Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 706b- Yemen War Mosaic 706b

Yemen Press Reader 706b: 7. Januar 2021: Fortsetzung von Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 706, cp6 - cp19 / January 7, 2021: Sequel to Yemen War Mosaic 706, cp6 - cp19

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Dies ist die Fortsetzung von Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 706, Teil 1 / This is the sequel of Yemen War Mosaic 706, part 1:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-706-yemen-war-mosaic-706

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

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

cp9 USA

cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Spannungen am Golf / US-Iran crisis: Tensions at the Gulf

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

cp11 Deutschland / Germany

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis

cp12b Sudan

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade

cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy

cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism

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

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

Siehe / Look at cp1

(A P)

The government is expected to issue decision to increase public salaries by 70%./Yemen Voice.

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44336

(A P)

Yemen [Hadi gov.] renews demands for international designation of Houthis a terror organization

Information Minister Muammar al-Eryani said the Houthi militia should be “put on the blacklist of terrorists” in preparation for the prosecution of the militia’s leaders.

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44337

(A T)

Senior police officer survives bomb blast in Aden

http://en.adenpress.news/news/31945

(A P)

Association demands Yemen government to disclose fate of disappeared persons

The association of abductees' mothers on Tuesday called on Yemen's legitimate government to reveal the whereabouts and the fate of 39 people who have been detained in prisons run by the security belt forces for four years.
At a protest it organized at the Al-Ma'asheeq presidential palace in the interim capital Aden, the association said the families of the 39 disappeared persons have been living with constant worries.
The silence of the authorities after forming the new government, not assuring the families about the fate of their loved ones or telling them about mechanisms to disclose their whereabouts and holding those responsible about their abductions accountable aggravated the suffering of their families, it said.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22295.html

and also https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/01/06/mothers-of-abducted-yemenis-protest-against-saudi-and-uae-aggression-in-aden/

(A P)

The Southern Transitional Council have banned the Sports Minister Nayef al-Bakri from exercising his duties in Aden./Yemen Sky

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44319

(A P)

PM: Aden has a historic chance for recovery

Prime Minister Dr. Ma'een Abdulmalik state that with the implementation of Riyadh Agreement and the government return to operate in the temporary Aden, the seaport city has been offered a historic opportunity for recovery, shouldn't be missed.

http://en.adenpress.news/news/30943

(A P)

Yemeni gov't expects political, economic support after Gulf settlement

The Yemeni internationally-recognized government is confident that the Gulf reconciliation and Ulla Summit would positively reflect on Yemen's conditions and politically and economically support the country, Yemen's prime minister tweeted on Tuesday.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22300.html

(A P)

Ulla Summit to leave positive impact on Yemenis war with Iran: Tariq Saleh

The GCC 41st Summit held in the Saudi northwestern city of al-Ulla will definitely leave a positive impact on the Yemenis' battle against Iran and its proxies, commander of the Emirati-backed Guards of the Republic brigades tweeted on Tuesday.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22299.html

(A P)

Yemeni gov't hopes Gulf relations return to normal course

The Yemeni official government welcomes the sincere efforts exerted to reunite the brothers in the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Yemeni foreign ministry said Tuesday in an official statement.
Yemen hopes the GCC 41st Summit will help solve unsettled issues and bring Gulf relations to their normal course, the statement added.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22278.html

(A P)

Islah blesses Gulf reconciliation as "important and necessary step"

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44315

(A P)

Mikhlafi: Gulf reconciliation key for Yemeni State restoration

The GCC reconciliation is a success of the Kuwaiti wise diplomacy and policy, advisor to the Yemeni President tweeted late on Monday.
"Yemen was greatly affected by Gulf disputes and will benefit from settlement,"

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22275.html

(A P)

Former Yemen foreign minister hopes Gulf reconciliation helps end Yemen war Abu Baker Al-Qirbi

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22287.html

(* B E P)

Jemen: Der Krieg im Krieg

Im Jemen allerdings kann man die Herren von Abu Dhabi von einer etwas weniger freundlichen Seite kennenlernen.

Vor etwa fünf Jahren sind sie an der Seite Saudi-Arabiens in den – ohnehin schon verwickelten – Konflikt eingestiegen. Dabei haben sie es offenbar besonders auf Energiequellen im Süden abgesehen. Zum jemenitischen Bürgerkrieg kommt damit ein Krieg im Krieg hinzu, bei dem sich vermeintliche Alliierte manchmal auf gegnerischen Seiten wiederfinden.

„Im Süden des Jemen gibt es, in Balhaf, eine Fabrik für die Verflüssigung von Gas“, erklärt uns der französische Jemen-Experte Franck Mermier. „Sie wird heute von der Luftwaffe der Emirate und ihren örtlichen Verbündeten kontrolliert. Das Gas kommt von einem Ort 300 km weiter nördlich, der in den Händen von Regierungstruppen ist. Aber das Gas konnte seit 2015, also seit Beginn des Eingreifens der saudischen Koalition im Jemen, nicht mehr ausgeführt werden; alle Gas- und auch Öl-Exporte sind praktisch völlig zum Erliegen gekommen.“

Und das führt dazu, dass der Regierung die Ressourcen ausgehen und sie auf einmal ohne Geld dasteht, erklärt Mermier.

Die Gemengelage im Süden des Jemen ist jetzt also ganz besonders komplex: Die Regierung hat dort keinen Zugriff mehr, alles wird von den Emiraten kontrolliert und den Milizen, mit denen sie zusammenarbeiten. Außerdem stößt man im Süden auch auf al-Quaida.“

Typisch für den Jemen-Konflikt ist seine Fragmentierung: Es gibt da nicht zwei Fronten, sondern eine Vielzahl verschiedener Akteure, von denen jeder sein eigenes Spiel spielt. Auch Präsident Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi oder dem „Übergangsrat“ des Südens geht es ganz wesentlich um die Kontrolle der Gasvorkommen. Und nicht nur Saudis und Emirate haben ihre Interessen, sondern auch Frankreich. Schließlich wurde die oben erwähnte Flüssiggas-Fabrik in Balhaf von der französischen Total-Gruppe betrieben (mit Audio)

https://www.vaticannews.va/de/welt/news/2021-01/jemen-krieg-gas-emirate-saudi-arabien-frankreich-konflikt-houthi.html

(* B E P)

South Yemen, the scene of a gas war

Behind the unity displayed between the supporters of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the members of the Southern Transition Council, however, is playing out a war within the war: that for the control of the country's gas resources. One site in particular is the symbol of these tensions, Balhaf, in the south-east of the country, where there is a liquefaction plant operated since 2009 by the French group Total. At the same time, the Yemeni state relies on these essential gas resources to stay afloat. Before the war, the Balhaf deposit represented 45% of the country's tax revenue. Today, due to the conflict, the site is shut down, it only symbolically supplies electricity to a few neighboring villages.

The factory is currently under the control of the United Arab Emirates, which in recent years has become a major player in the regional conflict. The Emirates are in fact part of the Sunni anti-Houthi coalition that intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 and play a key role in the control of South Yemen, whether in Blahaf or in the port of Aden, the main city. South where Abu Dhabi has armed militias to its boot.

To see more clearly on this conflict mixing economy, tribalism and geopolitics, we asked the clarification of Frank Mermier, researcher at the CNRS , specialist in Yemen.

https://www.vaticannews.va/fr/monde/news/2021-01/sud-yemen-guerre-gaz-franck-mermier.html

(A P)

A power sharing agreement between #Yemen’s internationally recognized government @YemenPM and southern separatists @STCSouthArabia has deescalated conflict in #Abyan governorate, allowing civilian and commercial transit to resume along Yemen’s southern coast.

https://twitter.com/NavantiGroup/status/1346468749390401538

(A P)

Shabwah Governor dismissed 9 local officers, referred them to investigation & imposed travel ban on them for charges of corruption "abuse of their official positions ...& harming the interests of State ...and citizens..".

https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1346251425110749184

(A P)

PM receives victims' families of terrorist attack on Aden airport

http://en.adenpress.news/news/30937

(A P)

UAE refuses to reopen airport in Yemen: official

UAE turned Al Rayan airport into military base and 'illegal prison' in 2016, says Yemeni official

The United Arab Emirates has rejected demands by the Yemeni government to reopen Al Rayan airport in Yemen’s southeastern city of Al-Mukalla, an official said Monday.

"The Emirati forces have refused the instructions of the Yemeni government to reopen Al-Rayan airport," said Mukhtar al-Rahbi, adviser to the Yemeni Minister of Information.

The UAE, which is the second-most active member in the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen, turned the airport into a military base for its forces in 2016 and refuses to reopen it for security reasons.

Al-Rahbi also accused the UAE of turning the airport into a prison.

"The Emirati forces continue to use the airport as an illegal prison to commit heinous forms of torture against Yemenis," he said.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/uae-refuses-to-reopen-airport-in-yemen-official/2098347

(A P)

Saudi Arabia, Houthis target collective consciousness of Yemeni people

Saudi Arabia which leads a military operation in Yemen and the Iran-aligned Ansar Allah group have similar positions on many issues but they seem so identical about changing the names of Yemeni schools in line with their future ambitions in the war-torn country.
This past Saturday, the education office in Mahra province where Saudi forces have been stationed and building military bases for years decided to change the names of eight schools that were funded by the Saudi development and reconstruction program for Yemen.
The schools will be renamed after the Saudi cities of Riyadh, Dammam, Diriyah, Tabuk, Makkah, Abha, Madinah and Taef.
The organizing committee of peaceful demonstrations in the province has strongly rejected the decision.
The Saudi program has just provided funds to buy schoolbooks and stationary for these schools but has not contributed to their construction, said head of the demonstration committee in the district of Shahin, Hamid Zanabout.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22234.html

and

(A P)

Saudi plot to rename Yemeni schools met with great protest

Hamid Zabenot, chairman of the sit-in committee in the Shahin district in Mahra province, has on Sunday stated that he rejects Saudi Arabia’s attempts to change the name of schools in the province.

“What the Saudi program has done, is funding the purchase of books and office supplies in schools, but has nothing to do with the construction of these schools that would give them the right to rename them,” Zabenot said in a tweet on Sunday.

“Our brothers in Oman have provided projects and support the people of Mahrah, Socotra and all parts of Yemen, and have never sought to cause any harm or seek to change the names of the projects [in return]. They see it as their duty and commitment to their brothers and neighbours,” Zabenot added.

https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/01/04/saudi-plot-to-rename-yemeni-schools-met-with-great-protest/

(A P)

Yemen's STC calls on coalition to secure Aden skies

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) on Sunday called for international panel to participate in probes into the Wednesday attack on Aden airport, that left 26 civilians killed and other 110 injured.
It is necessary to identify the "party and its tools responsible for this deadly attack that violates all international laws" and engagement rules, the STC presidency board said in a statement after a meeting.
The STC call comes as the Yemeni official government reportedly unveiled plans to internationalize the terrorist attack on Aden airport.
The Emirati-backed STC called on the Saudi-led coalition to secure the Yemeni interim capital's skies in precaution against any future attacks.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22232.html

(A T)

Headquarters of Saudi Forces in Southern Yemen Rocked by Explosion, Report Says

The headquarters of the Saudi forces in Yemen's southern province of Abyan was hit by an explosion, the Yemeni Belqees TV broadcaster reported on Sunday.

According to the media outlet, the blast occurred in the province’s area of Shukra.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni Almasdar Online news portal reported, citing sources, that an explosive device was planted at the gates of the school, which currently hosts the military committee headed by the Saudi-led coalition.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202101031081639891-headquarters-of-saudi-forces-in-southern-yemen-rocked-by-explosion-report-says/

and also http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-01/04/c_139638892.htm

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22233.html

and

(A T)

Blasts near Saudi committee in Yemen Abyan in hours

Two successive blasts were followed by intense gunfire in the vicinity of the Saudi military committee in Shoqra district, in the Yemeni southern governorate of Abyan, Yemeni sources said Monday, hours after the panel arrived.
Two mortar shells were fired, one fell inside the HQs of the committee (that is tasked with supervising the application of Riyadh Agreement military provisions) and the other near civilian houses, the sources added.
Angered by the blasts, people from Shoqra blocked the Aden-Mukalla main road, calling for Saudi committee's departure, according to the sources.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22249.html

(A P)

Advisor to Hadi urges to put sanction corrupt officials

Advisor to president Hafiz Miyad on Tuesday called for assigning a team of economists from the United Nations to evaluate the activities of the Central Bank of Yemen since it was relocated from Sanaa into Aden in late 2016.
Miyad was appointed as the governor of the bank and chairman of the supreme economic committee in 2018.
There is a corruption network profiteering from the current situation at the expense of the people's interests, he said.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22286.html

and

(* A P)

Yemen PM Launches Battle for Reform with Central Bank

The Yemeni government has embarked on its battle to reform the economy through the Central Bank, four days after its arrival in the temporary capital, Aden, and following the attempt to assassinate its members in the Houthi missile attacks that targeted the airport on Wednesday.

