter.com/ValerieDeMarie/status/1229745053750497280
cp8a Jamal Khashoggi
(A P)
Qahtani comeback? Saudi official circulates song praising Khashoggi suspect
Entertainment chief Turki al-Sheikh tweets Qahtani's self-penned paean, drawing the ire of Loujain al-Hathloul's sister
A song celebrating the "innocence" of Saud al-Qahtani, a key suspect in the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, has been circulated by a top Saudi entertainment official, suggesting attempts by the ruling class to rehabilitate him.
Turki al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia’s entertainment chief and a close aide of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has posted on Twitter a song praising Qahtani, a former official thought to be the mastermind behind Khashoggi's 2018 murder by Saudi operatives in Istanbul.
As a top advisor to the crown prince, Qahtani was one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom. However, he has largely disappeared from public view since the 2 October 2018 killing, which attracted widespread scorn and criticism onto the Saudi government.
Song, film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSXnUvuIvAY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZhS2SxZ5Hs
cp9 USA
(* B P)
Saudi Arabia is imprisoning our relatives, while Mike Pompeo and the U.S. cozy up to the king
The secretary of state pledged to raise human rights on his visit, but the U.S. has shown little willingness to go beyond lip service for these hostages.
Pompeo has pledged to raise human rights with the Saudis during his three-day trip, which ends Friday. But the U.S. government has shown little willingness to go beyond lip service for these hostages of the Saudi regime. We need our officials, starting with the secretary, to act now.
But U.S. officials seem to assume America’s long-term interests are too valuable to risk alienating or weakening the Saudi royal family, which enjoys close ties with Trump’s inner circle. Indulging this autocratic and unstable regime not only punishes the domestic activists who most uphold American values, it also undermines the very reliability of any joint military or business undertakings.
Such military and business ventures are agenda items U.S. officials have been much more eager to pursue, but they do so at great cost in moral authority and risk to our interests, even narrowly defined
Our relatives’ stories are well known to the Department of State, yet it has done almost nothing on their behalf.
(* A B P)
Stop Arming Repressive Regimes
Despite significant human rights laws already on the books, the United States continues to arm and enable repressive regimes around the world, with disastrous humanitarian and security impacts. It’s time for Congress to pass legislation that can change this dangerous and unacceptable status quo.
The most egregious current case of U.S. support for a human rights abuser involves U.S. arms transfers and assistance to the Saudi regime in support of its brutal war in Yemen.
The case of Yemen is far from the only example of a U.S. arms client that engages in systematic violations of human rights and humanitarian law.
Supporting governments that violate human rights and humanitarian law is not only morally wrong, it is also strategically unwise. Undemocratic regimes are more likely to engage in aggression against their neighbors and spark terrorist backlash against their repressive practices, to the detriment of U.S., regional, and global security.
A new bill introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) offers a potential solution to this dangerous and dysfunctional element of U.S. policy. The Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act, if enacted, could help prevent the worst cases of U.S. assistance to human rights abusers by imposing sanctions on nations that engage in genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. Each practice targeted by the bill is carefully defined to avoid any ambiguity. And the range of activities covered by the sanctions are comprehensive, including arms transfers, military training, and military, intelligence, or police support – by William Hartung
https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamhartung/2020/02/19/stop-arming-repressive-regimes/#8d98c47a65fa
(* B P)
How Saudi Arabia Infiltrated Twitter
Ali Alzabarah was panicked. His heart raced as he drove home from Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters in the early evening on Dec. 2, 2015. He needed to leave the country — quickly.
Earlier that day, Twitter’s management accused the unassuming 32-year-old of accessing thousands of user profiles without authorization to pass their identifying information — including phone numbers and IP addresses — reportedly to Bader al-Asaker, the head of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s charity and private office. When the conversation concluded, management seized Alzabarah’s laptop, put him on administrative leave, and escorted him out of the building.
Arriving home at San Bruno’s Acappella Apartments — a complex so close to San Francisco International Airport he could hear planes fly overhead — Alzabarah planned his escape.
Early the next morning, Alzabarah, his wife, and daughter boarded a plane for Saudi Arabia.
From May 2015 until he was exposed that December, Alzabarah spied for the Saudi Arabian government inside Twitter, a criminal complaint from the FBI alleges. (Unless explicitly attributed to other sources, the details and allegations that follow are taken from the FBI’s criminal complaint.)
Alzabarah and Ahmad Abouammo, a colleague on Twitter’s global media team, regularly accessed and delivered information that could’ve led Saudi intelligence to identify anonymous dissidents. While news of the allegations against them has been public since November 2019, the extent of their roles and abilities inside the company have never previously been reported. Alzabarah, Abouammo, and al-Asaker did not respond to requests for comment.
Though Azabarah fled, he and Abouammo, who remained in the US, are currently indicted in United States federal court on charges of acting as undeclared agents of the Saudi government. No matter the verdict, the case has exposed tech companies’ vulnerability to attempted foreign infiltration. One well-placed employee can potentially do extensive damage.
“The message MBS gets from the world, from powerful countries, from the international community, is that he will get away with whatever he did or will do,” Abdullah Alaoudh, a legal scholar at Georgetown University whose father is imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, told BuzzFeed News. “Because he has money, he can control the process of oil. Therefore, everybody will go back to business as usual.” – by Alex Kantrowitz
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/alexkantrowitz/how-saudi-arabia-infiltrated-twitter
(A K P)
Saudi Royal Naval Forces and US Navy participate in mixed naval exercise in Eastern Province
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2036905
(* A P)
Trump lied to us about Yemen war, says Sanders
Would be Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has slammed US President Donald Trump over his support for Saudi air strikes in Yemen. “Trump said that he wanted to get America out of wars,” said Sanders. “He lied.”
Sanders also criticised Trump for this veto. “When we passed a bipartisan bill to end illegal support for Saudi air strikes in Yemen, he vetoed it.” On Tuesday, the Senator also lambasted Saudi Arabia’s leadership, and reaffirmed his promise to pursue a more even-handed foreign policy in the Middle East.
“For years, we have loved Saudi Arabia, our wonderful ally,” he pointed out. “The only problem is that the people who run that country are murderous thugs.”
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200219-trump-lied-to-us-about-yemen-war-says-sanders/
(A P)
HRH the Crown Prince meets with US Secretary of State
During the meeting, they reviewed aspects of bilateral relations, the various areas of cooperation between the two friendly countries and opportunities for enhancing them, in addition to discussing developments of regional and international situations, and issues of common concern.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2037365
(* A P)
Saudi Arabia, US agreed on supporting efforts to advance political process in Yemen
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concluded his three days visit to Saudi Arabia and headed to Oman in his last stop in the Middle East.
Pompeo extended his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for his efforts to end the conflict in Yemen, saying: “Saudi Arabia remains a strong and enduring partner.”
The US secretary of state said on his Twitter account Friday that “he discussed the ongoing threat posed by the Iranian regime with the Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman.”
“We stand together with Saudi Arabia in addressing these regional security challenges.”
The secretary’s meetings with the Saudi leadership notes the strong and enduring 75-year partnership between Saudi Arabia and the United States, spokesperson for the US Department of State Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.
My comment: Just read https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200219-trump-lied-to-us-about-yemen-war-says-sanders/
(A P)
Pompeo meets Saudi king in talks focused on Iranian threats
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Thursday in a visit focused primarily on discussing shared security concerns about regional rival Iran.
Ahead of his arrival in the capital Riyadh, Pompeo said he’d also raise with the Saudi leadership concerns about human rights and the cases of dual Saudi-American citizenswho are either imprisoned in the kingdom or barred from traveling abroad.
