Krieg im Jemen: Neue Artikel zum Nachlesen 70

Yemen Press Reader 70: Friedensgespräche unterbrochen wegen ständiger Verletzungen des Waffenstillstands: Vormarsch und Eroberungen der Regierungstruppen im Norden - Britische Helfer der Saudis

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Schwerpunkte / Key aspects

Am wichtigsten / Most important

Allgemein / General

Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation

Ex-President Saleh

Friedensverhandlungen / Peace talks

Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

Great Britain / Großbritannien

China

Wirtschaft / Economy

Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War

Am wichtigsten / Most important

18.12.2015 – Deutsche Welle

Peace talks flounder as clashes violate Yemen truce

Peace talks between Houthi rebels and the Yemeni government have stalled after both sides accused each other of violating the truce. Meanwhile, the president's forces have recaptured key areas in the country's north.

Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels, who are partly backed by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, reportedly rejected peace negotiations in Switzerland on Friday, saying they would not resume talks unless the United Nations condemned breaches of the truce by Yemen's recognized government and its Saudi Arabia-led allies.

"A meeting was scheduled this morning. We waited for them and they did not show up," a member of Yemen's government said in Magglingen, where the talks were taking place.

However, UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi dismissed questions on whether rebels were boycotting the talks and said Friday's discussions had been scheduled late to allow time for prayers. The UN's special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, was "working very hard to bring the sides closer together on substantive issues," Fawzi said.

News of the floundering peace talks came as the truce, which only began on Tuesday, seemed to fall to pieces. On Friday, President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's troops and allies managed to capture Hazm in the northern province of Jawf, AFP news agency reported tribal sources as saying. The capture came around 24 hours after Hadi's forces captured significant portions of the neighboring Marib region, where soldiers regained control over the town of Harad.

"Intensive fighting took place in Harad," a Yemeni military official told reporters, adding that 1,000 soldiers participated in the operation. He also said that dozens of deserters allied with the Houthi Shiite rebels died in the attack.

http://www.dw.com/en/peace-talks-flounder-as-clashes-violate-yemen-truce/a-18927971 see also Al Jazeera http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/12/18/yemen-rebels-halt-peace-talks-in-switzerland.html

17.12.2015 – Middle East Eye

Yemen peace talks: Are the decision makers in Switzerland?

UN-brokered peace talks have brought together Yemen's warring parties for the first time but little substantive progress is being made in Switzerland

The third day of Yemen's peace talks in Switzerland ended on Thursday with fears they are on the brink of collapse after two intense sessions in which stark differences emerged between the camps over demands by the Hadi government for the release of senior officials held by the Houthis.

The release of the prisoners had been one of three "trust-building" points stipulated in the pre-talks agenda, which all sides had agreed upon before the delegations’ arrival in Switzerland. However, the Houthis have refused to discuss the release of any prisoners unless an end to the Saudi-led bombing campaign is formally announced. They have been extremely dissatisfied that only a temporary ceasefire has been on offer this week despite receiving promises, in the lead-up to the talks, of a permanent one.

Multiple attempts by Ismail Oud El-Cheikh, the UN envoy, to resolve the impasse were shot down by Houthi delegates. His proposal for a phased release, with some prisoners being freed immediately and others to be released subsequent to the Saudis agreeing to a complete cessation of the campaign, was firmly rejected by the Houthis.

The main prisoners the Yemeni government had been insisting must be released include Mahmoud al-Subaihi, the defence minister, army general Faisal Rajab, and Nasr Mansour Hadi, President Hadi’s brother, who was responsible for intelligence operations in the provinces of Aden, Lahej and Abyan.

After a tumultuous day, it was in the final moments that the warring parties agreed to move past their fundamental differences over the prisoner issue and proceed onto the next two points of the agenda. Within moments, a formal agreement was reached to allow “full and immediate resumption” of humanitarian aid into Taiz, a Yemeni city devastated by months of fierce fighting by all sides in the war.

However, not long after the agreement was struck, a member of the Saleh delegation contacted Middle East Eye and said: “The agreement that has been announced by the United Nations is misleading. On behalf of the GPC and Ansar Allah, please report that we did not approve it.”

Hope that had been raised just moments before was swiftly crushed, meaning there is little remaining optimism ahead of Friday's talks.

He urged the UN to increase pressure on the Houthis to respect the ceasefire. Otherwise, he warned, the “truce could collapse at any moment." While the mutual accusations do not seem to have significantly derailed the progress of the talks so far, this might change if breaches become more frequent. Speaking to MEE on Wednesday, Yemeni government delegates warned that “Saudi Arabia would not tolerate any attacks on its border from Yemen.”

One notable outcome of the talks on Wednesday was the formation of a military committee to oversee any ceasefire breaches.

According to the UN envoy, the next few days of the talks will address a range of key objectives. These include the introduction of a sustainable, nationwide ceasefire; the release of prisoners and detainees; mutual withdrawal of forces; the introduction of interim security measures; the organised return of heavy weaponry under Yemeni state control; restoring public institutions and their functions under state control; in addition to the resumption of an inclusive national political dialogue.