In his first economic move on Saturday, Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik stressed the importance of “accelerating the procedures for assigning an external audit team for the accounts of the Central Bank of Yemen, in line with transparency procedures and adopting the principle of governance and combating corruption, as a necessary step to ensure the continued application of international financial standards and rules.”

Official sources said Abdulmalik chaired a meeting of the leadership of the Central Bank of Yemen, “to discuss the bank’s future plans and the need to invest the current opportunities in forming the government and the willingness of brothers and friends, especially the countries of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, to back the national economy, continue measures to enhance confidence in the national currency and improve stability of the exchange rate, which directly affects the daily lives of citizens.

https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2718746/yemen-pm-launches-battle-reform-central-bank

and

(A P)

Foreign team tasked with auditing Yemeni bank accounts

The Yemeni prime minister on Saturday called for accelerated measures to task a foreign team with auditing the accounts of the Aden-based Central Bank of Yemen (CBY).
Commissioning an audit team comes as part of the government-adopted anti-corruption governance and international fiscal criteria, PM Maeen Abdulmalek said at meeting with CBY staff.
The government is determined to maintain the CBY's dependency and prevent any intervention in its work or measures it takes to develop monetary policy, he added, according to the Aden-based Saba.
The PM underlined the need for integration between fiscal and monetary policy and for reviving the supreme economic council's work to start a new stage of stable economic and improved livings of Yemenis.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22228.html

and also https://en.smanews.org/south-arabia/the-government-visits-the-central-bank-and-stresses-need-to-support-efforts-of-the-local-currency/

(* A K P)

Separatist forces deploy armed troops to Aden coast

The Security Belt mercenary factions, one of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) militias, has on Sunday deployed security patrols along the coast of Aden to combat what they described as “provocative acts.”

This comes a day after Hadi’s Information Minister posted a picture of him on the provincial coast.

Security Belt commander Mohsen al-Waeli said his forces would “strike with an iron fist against any one intends to harm the interests of South and its state.”

The Security Belt is responsible for securing Aden, based on orders of the Saudi-led coalition. However, it is also one of several factions calling for the secession of Southern Yemen and rejecting the return of Hadi’s government to Aden.

The deployment of patrols will limit the attempt by northern ministers in Hadi’s government to secure their presence in the city, which in turn risks further infighting between Saudi-led factions and UAE-backed separatists.

https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/01/03/separatist-forces-deploy-armed-troops-to-aden-coast/

(A P T)

Yemeni security official dies of wounds in Aden blast

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22276.html

(A P T)

Yemen [Hadi gov.] calls UNSC to condemn Houthis over Aden blasts

The Yemeni UN-recognized government called on the UN Security Council to clearly condemn the Houthi group over the attack on Aden international airport, south Yemen.
"The attack that targeted the Yemeni technocrat government in Aden airport is a preplanned terrorist act aimed at undermining the political process," Yemen's representative to the UN told his French and Estonian counterparts, Nicolas De Rivière and Steven Jorgensen, on phone.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22277.html

(A P)

Al-Shuaibi vows to restore security to Aden

Aden police chief Maj. Gen. Mutahar Al-Shuaibi on Saturday vowed to restore security and stability to and impose the rule of law in Yemen's interim capital.
The security of Aden is the responsibility of all political and security forces as well as the citizens, he said.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22217.html

(A P)

Airport in Yemen receives 1st flight since deadly attack

https://apnews.com/article/cabinets-saudi-arabia-riyadh-sanaa-yemen-65714582dad1a6017f92ff6fae315313

and also https://en.smanews.org/south-arabia/governor-lamlas-with-number-of-ministers-launch-resumption-of-navigation-activity-at-aden-international-airport/

cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks

Siehe / Look at cp1

(A P)

UN Envoy Griffiths meets with Yemeni President Hadi in Riyadh

Mr. Griffiths congratulated President Hadi on the formation of the new Cabinet and condemned the horrific attack against the newly formed Government of Yemen, upon its arrival in Aden airport last week that aimed at undermining peace efforts.

https://osesgy.unmissions.org/un-envoy-griffiths-meets-yemeni-president-hadi-riyadh

(A P)

U.N. envoy plans trip to Yemen and Saudi Arabia after Aden attack

U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths will visit Yemen and Saudi Arabia in the next few days to meet with the Yemeni president and senior Saudi officials following an attack on Aden airport last week, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security/u-n-envoy-plans-trip-to-yemen-and-saudi-arabia-after-aden-attack-idUSKBN29A13M?rpc=401&

(* A P)

UN Envoy in Aden Soon to Kick off Negotiations on Comprehensive Solution

United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths plans to kick off a series of direct meetings between the legitimate government and Iran-backed Houthis, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat Sunday.

The envoy is expected in the interim capital Aden in days.

“Griffiths believes that the positive atmosphere accompanying the formation of a power-sharing government and its return to Aden is an important point that would help kick off comprehensive political talks on the draft Joint Declaration,” the informed sources said.

The Joint Declaration comprises a nationwide ceasefire, in addition to an agreement on humanitarian and economic measures and the resumption of a comprehensive and inclusive political process in Yemen.

Griffiths believes that indirect talks between the warring parties on the Joint Declaration had been successful.

Griffiths had proposed the text of his draft Joint Declaration on a ceasefire across Yemen months ago.

He has been carrying out discussions virtually and shuttling between the parties involved in the conflict.

The draft was approved by the legitimate government and rejected by the Houthis, who suggested changes and demanded additional conditions.

However, the sources uncovered Sunday that an important agreement was reached between the parties on several sections of the Declaration, particularly the first and third items.

They explained that the first item is related to aspects of the ceasefire and the third item details the means of discussions towards a comprehensive political agreement.

The sources said the two sides have not agreed on the second item, which covers economic and humanitarian measures.

“Griffiths wants the two sides to sit together and discuss differences over the airport, Hodeidah and salaries,” the sources said.

https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2720086/un-envoy-aden-soon-kick-negotiations-comprehensive-solution = http://en.adenpress.news/news/30933

My comment: The Hadi government at first had rejected Griffith’s draft.

(* B P)

Of High Importance: On October 15, 2020, the ship ELENA belonging to the WFP World Food Program arrived at the port of Hodeidah containing 180 containers of legumes (green peas) on board, equivalent to 3213 tons.

The Standards and Metrology Authority recommended that it be re-exported, but the corrupt mafia of the organizations is trying to pass it and carry out a fumigation process for it, enter it to the governorate and distribute it to the citizens.

The country of origin of the shipment is the United States of America. After being examined by the Standards and Metrology Authority, it became clear that the shipment contained live insects and mites and was not suitable for human consumption.

I have all the documents that confirm what I say. In order to preserve the source, I have not published them. I am ready to disclose these documents to any international body investigating the matter.

https://twitter.com/baseem_aljenani/status/1345832853930717191

cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

Siehe / Look at cp12a

(A P)

Will Saudi Arabia release AlOdah who was detained for calling for a reconciliation between Gulf states in wake of boycotting Qatar?

https://twitter.com/Naseh_Shaker/status/1346437975077515264

(* B P)

Uneasy lies the head that wears the Saudi crown

A new book reveals how the autocratic Mohammed bin Salman is not as all-powerful as he would wish to be, says JOE GILL

The Son King: Reform and Repression in Saudi Arabia, by Madawi al-Rasheed

THE West’s perverse relationship with the Saudi ruling family has come under renewed spotlight in recent years with the regime’s devastating war in Yemen and the murder of regime insider-turned-dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Exiled Saudi analyst Madawi al-Rasheed has become an authority on the vicious antics of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since he came to power after his father succeeded to the throne in 2015.

In her new book, she offers insights and historical analysis based on deep knowledge of the kingdom.

In Son King, her new book, she explores the changing nature of the Saudi regime, from one that used Wahhabism — the ultraconservative brand of Islam — to achieve hegemony on the Arabian peninsula with British support to the more recent conversion to a nationalist modernisation drive under bin Salman.

As she explains in the introduction, bin Salman’s intensified persecution of all dissent in the kingdom made it impractical for her to talk to Saudis in the country and so the focus is on the growing number of exiles who criticise and campaign for change from their new homes in the West.

Rasheed’s perspective on the current regime is a useful corrective to those Western correspondents who have lauded the modernisation drive of bin Salman and bought into the idea that only a top-down repressive approach can work in a country mired in social conservatism.

The anti-extremist securitised approach to “reform” is a useful cover for the continuing lucrative arms-for-oil sales that underpin the near-century old ties between Riyadh, London and Washington.

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/c/uneasy-lies-head-wears-saudi-crown

(A P)

In an attempt by Saudi Arabia to cover up its human rights violations, the Saudi authorities are hosting the Saudi Dakar Rally. We call on all participants to remember the human rights heroes in #Saudi Arabia who are paying the price in prison.

https://twitter.com/Abdullah96wa/status/1345679074627375104

Another example of racist & supremacist organizations that views the suffering of brown people as irrelevant

https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1345740871212425221

cp9 USA

Siehe / Look at cp9a

(* B H P)

Hungertod in Kauf genommen

Trump-Regierung könnte jemenitische Ansarollah zur Terrororganisation erklären. Hilfsorganisationen warnen eindringlich vor Folgen

Man prüfe die Listung der Ansarollah (»Huthis«) als terroristische Organisation als Teil der Kampagne des »maximalen Drucks« gegen den Iran, verlautbart es seit Wochen aus der US-Regierung. Denn obwohl das Gegenteil längst erwiesen ist und dies auch aus US-amerikanischen Sicherheitskreisen bestätigt wird, bezeichnet die Trump-Administration die Ansarollah weiter als Vasallen Teherans. Mindestens in gleichem Maße dürfte es Trump aber darum gehen, das im geheimen seit vielen Jahren mit Israel kooperierende Riad doch noch dazu zu bewegen, die »Normalisierung« seiner Beziehungen mit Tel Aviv in einem Abkommen zu besiegeln, wie es bereits die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, Bahrain, der Sudan und Marokko getan haben.

Jetzt, da Washington doch noch eine Last-Minute-Listung vollziehen könnte, haben zahlreiche Hilfsorganisationen und US-Kongressabgeordnete eindringlich vor den fatalen Konsequenzen eines solchen Schrittes gewarnt. So würde die humanitäre Hilfe für Millionen von Jemeniten ganz akut gefährdet, schrieben Anfang Dezember 29 im Jemen tätige Hilfsorganisationen in einem Brief an den US-Kongress. Denn wären die Ansarollah als Terrororganisation eingestuft, wäre es US-Organisationen und -Individuen untersagt, diesen »materielle Ressourcen oder Unterstützung« zukommen zu lassen. Sie liefen Gefahr, von sekundären Sanktionen oder Strafen getroffen zu werden, sollten sie ihre Tätigkeit in unter Kontrolle der Ansarollah stehenden Gebieten, in denen die Mehrheit der jemenitischen Bevölkerung lebt, dennoch fortsetzen. Der Import von Nahrungsmitteln und Medikamenten, auf den der Jemen fast vollständig angewiesen ist, würde deutlich erschwert, genau wie Überweisungen von Auslandsjemeniten, Hilfsorganisationen und Geschäftspartnern.

https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/393821.us-sanktionen-hungertod-in-kauf-genommen.html

(* B P)

Biden Will Move Fast to End Yemen War, Congressman Says

One of the leading congressional voices against U.S. aid to the Saudi-led war in Yemen said that the incoming Biden administration will make ending the grueling conflict an early foreign policy priority.

“That means no [American] logistical support, no intelligence support, and no military support for the Saudis in the war in Yemen,” Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), a leading foreign policy progressive, told The Daily Beast in an interview on Monday afternoon. “We're going to see a partner in President Biden, Secretary-designate [Tony] Blinken, and of course National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.”

After speaking with senior Biden advisers expected to join the administration, “I am very encouraged by the moral seriousness with which they are approaching the situation in Yemen, and I have confidence that Secretary-designate Blinken will make this one of his top priorities, to end the war,” Khanna said.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/biden-will-move-fast-to-end-yemen-war-congressman-says

(* B P)

Biden Must End the Forever Wars

The American public, exhausted by the pandemic and two decades of war, is in no mood for military adventurism.

2021 marks an ideal opportunity to break decisively with what have come to be known as the forever wars—the open-ended US military involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and many other countries across the Muslim world. A generation of Americans with no memory of the 9/11 attacks is currently deployed in an increasingly aimless effort to avenge them that has now spanned three drastically different presidencies. Polling in recent years has shown consistent opposition to these wars, including from veterans, who have borne the brunt of policy-makers’ refusal to abandon a failed counterterrorism strategy.

