Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 752b- Yemen War Mosaic 752b

Yemen Press Reader 752b: 23. Juli 2021: Fortsetzung von Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 752, cp7 - cp19 / July 23, 2021: Sequel to Yemen War Mosaic 752, cp7 - cp19

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Eingebetteter Medieninhalt

Dies ist die Fortsetzung von Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 752, Teil 1 / This is the sequel of Yemen War Mosaic 752, part 1:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-752-yemen-war-mosaic-752

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

cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation

cp4 Flüchtlinge / Refugees

cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis

cp6 Separatisten und Hadi-Regierung im Südjemen / Separatists and Hadi government in Southern Yemen

cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks

cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

cp8a Jamal Khashoggi

cp9 USA

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

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

cp11 Deutschland / Germany

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

cp12a Spionagesoftware Pegasus / Pegasus spyware

cp12b Sudan

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade

cp13b Söldner / Mercenaries

cp13c Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage

cp13d 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

cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks

Siehe / Look at cp1

(* B P)

Audio: The Lawfare Podcast: Yemen on the Brink of Hope with Elisabeth Kendall and Alexandra Stark

Yemen remains a mess. Many years of warfare have left it politically fractured, economically shattered and with a true humanitarian crisis of multiple dimensions. And yet there are some small signs of hope, with the Biden administration increasing its engagement to achieve progress and the United Nations resetting its efforts with a new special envoy to the country.

To talk through it, David Priess sat down with Elisabeth Kendall, a senior research fellow at Pembroke College of Oxford University, who has spent significant time on the ground, especially in Eastern Yemen, and Alexandra Stark, a senior researcher at New America and the author of the recent article on Lawfare, "Giving Diplomacy a Chance in Yemen."

https://www.lawfareblog.com/lawfare-podcast-yemen-brink-hope-elisabeth-kendall-and-alexandra-stark

(* B P)

Can new UN envoy do what predecessors could not do in Yemen

While some observers are optimistic about Grundberg's nomination, based on the good reputation of Sweden and his successful diplomatic career, Yemeni people are disappointed with the UN's failure to end the disastrous war.

Questions are being raised about what the fourth UN envoy would be able to do on a file which has been described as full of complications, and whether he is the man to rekindle the stalled peace process.

Many believe that his efforts would eventually come up with no productive outcomes, just like his predecessors, whether he starts from where Griffiths ended up or with a new way to handle the Yemeni file.

The previous UN envoys have ignored real dynamics of the war in Yemen and have been focused on small gains, maybe mostly financial benefits, to maintain their formal presence, said political researcher Yousuf Al-Nadhari.

All UN envoys have not achieved any real and serious breakthrough on the crisis and have only searched for ways to manage the crisis, he said.

The former envoys, especially Griffiths, have appeared like they were dispatched to alleviate the suffering of the people, ignoring that the humanitarian crisis can't be solved without putting an end to the war, he said.

The UN needs to reconsider its strategy towards all the warring parties and to search for more effective pressure tools that can pave the way for the success of its new envoy, he said.

"It is time to center on the main elements that can help end the conflict and push the parties towards a settlement which can lay the groundwork for real and serious peace in a country facing the world's largest humanitarian crisis".

https://debriefer.net/en/news-26184.html

(A P)

Oman supports all efforts to bring peace to Yemen: Foreign Minister

https://en.abna24.com/news//oman-supports-all-efforts-to-bring-peace-to-yemen-foreign-minister_1161307.html

(* B P)

Giving Diplomacy a Chance in Yemen

New America’s Alexandra Stark assesses Biden’s Yemen policy, pointing out some successes but also noting how much is left to do before Yemen enjoys a modicum of peace and stability.

While the announcement was greeted as a historic shift in the U.S. approach to Yemen, since then some critics have argued that the administration has been too lenient toward Saudi Arabia in its efforts to negotiate a cease-fire in Yemen, while others say that the United States should take a harsher stance toward the Saudis’ Iran-backed opponent, the Houthis. What can U.S. diplomacy reasonably be expected to achieve?

But Diplomacy Is Painstakingly Slow

At the same time, Biden’s diplomatic strategy is already confronting a complex situation on the ground that leaves diplomats with few easy answers. In February, the Houthis doubled-down on their year-long offensive on Mari

The Marib offensive is a conundrum for U.S. diplomacy because the United States has little leverage over the Houthis. As long as a battlefield victory could put them in a better position in future negotiations, it will be tough to persuade the Houthis to halt the offensive. At the same time, recent success by pro-government forces in Al Bayda governorate has complicated the question of which side has more battlefield momentum. It is still unclear whether this will change either side’s calculations about the utility of negotiating versus holding out for victory.

Even if the international community is able to negotiate a cease-fire between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition, itself a tall order, it will be just one part of ending Yemen’s war. The conflict began as a civil war among Yemeni actors, and the fighting has not resolved fundamental questions about how Yemen will be governed or tensions among stakeholders with conflicting interests and grievances. Fragmentation within armed groups themselves, which has led to infighting among both the Houthis and forces aligned with the internationally recognized government, means that the war is much more complex than the two-sided conflict it is sometimes made out to be.

While the international community should continue to push for an urgently needed immediate cease-fire, the longer-term political process should not be rushed.

For all of these reasons, even successful diplomacy in Yemen will look slow and painstaking.

The Dilemmas of Diplomacy

The Biden administration has been criticized for not taking a tough enough approach to Saudi Arabia.

There is a real diplomatic logic at work here. The Biden administration seems to be betting that the United States is best positioned to prod the Saudis toward a face-saving deal in Yemen with a combination of carrots and sticks, and by advocating for Saudi Arabia’s core security interests rather than acting as a dispassionate adjudicator among the parties.

This approach has left Lenderking and the Biden administration open to charges that the United States is failing to act as a “neutral arbiter” in the conflict. The United States, of course, is not a “neutral” mediator. Yet a rich body of scholarly research shows that biased mediators can play conducive roles in negotiations to end civil wars, because they both take actions to ensure that “their” side’s interests are represented in an agreement and can use their unique leverage and knowledge to get their side to negotiate in good faith and make costly concessions.

https://www.lawfareblog.com/giving-diplomacy-chance-yemen

cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

Siehe / Look at cp12a

(A P)

Another interesting example of a hacked/purchased verified sports account being used by a "Saudi prince", in this case Khalid bin Talal Al Saud. This account "

@f_kamano " actually belongs to Francois Kamano, who plays for Lokomotiv Moscow, formerly @girondins (images)

https://twitter.com/marcowenjones/status/1417590489759420416

(* A P)

Widespread calls to protest on Arafa day, and Saudis taint the image of the king

Public calls for mass participation in the Arafa Day protest are mounting, rejecting the injustice of the Saudi regime and in support for prisoners of conscience.

Saudis defaced the murals of King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Muhammad, before protests scheduled for Monday (Arafah Day).

Saudi opposition activist Ali Al-Ahmad tweeted: “Less than 48 hours before the start of protests across the country, activists began targeting murals of the leaders of #SaudiKingSalman and #MBS.”

Posted by Dr Muhammad Al-Dosari showed a video of several Saudi army soldiers in the southern border trampling and burning pictشures of King Salman and his crown prince.

One of the protests’ goals is to lift the Saudi injustice on citizens and release all political detainees in the prisons of the House of Saud.

In the protest scheduled for the day of Arafa, they demand an end to the plans of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at “tampering with religion and putting an end to plans to destroy the identity of society”, employing graduates and eradicating poverty in the oil kingdom.

The goals also include stopping the security prosecutions and brutal repression of citizens and opponents and enabling the Bidoon to have their right to citizenship.

They aim to pressure the Saudi regime to improve the citizens’ living standards, abolish government taxes and restore previous services to citizens.

https://saudileaks.org/en/arafa/

and

(A P)

Film: A recording from inside the #Saudi @KingSalman court supporting the ongoing civil action that started July19

https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1418356065599688707

and

(A P)

The National Initiative for Change @Mobadarah1442 has released locations of protests across the nation.

https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1417117909894279175

Video from #Makkah showing people carried out market shutdown on a usually busy day. This was part of #Arafah_Day civil action to protest the #Saudi Clan regime

https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1417328306861617167

(A P)

#HumanRights organization @sanadUK reports the #Saudi Clan arrested religious leader Omar AlSadoon over his column criticizing #Saudi limits on microphones in mosques.

https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1416882120602144771

(A P)

Immunised pilgrims gather for haj as COVID restrictions limit numbers

Muslim pilgrims vaccinated against COVID-19 gathered on Sunday for the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, which has barred worshippers from abroad for a second year running due to the pandemic and has also restricted entry from inside the kingdom.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-haj/immunised-pilgrims-gather-for-haj-as-covid-restrictions-limit-numbers-idUSKBN2EO0CA

and also https://apnews.com/article/hajj-pilgrimmage-mecca-saudi-arabia-coronavirus-religion-d2086e24566c78b1663c6c6de1007736

(* A P)

Saudi commentators go public in criticizing UAE function in Yemen

Professional-government commentators in Saudi Arabia are publicly criticizing the United Arab Emirates’ function in Yemen, a uncommon transfer that displays political and financial tensions between the 2 Gulf allies that additionally led to an open standoff over oil coverage.

Saudi Arabia is attempting to comprise an influence wrestle in southern Yemen between the acknowledged authorities backed by Riyadh and the primary separatist group supported by the UAE – which dangers broadening a warfare that Saudi Arabia is struggling to exit.

“If Abu Dhabi doesn’t assist in implementing the Riyadh settlement relating to the south Yemen disaster, and retains obstructing it, I feel that Saudi-Emirati ties will proceed to be examined,” political author Suleiman al-Oqeliy, who typically displays official Saudi positions, stated in a Twitter submit on Saturday.

“The Kingdom, authorities and other people, won’t enable anybody to tamper with Yemen’s safety and hurt it. Its persistence could also be nice however it has limits,” tweeted Abdullah al-Hatayla, deputy editor of Saudi Arabia’s semi-official Okaz newspaper.

Social media is intently monitored by authorities within the Gulf Arab area and pro-government commentators in Saudi Arabia often chorus from criticizing the dominion’s allies.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-emirates-yemen/saudi-commentators-go-public-in-criticising-uae-role-in-yemen-idUSKBN2EO0E2 = https://lessdaily.com/saudi-commentators-go-public-in-criticizing-uae-function-in-yemen/

cp8a Jamal Khashoggi

Siehe / Look at cp12a

(B P)

Film: DW's Oliver Sallet spoke with Hannan El-Atr Khashoggi, widow of murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTnpv8SMrec&t=2s

cp9 USA

Siehe / Look at cp2, cp9a

(* B K P)

Just Security Obtains Overseas Troop Counts That the Pentagon Concealed from the Public

Last April, Just Security filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Department of Defense (DoD) seeking U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Although DoD had routinely reported such numbers for over a decade, across both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, the Trump administration abruptly reversed the practice in December 2017, and began redacting these figures from quarterly manpower reports.

After DoD failed to respond to our requests, Just Security sued the U.S. government in October to obtain the data, as well as any information that showed why these records were kept hidden from the American public. The Project on Government Oversight also filed its own FOIA requests and complaint.

Through these efforts, we have finally obtained records that provide a fuller picture of the United States’ troop commitments in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria over the last three years. During his confirmation process, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also made a pledge to restore transparency when it comes to U.S. troop deployments.

In addition to obtaining previously undisclosed troop level data, Just Security obtained records detailing the Department of Defense’s 2017 decision to conceal precise numbers . That said, DoD heavily redacted several of its documents, claiming the information, including the reasoning behind changing its disclosure practices, remains classified. In the interest of democratic accountability, Just Security is releasing all of the records as a public resource.

