Dies ist die Fortsetzung von Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 704, Teil 1 / This is the sequel of Yemen War Mosaic 704, part 1:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-704-yemen-war-mosaic-704
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: Coronavirus und Seuchen / Most important: Coronavirus and epidemics
cp1b Am wichtigsten: Großer Gefangenenaustausch / Most important: Great prisoner swap
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 / US-Iran crisis: Tensions at the Gulf
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis
cp12b Sudan
cp13a Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage
cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy
cp15 Propaganda
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
cp18 Kampf um Hodeidah / Hodeidah battle
cp19 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 Envoy to Yemen: “2020 has been another year of cruelty for Yemenis
UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths said on Sunday that 2020 was a tough year for Yemenis, calling for “urgent” resumption of the political process.
“2020 has been another year of cruelty for Yemenis with the continuation of bloodshed, displacement, economic freefall, and the outbreak of COVID-19. We have been mediating an agreement that would commit the parties to stop fighting, adopt measures to open the country and alleviate the suffering, and urgently resume the political process. It is now time for the parties to come together, discuss their differences and agree on a realistic way forward,” Griffiths said in an interview with the UN online magazine, Politically Speaking.
https://republicanyemen.net/archives/26642
and also https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-envoy-calls-for-solving-yemen-conflict-in-2021/2090341
(A P)
Renovation and rehabilitation of Republican Hospital – Hajjah City
https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/119924
My comment: Why the UN does not take a local company???
cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia
(* A P)
Saudi women’s rights activist sentenced to nearly 6 years
One of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent women’s rights activists was sentenced on Monday to nearly six years in prison under a vague and broadly-worded law aimed at combating terrorism, according to state-linked media.
Loujain al-Hathloul’s case, and her imprisonment for the past two and a half years, have drawn criticism from rights groups, members of the U.S. Congress and European Union lawmakers.
Al-Hathloul was among a handful of Saudi women who openly called for the right to drive before it was granted in 2018 and for the removal of male guardianship laws that had long stifled women’s freedom of movement and ability to travel abroad.
State-linked Saudi news outlet Sabq reported that al-Hathloul was found guilty by the kingdom’s anti-terrorism court on charges including agitating for change, pursuing a foreign agenda, using the internet to harm public order and and cooperating with individuals and entities that have committed crimes according to anti-terror laws. She has 30 days to appeal the verdict.
A rights group called “Prisoners of Conscience” that focuses on Saudi political detainees said that al-Hathloul could be released as early as the end of March 2021 based on time served. She has been imprisoned since May 2018 and 34 months of her sentencing will be suspended.
The judge ordered her to serve five years and eight months in prison for violating anti-terrorism laws, according to Sabq, which said its reporter was allowed inside the courtroom during Monday’s session.
(* B P)
Future of Mohammed bin Salman With Created Internal, External Tensions
But what did Mohammed bin Salman do to the kingdom and for himself? .. The current reality and circumstances frankly tell the story that Mohammed bin Salman has reaped during the past three years “a relationship with Trump”, who intends to leave the White house in the coming days, leaving Mohammed bin Salman alone to confront Biden, who seems to be uncomfortable with bin Salman's management of many issues.
Mohammed bin Salman, during his tenure as crown prince, loses friends and everyone to depend on. On the domestic level, it does not seem that Mohammad bin Salman was able to achieve the required acceptability at the level of the ruling family, as a result of his uniqueness in ruling and trying to marginalize all the family members, who may compete with him for power.
At the level of neighbors, Mohammed bin Salman declared war on Yemen and its people, severed his ties with Qatar and led the blockade campaign against it. Today, he only has relations with his partner Mohammed bin Zayed and the princes of Bahrain, who do not enjoy legitimacy, in light of the popular revolution.
At the regional level, Mohammed bin Salman sabotaged his relations with Pakistan and Turkey, soured relations with Iran, so he appears alone in the region, in addition to his inability to build good relations with the Europeans.
Herein lies the question about the future of Mohammed bin Salman while Trump is gone and all the tensions that he created at the internal and external levels?
(* B P)
Saudi Arabia: 2021 promises to be another grim year
The effects of reputational damage, reduced purchasing power and stalled reforms will continue to resonate for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the coming months
This year has not been an easy one for Saudi Arabia. It ends on a bad note, as most of the promises made by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have either stumbled or been altogether delayed.
The causes are not entirely related to the Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged the most resilient democracies and economies in the world, let alone fragile, oil-dependent countries such as Saudi Arabia.
Neither foreign investment nor local funds can cover the costs of new development projects that the prince had planned. Regardless of the low demand for oil during a pandemic, the crown prince has yet to understand the full implications of a changing market in which Saudi oil is no longer the main source of energy - a different future, envisaged without combustion and pollution.
Saudi Arabia has not succeeded in achieving the level of diversification that would cut its dependence on oil in half. The country may become irrelevant as a source of energy as more industrial countries switch to clean energy sources over the next few years.
The crown prince’s problems are not only about dwindling income from oil and the failure to launch the diversification programmes promised under Vision 2030. He will also be haunted by a lack of consensus over his leadership should his father, King Salman, die in 2021.
In the short term, his detention campaign against his own relatives is likely to intensify and reach a wider circle of marginalised and disgruntled princes, especially wealthy ones. He will find himself compelled to draw on their wealth to prevent them from launching a protest against his leadership, or to keep them under house arrest, as he has done in recent years.
Strained loyalties
The unforeseen global economic shift away from oil will restrain Saudi Arabia’s ability to maintain the loyalty of its citizens when it cannot provide the basic services that they had been used to. Recent taxes imposed on the population, such as VAT, mark the beginning of a troubled state-society relationship, in which disenfranchised citizens are expected to finance an opaque treasury - an unknown quantity of which often vanishes into the pockets of a handful of princes.
Without political representation and transparency, Saudis may begin to ask questions about how their taxes are spent, and insist on having a say in how they are distributed. As the government gives them their salaries as public sector employees, it will take a substantial percentage to bridge the gap between revenues and spending.
The regime shows no signs of willingness to enlist Saudis in the decision-making process. Many will consequently feel even more marginalised and disenfranchised. It will only be a matter of time before they begin to ask serious questions about their future in an absolute monarchy that has resisted every call for political reform.
A decrease in Saudi oil revenues may not be that bad for the Arab region, however, as Saudi Arabia will have less funds to promote reactionary regional policies, such as the ones that derailed the 2011 Arab uprisings, when the leadership poured money to quash the tide of democratisation.
Supporting the re-consolidation of military and authoritarian rule, from Egypt to Bahrain, may not be possible with less cash in the Saudi purse. Continuing military adventures in Yemen will become more dangerous and harmful without substantial funds to cover up blunders.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/saudi-arabia-2021-promises-be-another-grim-year
(A P)
Loujain’s Arrest
In March 2018, Loujain was studying and working in the United Arab Emirates. While driving on the highway, on 13 March 2018, Loujain was kidnapped, and flown back to Saudi Arabia in a private jet. Saudi security forces briefly placed her under arrest. They released her on 15 March 2018 and placed her on a travel ban. They arrested Loujain again on 15 May 2018 and imprisoned her. Loujain has remained in prison since.
Criminal Court Decision On Torture
Following the decision by the criminal court on 22 December 2020 denying the the torture after a fake investigation, the family and supporters of Loujain have decided to publish Loujain’s response and attached documents proving that the investigation by the criminal court is merely a cover up.
Here is the main evidence:
Loujain and her legal representatives (our parents) have asked for an investigation more than 5 times since the end of 2018. The Court opened an “investigation” 2 years and a half later.
After Loujain’s demands for an investigation, the public prosecution denied the torture without any official investigation on their part.
Loujain’s first official call (from the official prison) was after 7 weeks after her arrest (in May 2018). The significance of this is that legally Loujain has to be allowed to call after being detained. She only called 7 weeks after her arrest in May 2018. During those 7 weeks, Loujain was held in the unofficial prison (whose presence have been well documented by international organisations) and was being tortured during this time. eg - document with timeline of official calls.
https://www.loujainalhathloul.org/arrest-torture-charges#criminalcourtdecision
and
(A P)
Tomorrow is a happy day for many of you. For us, it is a stressful day. Loujain will have her (final?) hearing at the Specialised Criminal Court. Please keep her in your thoughts.
https://twitter.com/LinaAlhathloul/status/1341804917892255753
and
(A P)
Update regarding Loujain’s trial: the judge decided this morning to postpone the hearing until Monday and notified Loujain in court today of this decision.
https://twitter.com/LinaAlhathloul/status/1342056802628870144
cp8a Jamal Khashoggi
(A P)
Netflix Has Ignored Documentary about Khashoggi for Not Angering Saudi Arabia
For his second project, he chose another subject with global interest: the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Saudi Arabian dissident and Washington Post columnist, and the role that the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, played in it.
A film by an Oscar-winning filmmaker would normally garner plenty of attention from streaming services, which have used documentaries and niche movies to attract subscribers and earn awards. Instead, when Mr. Fogel’s film, “The Dissident,” was finally able to find a distributor after eight months, it was with an independent company that had no streaming platform and a much narrower reach.
It is a far cry from the potential audience it would have been able to reach through a service like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, and Mr. Fogel said he believed it was also a sign of how these platforms — increasingly powerful in the world of documentary film — were in the business of expanding their subscriber bases, not necessarily turning a spotlight on the excesses of the powerful.
and
(A P)
Powerful new Khashoggi film hits its mark … but will audiences get to see it?
Documentary exposé about the murdered journalist is proving tough to sell – not least because distributors may be wary of upsetting the Saudis
The documentary’s future looked bright, and after the premiere Fogel said he hoped that Riyadh’s powerful global lobbying machine would not mean it would be ignored. “In my dream of dreams,” he said, “distributors will stand up to Saudi Arabia.”