For progressives and anti-interventionists, the early signs from Biden have been inauspicious. His inner circle on foreign policy will include Antony Blinken as secretary of state, Jake Sullivan as national security adviser, and Avril Haines as director of national intelligence. All are veterans of the Obama administration and played a significant role in formulating and directing military interventions, and all have leveraged their connections for profit in the private sector during the Trump era. In general, they are fervent believers in American global leadership, backed by military supremacy. The warm welcome this group has received within the Beltway foreign policy community—often derisively referred to as the Blob—suggests an imminent return to the pre-Trump status quo.

But the national mood has shifted dramatically since Barack Obama left office. Foreign policy is a space where many Americans across party lines are demanding a new direction, with clear support for withdrawing forces from Afghanistan and shifting resources from the Pentagon budget into domestic priorities. Democrats in particular support repealing the endlessly renewed post-9/11 Authorization for Use of Military Force, which has granted the executive branch virtually unlimited war-making powers, and which progressive legislators like Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna have fought to rein in. A Biden administration that wants to maintain broad support and transpartisan appeal could feel pressure to chart a new course.

The Democrats’ 2020 platform, to which Biden and his inner circle are theoretically committed, explicitly recognizes the need to end the forever wars.

It specifically calls for an end to the US-backed Saudi war in Yemen, a humanitarian catastrophe.

So far, there is little indication of genuine soul-searching over Obama-era policies like the troop surge in Afghanistan, the expansion of George W. Bush’s targeted assassination program, the authorization of regime change in Libya, or the war in Yemen.

To avoid a repeat of the Obama administration’s greatest foreign policy mistakes, Biden and his advisers would be wise to recognize the subsequent shifts in both public opinion and strategic reality and to work to change the underlying US relationships in the greater Middle East. In particular, the Trump administration’s uncritical indulgence of Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states must be repudiated, and there should be a swift diplomatic reset with Iran, to make clear to foreign autocrats that Jared Kushner’s corrupt approach to diplomacy was an aberration.

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/biden-foreign-policy-intervention/

(B P)

Letter: Proscribing the Houthis will not end Yemen’s war

With 80 per cent of the country’s population needing international aid to survive and millions at risk of a widespread famine, Yemen is a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions. A Trump administration designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organisation would turn the crisis into a calamity with no security upside for the US (“Terror label will push Yemen closer to famine, UN warns”, Report, December 29).

If the US wants to help, it can start by cutting off all military, financial and diplomatic support to the Saudi coalition and cease the sale of offensive arms to Riyadh that could be used in Yemen. These long overdue moves would reinvigorate a floundering UN-led peace process and send a message to the Saudi government that Washington’s backing shouldn’t be taken for granted.

https://www.ft.com/content/b9396fd1-9cbd-4aa6-b158-3fc2bcad03ed

(* B K P)

U.S.-Backed Airstrikes Are Killing People In Yemen. This Is Their Impact.

President Donald Trump has resisted bipartisan efforts to end the American role in the war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives. President-elect Joe Biden says he will change course.

Lawmakers, U.S. officials, humanitarian groups, anti-war activists, arms dealers, foreign representatives and others have debated the American role in Yemen for years in Washington ― though rarely with such vivid evidence of the policy’s consequences as is documented in Fitzgerald’s film.

It’s vital now to have a clear picture of what President-elect Joe Biden’s choices could mean for Yemen as he assumes the presidency later this month and will have the power to change U.S. policy.

Most national security experts believe that without American support for the bombing, the Saudi-led coalition would need to seriously curtail its operations. That move would also make the kingdom more keen to cut a peace deal with the Houthis and address deadly tussles for influence among its own Yemeni partners.

The war has now killed nearly a quarter of a million people

Biden has promised he will end the Obama-era policy and treat Saudi Arabia as a “pariah.” But he will face a test of how seriously he takes that promise early in his presidency: Biden will have to decide whether to block a giant arms package that Trump crafted for the U.A.E. last fall, which the vast majority of congressional Democrats opposes.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/yemen-saudi-airstrikes-joe-biden_n_5fee2bb2c5b6fd33110d69ab

cp9a USA-Iran Krise: Spannungen am Golf / US-Iran crisis: Tensions at the Gulf

(A K P)

WW3 fears: Iran warns 'fingers of heroic armed forces on trigger' after military display

IRAN has launched a series of exercises featuring a chilling range of deadly domestically produced drones just days after the anniversary of the US killing of a top Iranian general by a missile strike in Iraq.

Mohammad Baqeri, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, said: "The fingers of our heroic armed forces are on the trigger, and if enemies commit the slightest mistake, the armed forces will surely respond fiercely."

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1380123/world-war-3-iran-military-drone-exercises-middle-east-conflict-usa-israel

(A P)

Iran asks Interpol to issue 'red notice' for arrest of President Trump

Iran requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a “red notice” for the arrest of President Trump and 47 other U.S. officials on Tuesday due to the killing of top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last year.

Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili labeled Trump as “the main culprit” in Soleimani’s killing, which he called a “terrorist crime,” the semiofficial Mehr News Agency reported, according to NPR. Other U.S. officials included in the request are U.S. military commanders and officials in the region and at the Pentagon.

The request represented the second time Iran has asked for assistance in arresting the president.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/532780-iran-asks-interpol-to-issue-red-notice-for-arrest-of-president-trump

(A P)

Israel, Saudi tempting US into war with Iran in Trump’s final days: Commander

A senior Iranian military commander says intelligence shows that the Israeli regime and Saudi Arabia are trying to drag the United States into war with Iran in order to complicate matters for the next administration in Washington.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/05/642327/Iran-Israel-Saudi-Arabia-United-States-war-Trump

(A P)

Iran shouldn’t underestimate US stupidity: Analyst

American author and political commentator John Steppling made the comments in an interview with Press TV on Tuesday, while answering a question about remarks by Jake Sullivan, US President-elect Joe Biden's incoming national security adviser, claiming that “ballistic missiles has to be on the table as part of that follow-on negotiation" with Iran.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/06/642375/Iran-shouldn%E2%80%99t-underestimate-US-stupidity

(A P)

Iran: Können neun Kilo hochangereichertes Uran produzieren

Der Iran ist nach Angaben seines Atomchefs in der Lage, bis zu neun Kilogramm Uran pro Monat mit einem Anreicherungsgrad von 20 Prozent herzustellen.

Somit könne die iranische Atomenergieorganisation AEOI auch die im neuen Atomgesetz vorgesehene Jahresproduktion von 200 Kilo erreichen, sagte der Vizepräsident und Chef der AEOI, Ali Akbar Salehi, am Dienstag im Staatsfernsehen.

Die Aufnahme der Urananreicherung auf 20 Prozent am Montag sorgte im Ausland für harsche Kritik. Es wird befürchtet, dass somit das Wiener Atomabkommen von 2015, wonach der Iran mit einem Urananreicherungsgrad von 3,67 Prozent von einem Atomwaffenprogramm abgehalten werden sollte, endgültig gescheitert sei. Ein Sprecher des EU-Außenbeauftragen Josep Borrell sagte am Dienstag, man sei angesichts der Schritte Teherans "sehr besorgt". Sie seien eine klare Verletzung des Atomabkommens. Der Sprecher betonte, die anderen Vertragsparteien stünden zu dem Abkommen und man werde die Anstrengungen verdoppeln, es zu bewahren.

https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/konflikte-iran-koennen-neun-kilo-hochangereichertes-uran-produzieren-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-210105-99-902651

Mein Kommentar: Die EU macht hier eine Falschaussage. Die EU haben selbst das Abkommen schon längst gebrochen, als sie sich an den US-Sanktionen gegen iran beteiligt haben, obwohl Iran seinerzeit noch alle seine verpflichtungen aus dem Abkommen erfüllt hatte.

(A P)

EU says it will redouble efforts to save Iran nuclear deal

The European Union said Tuesday it would redouble its efforts to save the Iran nuclear agreement despite what it calls Tehran’s “important breach” of commitments made in the 2015 deal by starting to enrich uranium to new levels.

EU spokesman Peter Stano said that Iran’s actions “will have serious implications when it comes to nuclear nonproliferation.” Stano said it was in everyone’s interest to rescue the deal and said the 27-nation bloc “will strengthen” its attempts to make sure all adhere to the commitments made in the landmark deal.

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-europe-iran-iran-nuclear-tehran-71d84cb27f8b74c899f21b0328fc2095

My comment: The EU had started to break its commitments a long time before Iran did the same.

(A P)

Iran says South Korea holding $7 billion Iran funds 'hostage'

An Iranian government spokesman on Tuesday rejected allegations that Iran’s seizure of a South Korean vessel amounted to hostage-taking, and said was it was South Korea that was holding $7 billion of Iran’s funds “hostage”.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-tanker-spokesman/iran-says-south-korea-holding-7-billion-iran-funds-hostage-idUSKBN29A0UH

and

(A P)

Iran Pushes South Korea to Release Billions Withheld by Banks

Iran is escalating its pressure on South Korea to release billions of dollars of oil-export revenue, arguing that Seoul is buckling to pressure from its U.S. ally and illegally withholding funds needed to counter the Middle East’s worst coronavirus outbreak.

Abdolnaser Hemmati, the head of the Central Bank of Iran, said the actions of banks in South Korea were preventing Iran from using the money to buy foods and medicines, trade that’s exempt from U.S. sanctions.

“It is appalling to see that Korean banks have conveniently neglected their obligations, common international financial agreements, and decided to play politics and follow illegal and unilateral U.S. sanctions,” Hemmati said in a written response to questions. Iran could launch legal action to gain access to the funds, he said, without naming the lenders in question.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-10/iran-pushes-south-korea-to-release-billions-withheld-by-banks

(A P)

Iran urges South Korea to behave ‘rationally’ over seized tanker

Iran has called on South Korea to behave “rationally and responsibly” regarding the technical case of its tanker, which was seized recently in the Persian Gulf by Iranian naval forces for repeated violations of maritime environmental law.

“As it has been previously declared, the problem with the Korean ship is purely technical, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, like all countries, is fully sensitive to protecting and safeguarding the marine environment and deals with violations in accordance with the law,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters on Tuesday.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/06/642379/Iran-Khatibzadeh-South-Korea-tanker

and

(A P)

South Korean tanker was boarded by armed Iran Guard forces

Armed Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops stormed a South Korean tanker and forced the ship to change course and travel to Iran, the vessel’s owner said Tuesday, the latest maritime seizure by Tehran amid heightened tensions with the West over its nuclear program.

The military raid on Monday on the MT Hankuk Chemi was at odds with Iranian explanations that they stopped the vessel for polluting the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, it appeared the Islamic Republic sought to increase its leverage over Seoul ahead of negotiations over billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen in South Korean banks amid a U.S. pressure campaign targeting Iran.

An Iranian government spokesman, when asked on Tuesday about the seizure, offered Tehran’s bluntest acknowledgement yet of a link with the frozen assets.

“If anybody is to be called a hostage taker, it is the South Korean government that has taken our more than $7 billion hostage under a futile pretext,” spokesman Ali Rabiei said.

https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-tanker-boarded-iran-guard-bbb977f8756fb4967c2e1f9756d94212

(B P)

Film: Exclusive look inside Iran’s supermarket in Venezuela

Red Lines host Anya Parampil visits Megasis, an Iranian supermarket which recently opened in Caracas, Venezuela, and explores cooperation between Tehran and Caracas against the US economic blockade. Parampil provides an exclusive look inside a superstore which the US government and corporate media have condemned and attempted to link to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. She also speaks with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza about how increased cooperation between Tehran and Caracas is improving the material condition of average citizens in his country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJRSdDsoce0

(A P)

US aircraft carrier stays in Gulf after Pentagon claims Iranian 'threats' against Trump

Pentagon reverses decision to pull USS Nimitz out of Persian Gulf after ‘recent threats issued by Iranian leaders’

The United States has reversed a decision to bring an aircraft carrier home from the Persian Gulf, with the Pentagon saying that due to “recent threats” by Iran the USS Nimitz would stay in position.

The Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf waters since late November. In a statement issued on 31 December the acting US defence secretary, Christopher C Miller, had ordered the vessel to “transit directly home to complete a nearly 10-month deployment”.

The New York Times, quoting US officials, said this move was part of a “de-escalatory” signal to Tehran to avoid a conflict in President Donald Trump’s last days in office.

However, Miller issued a new statement on Sunday changing course. “Due to the recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other US government officials, I have ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its routine redeployment,” he said.