Following his meeting at the royal palace with the king, Pompeo headed to a Saudi air base where some 2,500 U.S. troops are stationed in response to threats from Iran.
https://apnews.com/004af3f7dba52a42ff2b38cad2c3c82d
and
(A P)
US Embassy to Saudi Arabia: Joined by Ambassador #Abizaid and HRH Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud, @SecPompeo met with a group of #Saudi women leaders in business, finance, and entrepreneurship to hear about the changes underway in the Kingdom.
https://twitter.com/USAinKSA/status/1230418303698526210
Comment: That’s great. But to understand the full story, maybe you should visit women’s rights activists who are currently in jail and who have been tortured by senior officials such as Saud Al-Qahtani who’s been exonerated by the Saudi legal system.
https://twitter.com/WalidAlhathloul/status/1230477683609554944
Pompeo in Saudi Arabia to talk Iran, economy and human rights
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss regional security, namely Iran, after the U.S. killing last month of a top Iranian general pushed the oil-producing region closer to an all-out war.
(* A P)
US Could Cut Funding to Northern Yemen Aid Groups
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations warned Tuesday that Washington could halt its support to humanitarian agencies operating in Houthi-controlled northern Yemen as early as March, if the Iranian-backed rebels do not stop undermining relief distribution.
“The United States is also extremely concerned by mounting Houthi interference with the work of aid partners in northern Yemen, which limits the ability of the U.N. and other humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable
Craft condemned actions by the rebel group, including extorting money from humanitarian groups through a 2% levy on aid projects and interference in who receives aid in areas under the group’s control.
“In light of these entirely avoidable circumstances, donors are faced with the difficult dilemma of how to continue delivering aid while remaining responsive to taxpayers,” said Craft. “We may be forced to consider suspending or reducing our assistance in northern Yemen as early as March unless undue Houthi interference ceases immediately and access to vulnerable populations improves.”
She called on the Houthis to take steps in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and called for lifting access restrictions and removing levies on aid projects.
“To the Houthis, we repeat our appeal from last month: all Yemenis in need deserve life-saving assistance,” she said. “Do not make it impossible for us to continue providing aid in the areas you control. The conditions for doing so are clear.”
https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/us-could-cut-funding-northern-yemen-aid-groups
and also https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-threatens-cut-aid-houthi-held-areas-yemen
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1629691/middle-east
My comment: The US simply found a pretense to reduce payments to UN organizations – and to open a new frontline in its fight against Iran.
(* B P)
US election 2020: Where does Mike Bloomberg stand on Middle East issues?
On foreign policy, Bloomberg sometimes resembles Trump more than his Democratic rivals
While other Democratic candidates have been trying to outdo each other in condemning Saudi Arabia for its human rights abuses in Yemen, imprisonment of dissidents and the killing of Khashoggi, Bloomberg has struck a softer tone on the kingdom when asked about the subject.
In an interview with the Saudi-owned publication Arab News last September, Bloomberg praised the Saudi leadership over what he called efforts to "take that country into the new world".
"They have made progress going in the right direction," said the former mayor, who met with Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman in 2018 during the crown prince's visit to New York.
Failing to mention the women's rights advocates who have been imprisoned, tortured and sexually harassed in the kingdom, Bloomberg also lauded Saudi rulers for "reforms" that improved women's conditions in the kingdom.
"I have had a number of women come up to me and say you don’t understand this is the best thing that has ever happened to Saudi Arabia because half the population was cut out and now they are going in the right direction," he said.
This stance puts him in stark contrast with other frontrunners in the race.
Bloomberg opposed the Iran nuclear agreement when it was first signed in 2015, but now he says it was wrong for Trump to leave it.
"While the agreement was not perfect - it did not address Iran’s ballistic missile program, and it gave the regime political cover to step up its aggression in the region - the US had an obligation to keep its word once the agreement was in place," a spokesman for the Bloomberg campaign told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in January.
"The US withdrawal has allowed Iran to abandon its own obligations under the deal and has left the world with few tools to stop it."
On the killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Bloomberg again drew a sharp contrast with his Democratic rivals, who denounced the strike as reckless and legally questionable.
"Was it legal? Yes. Was it justifiable? Yes, provided we had intelligence on an imminent threat to Americans," Bloomberg's campaign told the Times.
cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Spannungen am Golf / US-Iran crisis: Tensions at the Gulf
(* B K P)
Veteranen verlangen eine Entschuldigung des Präsidenten
Trump bestand darauf, dass keine Soldaten im Irak ernsthaft verletzt wurden, aber die letzten Worte eines Veteranen aus Philadelphia zeigen die wahren Kosten des Krieges
http://www.antikrieg.com/aktuell/2020_02_18_veteranen.htm
and English version:
(* B K P)
Trump insisted no troops were seriously injured in Iraq, but a Philly vet’s final words show the true cost of war
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/us-military-injuries-iran-ptsd-michael-corey-hadley-20200214.html = http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/52986.htm
(A K P)
Iraq’s anti-terror PMU appoints Abu Fadak al-Mohammedawi as al-Muhandis successor
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) has appointed Abu Fadak al-Mohammedawi as the new deputy commander of Hashd al-Shaabi following the martyrdom of his predecessor Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a US drone attack last month.
(A P)
US fears democracy in Iran, will have to learn to respect it: Foreign Ministry
Iran's Foreign Ministry says new American sanctions targeting members of Iran's Guardian Council and its Elections Supervision Committee show that the US "fears democracy in Iran", and will have to learn to respect it.
http://www.iran-daily.com/News/265969.html
(A P)
Film: Saudi FM on relations with Iran, Yemen situation
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Saturday said Saudi Arabia was not currently prepared to engage in conciliatory talks with Iran. During an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Prince Faisal accused Iran of being the main source instability in the region.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLrN6LLsbyM
(B K P)
IST DER IRAN SCHLECHT BERATEN, SEINE REGIONALEN VERBÜNDETEN ZU FINANZIEREN, WÄHREND ER SANKTIONIERT WIRD?
Viele Iraner stellen die Vorteile der Bewaffnung und Finanzierung der vielen Verbündeten des Iran im Nahen Osten in Frage, während der Iran unter dem bisher härtesten “Maximaldruck” der USA leidet. Irans Verbündete sind über Afghanistan, Jemen, Irak, Syrien, Libanon und Palästina verteilt. Ist die iranische Unterstützung dieser Verbündeten die Hauptursache für die aggressive Haltung der USA gegenüber dem iranischen Volk und seinem Staat, oder gibt es andere Faktoren? Was bringt den Iran dazu, diese Verbündeten zu finanzieren und sie mit den modernsten Kriegsgeräten zu versorgen und bereit zu sein, auf ihrem Territorium zu kämpfen und zu sterben?
Seit sich Irans “Islamische Revolution” 1979 unter der Führung von Imam Khomeini durchsetzte, wurde das Land stark sanktioniert, wobei die Sanktionen mit der Ankunft fast jedes neuen US-Präsidenten zunahmen. 1979 hatte der Iran keine Verbündeten, sondern war von Feinden umgeben. Seine regionalen Nachbarn unterstützten gemeinsam mit westlichen Ländern Saddam Husseins Krieg gegen die “Islamische Republik”. Der Krieg der USA gegen den Iran hat seinen Ursprung im Sturz seines Stellvertreters, des Pahlavi-Schahs
(* A K P)
UN-Sonderberichterstatterin Callamard: Ermordung von General Soleimani bricht mit internationalen Normen
Die UN-Sonderberichterstatterin für außergerichtliche Hinrichtungen Agnes Callamard hat die Ermordung des iranischen Generals Qassem Soleimani als Verstoß gegen die internationalen Normen für extraterritoriale Militäreinsätze bezeichnet.