Outside both Yemen and the Swiss talks Saudi Arabia has been facing mounting pressure, both within and outside Yemen, to resolve this conflict through diplomatic negotiations.

And although there has been precious little to be positive about at the Switzerland talks, the very fact Yemen's warring factions are sitting around the same table is a sign of progress.

But a crucial question lingers as the days pass in Switzerland, which is: are the delegates here in Biel the real decision makers? A number of insiders at the talks have repeatedly told Middle East Eye that representatives on both sides continuously have to go back to their patrons. In this light, one must ask whether the talks would not be more efficient if the Saudis and Iranians were the ones sitting on either end of the table – by Nawal Al-Maghafi

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/day-three-peace-talks-214016307

11.12.2015 – Overseas Development Institute

Yemen's forgotten war - Q&A (Film)

At this joint ODI and RUSI event, a panel of humanitarian and security experts considered how the political situation in Yemen deteriorated so rapidly, what the most urgent needs of Yemen's population are, and what it will take to put an end to the conflict that is causing such large-scale suffering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXWTPUr8hv0

Comment: Another great video, this time quite long 55 minutes) and with a lot of information, I liked particular the ex- Human Rights Minister Amat Al Alim Alsoswa who spoke on video link. The information is detailed and balanced. A great watch when you have time.

https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1074495209369636

Allgemein / General

18.12.2015 – PBS News Hour

Fragile Yemen (Film)

http://player.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2365630407/?start=0&end=0&chapterbar=false&endscreen=false&topbar=true&autoplay=false

18.12.2015 – Der Kurier

Jemen: Der geduldete Krieg – von Karoline Krause

http://kurier.at/politik/ausland/jemen-der-geduldete-krieg/170.236.350

Kommentar: Kurzinformation für diejenigen, die noch nichts über den Jemenkrieg wissen.

16.12.2015 – UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The agreement of the Yemeni parties to the conflict to cease hostilities from 15 December 2015 has presented a long awaited opportunity for humanitarian actors to reach areas of the country that have been inaccessible for the past months, while continuing on-going assistance and essential services.

Despite reports of intermittent hostilities in parts of the country, humanitarian actors have succeeded in reaching hard-to-access areas with much-needed assistance. However, in other areas deliveries have been impacted by continued fighting.

Situation Overview

More than eight months of conflict have severely exacerbated Yemen’s prior large-scale humanitarian emergency, intensifying the severity of needs among vulnerable people across sectors. Over 14.4 million people are suffering from food insecurity – of whom 2.1 million are malnourished, 14.1 million require support to access adequate healthcare and 19.3 million lack access to water and sanitation services. The conflict has further displaced 2.5 million civilians and left 14.1 million people in need of protection.

The situation on the ground has been fluid over the last 24 hours with reports of alleged breaches of the cessation of hostilities in a number of governorates. This uncertainty has impacted on the ability of agencies to proceed with their planned distributions, assessments and monitoring.

In spite of these constraints, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been able to proceed with some of their intended activities as set out in the Supplementary Operational Plan that was developed for the period of the cessation of hostilities.

The humanitarian community hopes to extend its activities further in the coming days.

http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-cessation-hostilities-flash-update-1-16-december-2015-enar and http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen_Flash_Update_No1_16_Dec_2015.pdf

Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation

17.12.2015 – WAM

Emirates Red Crescent provides oxygen cylinders to Taiz hospitals

The Emirates Red Crescent is providing a large number of oxygen cylinders for hospitals in Taiz Governorate, southwestern Yemen, to meet a severe supply shortage affecting surgical procedures to treat people injured in the war.

In a statement, the agency said the oxygen cylinder supply which will be procured as soon as possible from local markets in Aden, will be sufficient for three months.

The initiative was in response to the calls of hospitals and will help in saving the lives of hundreds of seriously injured people in the governorate, which is under unprecedented siege.

http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/emirates-red-crescent-provides-oxygen-cylinders-taiz-hospitals

13.10.2015 – Taiz News Yemen (Film)

Film: The Dignity Price. On Life at Taiz (Nichts für Sensible, Graphic!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCxatWsK9c4

Comment: GRAPHIC VIDEO. This is a perspective on what it is like to live in Taiz at this moment in time.Taiz has suffered dreadfully in this war; it has been the frontline for months, with missiles being fired by militias - Houthis, Islah, those aligned to Salafist Abu Alabbas, local militias, the army loyal to Saleh, plus Houthi snipers, and Saudi bombs, the Saudi led blockade plus a local Houthi-led siege. There have been reported violations by both 'sides' in this week's ceasefire, but the fighting is perhaps less ferocious; Taiz had a large delivery of aid a few days ago and now I gather that today both sides have agreed humanitarian aid can enter the city. The death and injury statistics in Taiz are accurate because they were counted in clinics and hospitals, unlike in other parts of Yemen where 58% of the population has no access to medical facilities which means the deceased in those areas are not counted in the statistics, but nonetheless the death rates here in Taiz are appalling. The war has polarised opinions and it is going to be a place where making peace is going to be difficult - many have the anti-Houthis perspective shown in this video, but I am in contact with one person in Taiz who is strongly against the Saudi airstrikes and all the militias, and it has been reported that some Taiz men are fighting on the side of the Houthi-Saleh alliance. Let's hope the peace process is successful and the people of Taiz and Yemen can live in peace and start to renew their relationships with their fellow Yemenis; civil war is the cruelest war of all.