“The USS Nimitz will now remain on station in the US central command area of operations. No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/04/us-aircraft-carrier-stays-in-gulf-after-iranian-threats-against-trump

(A P)

Iraqi Hezbollah Will Not Storm US 'Embassy of Evil'

Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah militia pledged not to attack the US Embassy in Iraq on Sunday, on the first anniversary of the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone airstrike.

"We will neither enter the embassy of evil (the US Embassy) nor overthrow this government... there is still time,” the group’s secretary-general, Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, said in a statement.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/pro-iran-militia-says-won-t-attack-us-embassy-in-iraq/2096943

(* A P)

Iran beginnt laut Regierung mit höherer Urananreicherung

Der Schritt kommt wenig überraschend, aber zur Unzeit: Der Iran hat mit der höheren Anreicherung seines Urans begonnen. Die Regierung in Teheran muss umsetzen, was ihr selbst nicht gefällt. Israel sieht in der Entscheidung jedoch eine bedrohliche Absicht

Der Iran hat mit der umstrittenen Erhöhung seiner Urananreicherung in der Atomanlage Fordo südlich der Hauptstadt Teheran begonnen.

"Das technische Prozedere für Urananreicherung auf 20 Prozent hat vor einigen Stunden in Fordo begonnen", sagte Regierungssprecher Ali Rabiei am Montag auf dem Regierungsportal Dolat.

Die Internationale Atomenergiebehörde IAEA sei über den Vorgang sowie das neue Atomgesetz, das unter anderem eine Erhöhung der Urananreicherung auf 20 Prozent vorsieht, in Kenntnis gesetzt worden. Die IAEA selbst erklärte, dass sie Aktivitäten in Fordo beobachtet habe und die Mitgliedsstaaten der Organisation zeitnah darüber informieren werde.

Das Verfahren stehe im Einklang mit dem vom Parlament verabschiedeten neuen Atomgesetz.

https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.vor-einigen-stunden-sprecher-iran-hat-mit-hoeherer-urananreicherung-begonnen.ed2262c0-0faa-4861-9ded-8339ed420feb.html

(* A P)

Iran starts 20% uranium enrichment, seizes tanker in strait

Iran on Monday began enriching uranium up to 20% at an underground facility and seized a South Korean-flagged oil tanker in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions in the Middle East between Tehran and the West.

The announcement of enrichment at Fordo came as fears rose that Tehran had seized the MT Hankuk Chemi. Iran later acknowledged the seizure, alleging the vessel’s “oil pollution” sparked the move. However, hours earlier, Tehran said a South Korean diplomat was expected to visit in the coming days to negotiate the release of billions of dollars in its assets now frozen in Seoul.

The dual incidents come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States in the waning days of President Donald Trump’s term in office. During Trump’s tenure, the U.S. leader unilaterally withdrew from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018 and set off months of tense episodes that increasingly strained relations between the countries.

Iranian state television quoted spokesman Ali Rabiei as saying that President Hassan Rouhani had given the order for the move at the Fordo facility.

Iran’s decision to begin enriching to 20% purity a decade ago nearly triggered an Israeli strike targeting its nuclear facilities, tensions that only abated with the 2015 atomic deal. A resumption of 20% enrichment could see that brinksmanship return as that level of purity is only a technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

From Israel, which has its own undeclared nuclear weapons program, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Iran’s enrichment decision, saying it “cannot be explained in any way other than the continuation of realizing its goal to develop a military nuclear program.”

“Israel will not allow Iran to manufacture a nuclear weapon,” he added.

Tehran has long maintained its nuclear program is peaceful.

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-iran-persian-gulf-tensions-middle-east-hassan-rouhani-ab0930064c446114506b8d085941cf84

(A P)

Iran’s IRGC seizes South Korean vessel in Persian Gulf

Iran says vessel violated maritime environmental laws

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on Monday seized a South Korea-flagged oil tanker in the waters of the Persian Gulf for allegedly violating maritime environmental laws.

In a statement, the IRGC said the vessel had departed from the Saudi port of Al-Jubail and was heading to South Korea via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when it was intercepted by IRGC naval forces.

The tanker carrying 7,200 tons of ethanol was found “violating the maritime environmental laws” and causing “chemical pollution”, the statement said.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iran-s-irgc-seizes-south-korean-vessel-in-persian-gulf/2097879

(A P)

Daesh main beneficiary of General Soleimani’s assassination: Iran’s Zarif

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642175/Soleimani-Zarif-Daesh

(A P)

Gen. Soleimani’s assassination proved US presence in region destabilizing: Iran Foreign Ministry

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again denounced the “unlawful” assassination of the country’s legendary counterterrorism commander, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, by the United States, saying it proved that the US military presence in the West Asia region is destabilizing.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642164/Soleimani-Iran-Foreign-Ministry-tweet-US-military-presence-destabilizing

(A P)

Iraqi Lawmaker Says Expulsion of US Forces from Arab Country National Decision

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/03/642167/www.presstv.tv

(A P)

Head of Iraq’s Hashd Shaabi Underscores Penalizing All Culprits Involved in Suleimani-Muhandis Assassination

https://english.almanar.com.lb/1238195

(A P)

Iran warnt: Bei Angriff keine Unterscheidung zwischen US-Stützpunkten und Stationierungsstaaten

Iran werde im Fall eines Kriegs durch einen US-Angriff keinen Unterschied zwischen US-Militärstützpunkten in der Region und jenen arabischen Ländern machen, in denen US-Militärbasen stationiert sind, sagte der Befehlshaber der Luftstreitkräfte der iranischen Revolutionsgarde Hajizadeh

https://de.rt.com/der-nahe-osten/111315-iran-bei-angriff-kein-unterschied-zwischen-usa-stationierungsstaaten/

(A P)

Yemen Explosions Heard All the Way in Jerusalem, as Israel Braces for Iranian Revenge

It is still unclear what role, if at all, the Iranians played in the attack. But as the anniversary of General Soleimani's death nears, the entire Middle East is riddled with warning signs (paywalled)

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/iran/.premium-yemen-explosions-israel-iran-revenge-1.9415095

(A P)

Salehi says awaiting order to resume 20% enrichment 'soon'

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi says the Islamic Republic will soon resume uranium enrichment up to 20 percent.

https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2021/01/02/642052/IAEA-Iran-Fordow-enrichment

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

(A P)

Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Yemen: Richard Oppenheim

Mr Richard Oppenheim has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen in succession to Mr Michael Aron. Mr Oppenheim will take up his appointment in July 2021.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-of-her-majestys-ambassador-to-yemen-richard-oppenheim

(* A B K P)

Lethal airstrikes in Yemen ‘left off’ confidential UK record

Ministers under pressure to say why attacks involving civilian casualties have been excluded from log of alleged humanitarian breaches

The government is under pressure to explain why a series of air strikes in Yemen, many involving civilian casualties, have not been recorded in its confidential log of alleged breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL).

The existence of the database, which has been kept by the Ministry of Defence since 2015, emerged only when the government became embroiled in a legal challenge over its decision to grant UK arms manufacturers export licences to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia for use in Yemen. The challenge came amid claims the weapons were being used in breach of IHL.

By last July more than 500 possible breaches had been recorded in the database. But human rights groups allege that the true number of breaches in a conflict in which Saudi-led forces have conducted more than 20,000 air strikes must be much higher.

The government refuses to publish the database, making it impossible to know which incidents have been recorded. Defence sources suggest this is because it contains information from a wide range of assets, some of which are considered so sensitive they cannot be made public.

However, parliamentary questions have established that a number of air strikes in possible breach of IHL, recorded by human rights groups and NGOs in Yemen, have not been included.

The MoD has confirmed that a majority of the incidents Thornberry asked about were not recorded on its database.

“There must be a full investigation into why these incidents have not been included, especially when all of the attacks are on civilian infrastructure and have had a civilian death toll,” said Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade.

“These people deserve recognition and they deserve justice. This raises questions about the robustness of the UK’s processes, but also underlines the appalling way in which this terrible war has been conducted.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/03/lethal-airstrikes-in-yemen-left-off-confidential-uk-record

cp11 Deutschland / Germany

Siehe / Look at cp12

(B K P)

Kein Heckler, kein Koch

Man könnte ja mal versuchen, der selbstherrlichen Clique der Waffenschmiede wenigstens etwas Angst einzujagen. Der Kommentar

Aber das hört jetzt mal auf. Im 21. Jahrhundert haben Waffen nichts mehr in privaten Händen verloren, erst recht nicht Waffenschmieden. Die werden jetzt flugs verstaatlicht, auf Gewinn lässt sich dann verzichten und etwaige Exporte stehen fortan unter strengster Kontrolle des Parlaments.

https://www.fr.de/meinung/kommentare/kein-heckler-kein-koch-90157430.html

(B K P)

Rüstungsexporte: Schwarz-rote Doppelmoral

Wenn es um Moral und Menschenrechte geht, legt die schwarz-rote Bundesregierung die Messlatte hoch. Zumindest in ihren offiziellen Verlautbarungen. Geht es allerdings um das - wie es der frühere SPD-Chef und Außenminister Sigmar Gabriel einmal genannt hat - Geschäft mit dem Tod, also um den Export von Waffen und anderen Rüstungsgütern, nimmt es die Bundesregierung nicht so genau (Bezahlschranke)

https://www.idowa.de/inhalt.kommentar-ruestungsexporte-schwarz-rote-doppelmoral.4891494a-ece5-4457-9072-d1923429d59b.html

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

(* A E P)

UAE-Isreal Business Summit 2021

TOWARDS A NEW ERA OF GROWTH, PEACE AND STABILITY

Following the signing of the historic Abraham Accords, Khaleej Times and The Jerusalem Post, the two largest English-language media organisations in Israel and the UAE, are coming together to launch the UAE-ISRAEL Business Summit, in association with UAE-Israel Business Council.
Scheduled to take place in Dubai on the 13th January 2021,the web broadcast will discuss and highlight the bilateral business opportunities between the countries.
The initiative represents a new dawn in the multifaceted economic relationship between the two countries and will bring together top government officials, business leaders, and industry experts from across different sectors including healthcare, hospitality, defense, security, trade and technology.

https://uae-israel-business-summit.web.app/?_ga=2.93571997.1889014095.1609951580-1310787342.1605078399

(* B K P)

„Ein israelischer Blitzkrieg“. Zeichen deuten auf eine bevorstehende israelische Militäraktion im Jemen hin

Vor Ort wird erwartet, dass sich die Anzeichen für eine Eskalation im Laufe des Jahres 2021 verstärken, da eine offene militärische Konfrontation zwischen dem Jemen und Israel nach den jüngsten israelischen Äußerungen näher denn je zu sein scheint. Dazu gehört auch die Aussage des Sprechers des israelischen Militärs, Brigadegeneral Hidai Zilberman, der einer saudischen Website am Samstag die Absicht seiner Streitkräfte verriet, einen Blitzkrieg im Jemen zu starten, und bestätigte, dass Israel die Situation im Jemen und im Irak beobachtet. Das jemenitische Volk fürchtet, dass es den Preis für die Spannungen zwischen dem Iran und den Vereinigten Staaten zahlen wird, so viele Jemeniten, die mit MintPress sprachen.

Zilberman sagte in einem Interview mit der saudischen Nachrichten-Website Elaph, dass das Regime in Tel Aviv erwartet, dass ein iranischer Angriff aus dem Jemen und dem Irak kommen könnte. Er bezeichnete den Jemen als „den zweiten Kreis des Iran nach dem Libanon und Syrien“. Die jüngsten Äußerungen kamen nach einer ähnlichen Aussage von Benjamin Netanjahu im Oktober. Der israelische Premierminister behauptete, der Iran wolle Israel vom Jemen aus mit chirurgischen Raketenangriffen treffen.

Nach Informationen von MIntPress, die von jemenitischen Regierungsvertretern in Sana’a bestätigt wurden, sind Absprachen und Koordination zwischen Israel und den Golfstaaten im Gange, um die Situation im Jemen zu eskalieren und als Reaktion auf eine erwartete iranische Vergeltung für die Ermordung des iranischen Wissenschaftlers Mohsen Fakhrizadeh und des Kommandeurs der iranischen Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, der im Jemen als heldenhafter Krieger verehrt wird, zu rechtfertigen. Soleimani wurde im Januar 2020 bei einem US-Luftangriff auf den internationalen Flughafen von Bagdad ermordet.

Diese Information wurde von Jalal Al-Ruwaishan, dem stellvertretenden Premierminister für Sicherheits- und Verteidigu

Jede israelische Militäraktion im Jemen würde zweifelsohne zu einer Eskalation in der Region führen.

https://linkezeitung.de/2021/01/06/ein-israelischer-blitzkrieg-zeichen-deuten-auf-eine-bevorstehende-israelische-militaeraktion-im-jemen-hin/

(* B K P)

European involvement in the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen

While the US is considered the biggest supporter of the Saudi led war in Yemen they are far from the only western actor involved in supplying arms and support to the coalition despite their intimate knowledge of the extremely high civilian casualties and deliberate tactics employed by the coalition to starve Yemen into submission. France, Spain, Italy and Germany have all supplied weapons, logistical support, and training, to varying degrees, to the Saudi led coalition and are no less guilty than the US or UK for fueling, enabling, and supporting a war that has led to the worst humanitarian crisis in modern history.