Here, our legal team from the Peter Gruber Rule of Law Clinic and the Media Freedom & Information Access Clinic at Yale Law School, describes the process of obtaining the records, details the new information they provide, and recommends policy changes to ensure the public’s access to precise, consistent troop level data.

https://www.justsecurity.org/75124/just-security-obtains-overseas-troop-counts-that-the-pentagon-concealed-from-the-public/

(B P)

Film: UAE ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba is sometimes dubbed “Brotaiba” because of the influence he has on American foreign policy. @AkbarSAhmed talks to @mehdirhasan about how Otaiba’s influence has only grown.

https://twitter.com/MehdiHasanShow/status/1418007997402521600

(A P)

Blinken meets with Qatari leader, who pledges to help US in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Yemen

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the prime minister of Qatar Thursday to discuss regional crises in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani backed U.S. calls to promote "peace and security" through a strategic partnership.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/blinken-meets-with-qatar-leader-to-address-regional-crises

and also, photos: https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1418346367802617856

and

(A P)

#USEnvoyYemen thanked @MBA_AlThani_ for Qatar's announcement of $100m to @WFP to help address the threat of famine in Yemen. More funding is urgently needed as the crisis in Yemen continues. Both also affirmed the importance of regional consensus in resolving the Yemen conflict (photos)

https://twitter.com/StateDept_NEA/status/1418351111933677573

(B P)

Sen. Chris Murphy: In April I traveled to Doha to raise w my friend Foreign Minister Al Thani the possibility of a major Qatari donation to address the Yemen famine. Tonight at dinner Qatar announced a historic $100M donation. Thanks to @SenToddYoung @ChrisCoons @WFPChief

for their work on this (photo)

https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1418012695324987395

(* B K P)

Biden’s DOJ Is Using A Ridiculous Argument To Defend A Controversial Trump-Era Arms Deal

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are both accused of human rights abuses — but Biden seems to believe that should only matter for the Saudis.

After President Joe Biden quietly OK’d Donald Trump’s largest arms deal earlier this year, the Biden administration is now defending it in court using ludicrous logic: that it’s unfair to suggest the United Arab Emirates will misuse American weapons just because it has repeatedly done so for years.

Several groups are suing the State Department in federal court — a coalition that includes relatives of more than 50 people killed by UAE military actions in Libya, including an attack that U.S. intelligence blamed on the Emiratis not long before Trump offered them the package of fighter jets, drones and bombs.

Critics of the UAE deal argue the process of approving the sale violated the United States’ standards for arms exports. If a judge agrees, that could derail the entire sale.

Many of Biden’s most important political allies share their skepticism of the plan. In December, nearly the entire Democratic Senate caucus voted to halt the effort, and soon after taking office, Biden launched a review of the deal over its risk to human rights and national security.

When HuffPost broke the news in April that Biden would follow through on the Trump-era plan, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) said he and his colleagues were “concerned” and had “many questions.”

But in a filing sent to court on July 16 and reviewed by HuffPost, Justice Department lawyers said opponents of the $23 billion sale are unfairly speculating about its consequences. Biden’s attorneys said there’s “nothing more than conjecture” offered by the groups challenging the deal and made a curious argument on whether they have a right to bring this suit.

“Plaintiffs’ primary argument in support of standing — that the UAE has been engaged in a continuing course of injurious conduct for the last six years, before the sales at issue in this case — only emphasizes that the U.S. Government is not the cause of any injury, and that an injunction to block the sales would not redress any injury,” they wrote.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/biden-uae-lawsuit_n_60f84d05e4b09f2b2389a608?fxg

(B P)

Will Biden have courage on child soldiers?

In late June, the Biden administration released the first Trafficking in Persons Report of its presidency. This annual report includes a list of countries identified by the U.S. State Department as having government forces or government-supported armed groups that recruit or use child soldiers.

The list is mandated by the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA), a landmark piece of legislation that leverages U.S. military assistance and arms sales to encourage governments to stop using child soldiers.

Five of these countries have appeared on the CSPA list for ten years or more — Somalia, Yemen, the DRC, Burma, and South Sudan.

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/564009-will-biden-have-courage-on-child-soldiers

(A P)

Ein beispielloser internationaler Konsens zur Beendigung des Konflikts im Jemen

In einer kurzen Erklärung, die auf dem Twitter-Account des US-Außenministeriums veröffentlicht wurde, gratulierte Lenderking den Jemeniten anlässlich Eid al-Adha und drückte seine Hoffnung aus, dass ein internationaler Konsens zu einem Abschluss beitragen würde. dauerhafter Waffenstillstand Die große Lösung ist politisch.

https://www.nach-welt.com/ein-beispielloser-internationaler-konsens-zur-beendigung-des-konflikts-im-jemen/

(A P)

At the @CH_MENAP roundtable, #USEnvoyYemen Lenderking gave an update & stressed the importance of resolving the conflict. “The U.S. is in this effort to help Yemen truly turn the corner toward peace & security. A ceasefire is only one step. We must continue to build from there.”

https://twitter.com/StateDept_NEA/status/1417548904669892608

(* B P)

If Biden can’t stand up to Saudi Arabia, then Congress should, and now

The administration has been sluggish in its pledge to withdraw material support to the Kingdom and help end the blockade in Yemen.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration has been slow to fulfil its promise to help bring peace to Yemen, dragging its feet on key initiatives and falling short on others.

In the meantime, the administration and Lenderking haven’t pressed hard enough for an end to the Saudi blockade of Yemen, which has hindered the delivery of vital fuel and humanitarian supplies. The lives of hundreds of thousands of children are now at risk in Yemen, according to David Beasley, the head of the United Nations Food Programme.

In a speech delivered in March of this year, Lenderking appeared to downplay the humanitarian consequences of the Saudi blockade.

Meanwhile, crucial U.S. support for the Saudi war effort has continued in the form of the provision of maintenance and spare parts for the Saudi arsenal, including crucial support for the Royal Saudi Air Force. As Bruce Riedel of the Brookings Institution has noted, the Saudi air force would be grounded in short order without such support. The Biden administration should end the U.S. role in sustaining the Saudi military until Saudi Arabia ends the blockade and enters into a comprehensive peace deal to end the Yemen war.

Given the Biden administration’s failure to craft a policy that is likely to succeed in helping to promote peace in Yemen, it’s time for Congress to act, as called for by a coalition of peace and human rights organizations that have successfully pressed key members of Congress to write letters to the administration urging it to take a more active role in ending the Saudi blockade. One key next step should be Congressional passage of a War Powers Resolution that would end U.S. support for the Saudi and UAE war efforts, along with direct measures to end the provision of U.S. arms, spare parts, and maintenance to the Saudi military. Given the ongoing suffering caused by the war, Yemen can’t wait any longer for immediate, forceful U.S. action to end the war. If the Biden administration won’t act promptly, Congress should.

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2021/07/21/if-biden-cant-stand-up-to-saudi-arabia-then-congress-should/

(* A P)

Unlikely Senate alliance aims to claw back Congress’ foreign policy powers ‘before it’s too late’

Sens. Chris Murphy, Mike Lee and Bernie Sanders introduced legislation to give Congress a larger role in U.S. foreign policy.

A bipartisan group of senators is pushing to grant Congress an unprecedented role in crafting U.S. foreign policy and drastically expand lawmakers’ ability to roll back key presidential national-security decisions.

A newly unveiled bill effectively recalibrates the balance of power, putting Congress on near-equal footing with the commander-in-chief as the driver of Washington’s posture toward the world. It aims to reverse the decades-long erosion of the House and Senate’s authority to shape American foreign policy.

“Before it’s too late, Congress needs to reclaim its rightful role as co-equal branch on matters of war and national security,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who introduced the bill alongside Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). “The bipartisan National Security Powers Act will make sure that there is a full, open and public debate on all major national security decisions.”

The bill would make it easier for lawmakers to outright reverse the president’s foreign-policy decisions — potentially even in real-time — including on war authorizations, weapons sales and emergency declarations.

Its introduction marks a watershed moment on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are growing increasingly amenable to restricting presidential power, with progressive Democrats and libertarian Republicans joining forces on various efforts.

Murphy said the bill aims to chart a course correction for Congress, which has “acquiesced to the growing, often unchecked power of the executive to determine the outline of America’s footprint in the world.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/20/bipartisan-senators-congress-war-powers-500214

(* B P)

Trump adviser Tom Barrack arrested on foreign-agent charges

Prosecutors say a wealthy investor traded on ties to the administration to benefit the United Arab Emirates.

Tom Barrack, a longtime supporter of and adviser to former President Donald Trump, was arrested Tuesday on charges he secretly acted in the U.S. as an agent for the United Arab Emirates.

Barrack, 74, is accused of failing to register as a foreign agent, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and four counts of making false statements to the FBI.

A federal indictment issued by a grand jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., charged that Barrack put pro-UAE language into a Trump campaign speech in May 2016, took direction from UAE officials about what to say in media appearances and an op-ed piece he published just before the 2016 election, and agreed to promote a candidate for ambassador to UAE backed by UAE officials.

Prosecutors say Barrack used his insider access to White House officials that he gained through roles like his position as chair of Trump’s inaugural committee to give the UAE “non-public information about the views and reactions of senior U.S. government officials following a White House meeting between senior U.S. officials and senior UAE officials.”

Also charged in the case were an aide to Barrack at his investment firm Colony Capital, Matthew Grimes, and a businessman from UAE, Rashid Al-Malik.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/20/tom-barrack-arrested-foreign-agent-charges-500333

and also https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/20/thomas-barrack-chairman-of-trump-2017-inaugural-fund-arrested-on-federal-charge.html

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/563943-trump-ally-and-ex-campaign-adviser-thomas-barrack-charged-with

https://www.wsj.com/articles/tom-barrack-charged-with-acting-as-a-foreign-agent-for-the-uae-11626807733

and as a reminder a 2018 NYT report: https://t.co/340KhWIK24?amp=1

and by Dep. of Justice:
(* B P)

Former Advisor to Presidential Candidate Among Three Defendants Charged with Acting as Agents of a Foreign Government

Defendants Allegedly Acted and Conspired to Act at the Direction of Senior United Arab Emirates Officials to Influence a Presidential Campaign, Public Opinion and the U.S. Government

A seven-count indictment was unsealed today in a New York federal court relating to the defendants’ unlawful efforts to advance the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the United States at the direction of senior UAE officials by influencing the foreign policy positions of the campaign of a candidate in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and, subsequently, the foreign policy positions of the U.S. government in the incoming administration, as well as seeking to influence public opinion in favor of UAE interests.

Thomas Joseph Barrack, 74, of Santa Monica, California; Matthew Grimes, 27, of Aspen, Colorado; and Rashid Sultan Rashid Al Malik Alshahhi, aka Rashid Al Malik and Rashid Al‑Malik, 43, a UAE national, are accused of acting and conspiring to act as agents of the UAE between April 2016 and April 2018. The indictment also charges Barrack with obstruction of justice and making multiple false statements during a June 20, 2019, interview with federal law enforcement agents.

“The defendants repeatedly capitalized on Barrack’s friendships and access to a candidate who was eventually elected President, high-ranking campaign and government officials, and the American media to advance the policy goals of a foreign government without disclosing their true allegiances,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The conduct alleged in the indictment is nothing short of a betrayal of those officials in the United States, including the former President. Through this indictment, we are putting everyone — regardless of their wealth or perceived political power — on notice that the Department of Justice will enforce the prohibition of this sort of undisclosed foreign influence.”

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-advisor-presidential-candidate-among-three-defendants-charged-acting-agents-foreign

and

(* B P)

UAE ENLISTED BUSINESSMAN TO SPY ON TRUMP WHITE HOUSE

Rashid Al-Malik reported to UAE intelligence on the Trump administration’s Middle East policy as part of a broader influence effort.

IN JANUARY 2017, three days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a businessman from the United Arab Emirates was invited to a lavish dinner planned by Trump’s longtime ally Thomas J. Barrack Jr., who was chair of the president’s inaugural committee. The guest list placed Rashid al-Malik, a onetime business associate of Barrack’s, amid more than 100 foreign diplomats and top members of the incoming administration. The president-elect himself made a surprise appearance at the gathering.

Al-Malik’s name later surfaced in connection with a federal probe into potential illegal donations to Trump’s inaugural fund and a pro-Trump Super PAC by Middle Eastern donors. Al-Malik was interviewed by members of special counsel Robert Mueller’s team and was “cooperating” with prosecutors, his lawyer told The Intercept last year. The New York Times recently reported that investigators are looking into “whether Mr. al-Malik was part of an illegal influence scheme,” although no details of that potential scheme have been made public.