https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1074502996035524

15.12.2015 – Middle East Eye / Doctors Without Borders

Yemen: 'We can’t just stop our life because of the war'

In the capital, Sanaa, the warplanes flying over our heads were the main threat. These planes keep people alert, give children sleepless nights, wake babies in the middle of the night, and – most dangerously – kill people. Yemenis have learned to live with them, and so did we. The plane flies over, drops a bomb and goes away – and then comes back. It can stay in the sky for hours, making everyone nervous. All people want is for the plane to empty its deadly cargo and go away so they can continue with their day.

Before an air strike, there is a whistling noise. The reaction is automatic: find shelter.

In the city of Taiz, where I went next, the main threat was the snipers. Even though you can’t see them, they are always there. When you cross a frontline, they are always on your mind. You become hyper-vigilant and super-sensitive to the noise of gunshots – you can tell if it is an AK47 or a sniper’s gun. You learn quickly in this environment; you have to – it can be a matter of life or death.

However many measures you take, you can still suddenly find yourself in the middle of a fight.

Travelling around Yemen, you see how they are adapting to living with this indiscriminate war. The fuel and water crisis affects everyone. Every day, you see long queues of cars waiting for gasoline, sometimes for days at a time. You see families walking to wells to get water; people riding motorbikes which have been modified to run on natural gas; men riding horses and donkeys through the middle of Sanaa – proof of how Yemenis have to be creative to be able to get on with daily life.

What astonishes me is that life does go on. The markets are always busy, ice cream sellers ring their bells among throngs of heavily armed fighters; windows are repaired; chickens are sold next to checkpoints. Daily business simply goes on. I asked a Yemeni doctor in one of our hospitals if she had had any problems crossing the frontline. She said, "Well yes, but we can’t just stop our life because of the war".

I got to meet and work with many Yemenis. They are very welcoming and open to others, so you get involved in their personal lives. Everyone I met had lost a loved one – a relative or a friend – in this war. Yemenis’ wounds are wide open and will need a long time to heal. I sincerely hope they will get a chance to heal soon.” – by Celine Langlois

http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/yemen-we-can-t-just-stop-our-life-because-war-401785574 = http://www.msf.org/article/yemen-%E2%80%9Cwe-can%E2%80%99t-just-stop-our-lives-because-war%E2%80%9D

Ex-President Saleh

18.12.2015 – Bladi.net

Les Etats-Unis proposent à Ali Abdallah Saleh, ex-président du Yemen, de se réfugier au Maroc

L’ancien président yéméniste Ali Abdallah Saleh s’est vu proposer par les Etats-Unis de se réfugier au Maroc, pour peu que ce dernier n’embarrasse pas le royaume de ses sorties médiatiques.

C’est le journal Al Massae qui rapporte l’information. Selon le journal, le département d’État chargé des Affaires étrangères américain aurait proposé à l’ancien président de s’occuper de son transfert du Yémen jusqu’au Maroc. Cette proposition lui a été suggérée par le biais de la diplomatie égyptienne, mais ce dernier a refusé préférant, dit-il, rester dans son pays pour combattre la coalition anti-houthis menée par l’Arabie Saoudite et à laquelle participe le Maroc.

C’est justement les interventions de Ali Abdellah Salah qui empêchent aujourd’hui le pays de trouver une solution au conflit qui embrase le pays depuis plusieurs années, estime le journal qui affirme que l’ancien président sabote toutes les initiatives internationales censées trouver une solution politique à cette guerre.

La semaine dernière, Ali Abdallah Saleh avait appelé les pays étrangers, dont le Maroc, à quitter du Yemen et à s’occuper de leur problèmes internes.

http://www.bladi.net/ali-abdallah-saleh-refuge-maroc,43942.html dazu auch http://www.le360.ma/fr/politique/yemen-les-details-de-la-proposition-americaine-pour-faire-venir-saleh-au-maroc-60048

Kommentar: Sonst keine Meldung dazu gefunden.