France

French involvement in the ongoing war in Yemen is so extensive it would be difficult to argue that they are not co-belligerents. The French government is well aware of this fact and have done all they can to downplay their involvement in crimes against humanity. This is supported by the fact that the French government was caught in a lie, they claimed that French weapons sold to coalition members were only being used against armed combatants despite the leak of a classified French Military Intelligence (DRM) report that detailed the use of French weapons by Saudi Arabia and the UAE to massacre civilians. Despite mounting criticism of the French government for its involvement in the war the population of France is largely unaware of France’s involvement and the French government has continued to sign arms deals to sell state of the art equipment to Saudi Arabia and the UAE and has continued to train and logistically support Saudi troops.

To make matters worse there are credible reports that France has deployed special forces to Yemen alongside UAE forces although the French Ministry of Defense denies these allegations. This is especially troubling as UAE ground forces have been accused of setting up prison camps where mass sexual assault and torture are used on civilian prisoners who have not been tried.

When questioned French government officials have three main talking points they employ, first they claim that the Houthis backed by Iran started the war and they are simply defending the legitimate government of Yemen, second, they claim that weapons sent to the coalition were part of an arms deal signed before the conflict in Yemen began which is an easily disprovable lie as the most recent arms deal between France and coalition members was signed in 2018, third they claim the weapons they send to the gulf are only used for defensive purposes and never against civilians which is another easily disprovable lie as French artillery has been regularly used to back up coalition forces in Yemen with an estimated 436,000 civilians potentially affected by artillery fire and the classified DRM report mentioned above states otherwise. Even if all the claims made by the French government were true the fact remains that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been responsible for countless human rights violations and hundreds of thousands of deaths since the war began and selling them weapons in any capacity with full knowledge of their conduct in Yemen is akin to excusing their conduct.

Spain

While the Spanish government is less involved in the war in Yemen than the US or France their hands are by no means clean. Spain has secretly sold US made bombs to the Saudis in a deal that was finalized in 2015 under the government of Rajoy.

Italy

Another country which has contributed to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Yemen, is Italy, primarily though their arms trade with the Saudi-led coalition. The Saudi Arabia and UAE-led coalition has been responsible for numerous indiscriminate and disproportionate airstrikes against civilians and civilians objects amounting to war crimes. The coalition has received immense support from foreign countries including Italy. Remnants of weapons manufactured in Italy have been found at sites of potential war crimes in Yemen.

Germany

Germany, a country which prides itself on its restrictive export policies, has also played a significant role in supporting the Saudi-led coalition.

https://www.adhrb.org/2021/01/european-involvement-in-the-humanitarian-crisis-in-yemen/?fbclid=IwAR15k1tIReOo8De-uwTLit6gDi5rq1Z_eILZGnK7ihCptb9ec15zpXpz5-o

cp12a Katar-Krise / Qatar crisis

(* A P)

With eye on US ties, Saudi Arabia leads pack on Gulf detente

Saudi Arabia will move faster than its allies to reconcile with Qatar, sources familiar with the matter said, aiming to impress the incoming Biden administration by ending what the West sees as a parochial dispute that benefits only mutual foe Iran.

The rapprochement reduces potential points of friction between Riyadh and a U.S. government sure to be less forgiving than outgoing President Donald Trump, who has consistently protected the kingdom from criticism of its human rights record.

In a move that cast the kingdom as a force for stability in a turbulent region, Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired a summit on Tuesday that declared an end to the bitter rift in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have boycotted Qatar since mid-2017.

The kingdom said at the gathering that all four states had agreed to restore diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Doha under a U.S.-backed deal, but the three sources said the other three nations had been pressed to sign a general declaration and were likely to move more slowly, as deep divisions remain.

“Saudi Arabia is way ahead of the others, who could drag their feet,” said one source familiar with the matter. “The declaration was kept general to ensure all parties signed it.”

Saudi Arabia is currently the only one taking active steps to reopen its airspace and borders to Qatar and restore diplomatic ties, the three sources said.

For Riyadh’s allies, the third informed source said, it will be very hard to retreat from Tuesday’s announcement, but may also be difficult to move forward fast and that some view the deal at the summit as “a starting point rather than the finish line”.

For Prince Mohammed, seen by critics as an unpredictable leader, his push for detente with Qatar appeared aimed at showcasing him as a statesman seeking regional stability.

The UAE, which has largely extricated itself from Yemen and forged ties with Israel last year, is not expected to face the same kind of pressure as Riyadh from a Biden administration.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar/with-eye-on-u-s-ties-saudi-arabia-leads-pack-on-gulf-detente-idUSKBN29B2FK

(* A B P)

Qatar emerges from Gulf spat resolute and largely unscathed

Qataris awoke to a surprise blockade and boycott by Gulf Arab neighbors 3 1/2 years ago, and this week were jolted again by the sudden announcement that it was all over.

The period in between was bitter, with mud-slinging by both sides and viscous media blitzes, social media trolling, expensive lobbying efforts in Washington, and allegations of hacks and leaks. Criticism of the boycott was a criminal offense in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt as the four sought to punish Qatar.

Qatar’s resolve in the face of the assault showed how little the campaign achieved as the small, but influential U.S. ally holds firm with its ties to Turkey, Iran and Islamists.

“In terms of foreign policy, the international relations of the blockade, Qatar didn’t have to change much because the blockade was on such shaky ground to start,” said Jocelyn Sage Mitchell, an assistant professor in residence at Northwestern University’s campus in Qatar.

She said the quartet’s efforts to internationally isolate Qatar failed. This, coupled with an incoming Biden administration in Washington that is expected to take a firmer stance toward Saudi Arabia and re-engage with Iran, put Qatar in a strong negotiating position.

“I don’t expect to see any concessions or changes of significance from Qatar,” Mitchell said. “Doha is actually used, and recognized, and welcomed for their ability to be the ally in the middle.”

On Monday night, Saudi Arabia ended its embargo, opening its airspace and, in the coming days, its land crossing to it’s tiny Gulf neighbor. On Tuesday, Gulf Arab leaders and a representative from Egypt gathered in Saudi Arabia and signed a declaration to start a new page in brotherly relations, effectively ending Qatar’s isolation among the quartet.

https://apnews.com/article/bahrain-turkey-dubai-boycotts-iran-97a7ecfa9643021e990a00e0aa0651c1

(* B P)

Yemeni issue likely to sorely test Gulf reconciliation

A broad and influential current within the Yemeni government is expected to push for normalisation of relations with Qatar.

Political sources see the Yemeni file as being the most serious test of Doha's seriousness about Gulf reconciliation, given Qatar's record of fuelling tension in the country even before the outbreak of the war, in which the Qataris initially backed Arab coalition forces.

Yemeni observers wonder about the Yemeni government's position on reconciliation, and whether it would back any agreement to that end.

Announcing the first official Yemeni position, the internationally recognised government on Tuesday welcomed what it described as "sincere efforts to restore unity between brothers in the GCC countries."

Qatar has dealt with the Yemeni file differently than other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries in the past, engaging in mediation efforts between the government and the Houthis and allegedly supporting the Houthis financially, logistically and in media activities.

Qatar withdrew from the Gulf initiative under which power was transferred in Yemen from former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to current President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Media reports indicated at the time that Qatar fuelled protests that threatened the country with civil war.

The Yemeni file was among the top considerations that prompted Qatar to be excluded in mid-2017 from the Arab coalition supporting the “legitimacy” government. The Saudi-led coalition justified its decision by pointing to Qatar’s practices, alleged support for terrorist organisations in Yemen and ties with the Houthis.

Qatar's role in Yemen grew after it left the coalition, as it worked, according to Yemeni sources, to divide the ranks of the “legitimacy” camp, diverting the conflict’s direction to other anti-Houthi protagonists.

https://thearabweekly.com/yemeni-issue-likely-sorely-test-gulf-reconciliation

My comment: Propaganda bias: very hight. This news site is anti-Islah Party, anti-Qatar, anti-Turkey, because it is pro-UAE, pro-separatists.

(* A P)

Katar und Golfnachbarn beenden ihren Streit

Der Verkehr von und nach Katar fließt wieder, die jahrelange Blockade soll enden. Zwei Wochen vor dem Machtwechsel in den USA rücken die Nachbarn am Golf zusammen, zumindest offiziell. Das ist wohl auch ein Verdienst von Joe Biden - noch vor dessen Einzug ins Weiße Haus.

Beim Treffen des Golf-Kooperationsrats (GCC) in der Wüstenstadt Al-Ula im Nordwesten Saudi-Arabiens sprachen die Teilnehmer am Dienstag von einer neuen Phase der Zusammenarbeit - auch mit Blick auf die Bedrohung durch den Iran in der Region. Der Boykott hatte Katar isoliert und näher an die Türkei rücken lassen.

Der katarische Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani und Kronprinz Mohammed bin Salman, faktischer Herrscher Saudi-Arabiens, umarmten sich in Al-Ula bei ihrer ersten Begegnung seit Jahren. Der Kronprinz, der die Ratssitzung leitete, warnte vor "Bedrohungen durch das Atomprogramm und das Programm für ballistische Raketen des iranischen Regimes". Er sprach auch von den "staatsfeindlichen, zerstörerischen Projekten" Teherans und dessen Verbündeten. Nach der Sitzung fuhr der Kronprinz den Emir persönlich in einem Auto durch Al-Ula. Die Gegend ist für archäologische Stätten bekannt, darunter auch Unesco-Weltkulturerbe.

Auch Spitzenvertreter der vier weiteren GCC-Staaten - Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait und die VAE - unterzeichneten das Abkommen. Die genauen Details der Vereinbarung blieben zunächst unklar.

Der bevorstehende Regierungswechsel in den USA ist Experten zufolge ein entscheidender Faktor bei der Aussöhnung. Saudi-Arabien und dessen Verbündete fürchten, dass die USA sich unter dem gewählten Präsidenten Joe Biden aus der Region zurückziehen werden.

Saudi-Arabiens König Salman wolle vor allem das Team um Biden vor dessen Amtsantritt am 20. Januar "beschwichtigen", schrieb dagegen Golf-Experte Juan Cole von der Universität Michigan. Das Ende der Blockade sei dabei ein vergleichsweise "schmerzfreies" Mittel.

Beendet sein dürfte die Krise am Golf mit dem Abkommen nicht. Riad und Abu Dhabi war und ist ein Dorn im Auge, dass Katar islamistische Organisationen wie die Muslimbrüder unterstützt.

https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/politik/golfstaaten-abkommen-soll-grenzoeffnung-besiegeln-art-696163 = https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/konflikte-katar-und-golfnachbarn-beenden-ihren-streit-dpa.urn-newsml-dpa-com-20090101-210105-99-900028

und auch https://www.welt.de/debatte/kommentare/article223798820/Golfstaaten-Der-Golf-bereitet-sich-auf-den-Konflikt-mit-dem-Iran-vor.html

Film: https://www.dw.com/de/katar-und-golfnachbarn-legen-streit-bei/av-56138092

(A P)

Saudi-Arabien und Katar einigen sich auf Grenzöffnung

Der kuwaitische Außenminister hat von der Übereinkunft zwischen Saudi-Arabien und Katar für die Wiedereröffnung der Luft- und Landesgrenzen zwischen beiden Ländern berichtet.

Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, der Emir von Kuwait, habe bei einem Telefongespräch mit dem Emir von Katar und dem saudischen Kronprinzen über die Unterzeichnung des Abkommens von Al-Ula gesprochen, teilte Ahmad Nasser Al-Muhammad Al-Sabah gestern Abend in einer Erklärung mit.

Er fügte hinzu, dass vereinbart wurde, die Luft-, Land- und Seegrenzen zwischen Saudi-Arabien und Katar ab Montagabend wieder zu öffnen.

https://parstoday.com/de/news/middle_east-i55143-saudi_arabien_und_katar_einigen_sich_auf_grenz%C3%B6ffnung

(* A P)

From embargo to embrace, Saudi Arabia pushes Gulf detente

Embracing Qatar’s ruler, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince pushed a deal to end a row with Doha at a Gulf summit on Tuesday to try to strengthen an Arab alliance against Iran, although a final declaration contained only a general pledge of solidarity.

The kingdom’s foreign minister said Riyadh and its Arab allies agreed to restore ties with Doha to end a boycott imposed in mid-2017, in a deal backed by Washington but which a United Arab Emirates official suggested would take time.