Yet, a month after that screening at the Sundance film festival, it is by no means clear that they have. The film-makers are still “discussing options”, they say, to get the best deal for The Dissident. Fans of the filmfear its hard-hitting content has unsettled distributors who otherwise frequently snap up big documentaries during the run of Sundance. They worry that the film, which was independently financed by the Human Rights Foundation, could now suffer the fate of an episode of Hasan Minhaj’s Netflix comedy, Patriot Act, that also dealt with the Khashoggi killing. A Saudi complaint led to the removal of the episode. “It is vitally important to sustain attention to the continued lack of justice for the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi,” said Rebecca Vincent, the UK bureau director of the campaigning organisation Reporters Without Borders.
and film trailer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYKLXx8YB8U
and as a reminder:
(A P)
Netflix pulls 'Patriot Act' episode in Saudi Arabia after it criticized official account of Khashoggi killing
Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ah8Zb0hZuY
cp9 USA
Siehe / Look at cp9a
(* B P)
Amerikanische Sanktionen gegen die Huthi-Rebellen in Jemen hätten verheerende Folgen für die Zivilbevölkerung
Dies würde laut Experten den Krieg weiter anheizen und zu einer schweren Hungersnot führen.
Man werde bis zur Amtsübergabe am 20. Januar jede Woche weitere Sanktionen gegen Teheran verhängen, erklärte kürzlich Elliott Abrams, der amerikanische Sondergesandte für Iran. Um gleichzeitig auch den Druck auf die iranischen Verbündeten zu erhöhen, drängt Aussenminister Mike Pompeo darauf, die Huthi-Miliz in Jemen als Terrororganisation einzustufen.
Doch was bisher mit Iran nicht funktioniert hat, könnte in Jemen direkt in eine humanitäre Katastrophe führen. «Eine Designation der Huthi zur Terrororganisation würde zu einer kompletten Entgleisung des Friedensprozesses führen, die militanten Kräfte innerhalb der Bewegung stärken und die Gruppierung fest in Irans Schoss drücken», erklärt Abdulghani al-Iryani vom Sanaa Center.
Der grösste Verlierer werde dabei das jemenitische Volk sein, glaubt Iryani
Würde die Miliz von den USA zur Terrororganisation erklärt, wären nicht nur die Hilfslieferungen gefährdet, sondern auch der kommerzielle Handel. Aus Angst vor amerikanischen Sanktionen dürften ausländische Reedereien, Versicherer und Banken lieber die Hände vor Geschäften mit Jemen lassen.
Eine Folge davon wären vermutlich steigende Preise für Grundnahrungsmittel.
Sollte Washington die Huthi als Terrororganisation brandmarken, werde Saudiarabien der zweitgrösste Verlierer sein, prophezeit Iryani. Die von Iran unterstützte Miliz dürfte ihre Angriffe auf Ziele in Saudiarabien intensivieren und das Königreich weiter destabilisieren.
Nach einer amerikanischen Sanktionierung könnte gar die Invasion der saudischen Grenzstadt Najran drohen, glaubt Iryani. «Das ist das wahrscheinlichste Szenario im Konflikt mit Saudiarabien.»
Dabei stellt sich die Frage, warum Saudiarabien in Washington für die Ächtung der Huthi-Miliz als Terrororganisation wirbt, wenn es selbst mit negativen Konsequenzen rechnen muss. Riad gehe davon aus, dass die Sanktionierung durch die USA die Position der Huthi in den kommenden Friedensverhandlungen schwächen werde, erklärt Iryani. «Die Saudi verstehen nicht, dass die Huthi-Bewegung gespalten ist. Und dass es eine starke Fraktion gibt, welche die Designation als Terrororganisation nutzen würde, um die Türe für Friedensverhandlungen zu schliessen und die Lage eskalieren zu lassen.»
Die Frage ist nun, ob es sich bei diesen Strafmassnahmen gegen einzelne Mitglieder um eine Vorstufe zur Brandmarkung der gesamten Organisation handelt oder ob es um einen Kompromiss zur Gesichtswahrung der Beteiligten geht. Iryani glaubt an die zweite Option. Er sieht Anzeichen dafür, dass die Trump-Administration die Warnungen von gemässigten regionalen Akteuren wie Oman erhört hat und umdenkt. «Ich vermute, dass die Sanktion gegen mehrere Huthi-Mitglieder ein Trostpflaster für Saudiarabien ist.» – von Christian Weisflog
(* B P)
HUMAN RIGHTS OVER WEAPONS: THE CASE OF YEMEN
U.S. arms sales to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have contributed to instability for decades, producing long-term cycles of violence across the region. This unsustainable approach is empowering autocrats like Mohammed bin Salman and non-state actors such as Ansar Allah to sustain regional conflicts and commit human rights violations in places like Yemen. The incoming Biden administration should not only reject this securitized approach to the region but use its influence to support foreign policy goals driven by international humanitarian law (IHL) principles.
The case of Yemen stands as a stark reminder of the risks associated with unhindered arms sales to the MENA region.
Ultimately, militarized attempts to end the conflict have not succeeded.
Rather, the administration has stretched existing legal frameworks and civilian harm policy standards to sell more arms to the coalition, nearly doubling the trend indicator value (TIV) of arms transfers to Saudi Arabia since 2014. Additionally, the administration is working to finalize the sale of F-35 fighter jets and MQ-9 drones to the UAE in an a last-ditch effort to sustain U.S. support for the coalition.
The continuation of arms sales by the United States warrant legitimate accusations of U.S. complicity in human rights violations and war crimes in Yemen.
It would be worthwhile for Biden to not follow the path of previous administrations, and instead reject deceptive arguments that support the status quo. Further, with Yemen in mind, Biden should aim to shift MENA arms sale policies from a focus on securitization to one focused on IHL principles.
In order to bring about this shift, the Biden administration should freeze arms sales to the coalition in Yemen and institute an immediate review of all arms deals to MENA states
Not only would this lessen war crime accusations levied against the United States, but it could stem conflict and encourage peace in places like Yemen
This can be achieved if the United States uses its leverage by ending arms flows and subsequently pressuring coalition states to come to an agreement for peace.
Given the U.S. position with other MENA states, such a strategy can be replicated across the region, leading to positive policy outcomes that finally reject regional securitization via arms sales. By relying on IHL as the guiding principle in designing a new MENA policy, the United States can better leverage its capabilities through shared values that support people, and not autocrats, across the region.
https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/human-rights-over-weapons-the-case-of-yemen
My comment: The great US illusion (or deception) again and again: The US NEVER 8all administrations eing the same) never cared a shit for international humanitarian law (IHL), whrever it intervened on this planet. Always, US foreign policy just cared for US (elite) interests – and the arms industy’s interests are an important part of it. Centrist Sleepy Joe certainly would not be the one to change this: Everything will stay as it is.
(* B P)
U.S. policy in Yemen needs humanitarian lens
But the Trump administration's determination to designate the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) could effectively jeopardize hopes of a nationwide political settlement in Yemen.
Instead, such a decision will easily exacerbate Yemen's most pressing security challenge at hand: catastrophic human suffering. International humanitarian aid that is critical to combating widespread hunger (one in five children), emergency-phase food insecurity (an estimated five million people by early 2021), and conflict-linked suffering (80 percent of citizens below the poverty line) is immediately hampered once Houthi strongholds saturate remaining space for incoming Western aid.
The militia group's control over Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, as well as major ports doesn't even scratch the surface of its iron-grip over the country's population. It controls areas that are home to 70 percent of the national population, assumes government functionality on key fronts, and is capable of frustrating commercial linkages within Yemen upon will. The Houthis also have a history of brutal offensives against civilians and military personnel, and are prone to disrupt critical civilian infrastructure during wartime.
These tendencies could receive a boost in both scale and severity if the Trump administration's FTO designation, and associated sanctions, come through.
In the event of such needless provocation from the U.S., the Houthis may strengthen internally while millions of Yemenis are pushed to their breaking point. Note that an FTO designation is the motivation for the Houthi rebels to view the United States as a formal enemy. This variable could transform the Houthis' inherently domestic calculus for power consolidation in Yemen, by focusing hostilities on Americans (including scores of humanitarian workers already in the heat of the conflict).
Washington is familiar with the modus operandi of Yemen's armed actors, and has been vital to the furtherance of international humanitarian relief efforts in the country. These traits leave it better positioned to promote uniformity in any overarching peace settlement that materializes in Yemen – one that is inclusive of all actors, including the Houthis, and not just the easily influenced Arab coalition allies in the country's south.
Ultimately, such a pivot towards proactive U.S. diplomacy is unlikely to be born overnight – especially with the FTO designation gaining momentum within the Trump administration. To contemplate a breakthrough in Yemen, the U.S. must factor sensitivities to Yemen's humanitarian crisis first, so that the true risks of escalation merit some nuance in handling the Houthis.
(A P)
Hello @realDonaldTrump, the #Saudi govt that you just sold $500 million worth in bombs said today they wont allow the sale /importation of #Chirstmas Tree. Are you unable to do or say something about it?
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1342586125324574739
(* B P)
Trump Pardons Bin Salman, Criminals to Prepare for Election Overthrow Fight?
This seems to reflect the fears that are growing and growing among the American elites that Trump may throw the election results so far and cling to power.
The wholesale amnesty issued by Trump to dozens of criminals during the past few days, such as the amnesty for four guards belonging to the American security company "Blackwater." Those were convicted of committing murders and massacres that killed 17 Iraqi civilians, including children, and wounded more than twenty others as a result of indiscriminate shooting.
All of these pardons meet the goal of gathering as many "fighters" around him when the clock strikes, as happened when he pardoned his former National Security Adviser, Michael Flynn, who is now fighting alongside him and inciting him to impose martial law and run elections again.
It is noteworthy that Trump has placed the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, on his list of criminals, murderers, corrupt soldiers who have been removed from prisons, as the American "CNN" channel, citing sources it described as well-informed, revealed that Trump is considering granting Ibn Salman "judicial immunity." Bin Salman is accused in a federal case of issuing orders to assassinate the former Saudi intelligence official, Saad al-Jabri.
This confirms that Trump the curmudgeon and vile, needs the money of Bin Salman if he continues his war against the election results, especially since Bin Salman is the one who paid all the expenses of Trump's lawyer who challenged Of the election results.
(* B K P)
The U.S. and Yemen: Will Biden End the Nightmare?
Biden has lots of promises to keep. Or break, if he wants to follow a grand old presidential tradition. Foremost among those to keep is ending U.S. support for the slaughter in Yemen. If Biden backslides on this, he should be fought and stopped pronto.
Since being elected president, Biden has said little about Yemen. But during the campaign, he referred to Saudi Arabia as a “pariah state,” and announced: “I would end U.S. support for the disastrous Saudi-led war in Yemen and order a reassessment of our relationship with Saudi Arabia.” He also promised to “end the sale of material…to the Saudis where they’re going in and murdering children.”