Saleh, einer der größten Kleptokraten aller Zeiten (mit bis zu 30 Milliarden Dollar soll er sich während seiner Präsidentschaft bereichert haben), der das Land jahrzehntelang autokratisch regierte, wäre in der Tat besser heute als morgen politisch kaltgestellt, denn noch immer zieht er im Hintergrund die Fäden. Die USA machen diesen Vorschlag natürlich nicht aus Menschenfreundlichkeit dem Jemen gegenüber, sondern rein aus politischem Kalkül: Saleh hat sich mit den Huthis verbündet. Große Teile der Armee sind nach wie vor ihm gegenüber loyal und kämpfen nun auf Seiten der Huthis. Salehs ehemalige Partei steht zum großen Teil ebenfalls auf Seiten der Huthis. Ohne Saleh als Strippenzieher weiter im Land würde damit den Huthis der größte Teil ihrer politischen und militärischen Unterstützung im Land wegbrechen – so das Kalkül. Und damit ein Sieg der Hadi-Regierung und der Saudis quasi durch die Hintertür.

Friedensverhandlungen / Peace talks

Siehe auch unter / See also at: Am wichtigsten / Most important

18.12.2015 – ORF / Blick

Friedensgespräche im Jemen ins Stocken geraten

Die Friedensverhandlungen für das Bürgerkriegsland Jemen sind laut einem Medienbericht vorübergehend ins Stocken geraten.

Die Delegation der schiitischen Huthi-Rebellen sei heute zunächst nicht zu den Gesprächen in der Schweiz erschienen, meldete der arabische Nachrichtenkanal al-Arabija. Damit hätten sie gegen die „Entwicklung auf dem Boden“ protestiert.

Die Rebellen warfen den Vereinten Nationen zudem vor, parteiisch zu sein. Erst am Nachmittag hätten sich die Huthis zu einer Rückkehr an den Verhandlungstisch entschieden.

Anhänger des jemenitischen Präsidenten Abd Rabbo Mansur Hadi hatten nach eigenen Angaben trotz eines Waffenstillstandes die strategisch wichtige Provinzhauptstadt al-Hasm im Norden des Landes eingenommen. Mit Beginn der Friedensgespräche in der Schweiz war am Dienstag eigentlich ein Waffenstillstand in Kraft getreten.

http://orf.at/stories/2315556/ = http://www.blick.ch/news/schweiz/jemen-huthi-rebellen-protestieren-bei-friedensgespraechen-in-magglingen-id4478267.html

18.12.2015 – AP

Yemen Peace Talks Halted Amid Ceasefire Violations

Yemeni peace talks in Switzerland were halted on Friday after the country's Shiite Houthi rebel delegation suspended all meetings with the internationally recognized government in protest at its cease-fire violations, members of Yemen's two warring sides told The Associated Press.

The Houthis said they would not resume talks unless the U.N. condemned government breaches of the week-long truce, the delegates said. Houthi fighters have also ignored the cease-fire agreement.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/yemen-peace-talks-halted_567419aae4b06fa6887cf72d and http://news.yahoo.com/yemeni-rebels-halt-swiss-peace-talks-131221473.html

18.12.2015 – Democracy Now

Ceasefire in Yemen Faces Collapse as U.S. Continues Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia, Fueling Civil War (Film)

United Nations-brokered peace talks in Yemen’s nine-month-old civil war are faltering, amid disputes between rival factions over the release of prisoners. Meanwhile, local officials have reported intensifying clashes and renewed airstrikes despite an ongoing ceasefire. Over the weekend, U.S.-backed, Saudi-led airstrikes killed 19 Yemeni civilians in their homes and at a market. About half of the nearly 6,000 people killed in Yemen’s conflict are civilians, including more than 600 children. Rima Kamal of the International Committee for the Red Cross in Yemen warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis. The United States has bolstered the Saudi-led coalition’s airstrikes in Yemen through arms sales and direct military support. Saudi Arabia is one of the U.S. arms industry’s biggest customers. Last month, the State Department approved a billion-dollar deal to restock Saudi Arabia’s air force arsenal, which was depleted by its bombing campaign in Yemen. The sale included thousands of air-to-ground munitions and "general purpose" bombs. The United States and other countries have also reportedly sold internationally banned cluster munitions to Saudi Arabia that are now being used in Yemen. We speak with reporter Sharif Abdel Kouddous, who has just returned from Yemen. His recent piece for GlobalPost is "With US help, Saudi Arabia is obliterating Yemen."

Sahrif Abdel Kouddous: What I think people also need to understand is the level of U.S. complicity in this war. So, as you mentioned at the top, you know, Saudi Arabia is the most avid customer of U.S. weapons and has bought to the tune of $90 billion over the past five years U.S. arms. What I think many people don’t realize is that the United States is also providing crucial intelligence, logistics, targeting assistance, support to the Saudi coalition, provides vital aerial refueling almost every day, with two sorties from tankers almost every day. And there’s something called a joint combined planning cell, which is based in Riyadh—this was approved by President Obama—where you have U.S. military personnel meeting on a daily basis with Saudi military leadership, helping to coordinate this war. And so, human rights workers that I talked to said that, you know, the United States is not just a backer of this war, but they are a party to this armed conflict. And that’s what people have to understand, is that the United States government is complicit in what is happening in Yemen.