In fact, the U.S. intelligence community has concluded that al-Malik served as a paid intelligence source for the UAE throughout 2017, The Intercept has learned.

https://theintercept.com/2019/06/10/trump-uae-businessman-spy/

and

(* B P)

Emirates literally editing Trump's campaign speech here (texts in image)

https://twitter.com/marcowenjones/status/1417613867602092032

and more https://twitter.com/PiperK/status/1417588097173258241

and

(B P)

Film: #TomBarrack who was arrested for working as an agent for #UAE can be seen here on #UAE mouthpiece

@skynewsarabia during the presidential elections

https://twitter.com/AliAlAhmed_en/status/1417600709130956803

(B P)

EXCLUSIVE: Law firm for jailed Saudi royals launches US lobby campaign (paywalled)

https://www.foreignlobby.com/2021/07/16/lobby-shop-for-jailed-saudi-officials-presses-us-for-their-release/

(* B P)

No Clean Hands: The Interventions of Middle Eastern Powers, 2010-2020

Executive Summary

Middle East instability is not due to a sole ‘malign actor’…

  • Instability in the Middle East has often been blamed on a single expansionist U.S. opponent, whether that be Libya, Iraq, or Iran. However, a qualitative and quantitative view of the region’s conflicts over the past 10 years shows several states to be interventionist to roughly the same degree, contradicting the argument that regional instability is primarily caused by a single “malign actor.”

… nor are U.S. partners innocent — far from it

  • Six states have shown themselves the most able to project armed power beyond their borders: Iran, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Iran is highly interventionist, but not an outlier. The other major powers in the region are often as interventionist as the Islamic Republic — and at times even more so. Indeed, the UAE and Turkey have surpassed Iran in recent years.

The U.S. role is also highly problematic

  • Washington is not sitting on the sidelines: It is an active player in these regional interventions. In fact, five of the six most interventionist powers in the Middle East are armed by the United States — and also enjoy significant political support from Washington. Fully a third of U.S. arms exports from 2010 to 2020, measured in trend-indicator value, went to the major Middle Eastern powers considered in this study.

Hate the game, not the player

  • The data suggest that the most important driving factor in interventionism is regional instability. That is, regional instability appears to drive interventions more often than interventions cause instability.

You can’t blame the Iran nuclear accord for this…

  • There is no evidential support for the argument that the 2015 nuclear agreement between five world powers and Iran caused an increase in interventionism driven by Iranian aggression. Iranian intervention remained consistent from the high-water mark of the Arab Spring onward, while other powers’ increasing interventionism was often entirely unrelated to Iran. In fact, much of the regional escalation since 2011 has taken place in battlefields where Iran is not involved, but where Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are jousting for power.

… although U.S. partners’ reaction to the Iran deal appears to have aggravated instability

  • One tempting explanation is that the U.S.–Iranian rapprochement as the nuclear accord was negotiated and concluded created the perception that the United States was abandoning regional powers to Iran, incentivizing those powers to act more aggressively in pursuit of their perceived interests. Even so, much of the escalation occurred in conflicts that had little to do with Iran.

What to do? ‘First, do no harm’

The United States should take no actions that would make matters worse and, in particular, avoid policies that cause any state to collapse, given that the collapse of state authority is a major driver of interventions and instability. In large part, this means simply resisting the temptation to begin new wars. The U.S. should also stay clear of policies that prolong ongoing civil wars or broad-based sanctions that intensify the process of state collapse, and in so doing elicit interventions.

https://quincyinst.org/report/no-clean-hands-the-interventions-of-middle-eastern-powers/

My comment: This is still much too soft as far as the US is concerned. The very most malign actor in the region: Evidently the US.

(A K P)

U.S. and Royal Saudi air forces collaborate to counter UAS threat

With the rise of unmanned aerial system attacks against U.S. forces and interests in the Middle East, the defense against UAS platforms has become a top priority within the U.S. Central Command theater of operations.

In response, U.S. Air Forces Central and partner nations have begun a series of integration missions that will continue through the summer of 2021.

On June 17 and 30, U.S. and Royal Saudi aircraft took to the skies to conduct a pair of operations testing their ability to collaboratively track and destroy a simulated invading UAS within regional airspace.

https://www.afcent.af.mil/News/Article/2698169/us-and-royal-saudi-air-forces-collaborate-to-counter-uas-threat/

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

Siehe / Look at cp9

(* B K P)

Will a Military Withdrawal from the Middle East Leave a ‘Vacuum?’

Executive Summary

The Biden administration must not allow disputes among combatant commanders about resource allocation to dictate decisions concerning U.S. force posture. The White House has acknowledged that the Middle East is no longer as central a concern to our national security as it once was and that the U.S. must reshape its military presence in the region.

Fears that Russia or China might take advantage of a reduction in the U.S. military presence in the Middle East are exaggerated. China and Russia have both benefited from America’s willingness to shoulder the security burden of the Middle East.

Washington should complement its reduced military presence in the Middle East with greater diplomatic involvement. The objectives should be retaining influence and advancing U.S. interests in a peaceful and stable environment.

https://quincyinst.org/report/will-a-military-withdrawal-from-the-middle-east-leave-a-vacuum/

My comment: “America’s willingness to shoulder the security burden of the Middle East” is propaganda BS.

(* A E P)

Iran bypasses Hormuz Strait to export crude oil

Iran Thursday began exporting crude oil for the first time in the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

During a ceremony marking the inauguration of the project, President Hassan Rouhani called the plan “strategic.”

Iranian state media described the move as an indication that sanctions imposed by the U.S. were being defeated. Washington placed sanctions on Tehran after former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled his country out of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

The project, which began in 2019 and will cost some $2 billion in total, helps Iran lessen its dependency on its main oil export terminal on the Persian Gulf island of Kharg. The shortcut also reduces transportation and insurance expenses for oil tankers.

The facility currently allows the pumping of some 30,000 barrels of crude into tankers per hour, via a floating anchored offshore jetty, or single point mooring. It is located some seven kilometers (4.7 miles) off the coast.

“82% of this project has been completed and so far more than 1.2 billion dollars have been spent on this,” Oil Minister Jan Zanganeh said.

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-iran-iran-nuclear-346a31c0731ceaa9766e17a203fb579d

(A P)

Danish military spots Iranian vessels in the Baltic Sea

The Danish military said Thursday it spotted an Iranian destroyer and a large support vessel sailing through the Baltic Sea, likely heading to Russia for a military parade in the coming days.

The Danish Defense Ministry posted photographs online from the Royal Danish Air Force of the new domestically built Iranian destroyer Sahand and the intelligence-gathering vessel Makran passing by the Danish island of Bornholm.

“It is expected that they are on their way to the annual naval parade in St. Petersburg,” the Danish military wrote on Twitter.

https://apnews.com/article/europe-middle-east-iran-baltic-sea-b38115b08d319d43e0c809e7ac1fae25

(A K P)

Militia officials: US drone destroys militia truck in Syria

A U.S. drone attack targeted a truck for an Iran-backed militia in eastern Syria on Sunday, destroying the vehicle without causing any casualties, two Iraqi militia officials said.

The attack came amid increasing tensions in the region between the U.S. military and Iran-backed Iraqi militias in recent weeks. The Americans have targeted militants who used drones and rockets to hit bases housing U.S. troops.

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-syria-dc4fbb044089bf1d2b20d627ec742785

My comment: The US does not have any right to bomb anything in Syria.

(* B P)

Whither the Iran nuclear deal? Ask Raisi

Rouhani has transfered JCPOA file to Iran’s new hard-line president, who just might close the deal.

Four reasons Raisi would sign onto the JCPOA

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, with less than three weeks remaining in office, has handed over diplomacy on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iran nuclear deal, to his successor, former Chief Justice Ebrahim Raisi, who takes office on Aug. 3.

It was the outcome both Rouhani and US President Joe Biden almost certainly wanted to avoid. The hope was that Aug. 3 would be the deadline for closing the deal, before Raisi takes office. Then Raisi (and the Iranian people) could reap the economic windfall, with lots of obvious credit going to Rouhani and the JCPOA signatories. Winners all around.

So much for that. There is now more uncertainty, of course, as Raisi assembles a cabinet and a new negotiating team, including for the seventh round of nuclear talks in Vienna, reportedly to take place in mid-August.

Our view is that a nuclear deal is still very much on the table, despite more challenging and uncertain circumstances, for four reasons.

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/07/whither-iran-nuclear-deal-ask-raisi

(A P)

US hits Iran for delay in nuclear and prisoner swap talks

The Biden administration lashed out at Iran on Saturday for accusing it of delaying a proposed prisoner swap to force a quick resumption of indirect nuclear talks.

The State Department slammed as “outrageous” comments made by Iran’s deputy foreign minister who alleged the U.S. and Britain were holding the swap “hostage” to the negotiations over salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA.

In a pair of tweets from his verified account, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said the nuclear talks in Vienna could not resume until Iran’s hardline president-elect is inaugurated in early August. “We’re in a transition period as a democratic transfer of power is underway in our capital,” he said.

The nuclear talks “must thus obviously await our new administration. This is what every democracy demands,” Aragchi said. He added that the U.S. and Britain “need to understand this and stop linking a humanitarian exchange — ready to be implemented — with the JCPOA.”

“Keeping such an exchange hostage to political aims achieves neither,” said Aragchi who is Iran’s chief negotiator at the Vienna talks. “TEN PRISONERS on all sides may be released TOMORROW if US&UK fulfill their part of deal.”

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-middle-east-government-and-politics-iran-iran-nuclear-d910911862e274c701af2fefcf20035e

(* B P)

Trump Administration knew Soleimani killing risked war with Iran

Heavily redacted classified DOJ memo shows the legal contortions used to justify the 2020 assassination.

The Trump administration acknowledged that assassinating Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January 2020 could have escalated into war with Tehran, a newly declassified memo shows.

Last week, the Biden administration released a heavily-redacted version of the legal justification for killing Soleimani, in response to a lawsuit filed by the civil liberties organization Protect Democracy.

The memo claims that Soleimani was “actively developing plans” to harm U.S. troops and diplomats in the Middle East and that the 2002 Iraq War authorization provided legal justification for the strike. Both those arguments were cited publicly by the Trump administration at the time.

But the document also states that the administration “considered the risk that the operation could escalate into a broader conflict,” given that Soleimani was “part of the military of Iran.” In the end, “the President’s national security team advised him, based upon available intelligence, that the targeted operation would be unlikely to escalate into a full-scale war.”

Several high-level officials were known to have pushed then-President Donald Trump to carry out the assassination.

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2021/07/20/trump-administration-knew-soleimani-killing-risked-war-with-iran/

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

(A P)

Preventing further currency devaluation and economic collapse in #Yemen is a humanitarian priority. Today I met UN Resident Coordinator @DavidGressly, and we discussed this and how the UK, @UN and donors can work together to alleviate Yemen's deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

https://twitter.com/JamesCleverly/status/1418238074627235842

My comment: Warmongers palying benefactors.

cp11 Deutschland / Germany

Siehe / Look at cp12a

(A H)

Nach Unwetter-Katastrophe: Warum ein Rosenheimer seit Tagen hunderte Anrufe aus Jemen bekommt

Nach der verheerenden Unwetter-Katastrophe in der vergangenen Woche haben die Hochwasser-Betroffenen viel Hilfsbereitschaft erfahren. Nicht nur aus Deutschland, sondern aus der ganzen Welt (kostenpflichtig)

https://www.ovb-online.de/rosenheim/rosenheim-stadt/unwetter-katastrophe-warum-ein-rosenheimer-seit-tagen-hunderte-anrufe-aus-jemen-bekommt-90878642.html

(A H)

Udo Lindenbergs Gemälde für 60.201 Euro versteigert! / Auktionsportal United Charity leitet den gesamten Erlös an UNICEF weiter

Für 60.201 Euro hat United Charity, Europas größtes Charity-Auktionsportal, ein lebensgroßes Gemälde von Udo Lindenberg versteigert! Der Panikrocker hatte anlässlich des 75-jährigen Jubiläums von UNICEF das riesige Unikat "Menschenfamilie" gestaltet, das auf www.unitedcharity.de exklusiv zur Auktion stand. Über das einmalige Kunstwerk darf sich nun ein Bieter aus Hockenheim freuen und den Erlös leitet United Charity zu 100 Prozent an die UNICEF-Hilfe für Jemen weiter.

https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2021-07/53478519-udo-lindenbergs-gemaelde-fuer-60-201-euro-versteigert-auktionsportal-united-charity-leitet-den-gesamten-erloes-an-unicef-weiter-007.htm

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

Iran: Siehe / Look at cp1

Emirates: Siehe / Look at cp12a

(A P)

[UAE] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation refutes Human Rights Watch allegations concerning Emirati citizen Ahmed Mansoor

https://www.mofaic.gov.ae/en/mediahub/news/2021/7/19/20-07-2021-uae-attack

Comment: The UAE rejected our statement below, claiming our reporting on Ahmed’s detention conditions has “repeatedly been proven false.” Yet proof, by way of independent monitors being allowed access to him, is precisely what we’ve demanded ever since his arrest.

https://twitter.com/HZayadin/status/1418249730329661446

cp12a Spionagesoftware Pegasus / Pegasus spyware

(* A P)

Cyberangriff auf die Demokratie

Eine internationale Recherche legt offen: Hunderte Journalistinnen, Menschenrechtler und Politiker gerieten weltweit ins Visier einer Spähsoftware.