According to the Independent on December 17, however, there’s “no end in sight” for the Yemen war. “
The Trump regime picked a side in a civil war that the U.S. arguably has nothing to do with. Anything for its rich friends the Saudis, despite any atrocities, any savageries.
Things are worse in Yemen than ever.
So prospects for peace right now are not especially bright. The best hope for starving, brutalized Yemen lies in a new Biden administration, which should scrupulously honor its promise to stop promoting genocidal war crimes and thus bust up the Obama-Trump legacy of blood in Yemen. Without U.S. military backing, with actual U.S. condemnation of Saudi Arabia, the war would end quickly. And for once, all too infrequently in its foreign policy, the U.S. would step over to the correct side of history. Trump and Obama chose barbarism over civilization in Yemen. One of Biden’s first acts should be to reverse that.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/12/25/the-u-s-and-yemen-will-biden-change-course/ = https://www.newagebd.net/article/125589/will-biden-end-the-nightmare
(* A P)
Waffen-Deal mit Saudi Arabien
Wie am Donnerstag bekannt wurde, hat das State Department am Dienstag den US-Kongress formell von der Absicht informiert, Rüstungsgüter im Wert von über einer halben Milliarde Dollar nach Saudi Arabien zu liefern. Die Trump-Regierung will den Deal bis Anfang Jahr in trockene Tücher bringen. Laut der «Washington Post» ist dafür zwar eine Zustimmung des Parlaments notwendig. Aber Donald Trump könnte die Lieferungen auch als Notstandsmassnahme deklarieren und mit einer exekutiven Anordnung durchsetzen. Er hat diesen Weg bei früheren Waffen-Deals mit den Saudis eingeschlagen.
Bei dem Handel soll es sich um 7500 präzisions-gesteuerten Bomben des Typs «Pathway IV» des Herstellers Raytheon im Wert von 478 Millionen Dollar handeln. Dazu kämen Kommunikations-Systeme im Wert von knapp 100 Millionen Dollar. Im Kongress protestieren Demokraten wie Ro Khanna gegen die Lieferungen: Die Bomben würden der brutalen Kampagne Saudi Arabiens im Jemen dienen und weitere, zivile Opfer fordern. Ein Sprecher von Joe Biden verweigerte gegenüber der «Washington Post» einen Kommentar zu der beabsichtigten Transaktion.
https://www.tachles.ch/artikel/news/waffen-deal-mit-saudi-arabien
and
(* A K P)
USA setzen Waffenverkauf an Saudi-Arabien fort
Das US-Außenministerium hat dem Kongress mitgeteilt, dass eine Lizenz für den Verkauf von 75.000 Bomben und präzisionsgelenkter Luft-Boden-Munition im Wert von 478 Millionen Dollar an Saudi-Arabien ausgestellt werden soll.
Dies berichtete Bloomberg am Mittwoch. Raytheon Technologies Corp. kann dem Bericht zufolge nach Erhalt der Lizenz, die voraussichtlich vor dem Amtsantritt Joe Bidens am 20. Januar ausgestellt wird, die Waffen direkt an die saudische Regierung verkaufen.
Einzelheiten des geplanten Verkaufs wurden im Januar informell den Gesetzgebern mitgeteilt. Die Demokraten waren jedoch dagegen.
https://parstoday.com/de/news/world-i54991-usa_setzen_waffenverkauf_an_saudi_arabien_fort
(* A K P)
Trump administration notifies Congress of arms sales to Saudi Arabia
Deal includes sale of 7,500 precision-guided missiles to kingdom, valued at $478m, Bloomberg reports
The US State Department notified Congress that it is moving forward with the sale of 7,500 precision-guided missiles to Saudi Arabia, valued at $478m, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.
The news outlet reported that the State Department will issue a licence to weapons manufacturer Raytheon to sell the missiles directly to the Saudi government, and the deal will be completed before President Donald Trump leaves office on 20 January.
The weapons in the pending sale include Raytheon's Paveway IV "smart bomb", which includes technology that allows for all-weather attacks.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-trump-administration-notifies-congress-arms-sale-saudi-arabia
and
(* A K P)
Trump administration pushes forward on $500 million weapons deal with Saudi Arabia
The Trump administration has formally notified Congress that it intends to sell nearly $500 million in precision bombs to Saudi Arabia, a transaction that is likely to fuel criticism from lawmakers who object to arming the Persian Gulf nation over its record of human rights abuses and stifling dissent and role in the war in Yemen.
An individual familiar with the sale, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment to the news media, said the deal includes 7,500 "Paveway IV" precision-guided bombs, worth $478 million, which under the terms of the agreement would be produced in the kingdom.
The proposed transaction, which has been in the works since early last year, also includes an internal security communications systems worth $97 million. Bloomberg first reported that the State Department sent the notification on Tuesday.
Under arms sale rules, lawmakers have 30 days from the day of notification, or until Jan. 21, to pass a resolution of disapproval.
Congressional aides said it was doubtful a vote on congressional disapproval would take place between now and when a new Congress takes over Jan. 3 because it wouldn't be veto proof. At the same time, President Donald Trump could issue an emergency declaration, as he did last year, overriding any congressional objection, at any point.
A representative for President-elect Joe Biden declined to comment on the sale. Earlier this year, Biden said he would reassess the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia over its record on human rights and, especially, the death of Khashoggi, promising to ensure that the United States would "not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil."
and
(* A K P)
Experts on Military-Industrial Complex Blast Trump Plan to Sell Nearly $750 Billion in Bombs to Criminal Saudi Regime
"The United States simply should not be selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, especially given their role in exacerbating the suffering in Yemen."
Experts on the adverse effects of the military-industrial complex on Wednesday blasted a plan by the Trump administration to sell nearly half a billion dollars worth of advanced U.S. bombs to Saudi Arabia
"This deal should not be allowed to stand," asserted William D. Hartung, director of the arms and security program at the Center for International Policy, in a statement Wednesday. "The United States should not be selling precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia at this time, given their leading role in the air war in Yemen which has killed thousands of civilians and prolonged a conflict that is now the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe."
Hartung continued:
Saudi access to tens of thousands of precision-guided munitions thus far has not diminished the civilian toll in Yemen, so Pentagon claims that more accurate bombs will reduce civilian casualties don't hold up to scrutiny. A sale could also be seen as a reward to the Saudi regime at a time when it has yet to take responsibility for the murder of [journalist] Jamal Khashoggi or reduced its campaign of internal repression against regime critics and human rights defenders. Last but not least, this should be a decision for a new administration, not a lame-duck president.
Jeff Abramson, a senior fellow at the Arms Control Association, accused the Trump administration of "dangerously pushing more weapons into the Middle East to countries that have a record of misusing them.:
"The United States simply should not be selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, especially given their role in exacerbating the suffering in Yemen," stressed Abramson. "The Biden administration has indicated a desire to rethink the U.S. relation[ship] with Saudi Arabia. The outgoing president should not use his lame-duck period to make that more difficult."
and also https://www.rawstory.com/trump-saudi-arabia/
(* B P)
Designating the Houthis a Terrorist Group Will Worsen Yemen Crisis
By designating the Houthis a terrorist organization, the U.S. could further complicate the conflict in Yemen and worsen the humanitarian crisis for the Yemeni people.
The relationship between the Houthis and Iran appears to be misunderstood. While Tehran has provided various types of support to the Houthis and supplied weapons to the rebels, this does not necessarily mean that the Yemeni rebels are proxies of Iran.
Even with the Iranian support given to the Houthis, Tehran’s influence in Yemen remains marginal. U.S. intelligence officers have reportedly warned that what is going on in Yemen is civil war rather than a battleground for a regional conflict between Tehran and the Sunni Gulf states.
The Yemeni rebels and Tehran do not share deep ideological or religious bonds and goals.
Without a doubt, the Houthis’ rivals, such as Saudi Arabia and Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government, would be pleased if the U.S. designates the Houthis as a terrorist group. However, such a move would have several unfavorable consequences.
In Yemen, 80 percent of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance or protection. Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned on December 10, 2020, that this kind of move by the U.S. threatens humanitarian aid.
As Yemen is already living in what is known as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, this potential U.S. move would only worsen the circumstances of war-torn Yemen.
Indeed, the Trump administration has shown no interest in the plight of the Yemeni population or cared about being on the right side of history. Instead of exploring ways to help the Yemenis, U.S. actions have made their lives more difficult.
The move would also impact any future U.S.-Houthi talks. Eric Schwarts and Hardin Lang note for Just Security that the U.S. “has played an important diplomatic role at key moments in Yemen’s peace talks, including at comprehensive negotiations in 2016, avoiding a catastrophic UAE-led attack on Hudaydah port in 2018, and in restarting back-channel Saudi-Houthis talks after Saudi oil facilities were bombed in 2019.” By designating the Houthis as a terrorist group, the U.S. could cut communications between Washington and the Yemeni rebels. That, in turn, would prolong the conflict until talks could be resumed.
Such a thing would also make any potential efforts by President-elect Joe Biden to end the war more difficult. “If Trump does designate the Houthis a terrorist organization, that will complicate how Biden will be able to address the Yemen problem. Considering an essential party to the country’s civil war a terrorist organization deprives the United States from negotiating with it, thus lessens its influence in any potential peace deal in the future,” Imad Harb, Director of Research and Analysis at Arab Center Washington DC, told Inside Arabia. “Of course, Biden can lift that designation, but that will incur a political cost, both here in the United States where the Houthis are seen as Iran’s tools in Yemen and in the region where Saudi Arabia and its allies will see the move as the U.S. siding against the kingdom. Either way, it is difficult for Biden.”
A Biden administration is not expected to adopt the same approach as Trump on Yemen.
https://insidearabia.com/designating-the-houthis-a-terrorist-group-will-worsen-yemen-crisis/
cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Spannungen am Golf / US-Iran crisis: Tensions at the Gulf
(A K P)
[Iranian] MP Vows 'Massive Response' by Iran to Any Israeli Sub in Persian Gulf
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2020/12/28/641678/Iran-vows-strong-response-any-Israeli-aggression
(* B P)
Saudi-Arabien und Iran bleiben unversöhnlich
Saudi-Arabien und der Iran sind seit langem tief verfeindet. Unter einem US-Präsidenten Joe Biden dürfte der Konflikt eine neue Dynamik bekommen. Die Regierung in Riad denkt sogar laut über eine Atombombe nach.