Das Vorgehen Washingtons stelle einen gefährlichen Präzedenzfall dar, der "ein Rezept für eine Katastrophe sein könnte", sagte Callamard der BBC. Die UN-Charta basiere auf dem Gedanken, dass wir alles tun sollten, um bewaffnete Konflikte zu verhindern, und dass der Einsatz von Gewalt auf sehr wenige Szenarien beschränkt werden sollte, fügte die UN-Sonderberichterstatterin für außergerichtliche Hinrichtungen hinzu.
"Die gezielte Ermordung von General Soleimani hat die Standards für die extraterritoriale Anwendung von Gewalt durch einen Staat völlig außer Kraft gesetzt ", erklärte sie weiter.
"Die Ermordung von General Soleimani als einem legalen Befehlshaber unterscheidet sich von der Tötung von Führern terroristischer Gruppen wie Al-Kaida und IS", so Callamard. Die UN-Sonderberichterstatterin hob zudem hervor, dass die Einstufung von General Soleimani als Terrorist durch die USA keine rechtliche Grundlage habe.
(* A K P)
Callamard: Soleimani killing breached international norms
The killing of Iran’s military leader General Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike breached international norms on extraterritorial military operations and sets a dangerous precedent that could "be a recipe for disaster", Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial executions has said.
She told Hardtalk's Stephen Sackur: "The UN Charter was predicated on the notion that we should do all we can to prevent armed conflict and that the use of force should be very much narrowed down to very few scenarios.
"The targeted killing of Mr Soleimani completely swept away the standard related to extraterritorial use of force by a state. It targeted a state official while in the past it was mostly non-state actors or only non-state actors that had been targeted."
https://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/middle_east
(A E P)
Aramco Trading locks in long-term deal for Kuwaiti oil supply
Aramco Trading Co (ATC) has sealed a new deal to secure long-term crude oil supplies from state-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) that can be processed at refineries owned by Saudi Aramco <2222.SE> in Asia, trade sources said.
The deals allow ATC to widen its supply sources globally beyond Saudi Arabia to secure feedstock for Saudi Aramco's expanding refining and petrochemical base in Asia after a drone attack in September crippled its oil production facilities and forced domestic refineries to cut output, the sources said.
After the incident, ATC had to hunt for cargoes in the spot market which pushed up prices.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/aramco-trading-locks-long-term-024908908.html
(A P)
Iran’s Air Defense Achievements Substantial: Minister
Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said local experts have manufactured such advanced air defense equipment that the Islamic Republic faces no limits in combating aerial threats.
(A P T)
Riyadh provided Jaish ul-Adl terrorists with weapons, equipment: IRGC cmdr.
A senior Iranian commander says Saudi Arabia has provided at least three planeloads of weapons and equipment to a Pakistan-based terrorist group conducting acts of terror against the Islamic Republic.
Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Ground Forces, made the announcement on Tuesday and said members of the so-called Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group operating on the northwestern, western and southeastern borders of the country are well-armed and equipped, which shows the terrorists enjoy the “all-out backing of the US, Saudi Arabia and their regional allies.”
(* A P)
Sen. Murphy: I Secretly Met With Zarif in His Hotel Suite Because its Dangerous Not to Meet With Adversaries
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) admitted Tuesday morning that he and several other Democrats did indeed hold a secret meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during the Munich Security Conference last week, arguing that it would be dangerous NOT to meet clandestinely with Iranian officials.
The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway broke the story about the Dems’ rogue meeting with foreign adversaries in an exclusive on Monday.
When asked to respond to the report during a press conference in Ethiopia on Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed hope that the Democrats were supporting “America’s foreign policy and not their own.”
Murphy defended the meeting in a post at Medium.com and on Twitter: “I met w the Iranian Foriegn(sic) Minister in Munich,” Murphy wrote on Twitter. “It’s dangerous not to talk to adversaries, esp amidst a cycle of escalation.”
In his piece at Medium.com, Murphy described what he allegedly told the Iranian diplomat during the meeting.
The senator wrote that he asked Zarif if the reprisals for the Soleimani assassination were over, and stressed that any attacks by Iran on United States forces in Iraq would “be perceived as an unacceptable escalation.”
He said he also asked for the Iranian foreign minister’s help in Yemen, and raised the issue of American prisoners held in Iran.
and Murphy’s article here: https://medium.com/@ChrisMurphyCT/behind-the-scenes-of-my-trip-to-ukraine-and-munich-c1398a06ff0b
and Zarif’s statement: https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/02/19/619008/Iran-meeting-United-States-Congress-Senator-Murphy-Zarif-Munich-Trump-Pompeo
(A P)
Iran sentences alleged US spies to up to 10 years in prison
Iran sentenced eight environmental activists, including an Iranian who reportedly also has British and American citizenship, to prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years on charges of spying for the United States and acting against Iran’s national security, the judiciary said Tuesday.
According to the judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, an appeals court issued the final verdicts.
Two of the activists, Morad Tahbaz and Niloufar Bayani, got 10 years each and were ordered to return the money they allegedly received from the U.S. government for their services.
https://apnews.com/a5a50d6a4b59f75190e8f42510b0e4cc
cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain
Siehe / Look at cp13
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
(A P)
Saudischer Außenminister zu Gast in Berlin
Nach den jüngsten heftigen Kämpfen im Jemen mahnte Außenminister Maas angesichts der katastrophalen humanitären Situation zu militärischer Deeskalation. Die Wiederaufnahme direkter Gespräche mit den Huthi-Rebellen sei ein Schritt in die richtige Richtung, es brauche aber auch die Rückkehr zu den politischen Gesprächen unter Führung der Vereinten Nationen, so Maas.
Wir erkennen die Schritte Saudi-Arabiens hin zu einer Modernisierung ausdrücklich an. Gleichzeitig sind wir überzeugt, dass dieser eingeschlagene Weg vor allem dann erfolgreich ist, wenn sich gesellschaftliche Teilhabe und die Rolle der Menschenrechte gleichermaßen entwickeln. Dazu ermutigen wir Saudi-Arabien und stehen auch zur Unterstützung bereit.
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/aussenpolitik/laender/saudiarabien-node/maas-al-saud/2309094
(A P)
Außenminister Maas ruft Saudi-Arabien zu weiteren Reformen auf
Außenminister Heiko Maas (SPD) hat Saudi-Arabien zu weiteren gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Reformen ermuntert. Nach Gesprächen mit seinem Amtskollegen Prinz Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud betonte Maas am Freitag bei einer gemeinsamen Pressekonferenz in Berlin positive Entwicklungen. «Sie haben uns über die Modernisierung in Ihrem Land noch einmal ins Bild gesetzt und wir erkennen diese Schritte ganz ausdrücklich an», sagte Maas. «Sie sind gepaart mit wirtschaftlichen Entwicklungsschritten, aber auch - und das ist ganz wichtig - mit sozialen und gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen.»
Mein Kommentar: LOL.
(A P)
FDP: Scholz muss bei G20-Treffen in Saudi-Arabien Menschenrechte ansprechen
Die Vorsitzende des Bundestags-Menschenrechtsausschusses, Gyde Jensen (FDP), hat Bundesfinanzminister Olaf Scholz (SPD) aufgefordert, beim Finanzministertreffen der G20-Staaten in Saudi-Arabien die dortige Menschenrechtslage, den Mord am Journalisten Jamal Khashoggi und den Jemen-Krieg zum Thema zu machen. „Saudi-Arabien inszeniert sich mit dem Titel der G20-Präsidentschaft als unverzichtbarer Wirtschaftspartner. Die Bundesregierung darf sich davon nicht einlullen lassen“, sagte Jensen dem RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND). „Olaf Scholz muss beim G20-Treffen auch die unbequemen Themen ansprechen“, verlangte sie. Die Linkspartei forderte, das Treffen in Riad ganz abzusagen.