Geheimdienste und Polizeibehörden haben offenbar weltweit Cyberwaffen missbraucht, um damit Journalistinnen, Menschenrechtsaktivisten, Anwälte und Politiker zu überwachen. Das zeigen monatelange Recherchen eines internationalen Journalistenkonsortiums, dem auch die ZEIT angehört. Auslöser der Recherchen ist eine Liste potenzieller Ziele mit mehr als 50.000 Telefonnummern, die dem Verein Forbidden Stories sowie Amnesty International zugespielt wurde und welche die ZEIT und 16 andere Redaktionen einsehen und auswerten konnten.

Die Liste, die von 2016 bis in die Gegenwart reicht, enthält unter anderem die Nummern von einem Dutzend Staats- und Regierungschefs, etlichen Ministern sowie hochrangigen Diplomaten, die vermutlich aus politischen Gründen ins Blickfeld rückten. Dafür nutzten die Geheimdienste den Recherchen zufolge ein Überwachungssystem der israelischen Firma NSO Group. Die Nummern wurden aus mehr als zehn Staaten eingespeist, die Kunden von NSO sind.

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2021-07/spionage-software-pegasus-cyberwaffe-ueberwachung-menschenrechte-enthuellung

und auch https://www.zeit.de/schwerpunkte/pegasus-project

(* A P)

Das Pegasus-Projekt - Aufgedeckt: Leck deckt weltweiten Missbrauch der Cyber-Überwachungswaffe auf

An autoritäre Regime verkaufte Spyware, die Aktivisten, Politiker und Journalisten ins Visier nimmt, wie Daten zeigen

Menschenrechtsaktivisten, Journalisten und Anwälte auf der ganzen Welt wurden von autoritären Regierungen ins Visier genommen, indem sie Hacking-Software verwendeten, die von der israelischen Überwachungsfirma NSO Group verkauft wurde, so eine Untersuchung eines massiven Datenlecks.

Die Untersuchung des Guardian und 16 weiterer Medienorganisationen deutet auf einen weit verbreiteten und anhaltenden Missbrauch von NSOs Hacking-Spyware Pegasus hin, von der die Firma behauptet, sie sei nur für den Einsatz gegen Kriminelle und Terroristen gedacht.

Pegasus ist eine Malware, die iPhones und Android-Geräte infiziert und es den Betreibern des Tools ermöglicht, Nachrichten, Fotos und E-Mails zu extrahieren, Anrufe aufzuzeichnen und heimlich Mikrofone zu aktivieren.

Das Leck enthält eine Liste von mehr als 50.000 Telefonnummern, die vermutlich seit 2016 von Kunden von NSO als die von Personen von Interesse identifiziert wurden.

Forbidden Stories, eine in Paris ansässige gemeinnützige Medienorganisation, und Amnesty International hatten zunächst Zugang zu der durchgesickerten Liste und teilten den Zugang mit Medienpartnern im Rahmen des Pegasus-Projekts, einem Konsortium zur Berichterstattung.

Das Vorhandensein einer Telefonnummer in den Daten verrät nicht, ob ein Gerät mit Pegasus infiziert oder Gegenstand eines versuchten Hacks war. Das Konsortium geht jedoch davon aus, dass die Daten einen Hinweis auf die potenziellen Ziele geben, die die Regierungskunden von NSO im Vorfeld möglicher Überwachungsversuche identifiziert haben.

https://telegra.ph/Das-Pegasus-Projekt---Aufgedeckt-Leck-deckt-weltweiten-Missbrauch-der-Cyber-%C3%9Cberwachungswaffe-auf-07-19

(* B P)

„Die gesamte Branche basiert auf einer Lüge“

US-Whistleblower Edward Snowden kritisiert nach Enthüllung des Pegasus-Projekts den Einsatz kommerzieller Spionagesoftware

„Die NSO tut das nicht, um die Welt zu retten, sondern aus einem einzigen Grund heraus: um Geld zu verdienen“, sagte Snowden. Zu welchem Preis aber?

https://projekte.sueddeutsche.de/artikel/politik/pegasus-projekt-edward-snowden-schockiert-enthuellungen-e378450/

(* B P)

"Das sollte uns mehr als alles andere Angst machen"

Edward Snowden zeigt sich im Interview über die Größenordnung der Enthüllungen des Pegasus Projects schockiert. Er fordert ein Moratorium für den Handel mit Cyberwaffen.

https://www.zeit.de/digital/2021-07/edward-snowden-spionage-software-pegasus-handy-ueberwachung-diktaturen

(A P)

Israelischer Hacker über Pegasus und NSO: „Sie sind skrupellos“

Gegen hochentwickelte Cyberwaffen wie Pegasus hat man keine Chance, sagt Aktivist Yuval Adam. Die Angriffe sind für ihn nicht überraschend.

Erst letzte Woche enttarnte die digitale Platform CitizenLab, wie das kleinere israelische Unternehmen Candiru Spyware an Regierungen verkauft und möglicherweise sogar mit der NSO zusammenarbeitet. Beide helfen Staaten, Menschenrechtler, Regimekritiker, Journalisten, Aktivisten und Politiker auszuspähen. Das Besondere an der NSO ist, dass es das größte dieser Unternehmen ist. Sie ist skrupellos und geht am aggressivsten vor. Damit schafft sie es immer wieder in die Öffentlichkeit.

https://taz.de/Israelischer-Hacker-ueber-Pegasus-und-NSO/!5781639/

(B P)

Lauschangriff mit israelischer Besatzungs-Technologie

https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=74434

(* B P)

Spionagesoftware: Markt außer Kontrolle

Firmen weltweit verdienen viel Geld mit digitalen Instrumenten zur Überwachung. Trotz internationaler Forderungen zeigen viele Länder wenig Ehrgeiz, die Geschäfte zu reglementieren.
Unter Autokraten ist Spionagesoftware eine beliebte Ware, etwa um Oppositionelle, kritische Journalisten oder Menschenrechtler auszuspionieren und zu unterdrücken. Diese digitalen Waffen sind einfach zu beschaffen. Die Staaten müssen keine eigenen Systeme entwickeln. Etliche Firmen weltweit bieten modernste Überwachungstechnologien zum Kauf an.
Mit Hilfe der Programme können fremde Computer oder Handys ausgelesen oder der Standort ermittelt werden. Manche ermöglichen es auch, das Mikro oder die Kamera unbemerkt vom Nutzer einzuschalten und so das Gerät als Wanze zu benutzen. Auch automatische Gesichtserkennungen funktionieren immer zuverlässiger. Der Markt mit diesen Technologien ist in den vergangenen Jahren enorm gewachsen. Experten gehen von einem Milliarden-Geschäft aus.
Bereits 1995 warnte die britische Bürgerrechtsorganisation Privacy International vor der Entwicklung. Sie listete damals bereits mehr als 150 Firmen in ihrem Bericht auf, die Geld mit Überwachungstechnologie verdienen.

https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/spaeh-software-pegasus-markt-101.html

(A P)

Die Superwaffe und die Deutschen

Das Cyber-Unternehmen NSO versuchte, seine Spähsoftware auch in Deutschland zu verkaufen. Sogar einem Innenminister führten die Israelis vor, was sie alles können.

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2021-07/ueberwachungsaffaere-spionage-software-pegasus-einsatz-deutschland-bundeskriminalamt-handydaten-rechtsstaat

(A P)

Merkel fordert Beschränkungen für Pegasus-Verkauf

Nach Berichten über den Einsatz der Überwachungssoftware werden in Staaten wie Israel und Ungarn Ermittlungen aufgenommen. Die Bundeskanzlerin fordert Restriktionen.

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2021-07/pegasus-angela-merkel-software-verkauf-spionage-ueberwachung-ermittlungen

(A P)

Mexiko außer Kontrolle

Mexiko kaufte als erstes Land die Cyberwaffe Pegasus. Seitdem ist das Ausspähen politischer Gegner dort alltäglich geworden. Sogar der Präsident ist davon betroffen.

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2021-07/pegasus-project-spionage-software-cyberwaffe-hackerangriff-mexiko

(A P)

Emmanuel Macron beruft Krisensitzung wegen Pegasus ein

Das Smartphone des französischen Präsidenten war offenbar Ziel einer Pegasus-Attacke aus Marokko. Nun befasst sich das Verteidigungskabinett mit dem Fall.

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2021-07/spionage-software-pegasus-emmanuel-macron-cyber-kriminalitaet-sicherheit

(A P)

Frankreichs Präsident Macron im Visier der Spione

Der Staatspräsident, das Kabinett, ein Menschenrechtsanwalt: In Frankreich sind Angriffe mit der Cyberwaffe Pegasus massiv. Im Verdacht: Marokko

https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2021-07/spionage-frankreich-marokko-emmanuel-macron-handy-pegasus-cyberwaffe-ueberwachung

(* B P)

Pegasus project: spyware leak suggests lawyers and activists at risk across globe

Leaked records show dissidents and those who help them prominent among those under threat from NSO spyware

A leak of phone data suggests human rights lawyers, activists and dissidents across the globe were selected as possible candidates for invasive surveillance through their phones.

Their mobile phone numbers appeared in leaked records, indicating they were selected prior to possible surveillance targeting by governmental clients of the Israeli company NSO Group, which developed the Pegasus spyware.

The records were obtained by the nonprofit organisation Forbidden Stories and shared with a consortium of media outlets including the Guardian.

NSO has repeatedly said Pegasus, which can access all data on a target’s device as well as turn it into an audio or video recorder, is meant for use only against terrorists and serious criminals.

The selection of activists, dissidents and journalists by NSO clients paints a very different picture, though one that campaigners will say was grimly predictable given the tool has been sold to some of the world’s most repressive regimes. Loujain al-Hathloul, the most prominent women’s rights activist in Saudi Arabia, was selected for possible targeting just weeks before her 2018 abduction in the United Arab Emirates and forced return to Saudi Arabia, where she was imprisoned for three years and allegedly tortured. It is believed Hathloul was selected by the UAE, a known client of NSO and close ally of Saudi Arabia.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/19/spyware-leak-suggests-lawyers-and-activists-at-risk-across-globe

(* B P)

Probe: Journalists, activists among firm’s spyware targets

An investigation by a global media consortium based on leaked targeting data provides further evidence that military-grade malware from Israel-based NSO Group, the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire outfit, is being used to spy on journalists, human rights activists and political dissidents.

From a list of more than 50,000 cellphone numbers obtained by the Paris-based journalism nonprofit Forbidden Stories and the human rights group Amnesty International and shared with 16 news organizations, journalists were able to identify more than 1,000 individuals in 50 countries who were allegedly selected by NSO clients for potential surveillance.

They include 189 journalists, more than 600 politicians and government officials, at least 65 business executives, 85 human rights activists and several heads of state, according to The Washington Post, a consortium member. The journalists work for organizations including The Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Le Monde and The Financial Times.