Spätestens mit dem Amtsantritt des gewählten US-Präsidenten Joe Biden im Januar wird der Konflikt eine neue Dynamik bekommen. Die neue Regierung in Washington dürfte von Donald Trumps hartem Kurs gegenüber dem Iran abrücken und etwa das Atomabkommen mit Teheran wiederbeleben wollen - zum Missfallen der saudischen Führung.
Das sunnitische Königreich sieht in dem schiitischen Rivalen eine existenzielle Bedrohung für seine eigene Sicherheit. Es wirft Teheran vor, sich in die Angelegenheiten der arabischen Welt einzumischen.
Steinberg und andere Beobachter halten ein neues Wettrüsten am Golf für möglich, Atomwaffen eingeschlossen. Sollten die Saudis das Gefühl bekommen, dass der Iran wieder Uran anreichere, dann würden sie darauf mit dem Ausbau eigener Militärkapazitäten reagieren, meint der US-Golfexperte Kristian Coates Ulrichsen. Im vergangenen Monat sagte der saudische Staatsminister für Auswärtiges, Adel al-Dschubair, der dpa, sollte eine iranische Atombombe nicht verhindert werden können, sei eine atomare Bewaffnung «definitiv eine Option».
Schon jetzt gehört Saudi-Arabien weltweit zu den größten Waffenkäufern. 2019 gab das Land nach Schätzungen des Friedensforschungsinstituts Sipri fast 62 Milliarden US-Dollar für Rüstung aus. Der Iran kam auf 12,6 Milliarden Dollar.
Auch Teheran zeigt sich gewillt, sein Militär auszubauen. Mitte Oktober endete das vom UN-Sicherheitsrat verhängte Waffenembargo.
Die USA und Europa werden ungeachtet der UN-Entscheidung weiterhin keine Waffen an den Iran verkaufen. De facto blieben nur China und Russland, die gute politische sowie wirtschaftliche Beziehungen zu Teheran pflegen. Aber auch die zeigen wegen Irans Nahostpolitik Bedenken, insbesondere angesichts der aggressiven Haltung gegenüber seinem anderen Erzfeind Israel. Daher gehen Beobachter davon aus, dass Peking und Moskau bei Waffendeals sehr vorsichtig vorgehen werden, um weder den Westen noch Israel und die arabischen Golfstaaten unnötig zu verärgern. Die Zukunft des Konflikts zwischen Saudi-Arabien und dem Iran wird auch maßgeblich davon abhängen, wie sich Biden zum Atomabkommen verhält. «Ein politischer Analphabet (Trump) hat mit einer Unterschrift den Deal verlassen, der Nächste (Biden) kann mit einer Unterschrift wieder in den Deal zurück», sagte Ruhani. Falls das nicht geschehe, werde das von Hardlinern im Parlament verabschiedete Atom-Gesetz umgesetzt. Es sieht vor, dass der Iran unbegrenzt Uran anreichert, lagert und sogar UN-Inspektionen einschränkt oder gar verbietet.
Ein einfaches Zurück zum alten Atomdeal scheint jedoch unwahrscheinlich. Die Saudis würden von den USA verlangen, bei neuen Verhandlungen anders als beim ersten Mal eingebunden zu werden, sagt Golfexperte Ulrichsen. Nach dem Willen Riads solle es dann nicht nur um das iranische Atomprogramm gehen, sondern auch um Teherans Unterstützung für bewaffnete Gruppen in der Region. «Das wird ein Abkommen fast unmöglich machen», prophezeit Ulrichsen.
https://www.merkur.de/politik/saudi-arabien-und-iran-bleiben-unversoehnlich-zr-90152203.html = https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/atom-saudi-arabien-und-iran-bleiben-unversoehnlich-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-201227-99-821359
(B P)
Al-Maliki: US Assassinated Soleimani Because He Thwarted Many of Its Plans
The former prime minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, revealed the secret of the assassination of the Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani, speaking about what he described as "guerrilla tactics."
In an interview with Al-Alam TV, Maliki said: "The US decided to assassinate Soleimani because he thwarted many of its plans to change the identity of the region." He continued, "Soleimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis succeeded in stopping more than one plan for changing the region, which bothered the Americans a lot."
Al-Maliki added, “When the conflict reaches forbidden things as countries do with each other, targeting leaders becomes at the forefront of the goals. Regarding the conflict between Iran and the US, which is a violent and deep conflict, it is so expected to target the leaders who achieved victories and those who were able to make progress. Qassem Soleimani, in his movement, continued interest in his jihad, was able to stop more than one plan for change in the region.
(B K P)
Im Kampf gegen den Terrorismus: US-Luftwaffe testet in Afrika neues elektromagnetisches Waffensystem
In der Sahelregion breitet sich trotz der Anwesenheit tausender westlicher Militärs der Terrorismus aus. Auch die USA sind vor Ort aktiv. Jetzt bestätigte die US-Luftwaffe, dass im Kampf gegen "Drohnenschwärme" vor Ort ein neues Waffensystem getestet werde. Dabei geht es darum, Iran Paroli zu bieten.
Bereits vor Monaten kursierten entsprechende Berichte, wonach die US-Luftwaffe beabsichtige, eine neue Mikrowellenwaffe zu testen, die im Kampf gegen Drohnen eingesetzt werden soll. Unklar blieb bis dato, wo und wann der neue Prototyp zum Testeinsatz kommen wird. Was zunächst wie ein abstruses Gerücht klang, hat sich nun bestätigt.
Laut dem US-Militärmagazin breakingdefence.com eigne sich der afrikanische Kontinent hervorragend als Testgebiet, um etwa das Vorgehen gegen von Iran eingesetzte "Drohnenschwärme" zu trainieren, "ohne eine Eskala
THOR basiert auf der Verwendung elektromagnetischer Mikrowellen hoher Intensität, um elektronische Stromkreise zu stören und die entsprechende Waffe dadurch außer Gefecht zu setzen. Das System kann ein großes Spektrum des Luftraums abdecken.
THOR wurde nicht nur für den Einsatz gegen einzelne Drohnen entwickelt, die möglicherweise durch Handfeuerwaffen oder eine Energiewaffe wie einen Laser zerstört werden könnten, sondern auch, um ganze Drohnenschwärme mit einem Schlag auszuschalten.
https://de.rt.com/international/110914-im-kampf-gegen-terrorismus-us/
(A P)
US agencies conclude Iran is likely behind website aimed at stoking violence against election officials
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have concluded that Iran is very likely behind a website apparently aimed at inciting violence against election officials as well as the FBI director, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.
The website, titled Enemies of the People, posted photos and purported addresses of state election officials and employees of a voting equipment vendor, as well as information on FBI Director Christopher Wray and Chris Kreb
https://www.cyberscoop.com/fbi-iran-cisa-death-threats-election/
My comment: This reminds of “Russiagate” propaganda.
(A P)
Iran rejects US blame game over rocket attack on embassy in Iraq
Iran has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s accusations against Tehran regarding a recent rocket attack on the American embassy in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
According to Press TV, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif responded on Twitter, saying the US president's blame game was meant to divert attention from his own failures at home.
(A P)
Dec. 20 rocket attack on the green zone in #Iraq was almost certainly conducted by an #Iran -backed Militia Group, says @CENTCOM adding 21 rocket attack caused no US injuries or casualties but damaged buildings in US Embassy compound & was clearly NOT intended to avoid casualties
https://twitter.com/CarlaBabbVOA/status/1341977450402746369
(A P)
[The Iranian] Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has warned the outgoing US President Donald Trump against any possible adventurism during his last days in office, adding that he would be responsible for all consequences of any adventurist measure against Iran.
(A P)
Iran Rejects Renegotiation of JCPOA as ‘Absolutely Not Acceptable’
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has rejected as “absolutely not acceptable” any proposal for the renegotiation of the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
According to Press TV, Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remarks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, saying, “The JCPOA is an agreement coming out of hard-won negotiations involving difficult gives and takes, and any proposal for its revision, renegotiation or extension will be against resolution 2231 and absolutely not acceptable to Iran.”
The Iranian envoy said Tehran would not negotiate its legitimate ballistic missile program, and bullying policies of some world powers would not intimidate the country into relinquishing its defensive means.
Takht-Ravanchi also warned that any attempt to link the future of the landmark deal to extraneous issues is “doomed to fail.”
Elsewhere in his address to the UN Security Council, the senior diplomat said Iran has already gone out of its way to save the 2015 nuclear deal and should not be asked to pay a heavier price
(A P)
US return to JCPOA, resumption of obligations, right way to defuse tensions: China
cp11 Deutschland / Germany
(A H)
Efharisto! Ärztliche Beratung in der Muttersprache hilft dem Behandlungserfolg
Sein Oberarztkollege Saeed Saleh berichtet, dass vermehrt Patienten aus nordafrikanischen Ländern, Syrien, Libanon und dem Irak, die nur wenig oder gar kein Deutsch sprechen, einen hohen Aufklärungsbedarf haben. Der Herz- und Gefäßchirurg Saeed Saleh hält deshalb jeden Donnerstag von 12:00 bis 15:00 Uhr eine Sprechstunde in arabischer Sprache für Menschen mit Flucht- oder Migrationshintergrund. Saleh wurde im Jemen geboren und lebt mit seiner Familie seit 30 Jahren im Ruhrgebiet
(B H)
Wie aus dem jemenitischen Jungen Zeyad der Mendener Max wurde
Am 18. Dezember erschien das Buch „Max im Glück“ über ein Kind aus dem Jemen. Es erzählt von einem Jungen, der sein Bein verlor, aber ein neues Zuhause gefunden hat.
(B H)
Heidenroder will den Kindern im Jemen helfen
Die Todesuhr tickt: alle fünf Sekunden stirbt ein Kind. Wie der Heidenroder Landwirt Toni Bura versucht, von Hunger und Krieg bedrohte Menschen zu retten (nur im Abo)
cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries
Emirates: Siehe / Look at cp1
(A P)
Film: Protesters #Bahrain call for release of the top opposition leader Ali Salman jailed by #UK backed Khalifa Monarchy
https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1343612167061434371
(A P)
Turkey welcomes new Yemeni government
'Hopefully,' this development will contribute to ending the conflict, the crisis in Yemen, says Turkish Foreign Ministr
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkey/turkey-welcomes-new-yemeni-government/2090551
and full statement: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-337_-yemen-de-yeni-hukumetin-kurularak-goreve-baslamasi-hk.en.mfa
(* A K P)
The Government of Spain cannot continue to sponsor the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen
Only social pressure can end an unjust war. Spain must not only stop selling arms to countries that violate human rights and send humanitarian aid, but must also use diplomacy so that, among other things, the humanitarian blockade against the Yemeni population is ended.