While the communique contained no detailed confirmation of a deal, the apparent breakthrough signalled hope for mending a rift between major U.S. allies two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office and at a time of tensions with Iran.

“There is political will and good faith” to guarantee implementation of the deal, Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud told a news conference, saying the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt had agreed to restore ties with Doha.

His Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, tweeted that leaders “closed the page on disagreement”.

But UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash voiced a more cautious view in remarks to Al Arabiya TV, saying “we need to be realistic about the need to restore confidence and cohesion”. He later told Sky News Arabia there was a timeline for ending the conflict, but gave no details.

Saudi de facto ruler Prince Mohammed, who chaired the short event instead of his father King Salman, said the al-Ula agreement “confirms Gulf, Arab and Islamic unity and stability.”

He called for serious global action to address a threat he said was posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and its “subversive and destructive plans”.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-summit/from-embargo-to-embrace-saudi-arabia-pushes-gulf-detente-idUSKBN29A0K9

and also https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55538792

(* A P)

Gulf Arab leaders sign declaration with Qatar to ease rift

Gulf Arab leaders signed a declaration Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to mark a new page in relations following the kingdom’s decision to end a 3 1/2-year embargo of Qatar, easing a rift that deeply divided regional U.S. security allies and frayed social ties across the interconnected Arabian Peninsula.

The Saudi decision to open its airspace and borders to Qatar was the first major step toward ending the diplomatic crisis that began in 2017, just as the Trump administration was raising pressure on Iran. The Saudi move was announced Monday night, on the eve of the gathering of Gulf Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert city of Al-Ula.

It was unclear what, if any, significant concessions Qatar had made before the summit. Still, an immediate shift in tone was palpable as one of Qatar’s Al Jazeera Arabic news Twitter accounts shared photos of the Riyadh and Abu Dhabi skylines on Tuesday following years of critical coverage.

https://apnews.com/article/bahrain-qatar-iran-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-8f18052ac759900cfb20b19f89baf369

(A P)

Eyeing Gulf detente, Saudi Arabia opens summit with call to counter Iran threat

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opened a Gulf Arab summit on Tuesday by taking aim at Iran and lauding a deal towards ending a long-running dispute with Qatar.

Prince Mohammed embraced Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, on the airport tarmac in the historic Saudi city of al-Ula, an important signal of hopes to bury a conflict between major U.S. allies in the Middle East two weeks before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-summit/eyeing-gulf-detente-saudi-arabia-opens-summit-with-call-to-counter-iran-threat-idUSKBN29A0K9

(* A P)

Breakthrough reached in Gulf dispute with Qatar -senior Trump official

A breakthrough has been reached in Qatar’s three-year-old dispute with Saudi Arabia and three other Arab countries and an agreement aimed at ending their rift is to be signed in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, a senior Trump administration official said.

The development is the latest in a series of Middle East deals sought by Washington - the others involving Israel and Arab states - aimed at building a united front against Iran.

As part of the deal, Saudi Arabia will reopen its airspace and land and sea border to Qatar as of Monday, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Ahmad Nasser al-Sabah said on Kuwait TV ahead of a Gulf Arab summit in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Saudi state agency SPA quoted Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as saying the annual gathering of Gulf leaders would unite Gulf ranks “in the face of challenges facing the region”.

Qatar’s ruler, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, will attend, the royal court said. The U.S. official said the Saudi crown prince and Qatari emir would sign the deal.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in a Twitter post that Tuesday’s summit would restore Gulf unity and that “more work lies ahead and we are moving in the right direction”.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar-usa/breakthrough-reached-in-gulf-dispute-with-qatar-senior-trump-official-idUSKBN29924S

and

(* A P)

Qatar ruler lands in Saudi Arabia for summit to end blockade

Qatar’s ruling emir arrived in Saudi Arabia and was greeted with an embrace by the kingdom’s crown prince on Tuesday, following an announcement that the kingdom would end its yearslong embargo on the tiny Gulf Arab state.

The decision to open borders was the first major step toward ending the diplomatic crisis that has deeply divided U.S. defense partners, frayed societal ties and torn apart a traditionally clubby alliance of Arab states.

The emir is in Al-Ula for an annual summit of Gulf Arab leaders that is expected to produce a detente between Qatar and four Arab states that have blockaded the country and cut transport and diplomatic links with it since mid-2017 over Doha’s support for Islamist groups and warm ties with Iran.

The diplomatic breakthrough comes after a final push by the outgoing Trump administration and fellow Gulf state Kuwait to mediate an end to the crisis. It wasn’t until late Monday — on the eve of the summit of Gulf Arab leaders and just ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s swearing in — that the major step to ending the spat was announced.

The timing was auspicious: Saudi Arabia may be seeking to both grant the Trump administration a final diplomatic win and remove stumbling blocs to building warm ties with the Biden administration, which is expected to take a firmer stance toward the kingdom.

While the Saudi decision to end its embargo marks a key milestone toward resolving the Gulf spat, the path toward full reconciliation is far from guaranteed. The rift between Abu Dhabi and Doha has been deepest, with the UAE and Qatar at sharp ideological odds.

https://apnews.com/article/bahrain-qatar-iran-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-8f18052ac759900cfb20b19f89baf369

(* A P)

Saudi Arabia to lift Qatar embargo, easing the Gulf crisis

Saudi Arabia will open its airspace and land border to Qatar in the first step toward ending a years-long diplomatic crisis that deeply divided U.S. defense partners, frayed societal ties and tore apart a traditionally clubby alliance of Gulf states, officials said late Monday.

Qatar’s only land border has been mostly closed since mid-2017, when Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain launched a blockade against the tiny Gulf state, accusing it of supporting Islamist extremist groups and of having warm ties with Iran. The Saudi border, which Qatar relied on for the import of dairy products, construction materials and other goods, opened briefly during the past three years to allow Qataris into Saudi Arabia to perform the Islamic hajj pilgrimage.

It was unclear what concessions Qatar had made or is promising to make regarding a shift in its policies.

Kuwait, which had been mediating throughout the dispute, was first to announce the diplomatic breakthrough through its foreign minister. Earlier on Monday, the foreign minister had reportedly traveled to Doha to deliver a message to Qatar’s ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

While the Saudi decision marks a major milestone toward resolving the Gulf spat, the path toward full reconciliation is far from guaranteed. The rift between Abu Dhabi and Doha has been deepest, with the UAE and Qatar at sharp ideological odds.

Following Kuwait’s announcement, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, tweeted that his country was keen to restore Gulf unity. However, he cautioned: “We have more work to do and we are in the right direction.”

The lifting of the embargo by Saudi Arabia paves the way for Qatar’s ruler to attend an annual summit of Gulf leaders Tuesday that will be held in the kingdom’s ancient desert site of Al-Ula. The summit would traditionally be chaired by Saudi King Salman, though his son and heir, the crown prince, may instead lead the meeting.

Qatar confirmed late Monday that Sheikh Tamim would be attending the summit, a move that analysts say would have been domestically sensitive for him had the Saudi blockade still been in place.

https://apnews.com/article/qatar-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-kuwait-dubai-0a09c370d8430b93d32e403aaf4d3f2a

and

(A P)

Qatar's emir to attend Gulf summit in Saudi Arabia

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar-emir/qatars-emir-to-attend-gulf-summit-in-saudi-arabia-idUSKBN29928L

(A P)

Saudi agreement with Qatar proves siege, aggression policies reached dead end: Ansarullah

The Yemeni Houthi Ansarullah movement said Saudi Arabia’s decision to ease the blockade of Qatar and open its borders with the country proves the failure of the policies of siege and aggression.

“What is happening in the [Persian] Gulf region confirms that the policies of siege, war and aggression have reached a dead end,” Mohammad Abdel-Salam said on Monday night, presstv reported.

He said mutual respect is the safest and shortest way to establish security and stability.

The agreement announced Monday would allow the resumption of commerce and travel between Saudi Arabia and Qatar for the first time since June 2017, when Riyadh along with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt severed diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar, accusing Doha of meddling in regional affairs and supporting “terrorism”.

Qatar has repeatedly denied the allegations and said it was targeted because it followed an independent foreign policy.

The Riyadh-Doha deal is said to be a prelude to a broader agreement to end the boycott of Qatar, which led to one of the worst ever diplomatic disputes in the Persian Gulf.

https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/13991016000273/Yemen-Sadi-Agreemen-wih-Qaar-Prves-Siege-Plicy-f-Aggressin-Reached = https://en.abna24.com/news//saudi-agreement-with-qatar-proves-siege-aggression-policies-reached-dead-end-ansarullah_1103207.html

and also https://english.almasirah.net/post/16987/Abdulsalam-Saudi-Qatari-Agreement-Proves-Siege%2C-War%2C-Aggression-Leads-to-Dead-End

and

(A P)

Houthis bless deal to end Gulf rift

The Ansar Allah group, known as the Houthis, on Monday blessed a deal between Saudi Arabia and Qatar ending a three-year blockade on and boycott of Qatar.
Senior leader in the group, Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, wrote on Twitter: "We congratulate Qatar and its people for lifting the blockade and the resumption of relations with Saudi Arabia. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of ending wars and tensions in the region and the return of the Arab wisdom to strengthen fraternity and end the aggression and blockade on Yemen".

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22270.html

(* A P)

Saudi Arabia to reopen airspace, land border to Qatar, says Kuwait

Saudi Arabia will reopen its airspace and land and sea border to Qatar as of Monday, Kuwait’s foreign minister said in televised comments, citing a deal towards resolving a political dispute that led Riyadh and its allies to impose a boycott on Qatar.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gulf-qatar/saudi-arabia-to-reopen-airspace-land-border-to-qatar-says-kuwait-idUSKBN299258

and

(* A P)

Qatar-Saudi land border crossing ‘preparing to reopen’: Sources

The Salwa crossing between Saudi Arabia and Qatar has been closed since the blockade was imposed in 2017.

Employees at the shared Qatari-Saudi Abu Samra land border, also known as Salwa crossing have been preparing for an imminent reopening of the entry port after more than three-years of closure, sources told Doha News.

Reopening the Qatari-Saudi border would indicate a strong sign to ending the regional dispute, which is hoped would ease the movement for citizens of all countries involved, especially families that have been separated for years due to the rift.

The shared border was permanently shut by Saudi Arabia three years ago when it imposed an illegal air, land and sea blockade on Qatar.

While the Salwa border was closed in June 2017, the official permanent closure was announced in December, six months after the blockading quarter severed ties with Qatar over false accusations it supports “terrorism”. Qatar has consistently and vehemently denied those allegations.

Authorities have yet to confirm a reopening but the latest development comes as the region anticipates a resolution on Tuesday when Gulf leaders are expected to gather in Saudi Arabia for the 41st GCC Summit.

https://www.dohanews.co/qatar-saudi-land-border-crossing-preparing-to-reopen-sources/

(A P)

As far as we can tell, the #GCCSummit41 #Saudi #Tuesday is not to include #Qatari Emir #Tamim or even his PM of FM. No #Qatari advance team has arrived ruling out a senior representation. Mr Sultan AlMurakhi state minister of foreign affairs is expected to attend.

https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1345930078476259328

cp12b Sudan

(* A P)

Sudan says it signs pact on normalizing ties with Israel

Sudan on Wednesday said it had signed an agreement with the United States that paves the way for the cash-strapped African nation to normalize relations with Israel and help clear some of its massive debt to the World Bank.

Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari signed the deal with visiting U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, according to the prime minister’s office.

“This is a very, very significant agreement. ... It would have a tremendous impact on the people of Israel and the people of Sudan as they continue to work together on cultural and economic opportunities and trade,” Mnuchin said in comments carried by the state-run SUNA news agency.

Abdulbari said Sudan welcomed “the rapprochement” with Israel and other countries as well as the beginning of diplomatic relations. He said Khartoum would work “to strengthen and expand them in the interest of Sudan and in the interest of other countries in the region.”

Also during Mnuchin’s visit, the U.S. and Sudan signed a “memorandum of understanding” to facilitate the payment of the African country’s debt to the World Bank, the Finance Ministry said, a move widely seen as a key step toward its economic recovery.

The ministry said the settlement would enable Sudan to receive more than $1 billion annually from the World Bank for the first time in nearly three decades, when the country was designated a pariah state.

Sudan has more than $60 billion in foreign debt.

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-abdel-fattah-el-sissi-condoleezza-rice-omar-al-bashir-egypt-6075c85c6ffc7183e9be584da428bad7

My comment: “Sudan has more than $60 billion in foreign debt”: This article perfectly shows the consequences: Sudan became an US vassal state.