The stated goal of the Saudi coalition is to reinstate the—what they say is the legitimate president, Hadi. He has very, very little support on the ground in Yemen, and I think most observers would agree this is an unrealistic goal to achieve. One of the problems is the array of groups, different groups, that are fighting now each other in Yemen. They’re not all represented at these talks. You have Salafi groups that are fighting. You have southern secessionist groups. And they’re not—they don’t all have the same goals and the same grievances. And so, really what’s been happening in Yemen for the past year is threatening to really tear the country completely apart.

http://www.democracynow.org/2015/12/18/ceasefire_in_yemen_faces_collapse_as

17.12.2015 – UN News Centre

Yemen: parties at UN-facilitated talks agree on delivery of humanitarian aid in Taiz

On the third day of the United Nations-sponsored negotiations on ending the crisis in Yemen, the participants, meeting in Switzerland, have reached an agreement which allows for a full and immediate resumption of humanitarian assistance to the central city of Taiz.

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, welcomed this agreement as “a major step forward that will ensure immediate action to alleviate the human suffering of the Yemeni people and to ensure the neutral and impartial character of humanitarian action.”

A large UN convoy, carrying essential humanitarian supplies, reached the most affected districts of the city of Taiz and will start distributing assistance to those in need in the coming days. It is also expected that humanitarian assistance will reach Hajja, Sa’ada and other deprived Yemeni cities in the coming days.

The Special Envoy has congratulated the participants in the talks for this first important achievement and has encouraged them to work towards further agreements on measures that will allow for rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors to reach people in need across all Yemeni governorates.

The consultations will continue in the next few days and seek to define a clear way forward with a special focus on specific areas: the development of a sustainable national ceasefire and the release of prisoners and detainees, the withdrawal of forces and creation of interim security measures, the organized return of heavy weapons to the State, the restoration of State control over public institutions in order to fight terrorism, in addition to the resumption of an inclusive political dialogue.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52847#.VnOQ3vnhCUk

17.12.2015 – Middle East Eye

Yemen's Taiz to receive humanitarian aid, says UN

UN hails breakthrough on third day of peace talks, with aid to arrive to besieged city 'within the coming days'

A deal to immediately resume humanitarian aid to the besieged Yemeni city of Taiz has been agreed at peace talks between the warring sides in Switzerland, the United Nations has said.

The UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, welcomed the agreement on Thursday as "a major step forward that will ensure immediate action to alleviate the human suffering of the Yemeni people," according to a statement from the UN, which is sponsoring the talks.

"A large UN convoy, carrying essential humanitarian supplies, reached the most affected districts of the city of Taiz and will start distributing assistance to those in need in the coming days," the statement said.

"It is expected that humanitarian assistance will also reach Hajja, Saada and other deprived Yemeni cities in the coming days."

Taiz has been besieged by Houthi rebels fro several months, and fighting has continued in the city despite a general ceasefire started on Tuesday, jeopardising peace talks in Switzerland.

Any humanitarian deliveries would have to pass through a network of Houthi strongpoints around the city.

While hailed as a success in Switzerland, it is not the first successful shipment to Taiz. The UN reported on December 11 that its World Food Programme had sent supplies into the city enough for 145,000 people for a month.

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemens-taiz-receive-humanitarian-aid-says-un-452392153 and from BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35125273

Comment: This is the easy one to agree. The difficult areas where Saudi Arabia has refused to supply humanitarian aid is is Saada which is equally as bad as Taiz.

https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1074460552706435

18.12.2015 – Sun Journal Observer

Yemen combatants in prisoner swap amid shaky truce

The prisoner swap is happening alongside the boundary between the southern province of Lahj and the central province of Baida, witnesses stated.

“Because of the safety state of affairs, we needed to divide the prisoners into teams of 20 every,” stated Rabbash, including that the detainees have been being transferred in buses.

Army sources within the space warned that safety threats alongside the change route might sluggish the method.

The Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross in Sanaa, which was concerned in a earlier prisoner swap, stated earlier the organisation was “not conscious of such an change”.

http://www.sunnewsjournal.com/uncategorized/yemen-warring-parties-in-prisoner-swap-amid-shaky-truce/20598/

Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

18.12.2015 – Gegenfrage

Saudi-Arabien erklärt Saudi-Arabien den Krieg

Saudi-Arabien gründet eine Koalition mit anderen Ländern, um den von sich selbst unterstützten Terrorismus zu bekämpfen. Somit erklärt sich Saudi-Arabien praktisch selbst den Krieg.

Wie inzwischen allgemein bekannt sein sollte, entstanden viele Terrororganisationen überhaupt erst durch die finanzielle und geheimdienstliche Unterstützung Saudi-Arabiens.