Finally, the terrible crisis in Yemen was the subject of debate. Last Monday, a Non-Law Proposal (PNL) presented by the deputy of United We Can, Roberto Uriarte, was debated in the Defense Commission. The text presented addressed the gigantic humanitarian crisis that the country is experiencing, the sale of arms to the Saudi Coalition and the role that Spanish diplomacy must play in order to promote peace.
As the Center Delàs recalled, this debate was "necessary and too late". However, the magnitude of the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen this year 2020 made it all the more urgent.
These facts show the little credibility that the Socialist Party has, confirmed when the deputy, Héctor Gómez Hernández, after speaking that 24 million Yemenis need humanitarian aid, presented a transaction for the government to "consider" instead of allocating humanitarian aid immediately, and to move away from the commitment to prohibit the sale of arms to countries that flagrantly violate human rights.
It is true that another tone could be appreciated, but the purpose was to blur the content and move as far as possible the ban on the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, ensuring that the approved NLP is diluted so as not to (probably) compromise large economic interests with the Saudi monarchy. Let us not forget that, for the power in Spain, the contract of 1,800 million euros to sell the corvettes is a more compelling reason than the 300,000 dead since the beginning of the war, a huge figure that Iñarritu mentioned.
Finally, Unidos Podemos, ERC and Bildu approved the NLP to keep the debate alive. The transaction to point 2 of the PSOE said that "if there is knowledge or there is a risk of improper use of the exported materials, the government will apply Article 8 of Law 53/2007." In this regard, Iñarritu recalled that there is evidence of the use of Spanish weapons in the Yemen war, alluding to the joint investigation of eldiario.es and Greenpeace on August 5 .
The anger was due to the fact that, in the explanatory statement presented by Uriarte, an allusion was made to the fact that in 2015 the government of Mariano Rajoy had authorized an arms sale as a "way of providing logistical support to the intervention" since the king Felipe VI would have called the Saudi monarchy to express its support in the war. Similarly, Spanish diplomacy was criticized because "it seems that another strategy was chosen that took more into account interests such as the major agreements on infrastructure and weapons."
(A P)
Außenministerium [der Regierung in Sanaa]: Jede rücksichtslose Aktion der zionistischen Einheit wird zu einem umfassenden Krieg führen
Eine offizielle Quelle im Außenministerium in Sanaa warnte am Sonntag, dass "jede rücksichtslose Aktion der zionistischen Einheit in der Region einen umfassenden Krieg auslösen wird und Israel der erste sein wird, der dies tut." es verlieren."
Dies ergab sich aus dem Kommentar der Quelle zu dem, was der Sprecher der zionistischen Einheitsarmee erklärte, dass Israel die Situation im Jemen überwacht.
"Die zionistische Einheit hat nichts mit der Situation im Jemen zu tun", sagte die Quelle und fügte hinzu, dass die zionistische Einheit die Situation in den Bereichen ihrer illegalen Kontrolle in den besetzten palästinensischen Gebieten überwachen und aufhören sollte, die Länder in der Region zu bedrohen.
Die Quelle wies darauf hin, dass Israel versucht, Ausreden für feindliche Aktionen und Bewegungen zu erfinden, mit denen es versucht, seine anhaltende Aggression gegen das palästinensische Volk zu vertuschen und Gewalt zu zeigen, um mit neuen Normalisierungskandidaten alle Möglichkeiten für eine gescheiterte Normalisierung zu fördern.
https://www.saba.ye/de/news3121710.htm
(A K P)
Israel admits to deploying submarines near Yemeni coast
The Israeli army (IDF) said on Saturday that it has deployed submarines off the coast of Yemen for the first time ever.
“My country is deploying submarines everywhere,” Israeli occupation forces Spokesperson, Brigadier General Hidai Zilberman told Elaph newspaper, commenting on reports of submarines being deployed near Yemen.
He justified the move by claiming that Iran was planning to launch attack Israel from within Yemen or Iraq.
https://hodhodyemennews.net/2020/12/26/israel-admits-to-deploying-submarines-near-yemeni-coast/
and
(A P)
Any reckless action of Zionist entity will lead to all-out war: [Sanaa gov.] Foreign Ministry
An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sanaa on Sunday warned that "any reckless action of the Zionist entity in the region will spark an all-out war, and Israel will be the first to lose it."
This came in the source's comment on what was stated by the Zionist entity army spokesman that Israel is monitoring the situation in Yemen.
"The Zionist entity has nothing to do with the situation in Yemen," the source said, adding that the Zionist entity should monitor the situation in the areas of its illegal control in the occupied Palestinian territories, and stop threatening countries in the region.
The source pointed out that Israel seeks to fabricate excuses for hostile actions and movements through which it tries to cover up its continuous aggression against the Palestinian people and to display force to encourage any opportunities for failed normalization with new candidates for normalization.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3121650.htm
and also https://iranpress.com/content/31704
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/167709/Any-stupid-move-makes-Tel-Aviv-interests-legal-targets-Yemen
https://debriefer.net/en/news-22074.html
and
(A K P)
Israeli Comments About Yemen's Role in the Region, Mainly to Calm Saudi-Emarati Allies
Statements of the Israeli enemy about Yemen is part of reassuring countries that have normalized ties with the enemy, [Sanaa gov.] Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense Affairs said on Saturday.
Lieutenant General Jalal Al-Rowaishan told Almasirah that the leader of the revolution had previously announced that sensitive targets of the enemy's entity would be struck in the event that any foolishness was committed against Yemen.
Al-Rowaishan stated that Yemen has been facing aggression that is threatening its national security for 6 years. “Yemen has been able to withstand and be steadfast on land, sea and air.”
He explained that the Zionists have logistically supported the Saudi-led coalition since the beginning of the aggression and now they are trying to find threats and justifications for the countries of the region that have normalization with it so that they can advance to them militarily.
“The Israeli enemy began to move militarily in the region after the recent normalization with the Gulf countries, including countries participating in the coalition,” the Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense Affairs said. “What they failed to accomplish within 6 years they would not be able to accomplish in a month, even in Biden state.”
and
(A K P)
IDF spokesperson: Iranian retaliation likely to come from Iraq, Yemen
In an interview given to the Saudi news website Elaph, Brig.-Gen. Hidai Zilberman addressed Iran and the tactics deployed by the IDF in order to address the looming threat.
Israel is monitoring Tehran’s movement in the region and expects that an Iranian attack could come from Iraq and Yemen, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Hidai Zilberman told the Saudi news website Elaph.
In an interview published on Friday, Zilberman addressed Iran and the tactics deployed by the IDF in order to respond to the threat, which he said is likely to arise from Iraq and Yemen.
Zilberman referred to Iraq and Yemen as Iran’s second circle after Lebanon and Syria, considered the first circle in its proxy conflict with Israel, and said that Israel has been monitoring the situation in both countries closely.
He noted that Iran has developed a wide range of capabilities in the area – and specifically in Iraq and Yemen – that include advanced drones and remote-guided missiles, which they manage to operate without detection, indicating “a great Iranian ability in this area.”
He stressed that everyone should be on high alert regarding the Iranian threat, which he described as a “powder keg liable to explode,” considering the many blows Iran has received in the past year without being able to properly respond.
These include the assassination of Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, its sites continuously being targeted in Syria, the mysterious explosions in several of its nuclear facilities, the assassination of its top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, international sanctions and the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has had a devastating effect on the country.
Nearing the one-year mark since the assassination of Soleimani that took place on January 3, 2020, Zilberman noted that Iran may use the occasion to launch an offensive against Israel or the US, which are considered one entity in Iran’s eyes.
Asked about the incident of an Israeli Navy submarine being spotted crossing the Suez Canal earlier this week, Zilberman said he could not confirm the report but noted that the IDF operates freely in the Middle East and that Israeli submarines sail to “different places, far and near.”
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/idf-spokesperson-iranian-retaliation-likely-from-iraq-yemen-653308
Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khGpHQ8igEU
My comment: This obviously is BS propaganda to a) justify Israeli terrorism against Iran (and Yemen?) and b) to pique the Trump administration.
(A P)
Papst Franziskus wirbt in seiner Weihnachtsbotschaft für Frieden und Corona-Impfungen für alle
Mit Blick auf die weltweite Lage in krisengeplagten Ländern machte der 84-Jährige auf das Schicksal der vielen Kinder im Jemen, in Syrien und dem Irak aufmerksam, die unter dem Krieg leiden; aber auch auf Gewalt und Vertreibung, die Volksgruppen wie den Jesiden oder den Rohingya angetan wurden.
https://de.rt.com/international/111051-papst-franziskus-wirbt-in-weihnachtsbotschaft/
(A P)
Pope: Syria, Iraq, Yemen children should ‘touch all consciences’
Pope Francis has highlighted the plight of children caught up in wars, singling out victims in Syria, Yemen and Iraq in his Christmas message.
“On this day, when the word of God became a child, let us turn our gaze to the many, all too many, children worldwide, especially in Syria, Iraq and Yemen who still pay the high price of war,” he said.
“May their faces touch the consciences of all men and women of good will, so that the causes of conflicts can be addressed and courageous efforts can be made to build a future of peace,” he said.
(* A K P)
Yemen: Oxfam, "stop exporting arms from Italy is an important step forward"
The NGO expresses satisfaction with the vote of the House Foreign Affairs Commission. "The Government will follow up as soon as possible the vote expressed in Parliament"
The Chamber of Deputies voted, on the morning of today, December 22, a resolution that commits the Italian government to maintain the suspension of the granting of new licenses for aircraft bombs and missiles, even after the expiry of the 18 months , scheduled for January 2021 , and "to evaluate the possibility of extending this suspension also to other types of armaments until there are concrete developments in the peace process".
The vote of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on the extension and extension of the stop to the authorization of licenses for the export of Italian arms to the countries involved in the conflict in Yemen "is an important step forward by the Italian Parliament towards the defense of respect for the law international and humanitarian law .