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
(* B K P)
Ein Menetekel für die EU
Die Bundesregierung droht mit ihren Bemühungen um die Beendigung des Libyen-Krieges an einem langjährigen strategischen Verbündeten zu scheitern. Bei dem Verbündeten handelt es sich um die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, mit denen die Bundesrepublik seit dem Jahr 2004 eine “Strategische Partnerschaft” unterhält, die es im Juni 2019 bekräftigt hat. Die Emirate sind nicht nur Deutschlands bedeutendster Wirtschaftspartner in der gesamten arabischen Welt; sie zählen auch zu den größten Empfängern deutscher Rüstungsexporte und wurden beim Aufbau einer eigenen Rüstungsindustrie von deutschen Waffenschmieden unterstützt. Allerdings halten sie auch nach der Berliner Libyen-Konferenz an ihrer militärischen Unterstützung für Khalifa Haftar und dessen Libyan National Army fest. Hintergrund ist, dass Abu Dhabi eine immer eigenständigere Außen- und Militärpolitik betreibt, mit der es sich mittlerweile als Regionalmacht etabliert. So intensiviert es seine Kontrolle über die Seewege am Horn von Afrika und bekämpft potenzielle Gegner in Nordafrika – auch mit deutschen Waffen.
https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/news/detail/8194/
(* B P)
Opinion – The Contours of the Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Relationship
The partnership between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has grown over time and has remained to be one of the strongest alliances in the Islamic world; rightly defined by the late King Abdullah bin Abdelaziz al Saud as ‘brothers’. The intent to further strengthen the engagement is evident from the statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office after the recent conversation between Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Saudi Arabian counterpart.
The strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is another vital element in their bilateral relationship. Pakistan, being a nuclear power, has been seen as a powerful partner to address the strategic concerns of Saudi Arabia in the form of a possible nuclear threat from Iran.
Wahhabism flourished in Pakistan over time and the role of Saudi Arabia in perpetuating the conservative Islamic thought in an innately diverse country like Pakistan affirms the socio-cultural paradigm of the relationship between both countries. Pakistani society initially saw Islam in Saudi Arabia as different from that of their own and a general consensus on Wahhabi Islam to be purer and unadulterated further helped Saudi Arabia to have a strong influence in Pakistan.
The fact that Saudi Arabia has significantly helped Pakistan in the recent past amid the economic crisis highlights the relationship between both the countries.
Despite strong converging interests there certainly have been few reservations in the bilateral engagement.
In short, the approach of Saudi Arabia towards Pakistan largely revolves around three key components in the present geopolitical context. The first is the military power and nuclear capabilities of Pakistan which addresses the strategic requirements for Saudi Arabia. The second is the economic limitations of Pakistan which can only be addressed by countries like Saudi Arabia since in the recent past Western powers have distanced themselves from Pakistan. The third is the factor of the Islamic identity of Pakistan which completely caters to the idea of working in partnership for the larger welfare of Muslim ummah which remains crucial for Saudi Arabia in the present regional dynamics.
https://www.e-ir.info/2020/02/20/opinion-the-contours-of-the-saudi-arabia-pakistan-relationship/
(* B P)
Challenges Await Oman’s New Sultan as Mourning Period Ends
Notably, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will lead the first international delegation to see Sultan Haitham in the post-mourning period
The situation in Yemen is sure to be on the agenda as well, including the tensions in al-Mahra. If the Saudis and Omanis do not raise the latter issue directly with Washington, then U.S. officials should bring it up themselves. Gulf ties are already dangerously frayed due to the ongoing Qatar rift
The Pompeo visit may also provide insight into the new sultan’s foreign policy and the machinery behind his decisionmaking
(* B P)
What do the Houthis need from Cairo?
Egyptian authorities said Feb. 4 that talks with Houthi rebels had resulted in the release of 32 Egyptian fishermen who were detained for nearly two months in Yemen. This has raised questions about Egypt’s role in Yemen and the Houthi's message to the Egyptian government.
Observers perceived that the release of the fishermen and the admission by Egyptian authorities to hospitalizing Yemeni patients coming from the Houthi-held areas are part of the growing efforts to resolve the conflict.
Egypt has welcomed the release of the fishermen, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi via Facebook Feb. 4 thanking the parties that worked to release them.
Houthi spokesman Mohammad Abdul Salam told Al-Monitor, “The release of fishermen is a positive message that the Houthi leadership was keen to deliver to the Egyptian political leadership and people.”
Rakha Hassan, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said such developments are a pointer that the Yemenis, including the Houthis, still have appreciation and respect for Egypt despite Egypt’s solidarity with the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
He explained to Al-Monitor that Egypt’s solidarity with the Saudi-led coalition seemingly rested on Saudi estimates that the coalition has the ability to end the problem within six months. Yet that has not happened, Hassan said.
Hassan Abu Taleb, adviser to the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, indicated the Houthis wanted to deliver to parties at home and abroad the message that they have ties with all international sides in order to win confidence and affirm they have the upper hand in Yemen.
(A P)
#Bahrain: 10YO detainee Amin Ridha Ali received a 15min visit from his mother. She reported that the child has been incarcerated alone in a cell, and he was visibly fearful and panicky. When his mother had to leave, the poor boy began sobbing!
https://twitter.com/PrintempsArabeS/status/1229898038447046657
4 children detained. https://twitter.com/PrintempsArabeS/status/1229554054084415489
cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis
(A H P)
Qatar accuses Saudi Arabia of hampering its access to Gulf meet on coronavirus
Qatar has accused Saudi Arabia of allowing a protracted dispute to hinder Gulf Arab coordination over the coronavirus outbreak by denying the Qatari health minister timely access to a meeting of regional health ministers in Riyadh.
cp12b Sudan
(A P)
Sudan’s leader says Israel has key role in removing his nation from US blacklist
In interview with Arab paper, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan appears to acknowledge move towards normalization following recent meeting with Netanyahu, claims it has broad support
The head of Sudan’s transitional government has said Israel has an important role in removing the country from a US blacklist of state sponsors of terror, according to a report in an Arab newspaper.
Speaking to London-based pan-Arabic publication Asharq al-Awsat, Sudan’s Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan cited that fact as justification for his controversial, unprecedented meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda earlier this month.
cp13 Waffenhandel / Arms Trade
(* B K P)
Schießübungen vor Eritrea – wie clever Rheinmetall-Techniker ein Embargo umgingen
Rheinmetall half, Geschütze für eine Militärbasis in Ostafrika nachzurüsten, die dem Jemen-Krieg dient – alles so geschickt, dass es die Staatsanwaltschaft abnickte. Eine Recherche von stern und Correctiv.
Manager des Rüstungskonzerns Rheinmetall sind einem Ermittlungsverfahren wegen Embargobruch entkommen – dank einer atemberaubend klingenden Story. Es geht um in Deutschland gebaute Marinegeschütze für Kriegsschiffe der Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate (VAE). Und es geht um eine Militärbasis, die die VAE seit 2015 im ostafrikanischen Eritrea unterhalten, obwohl dort bis November 2018 ein UN-Waffenembargo und deutsche Exportbestimmungen die Einfuhr von Kriegsmaterial untersagten.
Bereits im November 2019 hatte eine Recherche des stern und des Recherchezentrums Correctiv Vorermittlungen der Staatsanwaltschaft Stade in Niedersachsen ausgelöst. Der stern und Correctiv hatten über die heikle Mail eines Rheinmetall-Managers berichtet. Der kündigte da im Februar 2017 an, man werde "in Eritrea" Rheinmetall-Geschütze des Typs MLG 27 "mit unserem Upgrade-Set" auf einem Schiff der Emiratis nachrüsten.
Laut der deutschen Außenwirtschaftsverordnung durften nach Eritrea damals aber lediglich "nichtletale militärische Güter, die ausschließlich für humanitäre oder Schutzzwecke bestimmt sind" geliefert werden – sowie Schutzkleidung, die von UN-Personal, "von Medienvertretern, humanitären Helfern und Entwicklungshelfern getragen wird".