Amnesty also reported that its forensic researchers had determined that NSO Group’s flagship Pegasus spyware was successfully installed on the phone of Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, just four days after he was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The company had previously been implicated in other spying on Khashoggi.

https://apnews.com/article/technology-middle-east-business-journalists-jamal-khashoggi-00a3fb4349b04504d3d7c481eae233d3

and more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/revealed-leak-uncovers-global-abuse-of-cyber-surveillance-weapon-nso-group-pegasus

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/18/ft-editor-roula-khalaf-among-180-journalists-targeted-nso-spyware

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2021/07/forensic-methodology-report-how-to-catch-nso-groups-pegasus/

https://t.co/WU62zZfwiZ?amp=1 (Washington Post)

https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgx5bw/amazon-aws-shuts-down-nso-group-infrastructure

(* B P)

Israeli — not Chinese — firm caught exporting its ‘authoritarian model’

Is there a double standard when government-linked makers and sellers of ‘nasty’ spyware used by autocrats are U.S. allies?

The tool was developed by Israeli ex-cyberspies a decade ago, and has been in use since at least 2016. NSO counts 60 intelligence, military and law enforcement agencies across 40 countries as customers, and the Post characterizes the organization as a “worldwide leader in the growing and largely unregulated private spyware industry.”

For its part, NSO disputed the investigation’s findings. It claims that licensing contracts stipulate Pegasus is only to be used for terrorism and criminal investigations, and that it conducts a rigorous vetting process into potential customers’ human rights records. It denied that the leaked data constituted a list of targets, and said that it has terminated contracts with five governments over concerns about potential abuses.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense closely regulates NSO and individually signs off on new export licenses for its surveillance technology – making it likely that the program was well-known if not endorsed at the highest levels of the Israeli government.

Less than 24 hours after this bombshell dropped, the United States joined the European Union, NATO, Japan and its “Five Eyes” allies in a Monday morning media blitz accusing China of orchestrating a global cyber hacking campaign, including a large attack on Microsoft first disclosed in March.

There is also no doubt that if a Chinese firm were found selling spyware to potentially dozens of governments, some of whom then used it to target activists and journalists, it would be held up as a leading example of how China is “exporting its authoritarian model” or “exporting its ideology,” adding fuel to the Biden administration’s fire that it is leading a great global struggle between democracies and autocracies to win the 21st century.

What ideology is one of America’s closest military and political partners exporting when it sells Pegasus to rights-abusing regimes with limited oversight? Was the U.S. government aware of this practice, and if so, for how long? What will the U.S. and its coalition of democracies do to hold Israel accountable for eroding global democratic norms?

That the Biden administration and Congress are unlikely to offer substantive answers to any of these questions — despite the fact that Washington has far more leverage over Israel than it does China — lends credence to the argument that being considered a threat to the “liberal rules-based order” is more about who you are than what you do.

It signals to China and others that, so long as you support Western power and primacy, you will get a pass; as long as you challenge it, you will be a threat. If so, what does China have to gain from exercising restraint, and what does it have to lose from taking aggressive actions such as hacking Microsoft?

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/2021/07/20/israeli-not-chinese-firm-caught-exporting-its-authoritarian-model/

(* B P)

How NSO became the company whose software can spy on the world

In 2019, when NSO Group was facing intense scrutiny, new investors in the Israeli surveillance company were on a PR offensive to reassure human rights groups.

In an exchange of public letters in 2019, they told Amnesty International and other activists that they would do “whatever is necessary” to ensure NSO’s weapons-grade software would only be used to fight crime and terrorism.

But the claim, it now appears, was hollow.

But the Guardian has been told an NSO committee reviewing the deal agreed to Dubai’s request. Potentially, it meant that authorities in Dubai would be able to bypass privacy and anti-hacking laws that would usually protect individuals living in democracies from being spied on without a warrant and having their phones hacked by a foreign government.

Some of the people in whom authorities showed a possible interest, leaked records now indicate, were not drug dealers at all. They were human rights activists and dissidents living in exile.

Using NSO’s signature software, Pegasus, Dubai’s rulers could seek to infiltrate any mobile phone they wanted in the UK, eavesdrop on calls, look at photos, read text messages and even turn a phone’s microphone or camera on remotely. In most cases, they could do it without leaving a digital fingerprint.

This is the power of NSO’s spyware – and why countries from Mexico to Saudi Arabia, Rwanda and India appear to have been willing to pay a high price for its capabilities.

Around the same time, halfway across the world, another client of NSO was sending Mansoor suspicious text messages on his iPhone. When he sent the links to researchers at Citizen Lab, which is affiliated with the University of Toronto, it found the link was infected with malware made by the Israeli company. Clicking it would have turned Mansoor’s phone into a “digital spy in his pocket”, tracking his movements and listening to his calls.

Within a year of the discovery, security forces raided Mansoor’s home and arrested him. A report by Human Rights Watch found Mansoor – a father of four who has been described as a poet and an engineer – spent years in an isolation cell following his arrest. His “crimes” included WhatsApp exchanges with human rights organisations.

In October 2018, NSO faced a barrage of criticism after Citizen Lab announced it had discovered that a device belonging to another dissident, a Saudi named Omar Abdulaziz who was living in exile in Canada, had been infected by malware.

It was only a few days later, following the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, that the significance of Abdulaziz’s targeting would become evident.

Khashoggi and Abdulaziz had been in touch with each other. In interviews and in a court filing, Abdulaziz said he believed the targeting had been a “crucial factor” in the killing of the Washington Post journalist and the harassment and imprisonment of his own family in the kingdom.

One former official told the Guardian the US uncovered signs that surveillance was a factor in the killing.

In April, Amnesty International, among others, signed a letter addressed to Novalpina demanding accountability for the targeting of “a wide swath of civil society”, including two dozen human rights defenders in Mexico, one of its own employees, Abdulaziz, Mansoor, Ghanem Almasarir, a London-based Saudi satirist, and Yahya Assiri, another Saudi activist.

Amnesty said: “These individuals and organisations appear to have been targeted solely as a result of their criticism of governments that utilised the spyware or because of their work bearing on human rights issues of political sensitivity to those governments. Thus, this targeting is in violation of internationally recognised human rights.”

Being a client of NSO, said one person who previously served as a broker in the industry, was a bit like gun ownership in the US.

“You are supposed to use a gun to protect yourself, but who is to stop you from robbing a bank?” they said. “You ask me whether it was known by NSO that Pegasus would be used to go after journalists, human rights activists, I would tell you of course they knew. That is my opinion. Of course everyone understands that. But has it been said? Did they say ‘we will use it for regime opponents’? No, they did not say that.”

The Guardian put a series of questions to NSO and Novalpina about its dealings with the UAE. They declined to comment.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/23/how-nso-became-the-company-whose-software-can-spy-on-the-world

(* B P)

Pegasus Project: Why I was targeted by Israeli spyware

My work to expose the crimes of the Saudi regime led to a hacking attempt on my phone. Today, I am overwhelmed by feelings of vulnerability and intrusion

The Orwellian prediction finally came true. I knew it was only a matter of time before the Saudi regime tried to hack my phone, using Pegasus software manufactured by the private Israeli security company NSO Group.

This development highlights the consolidation of a new axis of evil: Israel, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have become a chorus of malicious powers aiming to stifle activism and the quest for democracy in the region. Israel provides knowledge; the others provide funds.

The privatisation of the Israeli security apparatus, and the mushrooming of private companies founded by ex-defence and ex-Mossad agents, is a threat not only to Palestinians in Israel, Gaza and the occupied West Bank, but also to all Gulf citizens, with Israeli spyware sold to dictatorships across the Arab world.

In return, Israel gains access to the inner intelligence circles and deep states of the Gulf - enabling it to hold them hostage for a long time to come. Israel supports Gulf autocracies, thinking that this guarantees its own security forever. But Israel is wrong.

Normalisation with Israel is not only immoral because of the Palestinian plight; it is also an existential threat to all Gulf nationals seeking political reform in their own countries. The so-called “only democracy in the Middle East” has so entrenched its apartheid system that no propaganda can salvage it, and strong public objections to Arab regimes’ normalisation with Israel will only intensify in the months and years ahead.

Saga of surveillance

The UAE plays a key role in the saga of surveillance by Israeli private companies. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has fallen under the spell of Mohammed bin Zayed, his UAE counterpart. Forget the “tallest building, busiest airport and ministries of tolerance and happiness” - which are at the core of UAE propaganda - and remember that bin Zayed is bin Salman’s mentor.

The two are united by their hatred of democracy, political diversity, freedom of speech and human rights. Both are now key to an axis of evil overseen by malicious Israeli technology, whose alleged raison d’etre is to help governments catch criminals and terrorists. Yet, it is being used against peaceful activists.

The findings showed that in April 2019, there was an attempt to hack my phone, but it was unsuccessful. While this is a relief, I am overwhelmed by feelings of vulnerability and intrusion.

To obtain evidence from the Pegasus Project, I had to submit the contents of my phone - in which my private and professional life was stored - to their technology team.

I sat in front of a computer screen for three hours, watching my virtual life travel to the Amnesty International lab, where a search for malware was conducted. I received evidence of the failed April hacking attempt the same day.

Thanks to Israeli malware, UAE complicity and Saudi intrusions, exiles will have to search for secure methods to share information and to mobilise. As many have taken refuge in the US, Canada, Britain and across Europe, these states have a responsibility to protect them from Saudi surveillance. Otherwise, there is a real risk the Khashoggi saga could be repeated.

Diplomacy must be activated to stop the axis of evil from spreading more fear, apprehension and possibly murder - and if that doesn’t work, sanctions should be pursued, at the very least in Britain, where two of the founders of NAAS reside.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/pegasus-israel-saudi-arabia-why-targeted-spyware

(* B P)

UAE using ‘Israeli’ spyware to spy on Yemeni officials of Hadi government

An international organisation has revealed on Saturday that the UAE has been spying on Yemeni officials in the Saudi-backed Hadi puppet government that it is nominally supporting and defending.

The Citizen Lab – University of Toronto said in a report that an Israeli company has sold spyware to several countries, primarily the UAE, used to spy on opponents.

Documents stated that UAE paid about five million dollars to the Israeli Kandero Group in exchange for a spyware program that can infiltrate the Windows system.

According to the documents, the UAE targeted ministers and senior officials, including Socotra Governor Ramzi Mahrous, who is known for his opposition to UAE presence in the country.

The Emirati authorities have also targeted journalists and activists that are known for opposing the Emirati role in occupying Yemen and its support for armed militias.

The UAE signed huge contracts with Zionists companies, often in coordination with intelligence service Mossad, at a cybersecurity conference in Dubai in April.

https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/07/18/uae-using-israeli-spyware-to-spy-on-yemeni-officials-of-hadi-government/

(* B P)

Pegasus leaks: UAE Spies on Yemen’s Ministers!

The UAE is imposing itself as a strong competitor to the Kingdom, and if the UAE has indeed taken the decision to eavesdrop on the Hadi government’s ministers by itself and without the knowledge of the Kingdom, this indicates a great division between the two countries…

Although the UAE participated sharply at the beginning in the military operations led by Saudi Arabia in support of the government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, the UAE’s confidence in Hadi and his government is completely non-existent, and Yemen has been one of the main points of contention between the two countries. This has been proven furthermore by recent leaks in the context of the Pegasus project.

According to the new leaks, the UAE resorted to the private Israeli company NSO, which includes people who were members of the Mossad and the Israeli army, and specifically to its famous “Pegasus” spyware, to monitor and spy on most of the Hadi government ministers.

The name of the president himself was also mentioned within these leaks, but the investigation team was unable to verify his numbers. His children also were allegedly not spared from the tapping, but the investigation team was not able to verify their numbers either, with the exception of Jalal Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Among the most prominent of those targeted was the former prime minister, Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr, whose term in office lasted for two years and six months (April 4, 2016 until October 15, 2018). This is the period during which the Southern Transitional Council was established, after the then Governor of Aden, Major General Aidarous al-Zubaidi, called for the establishment of a southern political entity in exchange for the northern political forces in September 2016, during which the Presidency of the Southern Transitional Council was announced on May 11, 2017.

Arqam Bin Dagher has been targeted in Saudi Arabia from 2016 to mid-2019, and it is likely that he is still under surveillance to this day. Accordingly, the wiretapping of Ben Dagher began with his premiership in April 2016, but did not end with the end of his term in 2018.

It is worth noting that the targeting does not mean with certainty that the attempt succeeded and the phones were hacked, but it confirms the existence of a hacking attempt.

The peak of the Socotra crisis was during the presidency of Bin Daghr’s government.