(A P)
Iran Asks for Ending Military Attacks against Yemen
Senior Assistant to the Iranian Foreign Minister for Special Political Affairs Ali Asqar Khaji in a video conference with Sweden's Special Envoy for Yemen Peter Semneby underlined the need for the Saudi-led coalition to stop attacks against the Yemeni people.
Khaji, for his part, said that the National Salvation Government in Yemen has been committed to its undertakings based on the Stockholm agreement and has unilaterally implemented them, and further blasted the Saudi coalition for disloyalty to the agreement.
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/13991003000849/Iran-Asks-fr-Ending-Miliary-Aacks-agains-Yemen
and als0 https://en.mehrnews.com/news/167575/Iran-criticizes-Saudi-colaition-for-sabotaging-stockholm-pact
(B P)
Film: TONIGHT on #60Mins, a Royal family in crisis. Could a messy divorce case in London help free Dubai’s missing princesses?
https://twitter.com/60Mins/status/1343074132125122561
(* B E P)
Dubai, Switzerland, London: How the UAE became a smuggling hub for 'blood gold'
Emirates urged to clean up their act amid numerous reports about role in dirty gold trading
There are no mines under Dubai's sands with artisanal miners or children toiling away trying to strike gold. But there is the Dubai Gold Souk and refineries that vie with the largest global operations as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) strives to expand its position as a major gold hub.
In recent years, the UAE, with Dubai in particular, has established itself as one the largest and fastest-growing marketplaces for the precious metal, with imports rising by 58 percent per annum to more than $27bn in 2018, according to data collated by the Observatory for Economic Complexity.
With no local gold to tap, unlike neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the UAE has to import gold from wherever it can, whether it be legitimately, smuggled with no questions asked, sourced from conflict zones, or linked to organised crime.
Gold has become so important to Dubai's economy that it is the emirate's highest value external trade item, ahead of mobile phones, jewellery, petroleum products and diamonds, according to Dubai Customs.
And it is the UAE's largest export after oil, exporting $17.7bn in 2019. Gold's importance has only increased as Dubai's oil reserves have dwindled and the UAE has tried to diversify its economy.
But to retain the trade, the UAE may have to police the sector better, having been the focus of numerous reports about its role in the dirty gold trade, and chastised by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the world's standards settings body for anti-money laundering rules, for inadequate oversight of the sector in an evaluation report published in April.
A report by the UK's Home Office and Treasury earlier in December also named the UAE as a jurisdiction vulnerable to money laundering by criminal networks because of the ease with which gold and cash could be moved through the country.
"If Dubai wants to see more international customers they need to seriously reform their gold due diligence policies. Otherwise, they risk losing a lot of customers, and the gold trade is such a big part of the economy," said Sasha Lezhnev, deputy director of policy at The Sentry, an NGO which released a report on conflict gold and Dubai in November.
The question is whether Dubai and the Emirates will clean up their act.
Blood gold
The Sentry's investigation found that 95 percent of gold officially exported from Central and East Africa, much of it mined in Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, ends up in the emirate.
"Much of the conflict gold is smuggled to neighbouring countries and then exported to Dubai," said Lezhnev.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/dubai-switzerland-london-how-uae-became-smuggling-hub-blood-gold = https://english.almasirah.net/post/16817/Dubai%2C-Switzerland%2C-London-How-The-UAE-Became-A-Smuggling-Hub-for-Blood-Gold-
(* B P)
Detention centers in UAE mass graves for female inmates, right organization warns
An international human rights group has warned about the appalling condition of women being held behind bars across the United Arab Emirates, describing detention centers in the Persian Gulf country as “mass graves” for female detainees.
The Arab Organization for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK), in a series of posts published on its official Twitter page, stated that inmates suffer from “extremely poor conditions of detention that pose a grave danger to their lives.”
The organization described the UAE prisons as “mass graves in which female detainees are subjected to slow and systematic killing at the hands of security authorities, who are proficient in mental and physical torture.”
According to testimonies of the women, Emirati security forces enjoy harassing them as sick detainees fight their illnesses without any medical care.
(* B P)
Did Mohammed bin Zayed try to "bribe" Human Rights Watch?
A former official of the "Human Rights Watch" human rights organization confirmed accusations made against Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed about his attempt, through an intermediary, to bribe the organization with two million dollars, but said she did not know that he was behind it.
A former official of the "Human Rights Watch" human rights organization confirmed the accusations made against the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, about his seeking through an intermediary to bribe the organization with two million dollars, but she said that she did not know that he was behind it.
This came in a series of tweets published on Tuesday by Sarah Whitson, the former Middle East Director of the organization, commenting on an investigation published by the US agency "Bloomberg" on Monday, which brought financial and human rights charges to bin Zayed.
The US agency's investigation revealed "the conspiracy of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi against Qatar through the Havilland Bank in Luxembourg, and the use of the bank in suspicious funds to cover up the violations of the UAE."
"The bribery came through the former president of Bank of Havilland, Graham Robson, in an attempt by Bin Zayed to woo the organization to turn a blind eye to human rights violations committed by the UAE authorities," Whitson said.
She added, "Bin Zayed sent his followers to infiltrate Human Rights Watch (referring to Robson) because of our relentless reports on the UAE's human rights violations."
"We used the two million dollars in a good job to uncover the violations in the Gulf, and we had no idea that it was secretly coming from the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi," she added. However, she did not reveal how and when the organization knew the relationship between the bank's president and bin Zayed.
Whitson asked "how many organizations bin Zayed tried to infiltrate through his followers."
According to a Bloomberg investigation, Robson gave Human Rights Watch $ 2 million after the organization criticized the UAE in 2011 for its arrest and harassment of activists, including Ahmed Mansour, one of its members during the Arab Spring.
The investigation also clarified that "the bribery was to help place the bank’s president at the time on the Human Rights Watch board of directors after the organization published reports on the poor human rights conditions in the UAE and the authorities’ crackdown on dissidents. "
Whitson’s tweets: https://twitter.com/sarahleah1/status/1341012750626131968
cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis
(A P)
GCC ministers discuss steps to resolve Qatar dispute ahead of summit
(A P)
Al-Jazeera News Anchor Publishes Summons of Bin Salman, Bin Zayed
Qatari Al-Jazeera channel News Anchor, Ghada Awais, published the summons of the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, in the case it brought against them in an American court.
On December 10, Awais announced that she had filed a lawsuit against Bin Salman in a US court in Florida, and said that she accused the Saudi crown prince and his Emirati counterpart of being behind the hacking of her phone and publishing personal photos of her about six months ago.
(A P)
Qatar protests to UN over Bahraini fighter jets violation of airspace
and
(A P)
Bahrain rejects Qatar’s claim of airspace violation
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/bahrain-rejects-qatar-s-claim-of-airspace-violation/2088101
(A P)
Qatar calls for Iran-Persian Gulf states dialogue; welcomes any initiative for regional peace
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani has called for dialogue between Iran and Persian Gulf littoral states, saying Doha welcomes any initiative that would contribute to peace and stability in the region.
The top Qatari diplomat made the remarks during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednesday.
“We are interested in holding and staying in dialogue with countries in the region and with Iran,” he said, adding that for Qatar safety issues in the region are a “priority.”
cp12b Sudan
(A P)
Sudanese man’s death draws attention to paramilitary force
https://apnews.com/article/sudan-middle-east-khartoum-war-crimes-282317219d9cca8b90704643d4972c80
(A P)
Sudan taking control of land on border with Ethiopia — minister
Sudan has taken control of most of the land it accuses Ethiopians of encroaching upon near the border between the two countries, the Sudanese information minister said on Saturday.
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1783361/middle-east
(* B P)
Sudan’s fragile transition boosted by turnaround in ties with US, Israel
Khartoum is also a key broker in the Nile River dam talks with Egypt and Ethiopia.
Is Arab Spring sequel emerging in Sudan?
In case you missed it, Sudan is one of a few Arab countries — including Iraq, Lebanon and Algeria — that has seen the beginnings of what looks increasingly like a sequel to the Arab Spring demonstrations that began 10 years ago this month in Tunisia.
Starting two years ago, protesters, many of them young, took to the streets to demand a new social contract based on transparency and accountability, as well as jobs and decent government services (subscribe)
(A)
A Sudan in transition presents first-ever film for Oscars
cp13a Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage
(* A P)
Yemen's Houthi rebels burn historic library in Hajjah
The library is known to home some of the country's oldest religious manuscripts and books
Yemen’s Houthi rebels burned a historic library in the north western city of Hajjah on Wednesday, sparking outrage across the country.
The library is located inside Al Sunnah Mosque in the city and is known to home some of the country's oldest religious and cultural manuscripts and books.
The internationally recognised government condemned the move and called on the public to unite against the rebels.
“The burning of the library is part of the Houthis plan to bulldoze Yemen's identity and cultural heritage to impose the teachings of its founder Hussein Al Houthi,” Yemen’s Information Minister, Muamaar Al Iryani, said.
Photos: https://twitter.com/ERYANIM/status/1341437378783801349
(B C)
ISLANDS OF HERITAGE: CONSERVATION AND TRANSFORMATION IN YEMEN
The scholarly literature on Yemen is dominated by discussions of war, political unrest, and humanitarian crises. Natalie Peutz’s Islands of Heritage: Conservation and Transformation in Yemen examines Yemen’s history in a different way—from the periphery of Soqotra and from the perspective of ecological heritage. In this multi-layered, fascinating, and well-written book, Peutz uses ethnography to argue that Soqotrans (Bedouins, emigrants, and Afro-Soqotrans) have used environmental tourism and conservation as a means of preserving their cultural identity and bringing further development to the island. For Peutz, heritage-making in Soqotra was undertaken by islanders who carefully fashioned themselves as “para experts” alongside foreigners (238). This approach positions Islands of Heritage directly against the one prevailing in the literature, which depicts foreign experts driving heritage production in the Arabian Peninsula. Peutz’s book is required reading for anthropologists, historians, political scientists, and those investigating the impact of tourism, while being readable and compelling for nonspecialists.
cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy
(A E P)
Economic expert expects Riyal to recover more value should [new Hadi] gov’t receive direct support
In a tweet, Nasr said: “The recovery that now one US dollar equals YR 650 stimulates optimism. The expectation is that the Riyal will continue to recover more value should the government receive direct support.”