Bereits im Dezember hatte darum der Tübinger Anwalt Holger Rothbauer Strafanzeige gegen die verantwortlichen Rheinmetall-Manager eingereicht, im Namen der Aktion Aufschrei. In dem Aktionsbündnis sind so renommierte kirchliche Hilfsorganisationen wie Brot für die Welt und Misereor organisiert.
Die Manager des Rüstungskonzerns kamen davon, weil sie auf allerlei Manöver verweisen konnten, mit denen sie einen Verstoß gegen die Embargobestimmungen vermieden hätten.
Welche unrühmliche Rolle diese Militärbasis in Eritrea im Jemen-Krieg spielt, bestätigte zuletzt Ende September 2019 ein offizieller UN-Expertenbericht: Die Emirate unterhalten demnach auch in Assab eines der berüchtigten Geheimgefängnisse, in denen Menschen aus dem Jemen willkürlich ohne faire Verfahren und ohne Zugang zu einem Anwalt gefangen gehalten werden.
und bei Correctiv: https://correctiv.org/aktuelles/2020/02/20/wie-rheinmetall-techniker-einem-waffenembargo-davon-segelten
(A K P)
BAE Systems: Opening the eyes of young people to the career possibilities of studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, the annual BAE Systems schools roadshow has kicked-off at The Belvedere Academy in Liverpool.
With a continued shortage of engineering skills in the UK and lack of diversity across the engineering sector, the roadshow aims to inspire young people across the country, highlighting the exciting career opportunities on offer and how these relate to STEM subjects.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/school-stem-show-hits-the-road
https://twitter.com/BAESystemsplc/status/1230779255275114496
My comment: Disgusting. STEM in Britain and killing kids abroad.
(A K P)
BAE Systems: We’re pleased to announce our 2019 full year results this morning. (film)#
https://twitter.com/BAESystemsplc/status/1230388335400693760
BAE Systems: 2019 full-year results
“2019 has been a year of significant progress for BAE Systems. We delivered a good set of financial results in line with guidance, growing sales and earnings, with improved operational performance and increased investment in the business to underpin our growth outlook. Strategically we took a number of actions to strengthen the portfolio and the pensions agreement announced today is good for all stakeholders.
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/2019-full-year-results
Comment: How many civilians - men, women and children - died in #Yemen so that BAE Systems were able to pay out such a good dividend?
https://twitter.com/TomLondon6/status/1230400762120953856
My comment: Sick.
(* A K P)
Italian dock workers refuse to resupply Saudi ‘weapons’ ship
Italian dock workers have refused to load electricity generators onto a notorious Saudi cargo ship suspected of carrying arms to be used in the war in Yemen.
This is the latest in a string of protests by anti-war activists against the ship as it has made its way to various European ports.
The protesters believe that the weapons shipments violate a UN embargo as they could be used against civilians in Yemen
(B K P)
Film: New footage of Saudi Arabia's "brave heroes" deploying older-model Canadian-made LAVs in Saada, #Yemen
https://twitter.com/anthonyfenton/status/1229836470828990465
cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism
(A T)
#ISIS is keen to promote its #Yemen branch. 2 of 12pages in this week's bulletin are devoted to it. Back cover claims 21 ops vs Houthis in past month killing/injuring 65
▪️No. of op claims actually issued by ISIS in this period was only 15
▪️Evidence does not back up claims
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1230826310206918658
(* B T)
Is the time ripe for ultimate eclipse of al-Qaeda in Yemen?
It has been two weeks since the United States announced the killing of the chief of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The successive losses of al-Qaeda have weakened the group and nowadays it appears in its weakest stage, according to observers. Nabil al-Bokairi, a Yemeni researcher and writer, told Al-Monitor, “Al-Qaeda in Yemen has been living its dying moment for a long time given the fact that many leading figures have been eliminated. Rimi’s death will contribute to weakening al-Qaeda further. It is the eclipse of al-Qaeda.”
Bokairi added, “The media have exaggerated the present size of al-Qaeda in Yemen and have depicted Yemen as the safe haven of al-Qaeda. However, time has proven that al-Qaeda is much weaker. We still remember how al-Qaeda handed over Mukalla [city] to the so-called Arab coalition forces in Yemen in 2016.” In April 2016, al-Qaeda operatives withdrew from Mukalla in Hadramout province after mediation efforts led by religious clerics.
While the drone strikes have caused tremendous losses to al-Qaeda, this killing approach is not a viable approach to get rid of the group for good, according to observers.
“The drone strikes will not eliminate al-Qaeda. Recently, US drone strikes have killed some leaders of al-Qaeda. This is not enough. The United States and the international community should find other ways to confront al-Qaeda,” Adel Dashela, a Yemeni researcher and writer, told Al-Monitor.
He noted, “The international community has to support the Yemeni people through resolving the internal conflict, helping to implement a democratic transition and the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference [NDC], ending the [Houthi] military coup and stopping the regional proxy conflict in Yemen. Then they can eliminate al-Qaeda in Yemen.”
Dashela argued that all partners fighting terrorism have to address the core of the problem. “They must find jobs for the youth, solve unemployment problems and poverty, and implement a real national reconciliation [in Yemen].”
The irreparable eclipse of al-Qaeda requires a fix of Yemen’s problems, in particular political, military and economic issues. In the absence of strong governance, outlaws, including al-Qaeda, will find a fertile ground to rise and survive and drone strikes alone will not make Yemen a radicalism-free country.
https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/02/yemen-al-qaeda-us-drone-strikes-elimate.html
(A T)
#ISIS #Yemen claims more battles with Houthis. Says it repelled Houthi attacks on 3 positions in al-Zahra on 2/16 & 2 on 2/13, killing 3 & injuring several Plus video of alleged 2/12 takeover of 5 Houthi positions. Hardly an epic battle: they captured an old man & burnt his hut (images)
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1229712615477301249
I think we should be cautious over the credibility of this sudden spate of #ISIS claims to be fighting Houthis in #Yemen. The video evidence ISIS is providing seems far off what they are actually claiming.
https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1229786079122919433
cp15 Propaganda
(A P)
Intel shows Iran smuggling weapons to Houthis via Hodeidah port: Arab Coalition
The Arab Coalition’s Spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Maliki said in an interview with Al Arabiya English:
“We have intelligence that all these weapons have been smuggled through the Hodeidah port by the IRGC. If we look deeply into the Houthi militia threats through ballistic missiles, drones or using booby-trapped vessels, all this proves the military strategy to prolong the war via the smuggling of Iranian weapons from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards,”
My comment: He simply pretends there would not ba any Saudi blockade. And, „military strategy to prolong the war” means: to prevent a Saudi victory.
(A P)
Houthi militia doesn’t want weapons to be under the government’s control, nor believes in ballot box, [Hadi gov.] Dep. Parliament Speaker says
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Abdulaziz Jubari said ” Houthi putschist militia doesn’t believe in the notion that only an elected authority should exclusively have the right to possess weapons, this has been one of the most formidable obstructions to make peace in Yemen.
“The militia also does not believe in the elections as the only single approach to peaceful transfer of power”, he added.
His remarks came as he was speaking at a seminar organized by the Yemeni embassy in Washington at the US Congress.
My comment: LOL. The Hadi government, the STC and all those UAE- and Saudi-paid militia would not be any better. – This is the folly of Hadi government propaganda, describing their enemy as “militia”. The Houthis had formed a government, the fighters are under government control – and the greatest part of the so-called “Houthi militia” is the majority of the regular Yemeni army, which had sided with the Houthis against “president” Hadi.
(A P)
Houthi attacks show they’re not serious about a solution in Yemen: Saudi FM
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Friday that ongoing Houthi attacks show that the militia is not serious about a solution to the Yemeni conflict.