Saudi-Arabien ist möglicherweise sogar der wichtigste Sponsor des internationalen Terrorismus, unter den offiziell unterstützten Gruppen finden sich Namen wie die afghanischen Taliban, Al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Taiba und die Al-Nusra-Front – mit letzterer teilt man sich sogar die Flagge, jedenfalls fast (s. hier und hier). Wahhabismus und Salafismus werden ebenfalls von Saudi-Arabien unterstützt, was die ideologische Grundlage der meisten Organisationen im Nahen Osten darstellt, welche als terroristisch eingestuft werden. Auch Katar, Kuwait und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate, welche sich ebenfalls an der Koalition beteiligen, finanzieren ganz offiziell Terrorgruppen, darunter das Haqqani-Netzwerk, die pakistanischen Lashkar-e-Taiba, die 2008 die Anschläge von Mumbai verübten. Die meisten Selbstmordattentäter im Irak sind Saudis (s. hier oder hier). Auch Osama Bin Laden – welche Rolle er auch immer spielte – war Saudi, und der Islamische Staat wird ebenfalls von Saudi-Arabien finanziert, wie US-Politiker ganz offen sagen (s. hier oder hier).

Im Jahr 2013 trafen sich Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin und der saudische Geheimdienstchef Prinz Bandar Bin-Sultan. Bandar machte Putin das Angebot, die Sicherheit bei den Olympischen Winterspielen in Sotschi zu gewährleisten. Die tschetschenischen Gruppen, die die Sicherheit der Spiele bedrohen, würden von Saudi-Arabien kontrolliert „und werden sich nicht ohne Abstimmung mit uns in Richtung Syrien bewegen“, so Bandar weiter. Putin erwiderte: „Wir wissen, dass Sie die tschetschenischen Terrorgruppen seit einem Jahrzehnt unterstützt haben. Und die Unterstützung, über die Sie hier ganz offen sprechen, ist völlig unvereinbar mit den gemeinsamen Zielen der Bekämpfung des globalen Terrorismus.“

Saudi-Arabien erklärt sich mit der Gründung der Koalition gegen den Terrorismus praktisch selbst den Krieg. So sieht das auch der pakistanische Kolumnist und Politologe Wajahat Masood. Der Terror im Nahen Osten sei „ein Phänomen“, das durch die Unterstützung Saudi-Arabiens selbst in den vergangenen 30 Jahren überhaupt erst entstanden sei – von Bürgender

http://www.gegenfrage.com/saudi-arabien-erklaert-saudi-arabien-den-krieg/

18.12.2015 – Wirtschaftswoche

Von Saudi-Arabiens Anti-Terror-Allianz ist wenig zu erwarten

Mit großem Getöse hat Saudi-Arabien die Bildung einer militärischen Allianz fast aller islamischen Staaten gegen den „Islamischen Staat“ verkündet. Dahinter steckt leider sehr wenig. Ein Kommentar.

In Pakistan, dem bevölkerungsreichsten der 34 angeblichen Bündnispartner, ließ die Regierung erst einmal verlauten, sie habe von der neuen Allianz bisher nichts gehört. Daraus wurde nach zwei Tagen eine schöne Erklärung der pakistanischen Botschaft in Riad, aus der sich herauslesen lässt, dass das Land in Freundschaft fest zu Saudi-Arabien steht, den internationalen Terrorismus ablehnt und ansonsten nichts Besonderes zu tun gedenkt.

Im Libanon, angesichts seiner Rolle als Finanzplatz ein wichtiger Schauplatz für die Bekämpfung des „IS“, verkündeten schiitische und christliche Politiker ihre schroffe Ablehnung eines Bündnisses, das offenbar exklusiv die Sunniten der Welt unter saudischer Führung vereinen soll. Der innerlich zerrissene Libanon ist damit ein Stück mehr aus dem Einflussbereich der Saudis in den ihrer schiitischen Feinde im Iran gerutscht.

Die Vorgänge im kleinen Libanon beleuchten eine Grundschwäche der saudischen Initiative. Es handelt sich um den Versuch einer Formierung der Muslime sunnitischer Glaubensrichtung gegen die Schiiten, einen weiteren Schritt auf dem Weg zu einem drohenden überregionalen Krieg der beiden Konfessionen – von Hans Jakob Ginsburg

http://www.wiwo.de/politik/ausland/islamischen-staat-das-islamische-buendnis-ist-nur-show/12742756-2.html

18.12.2015 – The News

Sudden surprise

Surprised’ is probably the last word that one would want to hear from the Foreign Office after the announcement on Tuesday that Pakistan would be part of a 34-country ‘anti-terrorism’ alliance led by Saudi Arabia. It seems Saudi Arabia was given the go ahead from someone in the Pakistani establishment without the FO being intimated. This is the second time in recent history that Saudi Arabia has included Pakistan in its Middle Eastern war efforts.