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade

(* A K P)

UAE to Buy Two More GlobalEye Spy Planes as Opposition Swells Against Saudi Coalition’s War in Yemen

US President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to end US support for the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen, and alliance members including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been racing to complete their weapons buys before Biden’s inauguration later this month.

On Monday, Swedish aerospace company Saab announced Abu Dhabi had placed a $1 billion order for two more GlobalEye spy aircraft. The airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft is a modified Bombardier Global 6000 business jet with a long-range radar and other surveillance systems attached, and is reinforced against electronic attacks.

“We are proud that the United Arab Emirates continues to show great trust in Saab and our solutions,” Saab CEO Micael Johansson was quoted as saying in the release. “It shows that Saab remains on the cutting edge regarding advanced technology. The Global Eye program is running according to plan and we have an efficient cooperation with the customer.”

The UAE previously bought three GlobalEyes from Saab in 2015

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202101051081660445-uae-to-buy-two-more-globaleye-spy-planes-as-opposition-swells-against-saudi-coalitions-war-in-yemen/

cp13b Wirtschaft / Economy

(A E P)

Cash Consortium of Yemen - Flash Update 13: YER Exchange Rate Volatility December Week 2 & Week 3

The IRG vs DFA exchange rate variation currently stands at a 176 YER difference. From the South to the North side there has been a 29% increase, with a 23% decrease from North to South.

The announcement of the implementation of the Riyadh agreement has brought additional confidence to the exchange rate market in the south.

The range of exchange rates from W2 Dec to W3 Dec widened in the south (from 36 to 82) YER and shrank in the north (5 to 4) YER.

While remittances are continuing to hold relatively steady, remittance payments have not returned to pre-COVID levels (see CCY Remittance tool).

The exchange rate in IRG areas has dropped below 800 YER for the first time since August

https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/cash-consortium-yemen-flash-update-13-yer-exchange-rate-volatility-december-week-2-week

cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism

Siehe / Look at cp1

(A T)

Saudi officer released by al-Qaeda after tribal mediation and ransom payment

A tribal mediation has succeeded in releasing a Saudi officer, who was kidnapped on Monday by Al-Qaeda operatives in the areas under the control of Saudi-led coalition in Ma’rib province, southeast Yemen. This was reported by Yemen Press Agency, based on a tribal source.

According to the tribal source, Saudi Arabia paid 500,000 Saudi riyals in exchange for the liberation of the officer.

The source indicated that the mediation, led by Sheikh Alian Hussein bin Gharib, succeeded in releasing the Saudi officer and handing over the money to the kidnappers.

https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/01/06/saudi-officer-released-by-al-qaeda-after-tribal-mediation-and-ransom-payment/

(A T)

#AQAP releases 1st statement in 4 months -#CharlieHebdo & #Macron split the world in 2. You must choose the Prophet or #France -Free expression = attack on #Islam. It’s ok to insult Muslims but not Jews or French politicians -Praises Paris, Nice, #Jeddah attacks & #BoycottFrance

https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1346213708842864642

(A T)

Houthis say coalition financed 418 terrorist acts in Yemen

The Houthi security forces foiled 418 terrorist operations financed by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen during 2020, spokesman for the group-assigned interior ministry said Monday.
The Houthis "captured 472 of Daesh and Qaeda militants, including 138 elements from Baydha and Ibb governorates," Abdul Khaliq al-Ajri added.
Security forces defused "212 explosive devices targeting civilian lives," according to the Houthi official.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22251.html

cp15 Propaganda

(A P)

Under Houthi control, Sana’a bids farewell to the worst year it saw

The latest year under the Houthis, 2020, was the worst year the people of Sana’a lived. As the radical group continued their heavy-handed rule, crackdowns, extortion of Itawat (illegal taxes), suspension salaries, spread of pandemics to name just a few.

“The year 2020 was the most difficult for the people of Sana’a,” a citizen who identified himself only as M.N told al-Sharq al-Awsat daily. He said the Houthi abuses “spared no one: The young, the old, the elderly, the women, the politicians, the MPs, the businessmen, the bakers, the public and private companies, the educational, religious, environmental and agricultural sectors.”

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44338

(A P)

Yemeni President: Houthis refuse peace unwilling to end war

All the efforts exerted to reach peace in Yemen have been met with Houthi obduracy and arrogance, the Yemeni President said Wednesday.
The Iranian-backed Houthi group day after day proves that it does not want peace or an end to the war, Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi added at a meeting with the UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, in Riyadh.
The group works on implementing Iran's agenda aimed to destabilize the Yemeni and regional security and stability and to jeopardize the global shipping by its aggressive behavior, Hadi said, citing the recent attack on Aden airport.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22301.html

and

(A P)

Yemeni leader slams Iran’s ‘blatant’ meddling

Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has accused the Iranian regime of becoming more blatant in its support for the Houthis while undermining peace initiatives to end the war in the country

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1788301/middle-east

(A P)

World must unite to defeat Houthis and save Yemen

The brutal and vicious attack by the Houthis against the civilian airport in Aden last month, which killed at least 26 people and injured scores of others, while causing significant damage to that important facility and its surrounding areas, was an act of terrorism. It was a devastating blow to every sincere effort to end the civil war in Yemen by finding a political solution. Calls for the punishment of the Houthis are justified. However, more important for Yemen is the urgent need to eliminate the wicked influence of Iran in the country, which has thrown this nation of almost 30 million into a bloody quagmire of turmoil and instability.

The Houthis have brought havoc to Yemen through their murderous acts of terrorism. Their madness has seen them terrify the populations of the areas they control, launch missile attacks against ships off the Yemeni coast, and bomb oil installations in Saudi Arabia.

The authority and wisdom of the Arab countries’ moderation stands clear regarding the strife in Yemen. The Houthis must be beaten back to ensure a better future for Yemen and the entire Middle East. The sanctions regimes on the Houthis have to change. They currently hold accountable only a few officials within this movement by freezing their financial assets and preventing transactions with them.

While the Trump administration attempts to classify the Houthis as a terror group, the Biden transition team seems hesitant in that critical pursuit. This misrepresents who the Houthis are and denies their inhuman characteristics. The whole world must heed the call for the decisive defeat of the Houthis. Any other alternative would only deepen the agony of the millions of innocent people in Yemen.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1788401

My comment: Saudi propaganda, two weeks before Trump leaves office.

(A P)

Saudi Arabia and Qatar reconciliation: What might change in the region

In some ways the Trump administration helped fuel the break in the Gulf, or at least made Riyadh feel that it might get concessions from Qatar

Now the war of words may be reduced. The flood of negative stories [by Qatar], some of which were entirely false and others merely biased, may dry up. For Gulf media outlets, which are partisan anyway, there was never a question that narratives were being pushed from the top.

But for Westerners, including some former human-rights activists and journalists who went to work for one side or another over the last three years, there may be a message in the inbox to tone down the narrative.

Proponents of claims that Saudi Arabia is “authoritarian,” but not Turkey or Qatar, or groups that are solely devoted to critiquing the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, or solely devoted to slamming Qatar, will likely find there is less interest in pushing this divisive narrative. THIS LEADS to questions about whether the change in narrative and new relations will lead to changes on the ground. Will conflicts from Yemen to Libya be reduced? Will Turkey’s militaristic adventurism slow down?

Turkey also has talked up reconciliation. What will the effect be on Iran, which continues to try to hijack Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Lebanon? Will Iran find that it can’t prey on divisions in the Gulf as easily?

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/saudi-arabia-and-qatar-reconciliation-what-might-change-in-the-region-654324

(A P)

41st Session of GCC Supreme Council Issues Final Communique 8 Al-Ula

The Supreme Council praised the achievements made by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center through its field branches in the Yemeni governorates, the development projects implemented by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen in the Yemeni governorates, and the humanitarian support provided by GCC Relief and Humanitarian Aid Coordination Office. All GCC states have provided humanitarian and development aid to Yemen, whose value has exceeded $ 13 billion since 2015, noting the GCC states’ support for the United Nations humanitarian response plan in Yemen for the year 2020, and appreciating the humanitarian and relief efforts to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people and achieve security and stability in Yemen.
The Supreme Council also praised the efforts of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance (Masam) to clear Yemeni lands of mines, which since its inception, has managed to clear more than 200,000 mines, unexploded ammunition and explosive devices that Houthi militias randomly planted in the Yemeni governorates.
The Supreme Council commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's hosting, in June 2020, the Donors Conference for Yemen, in which donor countries pledged $ 1.35 billion to help humanitarian agencies operating in Yemen to continue providing basic and emergency services, including funding for COVID-19 containment programs, and the Kingdom's of Saudi Arabia's announcement providing $ 500 million to support the response plan. The Supreme Council called on donors to fulfill current pledges and consider making more contributions.
The Supreme Council welcomed the statement issued by the ministerial group that included the State of Kuwait, the United States of America, China, France, Russia, Germany, Sweden and the European Union, through which it announced its commitment to additional funding for the United Nations Humanitarian Response Plan amounting to more than $ 350 million in order to prevent famine.
The Supreme Council condemned the Iranian-backed Houthi militia blocking the arrival of the United Nations technical team to conduct inspection and maintenance of the floating oil tank (SAFER)

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2175465

(A P)

Film: Widespread corruption in food aid distribution caused by #Houthis in the port city of #Hodeidah.

https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1346481157978771456

(A P)

Film: The only achievement #Houthis have made since they caused the outbreak of the #war in #Yemen. #Republican_Yemen

https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1346216706490982400

(A P)

Amid Unpaid Wages, Yemenis Are Enraged with Houthis for Exorbitant Spending on Soleimani Rally

Yemeni activists blasted the ceremonies, strongly arguing that paying the salaries of civil servants is far more important than Soleimani and Eyrlou.

In an effort to assert Houthi loyalty to the regime in Iran, Eyrlou praised the Yemeni militias’ terror attacks against Yemenis and neighboring countries, and hailed the ties between Tehran and the militants.

“This ceremony today shows the deep ties between the two governments and people of Yemen and Iran,” he said.

Eyrlou encouraged Houthis to commit more terrorist acts, claiming that it would make the militias “more influential at the level of geopolitics in the region,” and transform it into a “major regional power.”

Yemen’s Information Minister Mammar al-Eryani slammed the Houthis for celebrating the memory of a terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of innocents across the region.

https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2720361/amid-unpaid-wages-yemenis-are-enraged-houthis-exorbitant-spending-soleimani

(A P)

Iranian Guards shed secrecy, flaunt control of Sana’a through envoy

Hassan Eyrlo, an IRGC officer and current Iranian ambassador to the Houthis, is behaving like an Iranian military ruler in Sana’a

The frequent media appearances of Iran’s ambassador to the Houthi militia in Sana’a, Hassan Eyrlo, has raised many questions about the timing of overt Iranian activities in Yemen and the nature of the messages that Tehran wants to send to the international community through such activities.

Iran is seeking to move to a new stage in the Yemeni file by showing its influence over Sana’a as the fourth Arab capital under its control according to previous statements by Iranian officials. However, political sources confirmed the link between the increasing Iranian activity in the Houthi-controlled areas with regional and international developments and Tehran’s desire to invest in regional influence to extract political and economic gains during the term of US President-elect Joe Biden.

Analysts believe that the Iranian regime is trying to reap the dividends of its military support to the Houthi militia in Yemen during the past few years, as indications of the international tendency towards ending the war in Yemen are increasing in conjunction with expectations that the new US administration would be willing to restore US participation in the nuclear agreement with Tehran, and what that means in terms of gains for the Iranian regime.

In a statement to The Arab Weekly, Yemeni writer and politician Ali al-Bakhiti described the Houthis’ commemoration in Sana’a of the anniversary of the killing of Soleimani as evidence of what the Quds Force commander represented for the Yemeni proxy group, and the strong support that was provided to the Houthis through Soleimani as he was the Iranian regime’s strong arm abroad.

Bakhiti added, “I believe that such ceremonies aimed at glorifying an Iranian military leader are an expression of deep dependence on Iran and a form of vulgar submission, loyalty and obedience to it.”

https://thearabweekly.com/iranian-guards-shed-secrecy-flaunt-control-sanaa-through-envoy

(A P)

Yemen is the best testimony that Satan is the king of the world

The Shia extremist Houthis have committed a horrifying spree of crimes over the past 15 days in several parts of Yemen: Storming a house one dawn and killing a mother between her kids in Ibb; lacing 14 houses of civilian oppositionists with bombs and blowing them up in Taiz; firing ballistic missiles on an airport, killing and injuring 135 civilians in Aden; and firing a mortar round on a wedding hall, killing and injuring 12 women in Hodeidah.

Although the government had been appealing for an international designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization, the Houthi history of terrorism until the latest wave of escalating terrorist acts seemingly cannot even tarnish the image of the Shia theocratic terrorists in the eyes of many international actors.