In a press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, the prince added that the Iranian role in destabilizing the region’s security is “clear”.
(A P)
Are civilian casualties happening in Houthi side or government side of Yemen? It does matter for the UN, western media
Yemen's Houthi rebels said last Sunday that 30 "civilians" had been killed around the wreckage of a Saudi warplane they downed in Aljawf in northern Yemen. Houthi sources alleged the 30 persons were curious civilians in the crash site within their areas of control at midnight time. Opponents to Houthis said the killed are military officers from the (Shia( extremist group.
"So many people are being killed in Yemen - it's a tragedy and it's unjustified," the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, said in a prompt statement that resounded on all media platforms.
No statement was made by Grande on those crimes in the government-held parts. Nor did any western news website report the stories.
In fact this bias has been the case since the beginning of the war between the government and theocratic extremists in March 2015. Not only the current but also the former UN Humanitarian Coordinator showed vocal outrage when civilian causalities occurred in the Houthi side of the frontline and stayed tightlipped whatever horrific atrocities occurred (committed by Houthis) to civilians on the government-held side.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-37986
My comment: Which obviously is not true.
(A P)
Houthis use millions of Yemenis hostages to extort the world to pay them, [Hadi gov.] Info. Minister says
Yemen’s Minister of Information said the Houthis are using millions of Yemenis in their areas of control as hostages to extort the world [to pay them.
Muammar al-Eryani was remarking on reports from the Associated Press that the rebel militia had blocked half of the United Nations’ aid delivery programs in the country as a strong-arm tactic to force the agency to give them greater control over the massive humanitarian campaign, along with a cut of billions of dollars in foreign assistance.
(A P)
[Hadi gov.] Yemeni Army Spokesman to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iranians Continue Smuggling Arms to Support Houthis
Yemeni Army spokesman Brigadier General Abdo Majli told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday that the Iranian regime is still involved in the smuggling of arms and missiles to the Houthi militias in Yemen. He said the smuggling operation happens through the Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa ports, on the Red Sea coasts.
“We are talking about an open area. The arms are smuggled in boats crossing the international waters to the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen,” Majli said.
(A P)
More Saudi coalition „We are benefactors“ propaganda
http://en.adenpress.news/news/18478
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2037224
https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2020-02/48884642-sdrpy-gruendet-vereinigung-fuer-den-wiederaufschwung-der-landwirtschaft-im-jemen-006.htm = https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sdrpy-grundet-vereinigung-fur-den-wiederaufschwung-der-landwirtschaft-im-jemen-817749054.html (Deutsch / https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sdrpy-establishes-association-for-agricultural-revival-in-yemen-301006587.html = https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sdrpy-establishes-association-agricultural-revival-133500559.html (English)
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2036272
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
(* A K)
ESKALIERENDE GEWALT IM JEMEN: 37 KINDER BEI ANGRIFF IN AL-JAWF GETÖTET ODER VERLETZT
STATEMENT VON SARA BEYSOLOW NYANTI, LEITERIN VON UNICEF JEMEN
“Leider kann UNICEF bestätigen, dass bei dem jüngsten Angriff in Al-Jawf im Norden Jemens 19 Kinder, acht Jungen und elf Mädchen, getötet wurden und weitere 18 Kinder, neun Jungen und neun Mädchen, verletzt wurden.Wir hatten die Hoffnung auf Frieden im Jemen. Doch die beunruhigende Eskalation der Gewalt in den vergangenen Wochen erinnert erneut deutlich daran, dass die Kinder im Jemen weiter die schwerste Last des Konflikts tragen.
UNICEF fordert erneut alle Konfliktparteien dazu auf, Kinder zu schützen und den grausamen Krieg zu beenden. Ein anhaltender Einsatz für Frieden ist der einzige Weg, die Rechte eines jeden Kindes im Jemen uneingeschränkt zu schützen.
https://www.unicef.de/informieren/aktuelles/presse/2020/jemen-statement-al-jawf/211408
(* A K)
As violence escalates, 37 children among those killed and injured in the attack in Al-Jawf, north of Yemen
“UNICEF is sad to confirm that the recent attack in Al-Jawf, north of Yemen, on 15 February, took the lives of 19 children (eight boys and 11 girls) and injured another 18 (nine boys and another nine girls).
“We were hopeful that peace would be on the horizon in Yemen, but the worrying escalation of violence over the past few weeks is a harsh reminder that children in Yemen continue to carry the heaviest burden of the conflict.
“UNICEF reiterates its plea to all parties to the conflict to protect the lives of children by first and foremost putting an end to this brutal war.
And also https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-8024089/19-children-dead-recent-Yemen-strikes-UN.html
(A K pS)
Arab Coalition Air Force targets major Houthi reinforcements in Dhalea
Arab Coalition Air Force launched a series of air strikes, moments before, targeting a large military groups of Houthis in the city of Demt.
According to a field source, the war fighters destroyed a number of Houthi crews and military vehicles that were on their way to the Al-Dhalea fronts.
According to the source: The air strikes against the coalition fighters came after field monitoring and advance intelligence information that there were large gatherings of Houthi militias in the city of Demt on its way to Dhalea.
https://en.smanews.org/arab-coalition-air-force-targets-major-houthi-reinforcements-in-dhalea
(* B K pH)
29 Civilians Killed, Injured Due to 164 Airstrikes by US-Saudi Aggression in January
A report issued by the Yemeni Center for Human Rights revealed the killing and wounding of 29 citizens, including children and women by the US-Saudi aggression with raids on a number of governorates in January.
According to the report, four children and two women among 11 people were killed in January.
The report indicated that during the month of January, US-Saudi aggression targeted 18 residential buildings, 71 residential areas, seven farms, an airport, a school, and a university facility with 164 raids, 1258 rockets and missiles.
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=11250
More Saudi coalition air raids:
Feb. 21: https://www.saba.ye/de/news3088518.htm Sanaa p., Marib p.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3088534.htm Hajjah p.
Feb. 20: https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=11309 /https://www.saba.ye/de/news3088419.htm / https://www.saba.ye/en/news3088428.htm and https://www.saba.ye/en/news3088430.htm Sanaa p., Marib p., Jawf p., Hajjah p.
Feb. 19: https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=11282 Marib p.
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
Siehe / Look at cp1b
(* A K pH)
Armed Forces Spokesman: 3rd Operation of Balanced Deterrence Targets Aramco, Other Sensitive Targets in Yanbu
Armed Forces Spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Sare’e, said Friday that the Third Operation of Balanced Deterrence targeted Aramco and other sensitive targets in Yanbu, hitting its targets with high accuracy.
Brigadier-General Sare’e said in a statement that “ with the help of God, the Rocketry Force and Air Force carried out the 3rd Operation of Balanced Deterrence in Saudi Arabia.
He added that the 3rd Operation of Balanced Deterrence was carried out by 12 Sammad-3 drones, two Quds-1 missiles, and a Thulfiqar long-range ballistic missile.
He continued, "The third Operation of Balanced Deterrence is a natural and legitimate response to the crimes of aggression, the latest of which was the crime against citizens in Al-Jawf."
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=11330
and also https://www.uprising.today/yemen-launches-precision-strikes-against-major-saudi-oil-port-city/
(* A K pS)
The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Royal Saudi Air Defense Intercepts and Destroys Ballistic Missiles Launched from (Sanaa) Toward the Kingdom
Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki:
“At (0030), the Royal Saudi Air Defense intercepted ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Houthi militia towards Saudi cities.
The missiles were launched in a systematic, deliberate manner to target cities and civilians, which is a flagrant defiance of the International Humanitarian Law.