While Saudi Arabia has insisted that the alliance is an indicator of the need for the Islamic world to take a stand against terrorism, it has not restricted the scope of any actions taken by the countries to combating Isis. Officially, ‘any terrorist organisation’ operating in member countries will be targeted. The US has welcomed the development despite leading a separate 64-country international alliance against Isis. If the commitment is true, then it would mean that a number of Sunni Arab countries, which have often been accused of supporting Isis groups logistically and financially, will now take Isis on directly. Saudi Arabia and Turkey have both been victims of recent Isis-linked terrorist attacks. But there need to be questions about what a regional anti-terrorism coalition that excludes Iraq, Syria and Iran means? The former two are the main victims of the Isis insurgency in the Middle East while Iran is a major player in the ongoing conflict. A so-called ‘Muslim alliance’ that includes only Sunni countries is likely to create more controversy in the region. Moreover, the need for an alliance against terrorism in the region separate from the existing US-led alliance is unclear. Given that Saudi Arabia has titled it an ‘Islamic military coalition’, is it wise for the Pakistani government to consent to such a proposal without full knowledge of what this participation would entail? The absence of Shia countries suggests the agenda might include targeting Shia militias in the Middle East, which would open up an unnecessary can of worms. Like the Yemen alliance earlier, participation in the Saudi-led alliance should be put to debate in parliament.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/82701-Sudden-surprise

1.11.2015 – Tagesanzeiger

«Die Saudis ticken wie der IS»Wer Madawi al-Rasheeds Bücher in ihrer Heimat liest, riskiert, ins Gefängnis zu kommen. Doch die saudische Professorin fürchtet das Regime in Riad nicht.

Das Regime schürt die konfessionellen Spannungen. Ich bin Sunnitin, aber 10 Prozent der Bevölkerung sind schiitisch. In den Ostprovinzen, wo die Schiiten leben, werden häufig Moscheen angegriffen, auch diese Woche wieder. Das Regime bezeichnet sie als Ungläubige. Zu Beginn des arabischen Aufstands 2011 gingen die Schiiten auf die Strasse und forderten Gleichberechtigung. Angeblich stand der Iran dahinter. Deshalb gab es keine Solidarität im Rest des Landes. So wurde das Regime gestärkt, zumal Riad noch auf die Bedrohungen durch islamistische Gruppen im Jemen und den Islamischen Staat verweisen kann. Deshalb gebe es keine demokratischen Reformen, hiess es.

Ich vermute, dass die westlichen Regierungen nicht daran interessiert sind, dass es in Saudiarabien Demokratie und ein gewähltes Parlament gibt. Denn ein Parlament müsste jedem Waffendeal mit Grossbritannien und den USA zustimmen. Da gäbe es Opposition. Deshalb ist London und Washington eine geheime Beziehung zu den saudischen Prinzen lieber.

Bei so viel Übereinstimmung – unterstützt Saudiarabien den Islamischen Staat?
Es gibt Gemeinsamkeiten. Etwa die Art, wie sie die Theologie benützen. Auch ist der IS ähnlich entstanden wie 1932 Saudiarabien: Jemand, der nicht König war, fachte die Fantasie der Stämme an, indem er behauptete, dass der Rest der Bevölkerung nicht wahre Muslime seien. Deshalb starteten die Saudis einen Jihad, unter anderem gegen meine Familie. Nach mehr als tausend Jahren Islam sollten wir plötzlich keine Muslime mehr sein. Auch der IS strebt eine solche religiöse Vereinheitlichung an.

Dazu passt, dass saudische Kleriker ihre Landsleute in Syrien aufrufen, den Jihad gegen das alawitische und damit schiitische Assad-Regime fortzuführen. Gleichzeitig unterstützt Riad die Bombardierung des IS. Wo steht Saudiarabien?
Dieser Widerspruch ist real. Die Kleriker sprechen deshalb nie vom IS, sondern nur von Jihadisten. Denn sonst müsste die Regierung reagieren. Aber tief drinnen hat wohl auch das sunnitische Regime in Riad Sympathien für den sunnitischen IS.

Der Krieg in Syrien ist längst ein Stellvertreterkrieg, wie auch im Jemen. Die Saudis haben nicht die militärische Macht, um den Iran direkt herauszufordern. Deshalb fördert man den konfessionellen Krieg zwischen Schiiten und Sunniten, was Extremisten wie den IS hervorbringt. Es ist ein Stell­vertreter­krieg zwischen zwei Regionalmächten mit den syrischen Zivilisten als Geiseln – Christoph Münger interviewt Madawi al-Rasheed

http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/ausland/naher-osten-und-afrika/die-saudis-ticken-wie-der-is/story/19687056 = https://linksunten.indymedia.org/de/node/162648

Großbritannien / Great Britain

18.12.2015 – RT

‘Are embedded British soldiers helping Saudi attack Yemen?’ asks Reprieve

Human rights activists fear British military personnel could be embedded with Saudi Arabian allies who are bombing Yemen after receiving opaque responses from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Concerns have been raised by the charity Reprieve, which is best known for its work on post 9/11 torture and rendition, after the MoD published figures detailing the number of UK military personnel embedded around the world.

The war in Yemen, between Shia Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces, is not one the UK is officially involved in. However, the theocratic Saudi kingdom is a close regional ally of Britain.