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44271

(A P)

Eryani: Houthi commemoration of Suleimani's death proves total affiliate to Tehran

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44270

and

(A P)

Yemeni [Hadi] gov't dubs Iran-Houthi envoy as abducted capital ruler

The appearance of Iran's envoy to Houthis in the middle of a platform at an event organized by the group to morn Soleimani in Sana'a City is a "message from Iran to the world that it has the power in, and [its envoy] Hassan Irloo is the de facto ruler of, the kidnapped capital Sana'a," the Yemeni information minister tweeted.
"Irloo's remark that Yemen is the heart of resistance, which he means the Iranian evil axis, reflects the role played by the Houthi group as one of the most dangerous militias planted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to spread anarchy and terror in the region," Moammar al-Eryani added.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22250.html

(A P)

Global efforts needed to rein in Iran’s expansionism

Iran’s hopes for regional hegemony, however, have been dashed many times. The country has failed to fully exploit sectarian fault lines and foment unrest in the region.

In recent decades, US-led efforts to counter Iranian aggression have not adequately dissuaded Iran from continuing to implement policies that threaten the Middle East’s security. US foreign policy in this context has also not taken any serious steps to protect the world’s energy supply chains, security or economic sustainability.

Today, we are witnessing the terrible consequences of this, with a greater Iranian presence and influence in regional conflicts — in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.

The US has taken great pains to thwart the Iranian regime’s actions through economic pressure. However, the policy of containment through showing goodwill and conditional negotiations, announced by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2006, did not compel Iran to respect international law.

The reason for this failure is a lack of seriousness on the part of the international community and the absence of a unified position that could strengthen that of the US vis-à-vis the Iranian regime

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1781896/global-efforts-needed-rein-iran%E2%80%99s-expansionism = http://en.adenpress.news/art/70

(A P)

More Saudi coalition „We are benefactors“ propaganda

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2176620

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2174953

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2174918

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2174652

cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids

(* A K pH)

Saudi coalition air raids and shelling day by day

Jan. 3: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/a.551858951631141/1903071366509886/

Jan. 2: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/a.551858951631141/1902244899925866/

Jan. 1: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/a.551858951631141/1902244239925932/

Dec. 31: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/a.551858951631141/1902243153259374/

Dec. 30: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/a.551858951631141/1902242796592743/

Dec. 29: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/a.551858951631141/1902242416592781/

Dec. 28: https://www.facebook.com/lcrdye/photos/a.551858951631141/1902241623259527/

(A K pH)

[Sanaa gov.] Armed Forces Spokesman Reveals No. of US-Saudi Air Strikes in 2020

Brigadier General Saree affirmed that the US-Saudi aggression launched more than 8888 air raids during 2020 on thirteen Yemeni governorates, of which 8478 were launched by the warplanes, while 410 raids were carried out by drones. Ma'rib governorate was targeted with more than 3,621 raids, Al-Jawf was targeted with more than 1981 raids and Sa'adah governorate was targeted with more than 726 raids. The rest of the raids were distributed to the rest of the governorates as follows, Al-Bayda (611 raids), Hajjah (496 raids), Sana'a (459) A raid), borderlines (324 raids), Amran (122 strikes), Amanat Al-Asimah (62 strikes), Hodeidah(46 raids), Al-Dhale`e (24 raids), Taiz (two raids), Abyan (two raids), Shabwa (two raids).

https://english.almasirah.net/post/16974/Armed-Forces-Spokesman-Reveals-No.-of-US-Saudi-Air-Strikes-in-2020

(A K pH)

More Saudi coalition air raids

https://english.almasirah.net/post/17015/%C2%A0US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Wednesday%2C-Jan-6%2C-2020 / https://www.saba.ye/en/news3123397.htm Marib p., Jawf p.

https://english.almasirah.net/post/17002/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Tuesday%2C-Jan-5%2C-2020 Marib p., Saada p., Asir

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3123226.htm Marib p.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3123120.htm Hodeidah p.

https://english.almasirah.net/post/16972/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Monday%2C-Jan-4%2C-2020 Several prov.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3122903.htm Marib p., Jawf p.

cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War

Siehe / Look at 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)

Mercenaries shelling injures man in Taiz

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3123389.htm

(* A K pS)

Houthis shell Taiz outskirt, kill civilians, and blow up houses

Houthi militants have killed and injured 11 people mostly women in a heavy shelling on Al-Hayma, an outskirt in the central Yemen governorate of Taiz, local sources and human rights groups said.

The Human Rights Center said the militants launched a military campaign against the area using dozens of military patrol vehicles, a tank and artillery. The shelling, on Wednesday afternoon, killed a child, an elderly man and two women in their houses. It injured seven other women.

The Shia theocratic militants stormed 18 houses, forced families out and blew up two of the houses, according to the sources.

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44339

and

(* A K P)

Houthi shelling leaves 13 civilians killed, injured in Taiz

Six civilians were killed and seven others wounded on Wednesday when the Houthi forces shelled their houses in the Yemeni southwestern governorate of Taiz, the Aden-based Saba reported late on Wednesday.
The Iranian-backed Houthi group bombed an area under its control with heavy and medium weapons, the news agency quoted local sources as saying, after the forces besieged al-Haima area using tanks, armored vehicles and armed pickups.
The bombardment left the two children Anwar Abdul Fatah and Arafat Dahhan, two women and two men killed, and seven women injured, the sources added.
The Houthis stormed into 18 civilian houses in the area and blew up two houses, according to the sources, as the "violent bombing left damages to other houses."

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22326.html

and also http://en.26sepnews.net/2021/01/07/houthi-shelling-kills-injures-13-civilians-including-women-and-children-in-taiz/

https://republicanyemen.net/archives/26770

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-6-civilians-killed-in-houthi-shelling/2101662

(A K pS)

To take revenge from people who captured photos of the flying missiles fired at Aden airport, the Houthi militia are shelling al-Taiziya district in Taiz governorate as a collective punishment./Almeethaq News.

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-44336

(A K)

Air defenses shoot down Saudi combat spy plane in Jawf

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3123353.htm

and also https://english.almasirah.net/post/17016/Yemeni-Air-Defenses-Down-US-Saudi-Aggression-Drone%2C-in-Al-Jawf

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/saudi-spy-drone-downed-in-yemen-houthi-spokesman/2100482

https://southfront.org/houthis-shot-down-turkish-made-combat-drone-operated-by-saudi-led-coalition/ (with film)

(A K pS)

Woman injured by Houthi sniper north of Taiz

http://en.26sepnews.net/2021/01/05/woman-injured-by-houthi-sniper-north-of-taiz/

(A K pS)

Several Houthi militiamen killed and injured during battles south of Marib

http://en.26sepnews.net/2021/01/04/several-houthi-militiamen-killed-and-injured-during-battles-south-of-marib/

(* B K pH)

ANSAR ALLAH RELEASES DETAILED REPORT OF YEMENI WAR AGAINST SAUDI ARABIA IN 2020

On January 4th, the Houthi military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree provided thorough statistics in both Saudi-led coalition’s and the Ansar Allah (Houthi) efforts in the Yemen war throughout 2020.

The infographics below provide an overview of what the Houthis carried out against the Saudi-led coalition in 2020.

According to the report, the Houthis carried out a total of 974 military operations, including 309 offensives on various fronts, as well as 623 raids on enemy sites and 42 infiltration operations.

The most significant offensive operations were two, according to Saree:

The Albonian Almarsous’ (Firm Structure) military offensive;

“Allah Overpowered them” military operation.

According to the report, the operations “led to the liberation of large areas in several governorates and caused great losses of the enemy and its equipment, not to mention hundreds of mercenaries killed, injured and captured.”

https://southfront.org/ansar-allah-releases-detailed-report-of-yemeni-war-against-saudi-arabia-in-2020/

(B K pS)

Yemen: Over 1,000 Houthis killed, wounded in battles near Taiz during 2020

More than 1,146 Houthi fighters were killed or wounded during clashes in the southwestern province of Taiz in 2020, the army of the internationally backed Yemen government said on Sunday.

"As many as 462 Houthi militiamen were killed, including prominent field leaders, and more than 684 others were injured during the ongoing battles with the National Army forces during the year 2020," the media centre of the Yemeni army's Taiz military division said in a statement.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210105-yemen-over-1000-houthis-killed-wounded-in-battles-near-taiz-during-2020/

(* B K pS)

38 people killed, injured in Houthi militia shelling in less than two months in Taiz

At least 38 people were killed in Houthi militia shelling in Southwestern Yemen’s Taiz province from 1st November to 19th December 2020, an NGO has said.

In a report entitled “Taiz: Incessant Shelling,” the Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations said in a report published today it documented the crimes in the “districts of Salah, al-Qahirah, and al-Mudhaffar” within the city.

The Houth “artillery shelling targeted populated areas and vital facilities” incurring “great damages to 20 properties” including houses, mosques, health facilities and a football stadium.

http://en.26sepnews.net/2021/01/04/38-people-killed-injured-in-houthi-militia-shelling-in-less-than-two-months-in-taiz/

and also http://en.adenpress.news/news/30934

https://republicanyemen.net/archives/26752

(A K pS)

A woman named Asia Mahmoud was shot dead by a #Houthi #sniper positioned on Hamid hill in #Taiz province.

https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1346124329243836430

(A K pS)

1300 Houthi-laid mines removed during 4th week of December

Mine-disposal squads of Masam, the Saudi Project for Mine Clearance in Yemen, removed 1300 Houthi-laid mines and explosives during the 4th week of December.

423 anti-tank mines, 859 unexploded devices, 11 anti-personnel mines, and 7 improvised explosives were removed during the last week of 2020, the project said.

The project says it has managed to clear as many as 208,505 landmines and explosives laid by the Iran-backed Houthis rebels since the start of its mine-clearance mission in mid-2018.

https://republicanyemen.net/archives/26731

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 P)

UN Committee, [Sanaa gov.] Redeployment Team Visit Salif and Ras Issa Ports

The UN committee and the National Team visited the ports of Salif and Ras Issa in Hodeidah, during the visit they were received by Colonel Abed Al-Wasabi, Director of Security for the Port of Salif.

https://english.almasirah.net/post/17018/N-Committee%2C-Redeployment-Team-Visit-Salif-and-Ras-Issa-Ports%C2%A0

(A K pH)

Aggression wages raid on Hodeida

the aggression's warplanes hit al-Salif district with a raid in a blatant violation of the Sweden agreement.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3123120.htm

(A K P)

UN mission 'working to prevent escalation' in Yemen's Hudaydah

The United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) said on Sunday that it is following with concern the recent security developments in the port city in western Yemen and working to prevent any further escalation of violence.

"UNMHA is following with concern reports of aerial activity culminating in explosions heard near the port of Hudaydah this evening," said the UN. "This comes during a period of increased aerial activity, civilian casualties, and growing ceasefire violations in the governorate." The mission added that it is "engaging in a multilateral response to prevent any further escalation of violence."

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210104-un-mission-working-to-prevent-escalation-in-yemens-hudaydah/

(A K P)

Houthis blame UNMHA for coalition airstrikes in Yemen's Hodeida

the Houthi-appointed authorities blamed the UN Mission to Support the Hodeida Agreement (UNMHA) for keeping silent at the coalition airstrikes in Hodeida.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-22227.html

(A K pH)

Daily violations

Jan. 6: https://english.almasirah.net/post/17015/%C2%A0US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Wednesday%2C-Jan-6%2C-2020

Jan. 5: https://english.almasirah.net/post/17002/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Tuesday%2C-Jan-5%2C-2020

Jan. 3: https://english.almasirah.net/post/16957/US-Saudi-Aggression-s-Daily-Update-for-Sunday%2C-Jan-3%2C-2020

cp19 Sonstiges / Other

(A)

Film: YungYemen ft. Basel (Official music video - Starring Laura Majid)

A song that reflects the feelings of Yemenis at home and abroad and the hope to travel again to and from Sanaa airport.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bThSIPHUNO8

Vorige / Previous:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-705-yemen-war-mosaic-705

Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-705 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-705:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose oder / or http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm

Der saudische Luftkrieg im Bild / Saudi aerial war images:

(18 +, Nichts für Sensible!) / (18 +; Graphic!)

http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm

http://yemenwarcrimes.blogspot.de/

http://www.yemenwar.info/

Liste aller Luftangriffe / and list of all air raids:

http://yemendataproject.org/data/

Untersuchung ausgewählter Luftangriffe durch Bellingcat / Bellingcat investigations of selected air raids:

https://yemen.bellingcat.com/

Untersuchungen von Angriffen, hunderte von Filmen / Investigations of attacks, hundreds of films:

https://yemeniarchive.org/en

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

Dietrich Klose

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

Dietrich Klose

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