The Capital (Sanaa) has become a Houthi militia assembly, installation and launching hub for ballistic missiles that target the Kingdom. The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has exercised extreme prudence and self-restraint in dealing with the violations of the Houthi militia through launching ballistic missiles, UAVs and Remote Controlled exploding boats.
The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will continue to apply and implement all decisive and rigorous measures, in accordance with the International Humanitarian Law, to protect Coalition States’ nationals and expatriates from such barbaric attacks.”
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2037391
My comment: A lot of propaganda in here. The Houthis never targeted “cities and civilians, which is a flagrant defiance of the International Humanitarian Law”, as the Saudis themselves did ten thousands of times. If “The Capital (Sanaa) has become a Houthi militia assembly”, then the whole of Saudi Arabia filled up with arms bought from all over the world even is much more of a “military assembly”.
And
(* A K)
Films: A Houthi missile intercepted by #Saudi anti-air battery at the #Yanbu oil terminal by the Red Sea 2 hrs ago.
https://twitter.com/LievanTem/status/1230640487020650496
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1230645565786116102
https://twitter.com/no_itsmyturn/status/1230611351548125184
https://twitter.com/Samir_Madani/status/1230637131120463875
Map: https://twitter.com/AliAlIRAQ1990/status/1230648578244214789
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1230624885078216707
Airplanes circling following Yemeni missile strikes
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1230630352026308609
https://twitter.com/A7medJa7af/status/1230662058288525314
https://twitter.com/A7medJa7af/status/1230629752697950210
https://twitter.com/A7medJa7af/status/1230628765467889666
https://twitter.com/A7medJa7af/status/1230625598072115201
https://twitter.com/A7medJa7af/status/1230624913196822528
https://twitter.com/A7medJa7af/status/1230621735998935040
https://twitter.com/A7medJa7af/status/1230624542441299968
and
(* A B K)
Yemen’s Houthis Launch Fresh Missile and Drone Attacks on Saudi State Oil Facilities
A series of tit-for-tat attacks have culminated in a large-scale Houthi attack on Saudi state oil facilities on Friday. The United States has yet to blame Iran for the attack.
Yemen’s Houthi-allied armed forces launched an attack on vital facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco inside the Kingdom’s western province of Madinah, situated about 165 kilometers west of the city of Medina. The attack took place on Friday and involved the launching of both missiles ballistic missiles and drones. It came in retaliation for deadly Saudi attacks against the al-Jawf Province in Yemen last Friday.
The spark that lit the fuse
Late last week, Houthi air defense units managed to target and shoot down a multi-role Tornado fighter jet over the skies of al-Jawf with an advanced surface-to-air missile.
A Houthi source who wished to remain anonymous as he was not authorized to speak on the subject, told MintPress that after the fighter jet went down, Saudi Coalition warplanes launched airstrikes hoping to kill the crew of the jet before they could be captured, he added that captured crew were, in fact, not Saudi nationals, but he refused to say where they were from, saying only that it was a “western country.” The Houthis were eventually able to capture the crew and move them to a secure location. One of them is seriously injured, according to the Houthi source, who said the attacks reveal that other countries are directly involved in the war not only by providing Saudi Arabia with internationally-prohibited weapons but also with military pilots.
The latest developments come amid fierce fighting in al-Jawf, where Houthi forces advanced on several fronts towards Al-Hazm, the regional capital of the province.
https://www.mintpressnews.com/houthis-allegedly-capture-two-british-fighter-pilots-in-yemen/265070/
(A K pH)
Ein Zivilist wurde durch Schüsse des saudischen Grenzschutzes in Saada verwundet
https://www.saba.ye/de/news3088423.htm
(A K pH)
Saudi border guards' fire injures citizen in Saada
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3088416.htm
(A K pS)
4,911 Houthi-laid mines cleared in one week
The Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) in Yemen dismantled five anti-personnel mines, 161 anti-tank mines, six explosive devices and 4,739 unexploded ordnance — totaling 4,911 mines — during the second week of February.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/18481
und auch http://en.26sepnews.net/2020/02/22/masam-removes-4911-houthi-laid-mines-in-the-2nd-week-of-feb/
(* A K)
Jemenitischer Minister überlebt Explosion von Landmine
Verteidigungsminister Mohammed al-Makdischi fuhr mit einem Auto-Konvoi durch ehemaliges Huthi-Rebellengebiet im Jemen, als die Mine explodierte. Mindestens sechs seiner Begleiter starben.
Die Explosion ereignete sich in der Provinz Marib östlich der Hauptstadt Sanaa. Der jemenitische Verteidigungsminister Mohammed al-Makdischi besuchte dort ein Gebiet, das die von Saudi-Arabien angeführte Militärkoalition von den Huthi-Rebellen zurückerobert hatte.
"Die Huthi-Milizen haben an diesen Standorten vor ihrem Rückzug Landminen platziert. Eine explodierte, als der Konvoi des Ministers vorbeifuhr", sagte ein Militärangehöriger
https://www.dw.com/de/jemenitischer-minister-%C3%BCberlebt-explosion-von-landmine/a-52436536
und auch https://www.stol.it/artikel/chronik/jemen-sechs-tote-bei-explosion-einer-landmine-minister-ueberlebt (meldet 8 Tote)
(* A K)
Yemen landmine kills six in convoy carrying defense minister, who is unharmed
Six Yemeni soldiers were killed when a convoy carrying the country’s defense minister was hit by a landmine explosion on Wednesday, but the minister was unharmed, government sources said.
Muhammad Ali Maqdashi, defense minister for the internationally recognized government of Yemen, was visiting a frontline area of Sirwah. It is located west of the government-held city of Marib, and east of the capital Sanaa
(A K pS)
Houthi sniper guns down 12 year old girl in Taiz
A Houthi sniper killed a 12 year old girl in Yemen's third largest city of Taiz on Wednesday, local sources said.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-37964
and also http://en.26sepnews.net/2020/02/20/houthi-snipers-kill-little-girl-in-taiz/
(A K pS)
Taiz: Two young brothers killed by Houthi ERW
Two young brothers were killed by an explosive remnant of war left the Houthi fighters in Yemen's central province of taiz on Monday, local sources said.
On their return home from school
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-37960
(A K pS)
Houthi militias are pushing huge reinforcements to the Berkane region in Makiras Abyan [Southern Yemen]
https://twitter.com/alimahmood19844/status/1229828739372134400
(* B K pH)
Reputation, Effectiveness of Western Weapons Falling Apart in Yemen
The Tornado warplane used by the Saudi-led aggression was shot down, over Al-Jawf Governorate, after it was hit by a missile fired by the Yemeni air defenses. With that the reputation and effectiveness of Western weapons is no longer valid. In Yemen, the most advanced warplane, which represented the spearhead of the Saudi Air Force, n its war against Yemen, has been shot down with a Yemeni made service-to-air missile.
The Tornado warplane is considered one of the finest pieces of the British Royal Air Force because of this aircraft's superior maneuverability. It is a multi-tasking plane that can chase several targets at once. It is also equipped with air-to-surface missiles, anti-radiation and radar missiles, which can protect itself against anti-missile air.
The Saudi Air Force possesses 72 aircraft of this type and uses them in its war on Yemen, as these planes have been devoid of Yemeni air defenses throughout the war years, due to their unique advantages and their ability to deal with multiple air defense weapons.
During the past five years, the Yemeni Air Force has worked on developing an air defense system to deal with all the targets that roam the skies of Yemen
https://english.almasirah.net/details.php?es_id=11251
cp18 Sonstiges / Other
(-)
Photos: This is to melt your hearts once again, Haraz the place of great scenarey, tasty coffee and old architecture.
https://twitter.com/HanaalShowafi/status/1230855804900823041
https://twitter.com/HanaalShowafi/status/1230426727022768134
(A H P)
UAE plans evacuation, quarantine of Yemeni students stranded in China
The evacuation marks a rare example of cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Yemen's internationally recognized government
Yemeni students marooned in China amid the coronavirus outbreak are set to be evacuated by the United Arab Emirates to a temporary quarantine area in the UAE, before they return to Yemen, Yemen’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Al-Hadhrami, said on Wednesday.