It is no secret to anyone who follows Yemeni politics about the UAE’s suspicions and mistrust of Abdul Malik Al-Mikhlafi. The leaks show that the UAE targeted Abdul-Malik Al-Mikhlafi in Egypt, Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

https://daraj.com/en/76415/

(* B P)

Report: MbS Used Israeli Spyware to Spy on Lebanese Politicians, Including Aoun, Hariri

An Israeli software company is revealed to have helped Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MbS) take over the smart phones of high-ranking Lebanese authorities, Yemeni officials, senior figures of Hezbollah resistance movement as well as journalists, and spy on their communications.

According to the report published by the French daily newspaper Le Monde, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler used the NSO Group’s cell phone-hacking software, Pegasus, to conduct cyber-espionage on Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, former Foreign Minister and Leader of the Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil, and Chief of the Directorate of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim.

The report added the Israeli spyware was abused on behalf of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates between 2018 and 2019 to spy on some Lebanese political officials and journalists.

The paper said the Saudi crown prince also called for espionage on Lebanese lawmakers Hassan Fadlallah and Ali Fayyad, who are part of Hezbollah March 8 alliance, former Governor of Lebanon’s Central Bank Riad Salameh and former Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.

The Riyadh and Abu Dhabi regimes had demanded that two renowned Lebanese journalists, named Ghassan bin Jiddo, who is the director of Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen television news network, and Ibrahim Al-Amin, a correspondent and political analyst for Al-Akhbar Arabic language newspaper, be kept under close watch, according to the report.

The United Arab Emirates has apparently deployed digital spyware enabling surveillance of top leaders of Yemen’s popular Houthi Ansarullah resistance movement and officials from the administration of former Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

The Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni news website reported that Ansarullah’s leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi and Chairman of the Yemeni Supreme Revolutionary Committee Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi were among senior Yemeni officials targeted by the UAE.

According to the report, Hadi was also on the list of targets.

One of the most prominent targets was Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr, the former Yemeni Prime Minister in Hadi’s government.

https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14000429000527/Repr-MbS-Used-Israeli-Spyware-Spy-n-Lebanese-Pliicians-Inclding-An-

(* A P)

UAE linked to listing of hundreds of UK phones in Pegasus project leak

A member of the House of Lords is among more than 400 people whose UK mobile phone numbers appear in a leaked list of numbers identified by NSO Group’s client governments between 2017 and 2019, the Guardian can reveal.

The principal government responsible for selecting the UK numbers appears to be the United Arab Emirates, according to analysis of the data. The UAE is one of 40 countries that had access to the NSO spyware that is able to hack into and secretly take control of a mobile phone.

Dubai, the emirate city ruled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, is also believed to have been an NSO client.

The phones of Sheikh Mohammed’s daughter Princess Latifa, who launched a failed bid to escape Dubai in 2018, and his ex-wife Princess Haya, who fled the country and came to the UK in 2019, both appear in the data.

So too do the phones of several associates of both women – including, in the case of Haya, mostly UK-based numbers.

In multiple statements, NSO said that the fact that a number appeared on the leaked list was in no way indicative of whether a number was targeted for surveillance using Pegasus. “The list is not a list of Pegasus targets or potential targets,” the company said. “The numbers in the list are not related to NSO group in any way.”

But the Guardian and other media partners that had access to the data as part of the Pegasus project, a media consortium, believe the list indicates persons of interest selected by government clients of NSO. It includes people across the world whose phones showed traces of NSO’s spyware, Pegasus, according to forensic analysis of their devices.

Exiled dissidents and supportive activists in the UK also appeared on the leaked list, which is bound to raise questions about the UAE, which is traditionally considered a British ally, and whose leading family, the rulers of Abu Dhabi, own the Premier League champions, Manchester City.

The UAE has become a fast-emerging cyber power, whose powerful surveillance capability is controlled by the family of its ruler, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, and in particular his brother, the national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed.

Three sources familiar with NSO’s operations confirmed that within the past year the company had stripped Dubai of its Pegasus licence. They said the decision had been informed primarily by human rights concerns, but did not dispute that the possibility Sheikh Mohammed was wielding the software against his own family members had also been a factor.

It is unclear whether MI5 was aware of any UAE spying activity. Generally if the spy agency becomes aware a Briton is subject to foreign surveillance, it will take action to alert the victim if it believes there is a threat to life or other serious danger in the UK.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/21/uae-linked-to-listing-of-hundreds-of-uk-phones-in-pegasus-project-leak

and a reminder from 2019: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/3ba8a1_cc7f1fad2f7a497ba5fb159a6756c34a.pdf?index=true

(A P)

Dalai Lama’s inner circle listed in Pegasus project data

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/22/dalai-lama-inner-circle-listed-pegasus-project-data

Comment: Remember when an NSO exec said this tech is intended for the "Bin Ladens of the world"?

https://twitter.com/skirchy/status/1418170920762585091

(A P)

Investigative reporter Bradley Hope: Pegasus spyware revelations a ‘wake-up call for journalists’

https://cpj.org/2021/07/investigative-reporter-bradley-hope-pegasus-spyware-wake-up-call-journalists/

(* A P)

EXPLAINER: Target list of Israeli hack-for-hire firm widens

DOES ISRAEL CONDONE THIS ACTIVITY?

Asked about its approvals of NSO’s exports, Israel’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that it “approves the export of cyber products exclusively to governmental entities, for lawful use, and only for the purpose of preventing and investigating crime and counter terrorism.” It said national security and strategic considerations are taken into account.

Last year, an Israeli court dismissed an Amnesty lawsuit seeking to strip NSO of its export license, citing insufficient evidence.

Citizen Lab and Amnesty have since 2016 primarily documented NSO targeting of rights activists, dissidents and journalists including dozens of Al-Jazeera employees. But the new list significantly widens the scope of potential targets to include members of Arab royal families, diplomats and business executives, according to the consortium, which includes The Washington Post, The Guardian, Le Monde and Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

CAN ANYONE BE TARGETED? HOW CAN INFECTION BE THWARTED?

No one not involved in sensitive information-gathering outside the U.S. needs to worry much. Customers of NSO Group’s malware and other commercial surveillance tools typically focus on high-profile targets.

But those in NSO’s crosshairs may not be able to avoid infection. Its methods of infection often don’t require user interaction, such as clicking on a link in a text message.

https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-israel-jamal-khashoggi-2b72451d84cd60fdcdfa37d8ee908784

(A P)

Pegasus: Princess Latifa and Princess Haya numbers 'among leaks'

Phone numbers used by two Dubai princesses have reportedly been found as part of an investigation into the phone hacking spyware known as Pegasus.

Princess Latifa is the daughter of the ruler of Dubai, and Princess Haya Bint al-Hussain is his former wife.

In mid-February, BBC Panorama broadcast a secret video from Princess Latifa in which she said she was being held as a hostage and feared for her life.

Princess Haya meanwhile fled Dubai in 2019 saying she feared for her life.

The UAE has denied both women's allegations.

Their numbers are apparently on a list of some 50,000 phone numbers of people believed to be of interest to clients of Israeli-based firm NSO Group.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-57922543

and also by Washington Post: https://t.co/Rg3b8RhIX0?amp=1

(A P)

Macron among 14 heads of states on potential spyware list

https://apnews.com/article/technology-europe-middle-east-africa-jamal-khashoggi-8f2973fbd45803c175c653846b7fff68

(B P)

It's both heartbreaking and maddening to see that Alaa Al-Siddiq, who departed our world last month in a tragic car accident, was targeted by the #NSO's Pegasus spyware. Where can these victims receive justice for the crimes committed against them?

https://twitter.com/marwasf/status/1417475109355458562

(A P)

NSO Group is playing the victim now! New statement: “In light of the recent planned and well-orchestrated media campaign lead by Forbidden Stories and pushed by special interest groups... NSO is announcing it will no longer be responding to media inquiries on this matter..." LOL

https://twitter.com/joshrogin/status/1417856526962855939

(A P)

A Saudi official denied the recent allegations reported in media outlets that an entity in KSA used software to monitor phone calls

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262933

My comment: LOL.

cp12b Sudan

(A P)

Official: Sudan seeking debt relief from Gulf Arab nations

Sudan will seek relief from wealthy Gulf Arab nations, aiming to get as much as 60% of the African country’s $30 million in debt to them written off, the Sudanese finance minister said.

The announcement late Sunday by the minister, Gebreil Ibrahim, came after cash-stripped Sudan received a $14.1 billion debt relief from the Paris Club of creditor nations last week.

Ibrahim said Khartoum would also ask Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to reschedule Sudan’s remaining debt for 16 years. The talks would also focus on a six-year grace period for debt payments, he said.

The Paris Club, a group of 22 nations that lend to governments in need, on Friday urged other lenders to provide similar debt forgiveness to Sudan, which is in a fragile transition to democracy.

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-africa-business-sudan-4e0c07347244fb7a572a155e90a69f0d

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade

(* A K P)

The ‘Corbyn Project’ just took on global arms sales

2020 US government figures show arms sales were worth just under $200bn in 2017. Overall, as The Canary previously reported, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute put the global total military spending in 2020 at almost $2tn. So, where does the UK fit into this picture?

The geopolitical picture.

Former South African ANC MP Andrew Feinstein spoke about the broader picture of the arms trade. He noted that:

Politicians, their political parties, corporate executives and their companies, military and intelligence leaders and a range of intermediaries – including arms dealers, the world’s biggest banks, global law firms, auditing firms, and other consultancy services – all benefit materially from the trade in weapons. It is therefore absolutely crucial to understand besides the geopolitical motives for conflict, the economic and corrupt motives as well.

While this level of corruption is rife in the UK, one speaker highlighted that it happens in Canada too. Director of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute Bianca Mugyenyi noted that:

It’s important also to get one thing clear: it’s not just private companies selling arms to foreign governments. The state apparatus is advancing it.

She added that Canadian government departments:

grease the wheels of the arms industry. The LAV [light armoured vehicle] sale to the Saudi government… is a contract between the Canadian [government] and Saudi Arabia.

Yemen and the Middle East

Of course, Saudi Arabia is also using UK and Canadian-supplied weapons in its continued assault on Yemen. As The Canary previously reported, targeted air strikes from the Saudi Arabia-led coalition have killed more than 8,000 civilians in Yemen. That coalition’s blockade has also caused an increase in food and fuel prices that’s responsible for widespread food insecurity. But as research director Abdullah Alaoudh noted:

Despite the wide-ranging concerns in the US and the United Kingdom about Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Yemen, both Washington and London continued their support and continued to export arms to Saudi Arabia… A total of 73% of Saudi’s arms imports came from the US and 13% from the UK. So we see here, these are the major democratic countries that are calling for democracy [in the Middle East]… Nonetheless, you see these arms sales to most brutal, authoritarian regimes and dictatorships in the Middle East

Moreover, journalist and activist Sherif Mansour noted how Western arms sales to the Middle East and North Africa also result in those governments abusing their own citizens’ human rights:

It’s the quiet war that goes [on] every day… Where the governments actually use violence against their own population to build the fear barrier; to stop them from ever dreaming to be free like they did ten years ago in the Arab Spring.

Mansour’s home country Egypt is one example of this. Over the last three years, the UK government signed off on the sale of £24m worth of weapons to Egypt. This is despite its dictatorship being a human rights abuser. For example, it detained over 4,000 people for protesting in September 2019 alone.

https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2021/07/18/the-corbyn-project-just-took-on-global-arms-sales/

cp13b Mercenaries / Söldner

(* B K P)

Haiti leader’s slaying exposes role of ex-Colombian soldiers

Colombia’s Defense Ministry says about 10,600 soldiers retire each year, many highly trained warriors forged in a decades-long battle against leftist rebels and drug trafficking cartels. Many — including a number of those involved in Haiti — have been trained by the U.S. military.

Those soldiers make up a pool of recruits for companies seeking a wide range of services — as consultants or bodyguards, in teams guarding Middle Eastern oil pipelines or as part of military-like private security in places like the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan. The UAE paid Colombian veterans to join in the battle against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

“Colombian former (soldiers) are very well trained and ... may be cheaper or more accessible than other sorts of trained, specialized manpower,” said Silvana Amaya, a senior analyst focused on the Andean region for the global security firm Control Risks. “It’s a good opportunity for former (soldiers) in Colombia to have a job that they’re obviously prepared to do. ... So for both sides, supply and demand, we believe that it works well.”