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44113
(A E P)
[Hadi gov.] Ministry of Industry directs making control campaigns for reducing prices
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued directives to its offices in provinces to activate control and monitoring role for reducing prices of goods in accordance with the new improved prince of Yemeni Rial.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30859
(A E P)
Foreign currencies came crashing in today's exchanges in #Yemen USD was 765 on Sat but 665 this morning & SAR was 201 on Sat but 175 this morning a 13% drop in a single day! The new government is to thank for this as exchangers are trying to sell their stashes of currency quickly
https://twitter.com/majd_gawdat/status/1343108911394676736
cp15 Propaganda
(A P)
Peace and Zero Hunger Go Hand in Hand
Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and David Beasley
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long advocated for global attention to food security issues. At the recent G20 meeting hosted in the Kingdom, members committed to greater investments in agricultural development. At various moments in history when WFP faced major funding shortfalls, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia came to the rescue of the people most in need by making significant contributions.
My comment: Shame on the WFP for having allowed such a piece of Saudi bullshit propaganda. The Saudis are those who in the first place are to blame for the Yemen famine.
(A P)
The heavy price of Soleimani's dream of making Yemen a proxy war playground
Qassem Soleimani and Iran's Revolutionary Guards have fuelled a long, bitter proxy war in Yemen for years, bringing the country to the brink of economic and political collapse.
Even a year after the death of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Yemen is still paying a heavy price for his scheme of making the country a frontline state in Iran's regional proxy wars.
Soleimani, the former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF), had a huge hand in the current state of Yemen, which is on the brink of economic and political collapse.
Soleimani and the IRGC supported the Houthis financially, militarily and logistically, enabling them to implement Iran's agenda in Yemen, which has compounded the suffering of Yemenis by prolonging the war, now in its sixth year.
https://diyaruna.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_di/features/2020/12/27/feature-01
(A P)
Brotherhood escalating in Yemen to serve Turkish-Qatari agenda
The Muslim Brotherhood is stepping up tensions in four Yemeni provinces that have their economic and political weight.
The provinces are Taizz, Marib, Abyan, and Shabwah.
The Brotherhood escalation comes within attempts by its Islah (Reform) Party to bring these provinces under Turkish control.
On December 15, Muslim Brotherhood elements were behind a new escalation in Shabwah in southern Yemen.
According to observers, the escalation aimed to serve the interests of both Qatar and Turkey. The two countries want to strengthen the position of the Muslim Brotherhood militias in southern Yemen with the aim of threatening the interests of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in this part of Yemen.
They also want to gain a foothold in this strategic part of the war-torn Arab state.
https://www.thereference-paris.com/14549 = http://en.adenpress.news/news/30856
(A P)
Cartoon: #Iran-backed #Houthis
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1343193016870252544
(A P)
Shatara [STC] praises Lamlas' [STC] courageous actions in Aden
Member of the Presidency of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), Vice-President of the National Assembly for Control and Inspection, Mr. Lufti Shatara highly praised the key role played by the governor of Aden, Ahmed Hamed Lamlas in the fight against corruption in the capital.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30843
(A P)
Saudi Press: Fighting Corruption ... and Pioneering Role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Al-Yaum newspaper said in its editorial today entitled (Fighting Corruption ... and Pioneering role of the Kingdom), the initiatives that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offered, in order to combat all aspects of corruption, reflects the continuous efforts of the government, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and HRH the Crown Prince.
This resulted in curtailing the corruption, extending the horizons of these efforts regionally and internationally, based on a comprehensive Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2172279
(A P)
Yemen Solidarity Council on PressTV - December 22nd 2020
On PressTV, I gave my two cents on recent developments concerning #Yemen, in particular on the importance of Ma'rib city & Governorate & what a future liberation would mean for the course of the war w/ @Marwa__Osman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IbYebAfTZ4
This guy is cheating. He knows nothing about #Marib ,and you can notice him reading words from a paper in front of him in this interview
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1342192235497009153
(A P)
New police cars roam Aden's streets
New police cars roamed the streets of Aden's al-Mansourah district on Thursday, within the efforts to bring back to Aden its civilized form.
The modern police cars are moving from street to another amid high satisfaction of the inhabitants, locals said.
It's worth mentioning that Aden witnesses exceptional security arrangements for receiving the newly formed government
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30830
My comment: Propaganda by the separatists, its militia still did not leave Aden as required by the Riyadh agreement.
(A P)
Qatar tries to change influence map in Yemen's liberated cities
Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad feigns compliance to the terms of reconciliation with moderate Arab states that cut off trade and diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017.
In actual terms, however, Tamim fights Saudi Arabia and this is nowhere clearer than in Yemen where he receives support from the Muslim Brotherhood and aids the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
According to some informed sources, Qatar tries to change the influence map in some of the cities liberated by the Saudi-led coalition from Houthi control so that it can tilt in its favor and the favor of its Turkish ally.
The Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Islah militia launches wars in three liberated Yemeni provinces that have their own political, economic and geographic weight. The militia tries to help Turkey gain a foothold in these provinces.
Qatar tries to move battles to mountains overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in southern Yemen.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30834
My comment: This is pro-separatist, anti-Islah Party propaganda. And more of this:
(A P)
Muslim Brotherhood continues its provocative speech
Yemen's Muslim Brotherhood, Islah Party-affiliated media outlets continue to escalate their provocative speech against the South, the Southern Transitional Council and the southern military and security forces in defiance of all the measures taken to de-escalate the situation as part of the Riyadh Agreement and in contradiction to the positions of the presidency and the newly formed government which the party operates under its umbrella.
The Qatar-financed media outlets have not put a halt to escalation even after the implementation of the military part of the Saudi-sponsored deal and the declaration of a power-sharing between the north and south.
The southern journalist, Yasser al-Yafai said that the Muslim Brotherhood’s media approach in Yemen and the provocative speech against the southern forces, just as if those forces were from South Africa and they are not the owners of the land who had sacrificed their lives for liberating and securing this land.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30836
(A P)
Al-Maqdashi: Federalism will restore Yemen's status among nations
[Hadi gov.] Defence minister Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Maqdashi on Thursday said the main battle of the Yemeni people is to restore dignity, eradicate the Iranian project and build a fair federal state that will restore Yemen's happiness and civilized status among other nations.
The current period requires uniting all efforts to restore the constitutional institutions and ending the Houthi coup, he said
https://debriefer.net/en/news-22023.html
(A P)
[Hadi gov.] Yemeni minister warns: Houthis attempt to build ideological army
The Yemeni minister for information, culture and tourism on Wednesday warned against "gravely belittling" the danger posed by the Houthi group that tries to "make demographic changes" to areas under its control and build an ideological army."
With Iranian support and planning, the group continues the "plot of Houthization Yemen through attempts to make demographic changes," Moammar al-Eryani tweeted, after "Yemenis rejected its sectarian project and it failed to control the country or to make people kneel down.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-22019.html
and also https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44059
(A P)
More Saudi coalition „We are benefactors“ propaganda
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2173100
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2172744
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2172542
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2172521
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2172513
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2172370
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30833
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1781981/saudi-arabia
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2171869
cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids
(A K pH)
Child injured by Saudi explosive remnants in Saada (photo)
https://hodhodyemennews.net/2020/12/25/child-injured-by-saudi-explosive-remnants-in-saada/
(A K pS)
Coalition targets Houthi gatherings in Saada
According to local news websites, at least 17 Houthi militants were killed in the air strikes, including military field commanders.
The pro-Iran Houthis also suffered heavy material losses in the air raids.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30838
(* B K pH)
[Sanaa gov.] Ministry of Electricity Condemns US-Saudi Aggression Targeting of its Installations
The Ministry of Electricity and Energy condemned US-Saudi aggression targeting of the National grid and Electric Power infrastructure. A statement issued by the Ministry considered targeting of its services is main cause of the deterioration of electricity services and thus the decline in its services, especially health and education.
(* A K pH)
Saudis attack own mercenary force in response to rising rate of desertion
At least 20 recruits were killed and wounded by the Saudi-led coalition forces on Monday in Ma’rib province, according to informed sources.
The sources affirmed that the coalition forces fighter jets waged a series of strikes on a mercenary military convoy, including recruits of the seventh region, as punishment for their defeat and their desertion from battle in the Medghal district during the latest fierce confrontations against the Yemeni army.
The recruits were targeted by the fighters after having fled from Medghal front towards the Raghwan district, north of the city of Ma’rib.
This is not the first time Saudi forces deliberately attack their own mercenary units. The city of Ma’rib has been militarised intensively over the past months, in an attempt to end mass desertions resulting from the total collapse of morale amongst mercenary forces.
(A K pH)
More Saudi coalition air raids
https://english.almasirah.net/post/16845/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Monday%2C-Dec-28%2C-2020 / https://english.almasirah.net/post/16844/US-Saudi-Aggression-Launches-Series-of-Raids-on-Al-Baidha-a%2C-Al-Jawf%2C-Marib%2C-Sa Several prov.
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3121883.htm Marib p., Jawf p.
https://english.almasirah.net/post/16827/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Sunday%2C-Dec-27%2C-2020 Jawf p., Hajjah p., Saada p., Najran
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3121431.htm Marib p., Jawf p.
https://english.almasirah.net/post/16802/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Friday%2C-Dec-25%2C-2020 Marib p., Saada p.
https://english.almasirah.net/post/16782/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Thursday%2C-Dec-24%2C-2020 / https://english.almasirah.net/post/16774/US-Saudi-Warplanes-Launch-Series-of-Raids-on-Marib%2C-Other-Governorateshttps://english.almasirah.net/post/16774/US-Saudi-Warplanes-Launch-Series-of-Raids-on-Marib%2C-Other-Governorates Marib p., Jawf p., Hajjah p., Baydah p.
https://english.almasirah.net/post/16760/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Wednesday%2C-Dec-23-2020 Saada p., Najran
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3121121.htm Marib p.
cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War
Siehe / Look at cp1, cp18
Im Jemen herrscht ein militärisches Patt. Eine größere Offensive mit größeren Erfolgen und Geländegewinnen für eine Seite bleiben seit der Offensive der saudischen Koalition gegen Hodeidah im Jahr 2018 aus. Kleinere Offensiven, ständige gegenseitige Angriffe und Gefechte mit Toten auf beiden Seiten und Opfern unter der Zivilbevölkerung gibt es aber ständig. Besonders betroffen sind die Provinzen Hodeidah, Taiz, Al Bayda, Al Dhalea, der Bezirk Nehm in der Provinz Sanaa, die Provinzen Al Jawf, Marib, Hajjah und Saada.