"We thank our sister United Arab Emirates for cooperating and assisting in the evacuation of our Yemeni students," Al-Hadhrami said, adding that arrangements are being made to welcome the scholars in the Emirates.
https://al-masdaronline.net/national/370
and
(A H P)
Yemen thanks UAE for evacuating students from China
The [Hadi gov.] Yemeni foreign ministry has thanked the UAE for its collaboration in the evacuation of Yemeni students in the Chinese city of Wuhan which had been at the outbreak of the coronavirus.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1630296/middle-east
and also http://en.adenpress.news/news/18480
(* A)
Experte: Heuschrecken-Krise droht sich auszuweiten
Ein UN-Experte sieht durch die Heuschrecken-Krise in Ostafrika weitere Länder bedroht. Keith Cressman von der UN sagte dem Evangelischen Pressedienst (epd), die gefräßigen Wüstenheuschrecken könnten auch die Ernährungssicherheit in Ägypten, Eritrea, Sudan sowie in Saudi-Arabien, Jemen und Iran gefährden. In dieser Lage könne die Zahl der Insekten nur durch das Versprühen von Pestiziden aus Flugzeugen heraus reduziert werden könne, erklärte der Spezialist der UN-Ernährungs- und Landwirtschaftsorganisation (FAO) in Rom.
https://www.welt-sichten.org/artikel/37370/experte-heuschrecken-krise-droht-sich-auszuweiten
(* A)
Heuschreckenplage erreicht Saudi-Arabien und Persischen Golf
Riesige Heuschreckenschwärme sind inzwischen nicht nur in Ost-Afrika, sondern auch auf der Arabischen Halbinsel unterwegs. Die Schwärme auf der Arabischen Halbinsel hätten die Küste des Persischen Golfs in Kuwait, Bahrain und Katar erreicht, teilte die Ernährungs- und Landwirtschaftsorganisation (FAO) der Vereinten Nationen am Freitag mit. Auch die südwestliche Küste des Irans sei betroffen.
Videos in sozialen Netzwerken hatten in den vergangenen Tagen immer wieder riesige Heuschreckenschwärme unter anderem in Saudi-Arabien gezeigt. Nach Angaben der UN-Organisation ist auch das Bürgerkriegsland Jemen im Süden der Arabischen Halbinsel betroffen.
Seit Monaten überziehen Schwärme aus Millionen Wüstenheuschrecken Landstriche in Ostafrika. Ihre Vermehrung wurde durch den starken Regen in der Region in den vergangenen Monaten begünstigt.
https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2020-02/48916549-heuschreckenplage-erreicht-saudi-arabien-und-persischen-golf-016.htm = https://www.onvista.de/news/heuschreckenplage-erreicht-saudi-arabien-und-persischen-golf-330654485
(* A)
Desert Locust situation update 21 February 2020
Swarms from Arabia arrive in Persian Gulf
On 20 February, immature swarms from the Arabian Peninsula reached the shores of the Persian Gulf in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the southwest coast of Iran. More swarms are likely during periods of southerly winds.
Red Sea area. Breeding is in progress along both sides of the Red Sea in Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia and Eritrea where hopper groups, bands, immature adults groups have formed that is likely to cause swarms to form shortly. Several immature swarms have moved from the coastal plains to the interior in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Control operations are in progress in all countries but remains limited in Yemen.
http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/index.html
and
(A)
Photo: Locusts invades my city of #Safwa on the western coast of the #Gulf. The failing #Saudi monarchy didn’t stop it on its way from #Africa. Huge losses.
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1230586827012222981
and
(A)
Film: Holy smokes. Locust swarm descended on Khobar #Saudi Arabia today:
https://twitter.com/Joyce_Karam/status/1230641571663634432
and
(* A H)
Swarms of locusts attack crops across Saudi Arabia
Locusts have invaded every region across the Kingdom. The insects arrived from nearby countries, which have struggled to limit the spread of the vast swarms.
Saudi authorities have doubled the daily aerial sprayings to combat the locusts.
Mohammad Al-Shammrani, director of combating locusts and plagues at the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Water, told Arab News that the swarms came from East Africa.
New swarms entered the Kingdom from nearby countries such as Eretria, Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Oman and India. The swarms entered Najran from Yemen and few of them reached the Asir and Riyadh regions, he explained.
The huge number of locusts and the speed of the wind helped the swarms to spread in regions such as Al-Qassim, Hail and the Eastern Province.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1629941/saudi-arabia
(-)
Film: Nader Saeed paints the issues of his society with shadows
The frequent electricity outage sought by Aden province in southern Yemen due to the war in the country, prompted young Nader Saeed to learn the art of painting in the shadow with a unique talent he excelled in using to express issues and topics of community interest, especially achieving peace in the country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNsgZtuI1wI
(* C)
Yemen – a journey back in time
Yemen has not been a country for tourists for years, much less for journalists and photographers. But Swiss photojournalist Monique Jacot went there frequently in the 1980s.
“I fell in love with the country immediately,” says Jacot, now 85. Through her camera we see architecture, culture and different facets of everyday life. Originally, she simply wanted to discover the architecture in Yemen, as tourists do, she explained in an interview linked to the exhibition.
Jacot travelled through Yemen for over ten years and took many photographs. Today, because of the ongoing war, these photos make Jacot and the Yemenis both nostalgic and sad at the same time. (photos)
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/photo-gallery_yemen---a-journey-back-in-time-/45555056
Deutscher Text: http://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/fotografie_wie-der-jemen-einmal-war---durch-die-linse-einer-schweizerin/45542658
(C)
2.700 Jahre alter Monumental-Tempel in Äthiopien entdeckt
Die hochentwickelte Kultur geht auf Einwanderer aus dem Reich von Saba im heutigen Jemen zurück
Heute ist Yeha im nördlichen Hochland Äthiopiens in der Provinz Tigray ein kleines ländliches Dorf, umgeben von Bergen aus vulkanischen Gestein und fruchtbaren Ebenen. In der ersten Hälfte des ersten Jahrtausends vor unserer Zeitrechnung bildete der Ort jedoch das politische und religiöse Zentrum einer der bedeutendsten komplexen Gesellschaften südlich der Sahelzone, einer Kultur, die auf das Reich der sagenumwobenen Königin von Saba zurückgeht.
Bis heute erhaltene Tempelruinen – die ältesten baulichen Strukturen in ganz Äthiopien – werden dem Reich Da'amot (Diamat) zugeordnet, das bis zur Entstehung des Reiches von Aksum vor rund 2.000 Jahren bestanden haben dürfte. Wissenschafter vermuten, dass es sich um die früheste komplexe Kultur Afrikas abseits von Ägypten und Sudan handelte. Nun haben Archäologen dort die Reste eines weiteren Monumentalbaus freigelegt.
Die Entstehung dieser Kultur hängt unmittelbar mit der Migration sabäischer Bevölkerungsgruppen aus dem heutigen Jemen zum nördlichen Horn von Afrika zusammen. Ein äthiopisch-deutsches Kooperationsprojekt untersucht die kulturellen Kontakte zwischen den eingewanderten Sabäern und der ansässigen Bevölkerung.
und auch https://idw-online.de/de/news731709
am ausführlichsten ist der Bericht der Uni Jena: https://www.uni-jena.de/200219_DAI_Yeha.html
Vorige / Previous:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-625-yemen-war-mosaic-625
Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-625 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-625:
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 air raids:
Untersuchungen von Angriffen, hunderte von Filmen / Investigations of attacks, hundreds of films:
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