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-health-colombia-coronavirus-pandemic-3809ccb826fb7ec2df86631a5d665a75

cp13c Kulturerbe / Cultural heritage

Siehe / Look at cp1

(A P)

Yemen recovers three statues dating from pre-Islam era

Authorities in the Yemeni southwestern governorate of Taiz have recovered three archeological items dating back to pre-Islam era, director of Taiz tourist police said Saturday (photo)

https://debriefer.net/en/news-26176.html

cp13d Wirtschaft / Economy

(* B E H)

'We know it is Eid, but we do not feel any joy': A bleak celebration for Yemenis as country's economy deteriorates

It has been seven years since the country plunged into chaos and war. All the previous Eids had a sense of bleakness and sadness for many people. Still, the present Eid is bleaker this time. The conflict is not the sole joy killer. The recent unprecedented currency slip and the sharp price hikes have made it difficult for families to celebrate this occasion happily.

Civilians say it has been a fresh severe dose of suffering for people around the country. The one dollar is now equivalent to YR 1,000 in government-run cities, while it is sold for YR 600 in Houthi-run areas. The political divides have led to a split in the exchange rate in the south and north, worsening the country's economy.

Ahmed cannot hide the pain caused by the economic conditions and the disastrous war. His sense of joy in this Eid is dead. "For children, Eid is new clothes, new toys, and sweets. I cannot provide all these things for my five kids. I am broke," he told The New Arab.

Since September 2016, government employees have not received their salaries regularly. The warring parties' dispute over the Central Bank of Yemen has cost over a million employees the regular payment of their monthly salaries.

The Houthi group occasionally gives a half salary for government employees working in areas under its control. Yet this amount cannot satisfy the salaried workers.

Yemen's six-year blockade has affected all aspects of life, even the price of clothes people put on. Abdu Nasser, a clothes seller in Sanaa, said the import of clothes has been challenging and costly during wartime, which has reflected on the price.
He told The New Arab, "Some parents come with their kids to the shop to select clothes, but they get shocked when they know the final price. They try to find other shops in the hope of buying at a low price. The prices are high everywhere. It is not sellers who impose the price. It is the war and the blockade."

He added, "Two years ago, I used to sell a suit for a five-year-old at YR 8,000. Now it costs YR 15,000. As the value of the national currency keeps decreasing, the price of products continues rising. We do not manufacture everything here. We are just importing, and this requires the US dollar."

https://english.alaraby.co.uk/features/yemenis-robbed-eid-joy-economy-worsens

(* B E H)

Only chicken for Eid in rebel-besieged Yemen town

Many Yemenis live in extreme poverty and in Taez many have left the animal markets empty-handed because of spiralling prices, as the Yemeni riyal has plunged in all areas under government control.

"The situation is extremely bad," Fadel told AFP. "I went to the market to buy animals to sacrifice and everything was too expensive. I wasn't able to buy anything.

"Sheep and goats sell for between 150,000 and 200,000 riyals ($150 to $200). I had to buy chicken for the day of Eid," lamented Fadel, who said they cost just 20,000 riyals apiece, all he could manage.

"Even clothes are extremely expensive and I couldn't buy any. Life is very difficult," he said.

The Yemeni riyal hit its lowest level in more than seven years of conflict against the dollar this month in areas under government control. In such areas, one dollar buys more than 1,000 riyals.

"The prices are crazy, completely crazy," said Taez resident Mohammed al-Sharaabi.

"We can't buy goats because they cost between 150,000 and 200,000 riyals... This year it's difficult to buy animals for sacrifice because of the suffocating crisis and the strength of the dollar and the Saudi riyal.

"We're in a pitiful state."

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210720-only-chicken-for-eid-in-rebel-besieged-yemen-town = https://www.rfi.fr/en/only-chicken-for-eid-in-rebel-besieged-yemen-town = https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/only-chicken-eid-houthi-besieged-yemen-town

and

(* B E H)

Yemenis cannot afford to observe Eid Al Adha traditions

Drop in local currency has led to a sharp rise in prices for population worn down by civil war

The fall in the currency’s value has forced traders raise prices because they have to pay more for imports bought with US dollars.

In provinces controlled by the Yemeni government, the exchange rate of the riyal to one US dollar rose briefly past 1,000 last week, compared with 850 in early June.

The decline is expected to continue, said Majed Al Daeri, an economic analyst in Aden.

“The six years of war have destroyed all the economic resources of the country, such as the oil and gas, the two main resources,” Mr Al Daeri told The National.

“Also the excessive printing of banknotes by the government, which printed nearly three trillion riyals without cash cover since 2016.”

The policy has affected cash reserves and the availability of foreign currency in the local market.

“All these reasons contributed to the dramatic collapse of the national currency.”

The soaring prices mean most Yemenis cannot afford to observe Eid Al Adha traditions such as sacrificing an animal and sharing the meat with their family and the poor.

The economic crisis is affecting sellers as well as consumers. The livestock market in Al Mansoura, the biggest cattle market in Aden, is usually crowded before Eid Al Adha. But last Wednesday, with only days to go, it had hardly any customers.

“The continuous depreciation in the Yemeni riyal hasn’t spared the livestock market,” said Abu Baker Al Alimi, a trader at the market.

Rising prices have forced parents to seek bargains while buying new clothes for their children, another Eid tradition.

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2021/07/18/yemenis-cannot-afford-to-observe-eid-al-adha-traditions/

and

(* B E H)

Price hikes dampen Eid joy in war-torn Yemen

The Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) is no longer a source of joy in war-torn Yemen. Rather, it has become a reminder of the deteriorating economic conditions in the Arab country, Anadolu Agency reported.

Since 2014, Yemen has been beset by civil war, in which more than 233,000 people were killed and 80 percent of the country's 30 million population became dependent on aid to survive, in the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN.

The festival comes this year amid price hikes, interruption of salaries, and devaluation of the local currency, causing the absence of Eid manifestations of slaughtering sacrificial animals and buying new clothes.

Meat, sweets, cakes and nuts are absent from the tables of most Yemenis on Eid al-Adha, while livestock markets witnessed an unprecedented stagnation due to the price hikes, according to traders and consumers.

"The bull costs around 850,000 Yemeni riyals ($1,500) this year, up from only 420,000 riyals ($700) last year," Omar Attia, a livestock dealer in Sunday Market in the southwestern Taiz province, told Anadolu Agency.

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210719-price-hikes-dampen-eid-joy-in-war-torn-yemen/

(B E P)

Tax Evasion as a Crime: A Survey of Perception in Yemen

This paper explores the perception of Yemeni citizens of the severity of tax evasion relative to other crimes and violations. Perception of tax evasion may somewhat explain the degree of non-compliance with the tax laws. Using data from a self- administered survey and a personnel structured interview, the results of mean and comparative analysis show that tax evasion items were ranked as the three least crimes of 30 listed crimes. Further, Tax evasion is categorized the least serious category out of six categories. The results of this study should be useful to policy makers in Yemen and elsewhere, as it was found that there is an alarming signal that tax evasion is relatively ranked as the least serious offence, which could lead to an environment where taxpayers may not be afraid of cheating on their tax returns.

https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijbm/article/view/5445

(B E)

YEMEN SANANI-MAHWITI NATURAL

Aside from Ethiopia, Yemen has one of the longest (and we think among the most interesting) histories with coffee production. The region is largely to thank for the global spread of coffee, both as an agricultural product and as a beverage. Yet in recent years it has had a dramatic decline in both the production and, unfortunately, the quality of its coffee, largely due to political and social upheaval.

Yemeni coffees were some of the first really different and unusual lots we came across and we were very proud to offer, but because of the difficulties in Yemen we were unable to find any great lots for six years. Then, in 2017, something very special came across our cupping table – a great Yemeni Natural – and this is the fourth crop we’ve had following on from that.

http://inmymug.com/episodes/episode-662-yemen-sanani-mahwiti-natural

cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism

(B T)

Former #AQAP #Yemen leader Raymi (d.2020) is the gift that keeps on giving 7 Raymi videos in July alone. Same clothes, mug, backdrop (so same sitting) spun out over 3 series 48 lectures so far on a medieval war treatise Anyone still watching deserves Paradise...

https://twitter.com/Dr_E_Kendall/status/1417203736624107526

cp15 Propaganda

(A P)

Houthi militant's murder of parents sums up the ugliness of Houthi terrorism: Yemen minister

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-47965

(A P)

The UN's lured Yemen's gov't & backers onto shifting sands of Stockholm Agreement, says expert

In a tweet, Yahya Abu Hatem, said, "The UN has managed through Martin Griffiths to lure the Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition out and onto the shifting sands by getting them (the government) to sign the Stockholm Agreement,"

He said that there is "no solution now but to ride the tracked armored vehicles. They are the only ones capable of crossing" the sands

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-47933

(A P)

Cartoon: Young students being brainwashed by #Houthis

https://twitter.com/RepYemenEnglish/status/1416457960121847814

(A P)

More Saudi coalition „We are benefactors“ propaganda

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262373

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262372

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262371

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262278

https://debriefer.net/en/news-26177.html

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262033

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262021

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2260727

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2260712

cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids

Siehe / Look at cp1

(A K pH)

More Saudi coalition air raids

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3148861.htm Bayda p.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3148763.htm Marib p.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3148608.htm Marib p.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3148333.htm Marib p.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3148219.htm Marib 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)

[Sanaa gov.] Yemeni Army Troops, Allies Conduct Large-Scale Operation Near Saudi Border

Yemeni army soldiers, supported by fighters from allied Popular Committees, carried out a large-scale military operation against Saudi-backed militants loyal to Yemen's former President, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, near the border with Saudi Arabia.

https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14000501000065/Yemeni-Army-Trps-Allies-Cndc-Large-Scale-Operain-Near-Sadi-Brder

(A K pH)

Dozens of areas liberated, dozens of mercenaries captured during [Sanaa gov.] Yemeni offensive in Jizan

https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/07/22/dozens-of-areas-liberated-dozens-of-mercenaries-captured-during-yemeni-offensive-in-jizan/

and

(A K pH)

[Sanaa gov.] Army, committees control sites off Jabal al-Dud in Jizan axis

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3148872.htm

(A K pH)

Saudi-led coalition receiving heavy blow in al-Bayda: Ansarullah

https://en.abna24.com/news//saudi-led-coalition-receiving-heavy-blow-in-al-bayda-ansarullah_1162160.html = https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14000431000134/Ansarllah-Sadi-Led-Caliin-Receiving-Heavy-Blw-in-Yemen%E2%80%99s-Al-Bayda

(A K pS)

Several Houthi militants killed, injured southern Marib

http://en.26sepnews.net/2021/07/22/several-houthi-militants-killed-injured-southern-marib/

(A K pS)

[Hadi gov.] Yemeni army repels Houthi attacks on two governates

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1898261/middle-east

(B H K)

Film: Fighting the Fear: Clearing Mines from Yemen’s Rural Communities

Meet Ali, he and his family were previously displaced by the on-going war. Fortunately, after just two-three months they were able to return to their homes, but what Ali and his neighbours found was frightening. Homes, farms and streets filled with mines. In 2020, UNDP’s support to local partners resulted in the survey and mine clearance of over 3.1 million square metres of contaminated land across 199 districts in 19 governorates – removing the threat of more than 68,000 explosive hazards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz0O0MLtFyM

(A K pS)

KSrelief Masam Project Dismantles 1,581 Mines in Yemen During One Week

King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center's (KSrelief) project for clearing mines in Yemen (Masam) demined 1,581 mines during the period from 10 to 16 July 2021, including 7 antipersonnel mines, 1,013 anti-tank mines, 558 unexploded ordnance and 3 explosive devices.
Since the beginning of the project, as many as 263,428 mines, planted by the Houthi militias, have been dismantled.