There is a military stalemate in Yemen. A larger offensive with greater successes and territorial gains for one side has been absent since the Saudi coalition's offensive against Hodeidah in 2018. Smaller offensives, constant mutual attacks and skirmishes killing fighters of both sides and causing victims among the civilian population are constant. The provinces of Hodeidah, Taiz, Al Bayda, Al Dhalea, the district of Nehm in the province of Sanaa, the provinces of Al Jawf, Marib, Hajjah and Saada are particularly affected.
(A K pH)
2 Citizens Injured by Saudi Shells in Sa'adah Governorate
https://english.almasirah.net/post/16842/2-Citizens-Injured-by-Saudi-Shells-in-Sa-adah-Governorate
(A K pS)
Coalition destroys 5 Houthi-laid marine mines in Red Sea
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30858
(A K pH)
[Sanaa gov.] Yemeni forces liberate more territory northwest of Ma’rib
https://hodhodyemennews.net/2020/12/27/yemeni-forces-liberate-more-territory-northwest-of-marib/
and from the other side:
(A K pS)
Houthi militia inflicted heavy losses south of Marib
http://en.26sepnews.net/2020/12/27/houthi-militia-inflicted-heavy-losses-south-of-marib/
(A K pS)
KSrelief's Masam Project Dismantles 1,352 Mines in Yemen During 4th Week of December
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Project (Masam) for clearing Yemeni lands of mines, dismantled, during the fourth week of December 2020, a total of 1,352 mines, including 31 anti-personnel mines, 134 anti-tank mines, 1,178 unexploded munitions and 9 explosive devices.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2173087#2173087
and also http://en.adenpress.news/news/30854
(B K pH)
Capabilities of Yemeni Air Defenses Worried Superpowers
The capabilities of Yemeni air defenses have grown during the six years of the Saudi-led war on Yemen, a matter that has caused concern to the superpowers, which regularly conclude arms deals with the countries involved in the war.
Last week, the air defenses shot down a CH4 combat drone over the sky of Madkhal district in Marib. The operation did not go unnoticed, especially since the drone is considered one of the pride of Chinese military industries.
China is looking for secrets of the weapon that shot down CH4 in Marib:
The targeting operation worried China, as it was not the first time that the Yemeni air defenses shot down a china-made drone. This prompted it to try to find out the type of weapon that managed to hunt its plane over Yemeni airspace, even for a fee.
Abdullah Salam Al-Hakimi, a Yemeni politician, revealed that China has offered a huge sum to Sana’a in return for providing it with information on how its planes were shot down by the Yemeni Armed Forces.
“It is said that China considers the shooting down of many of its advanced combat drones, CH4, which it has sold hundreds to Saudi Arabia for use in the aggression against Yemen, as a practical proof of the failure of its aircraft,” Al-Hakimi wrote in a post published on his Twitter page.
“Secret contacts are taking place with Sana'a to find out the details of the intercepting, to avoid defects, in exchange for a huge amount, to be paid in advance,” he added.
The Yemeni defenses reversed the military equation in the face of the coalition:
The importance of the information lies in the fact that Yemeni air defenses have become an influential figure in the region and have been able to reverse the military equation with the coalition.
https://english.almasirah.net/post/16821/Capabilities-of-Yemeni-Air-Defenses-Worried-Superpowers
My comment: The claim in the last sentence quoted here obviously is an exaggeration.
(A K pS)
Masam.. The task of securing fishe|rmen harbours in Bab-e-Mandab
In an exclusive statement to Masam’s media office, the engineer Jalal Amer, the leader of team 24 Masam reiterated that his team was able to secure 8 minefields that the Houthis implanted in fishermen harbors and fish farms along the coasts of Bab Al Mandab directorate.
The engineer Jalal said that his team has been able to remove 850 anti-tank landmines and more that 250 anti-personnel mines, since the start of its task.
https://www.projectmasam.com/eng/masam-the-task-of-securing-fishermen-harbors-in-bab-al-mandab/
(A K pS)
The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Terrorist Houthi Militia Launches Ballistic Missile (Saturday) Morning from (‘Amran) Gov., Falls Short in (Al-Jawf) Gov.
“The terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia launched a ballistic missile from (‘Amran) governorate this morning (Saturday, 26 December 2020), using civilian objects as a launch site. The missile fell short in Yemeni territory East of Al-Yatmah, Al-Jawf governorate.
https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2172451
(A K pS)
Young boy killed by Houthi sniper in north Lahj
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30849
(A K pH)
Landmine kills woman in Sa'ada
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3121434.htm
(A K)
Saudi army launches heavy rocket, artillery shelling on Yemen's Saada
https://debriefer.net/en/news-22041.html
(A K pS)
Arab coalition claims destroying Houthi Iranian-made naval mines
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on Thursday in a statement that its forces destroyed 4 Houthi Iranian-made naval mines in the Red Sea.
The Arab coalition destroyed in total 175 naval mines haphazardly spread by the Houthis, the statement added, according to Saudi media.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-22034.html
(A K pS)
13-year-old Riyadh Ahmed al-Humaiqani shot dead in the head today by a Houthi sniper near their home in al-Ghul village in alBaydha (photos)
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1342534172972343298
and also https://twitter.com/BelqeesRights/status/1342901504865402885
(A K pS)
Saudi-led coalition says mine hit ship in Red Sea - state TV
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on Friday that a marine mine laid by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis hit a commercial cargo ship in the southern Red Sea causing minor damages but no human loss, Saudi state TV reported.
and also https://debriefer.net/en/news-22042.html
(A K pS)
Increased tension in al-Jawf over clashes bet. Houthis & tribesmen. After Houthis arbitrarily detained 3 trbsmen & refused to free them, dozen fighters stormed ystrdy inv. dept in al-Hazm ,clashing with Houthis & releasing the detained. Houthis also suffered 3 ambushes same day.
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1341939070772125696
(A K pH)
Saudi shelling injures two men in Sa'ada
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3121119.htm
(A K pS)
A few days following the death of his young cousin who was gunned down by a #Houthi sniper in the besieged city of #Taiz, a child named Mohammed had his left arm amputated due to being hit by mortar shrapnel that was launched by #Houthis (photo)
https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1341812140638949377
cp18 Kampf um Hodeidah / Hodeidah battle
Seit dem Abkommen von Stockholm vom 13. Dezember 2018 gibt es einen Waffenstillstand für Hodeidah. Zwar bleiben größere Offensiven aus, kleinere Gefechte gibt es aber laufend, und beide Seiten werfen sich ständig Verstöße gegen den Waffenstillstand vor.
Since the Stockholm Agreement of December 13, 2018, a ceasefire has been in place for Hodeidah. There are no major offensives, but smaller battles are going on and both sides constantly are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
(* A K P)
Houthis bury 65 unidentified bodies in Yemeni Hodeida
The Houthi group has buried the fifth batch of (65) unidentified bodies in the Yemeni western governorate of Hodeida.
In total, the Iranian-backed group entombed 297 out of 715 unidentified dead bodies kept in Hodeida hospitals' morgues.
The burial of 65 bodies took place in coordination with the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), and in cooperation with relevant authorities, the Sana'a-based Saba said.
Burial is the only way to maintain the identity data of the dead and the hereditary information, after death causes are documented by forensic medicine, the news agency added.
The dead bodies were given numbers and distinguishing signs that would help relatives (once appear) to recognize them, Saba quoted Ala'a al-Dhobaie, director of legal medicine in the Public Prosecutor office, as saying.
While the Houthis attribute these large numbers of unidentified bodies to war and Arab coalition airstrikes, the Yemeni official government says the group tries to get rid of any evidences that could disclose its crimes against abductees and other civilians in areas under its control.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-22093.html
(A K pS)
Five workers injured by Houthi shelling in Hodeidah
Five workers were severely injured in a heavy shelling carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthi putschist militia targeting the Thabet's Brothers Factories in Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeidah, Al-Amalika Media Center (AMC) reported on Monday.
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30861
Photos: https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1343611236148240384 and https://republicanyemen.net/archives/26645
(A K pS)
Experts destroy 1810 Houthi laid-landmines in Bab al-Mandab
Mine experts managed to extract and destroy 1810 of landmines, explosive devi ces and unexploded ordnances (UXO) in Bab al-Mandab area in western Yemen.
A technical team of the National Program for Mine control in cooperation with Saudi demining project "MASAM" unearthed the mines which include anti-personnel one and got rid of them.
Last week the experts unearthed and destroyed 865 landmines.
https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44112
(A K pS)
Eight Houthi spying drones seen in Hodeidah
http://en.adenpress.news/news/30831
(A K)
Ten Houthi snipers killed in Yemen Hodeida
Ten Houthi snipers have been killed in the Yemeni western governorate of Hodeida during the few last weeks, the pro-government joint forces (JF) said on Tuesday.
https://debriefer.net/en/news-21991.html
(A K pH)
Daily violations
cp19 Sonstiges / Other
(A)
Yesterday was an extraordinary day in south #Yemen's Shabwah, where Tadhamen defeated Rayan 2-0 in the final match of Belqees League Championship in the governorate. The match was played be4 record crowd at al-Khalifi new stadium, Ataq (photos)
https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1343038384252575746
https://twitter.com/FuadRajeh/status/1343151872123809794
(* B C)
Film: Durch den Süd-Jemen und zu Gast bei einer jemenitischen Großfamilie
Durch den Süd-Jemen nach Baraqisch Mondtempel in Marib, Wüste Rub al-Khali, , Sayun, Tarim, Wadi Hadramaut, Wadi Doan, Djol-Plateau, Shibam, Al Mukalla, Mahnhatten der Wüste, Lehmziegelherstellung, Einladung zu einer jemenitischen Familie [Jemen vor 20 Jahren…]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgzWHMTxaKA
(-)
Animals in Yemen
Below you can find a complete list of Yemeni animals. We currently track 134 animals in Yemen and are adding more every day!
https://a-z-animals.com/animals/location/asia/yemen/
Vorige / Previous:
https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-703-yemen-war-mosaic-703
Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-703 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-703:
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:
Was ist Ihre Meinung?
Kommentare einblendenDiskutieren Sie mit.