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262029

(A K pH)

Jemen verurteilt Enthauptung jemenitischer Soldaten durch Takfiri, beschuldigt Saudi-Arabien, VAE und USA

Der Menschenrechtsminister der jemenitischen [Sanaa-]Regierung der nationalen Rettung hat die Enthauptung zweier jemenitischer Gefangener in der Provinz al-Bayda durch Takfiri-Terroristen verurteilt.

https://parstoday.com/de/news/iran-i60190-jemen_verurteilt_enthauptung_jemenitischer_soldaten_durch_takfiri_beschuldigt_saudi_arabien_vae_und_usa

(A K pH)

[Sanaa gov.] Yemeni Army Forces, Allies Achieve Fresh Territorial Gains in Bayda

https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14000430000440/Yemeni-Army-Frces-Allies-Achieve-Fresh-Terririal-Gains-in-Bayda

(A K pH)

Two Yemeni war prisoners beheaded by al-Qaeda operatives in central Yemen

The National Committee for Prisoners’ Affairs on Friday condemned the heinous crime committed by Al-Qaeda and ISIS elements in which they beheaded two war prisoners of the Yemeni army and popular Committees during the recent battles in Bayda province.

In a statement, the committee explained that Saqr Ghanem Rashid Hussein al-Maliki and Mohammed Ahmed Murshid Tawaf were beheaded by the terrorist element hired by the Saudi-led coalition in Bayda.

https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/07/17/two-yemeni-war-prisoners-beheaded-by-al-qaeda-operatives-in-central-yemen/

(A K pS)

Widespread disruptions in internt and mobile (Sabafon) services in #Yemen's #Marib since 2 days ago.

https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1418052057978785794

(A K pS)

South Marib Battles Inflict Heavy Losses on Houthis

https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3091056/south-marib-battles-inflict-heavy-losses-houthis

(A K pS)

Over the past 3 days Iran-backed Houthis have buried over 60 fighters, including commanders, who were killed in #Marib battlefronts, according to Houthi al-Masirah channel. 23 today, 20 yesterday, 20 the day b4 yesterday.

https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1417225813867606019

(A K pS)

A missile fired by Iran-backed #Houthis struck a school of al-Thawra in Jabal Murad district south of #Marib today, according to local sources (photos)

https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1417511552979189764

(A K pS)

Iran-backed #Houthis blew up this morning house of Brgdr Gen. Ahmed Said Darkam, commander of the police patrol and road safety in #Marib governorate.

https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1417356757744111623

(* A K pS)

Ten civilians killed in fresh Houthi ballistic missile attack in Marib

Ten civilians were killed and eight others were wounded in a new ballistic missile attack by Shia Houthi militants in Yemen's eastern governorate of Marib on Friday, local sources said have said.

The Iran-backed theocratic militia launched a missile into Alkawla neighborhood in Rahabah, a Marib outlying district days after the army captured back and forced the extremists to retreat.

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-47897

My comment: No other records found.

(A K)

Houthis launch desperate attacks to retake Marib positions

https://debriefer.net/en/news-26144.html

(A K)

[Hadi gov.] Yemeni troops reportedly push Houthis out of Marib

https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/yemeni-troops-reportedly-push-houthis-out-marib

(A K)

[Hadi] Yemeni gov't says troops fully combed retaken areas in Rahaba

The Yemeni official government troops have fully combed areas retaken in recent battles with the Houthi group in Rahaba district south Marib, commander of Murad front said Thursday.
Special engineering teams are currently demining these areas, General Hussein al-Halaisi added, after the Houthis "intensely planted mines and explosive devices in mountains and roads."

https://debriefer.net/en/news-26147.html

cp18 Kampf um Hodeidah / Hodeidah battle

Siehe / Look at cp1

Seit dem Abkommen von Stockholm vom 13. Dezember 2018 gibt es einen Waffenstillstand für Hodeidah. Zwar bleiben größere Offensiven aus, kleinere Gefechte gibt es aber laufend, und beide Seiten werfen sich ständig Verstöße gegen den Waffenstillstand vor.

Since the Stockholm Agreement of December 13, 2018, a ceasefire has been in place for Hodeidah. There are no major offensives, but smaller battles are going on and both sides constantly are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.

(A K pS)

Houthi shelling traps people at home, spoils their Eid joy in Hodeidah

https://www.alsahwa-yemen.net/en/p-47964

(A P)

[Hadi] Yemeni Government Holds Houthi Militia Responsible for Obstructing Stockholm Agreement

https://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&newsid=2262046

(A K)

12 fighters killed, injured in fresh violence in west Yemen

https://debriefer.net/en/news-26168.html

(A K P)

[Sanaa gov.] Human Rights condemns siege of al-Durayhimi, burning of IDP camps in Hodeida

Ministry of Human Rights has condemned in the strongest terms the deliberate siege of the countries of the aggression and their mercenaries to the people of al-Durayhimi district in Hodeida province.

In a statement, the ministry also denounced the looting and preventing the entry of food and medical supplies by the countries of the aggression to the Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the district as well.

The ministry also decried the deliberate neglect of the countries of the aggression and their mercenaries in protecting the displaced civilians in Markudha camp in al-Shujaira village, south of al-Durayhimi.

https://www.saba.ye/en/news3148351.htm

and also https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/07/18/mercenary-crimes-against-domestic-refugees-on-west-coast-front-draws-fierce-condemnation/

(A P)

[Hadi] Yemen government voices dismay over extension of UN Hudaydah mission mandate

Yemen's internationally recognised government on Friday expressed its dismay over the resolution of the United Nations Security Council extending the mandate of the UN Mission overseeing the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) for one year.

The mission has not achieved anything, neither regarding providing safe passages nor cessation of hostilities, over the past two and half years, and extending its mandate means to extend failure, the government's spokesperson Rajeh Badi said.

https://debriefer.net/en/news-26143.html

(A K pS)

Houthis target heavily populated areas in al-Tuhita

http://en.adenpress.news/news/33355

cp19 Sonstiges / Other

(* A H)

Yemeni officials: Nonseasonal floods kill 14 in south, east

Flooding in Yemen killed at least 14 people this week after nonseasonal rainstorms hit parts of the country, security officials said.

The provinces of al-Mahrah, Hadramawt, Shabwa, Abeen and Jouf in the south and east of Yemen have seen instances of flooding. In Shabwa, local officials said a father and daughter are believed to have drowned after swiftly moving waters carried their car away. Searchers had only recovered the body of the father.

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-floods-yemen-9a0c39299e16734563c4adb594ef1b93

and also http://en.adenpress.news/news/33374

and

(A H)

Photos: The only remaining helicopter from Yemeni air force used now to rescue people trapped in floodwaters in #Yemen Seiyon of Hadramout.

https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1418235636457291776

(A H)

from amidst accumulated tragedies caused by a seven-year war, Houthi blockade and Government failures, Taiz sends a message of light and hope that it never dies and will continue to sing and celebrate. These photos are of people attending a concert at Al-Qahirah Castle (photos)

https://twitter.com/FuadRajeh/status/1418234864382394369

Films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCsy64rO0mg

https://twitter.com/FuadRajeh/status/1418290641214246916

(A H P)

Third batch of Yemenis stranded in India arrive in Aden

A third batch of 153 Yemeni people stranded in India arrived at Aden Airport on Saturday, the state news agency, Saba reported.
With the arrival of the third batch, the total number of the three batches have reached 456 people now.

http://en.adenpress.news/news/33354

(A H)

Desert Locust situation update 22 July 2021

YEMEN. An immature swarm seen earlier in the highlands has moved further south to northeast of Aden; small-scale breeding is underway in parts of the interior where good rains have fallen.

http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/index.html

and

(B H)

Current upsurge (2019–2021)

This page presents an overview of current Desert Locust upsurge and recent photos and videos.

http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/2094/index.html

(A H)

Film: Yemen – People of Hadhramaut celebrate the “town season” rituals

The residents of Hadhramaut governorate celebrate annually the so-called “town season” by holding the opening ceremonies, in addition to the fact that the season is linked to special customs, traditions and rituals carried out by the residents in the various regions of Hadhramaut. It falls on the fifteenth or sixteenth day of July each year, and the arrival of the season coincides with intensification of the northern winds and the strong air current, and the town’s season was associated with many rituals and social customs on the coast of Hadhramaut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6olp60Hemw

(A)

Oil Leak Risks an Environmental Catastrophe in Aden’s Coasts

An oil tanker sank off the Buraiqeh Coast in Aden, Saturday, resulted in the leaking of its oil and petroleum products cargo, polluting large extended areas, from Buraiqeh to Al Haswah according to Sources who spoke to “South24.”

The Sources said that the oil tanker “DIA” was in a dilapidated condition, as it had been anchored off Buraiqeh Coast for years.

The owner of the oil tanker is the “Oversea” shipping Company (Abr Al Bihar) owned by Businessman Ahmed Saleh Al Aisi, the Deputy Director of the Presidential office.

In an exclusive statement for South24, the Chief Executive of the Public Maritime Affairs Authority said: “Oil filtration processes continue in the coasts affected by the leaked oil, amid Continuous monitoring of the situation from the Minister of Water and Environment and the Oil Minister as well as Aden’s Governor”.

https://south24.net/news/newse.php?nid=1908

and

(A)

Two beaches seriously polluted by oil spill in Aden

Al-Haswa and Al-Buraiqa beaches of the southern capital Aden have been negatively impacted by a pollution incident, local sources reported.
The pollution of the marine environment of the seafront and the beach in Al-Haswa and Al-Buraiqa occurred due to a significant fuel leak from two supply vessels stranded at the entrance to the port of Aden, one of them belongs to the Yemeni businessman, Ahmed Al-Eisi and the other to a Hadrami merchant.

http://en.adenpress.news/news/33366

and also https://hodhodyemennews.net/2021/07/19/oil-tanker-sinks-in-gulf-of-aden-causing-significant-environmental-damage/

https://en.smanews.org/south-arabia/oil-slick-hits-southern-shores-in-aden-after-ship-sinks/

and

(A)

The ship Dia, one of Ahmed Al-Essa's scrap ships loaded with fuel, sank off the coast of Brega, which led to the leakage of its cargo into the sea and the pollution of the Al-Haswa Nature Reserve (film, photos)

https://twitter.com/alobaly/status/1416802160386314243

https://twitter.com/alobaly/status/1416806536999956483

https://twitter.com/FuadRajeh/status/1416871321972224000

https://twitter.com/Alsakaniali/status/1416892552494596098

Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkekLj2UYnY&t=2s

and

(A P)

Risk assessment starts after tanker sank off Aden

http://en.adenpress.news/news/33368

and

(A P)

Chief of Aden's ports: our efforts continue to push away deteriorated ships

http://en.adenpress.news/news/33375

(B H)

Kings of the jungle reduced to skin and bones: Lions are starving to death at filth-ridden zoo in war-torn Yemen where they are fed once a week and have been 'failed by humans'

The lives of the lions are hanging by a thread at Sana'a Zoo in war-torn Yemen as food supplies are scarce

The zoo is unable to afford to provide enough food, medication and water for the animals due to the war

Three lions, named Ward, Frence and Mokless, are in a critical condition and are living in squalid conditions

Campaigners are now trying to raise funds to help the zoo pay for the essentials in order to save the animals

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9795843/Lions-starving-death-filth-ridden-zoo-war-torn-Yemen-fed-week.html

(B D)

Seismicity in Yemen and the Gulf of Aden in a geological context

Seismicity in Yemen and the Gulf of Aden in a geological context. The study presents geologic investigation of Yemen and the Gulf of Aden with a special focus on geophysical, seismic, tectonic and topographic mapping performed by the integrated approach of QGIS and GMT scripting. Cartographic visualization is crucial in geologic analysis, data processing and prognosis of mineral resource prospects. The region of Yemen and Gulf of Aden was formed as a result of Arabian and African plates movements and still tectonically active. Besides, the Gulf of Aden contains mineral resources of hydrocarbons which makes this region actual for investigation. The IRIS database on earthquakes was used for visualization of the magnitude of submarine earthquakes in the Gulf of Aden for the period of 2007-2020. The paper presents 6 new thematic maps for the region of Yemen and Gulf of Aden. The research presented an analysis of correlation between the geological, topographic and geophysical settings. Through combined approach of cartographic high-resolution data visualization and geologic analysis, this paper contributed to the regional geological studies of Yemen, Gulf of Aden and the Middle East.

https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03290329

Vorige / Previous:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose/jemenkrieg-mosaik-751-yemen-war-mosaic-751

Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 1-751 / Yemen War Mosaic 1-751:

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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