While most of those embedded personnel are in easily identifiable locations – such as in the US, Canada, NATO and the EU member states – nearly 100 personnel are assigned to cryptically titled ‘Coalition HQs’.

Responding to the revelations that 94 members of the UK armed forces are carrying out duties for unknown forces, Jennifer Gibson, a staff attorney at Reprieve, said in a statement: “This is a long way from real transparency. It is impossible to tell what operations or even what countries these personnel are active in, making this information almost worthless.

Gibson said the terms used were “hopelessly vague” and asked “what, for example, are the ‘coalition HQs’ where nearly 100 UK personnel are based?

Is this the highly-controversial Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, the long-standing coalition in Afghanistan, the coalition in Iraq and Syria, or another we don’t know about?

Gibson said the UK is entitled to use military force, but that “parliament and the public deserve to know at the very least which wars we are sending our troops into and under whose command.

It emerged in July that UK aircrews embedded with foreign air forces – allegedly

This was despite there being no parliamentary authority for such actions. A vote on bombing targets within Syria has since passed early in December.

In a statement released with the figures on the MoD website, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “Embeds [sic] play an important role in enhancing our national security interests around the world, strengthening our relationships with key allies and developing our own capabilities.

For operational and personal security reasons the information that can be routinely released is limited,” he added.

https://www.rt.com/uk/326422-yemen-saudi-troops-coalition/?utm_campaign=Contact+SNS+For+More+Referrer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=snsanalytics

Comment: I read some time ago that there were 150 personnel from the British military assisting in Riyadh. There is a vague wording in this Freedom of Information request that says that there are 100 employed at the 'coalition HQ' and here Russian TV guesses that this is the Saudi led coalition.

https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1074947805991043

17.12.2015 – Sputnik News

UK Breaking Its Own Law by Selling Arms to Saudi – UN Lawyers

The British government could face legal action for breaking “domestic, European and international law” by supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia for its military operation in Yemen, which is fuelling the country’s ongoing civil war.

Lawyers and human rights campaigners have come to the conclusion that the UK government could be taken to court for exporting arms, manufactured by British companies, to the Saudi Arabian regime.

The British government deny any involvement in Saudi Arabian’s military campaign in Yemen — despite issuing more than 100 licenses for arms exports to Saudi Arabia since March 2015.

During the first six months of 2015, British arms exports to Saudi totaled US$2.61 billion (£1.75bn).

“The UK has fueled this appalling conflict through reckless arms sales which break its own laws and the global Arms Trade Treaty it once championed,” Kate Allen, UK Director of Amnesty International (AI) said.

Indeed, in 2013, British Prime Minister David Cameron championed the Arms Trade Treaty, saying it would “save lives and ease the immense human suffering caused by armed conflict around the world,” adding that Britain should be proud of securing such a deal.

Two years later and after legal scrutiny of Britain’s obligations, arising under the UK’s consolidated criteria on arms exports, the EU Common Position on Arms Exports and the Arms Trade Treaty, by lawyers — Professor Philippe Sands QC, Professor Andrew Clapham and Blinne Ni Ghralaigh of Matrix Chambers — made the following conclusion:

“Any authorization by the UK of the transfer of weapons and related items to Saudi Arabia… in circumstances where such weapons are capable of being used in the conflict in Yemen, including to support its blockade of Yemeni territory, and in circumstances where their end-use is not restricted, would constitute a breach by the UK of its obligations under domestic, European and international law.”

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20151217/1031900958/uk-government-saudi-arabia-arms-exports-illegal.html = http://theunhivedmind.com/wordpress3/uk-breaking-its-own-law-by-selling-arms-to-saudi-un-lawyers/ (with many links on the subject)

16.12.2015 – Saferworld

Press release: UK Government breaking the law supplying arms to Saudi say leading lawyers

Philippe Sands QC and others submit damning legal opinion commissioned by Amnesty and Saferworld.

The UK Government is breaking national, EU and international law and policy by supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia in the context of its military intervention and bombing campaign in Yemen according to an analysis by eminent international law experts commissioned by Amnesty International and Saferworld, both members of the Control Arms coalition.

The lawyers, Professor Philippe Sands QC, Professor Andrew Clapham and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh of Matrix Chambers, conclude in their comprehensive legal opinion that, on the basis of the information available, the UK Government is acting in breach of its obligations arising under the UK’s Consolidated Criteria on arms exports, the EU Common Position on Arms Exports and the Arms Trade Treaty by continuing to authorise transfers of weapons and related items to Saudi Arabia within the scope of those instruments, capable of being used in Yemen.

They conclude that “any authorisation by the UK of the transfer of weapons and related items to Saudi Arabia… in circumstances where such weapons are capable of being used in the conflict in Yemen, including to support its blockade of Yemeni territory, and in circumstances where their end-use is not restricted, would constitute a breach by the UK of its obligations under domestic, European and international law.”

They also conclude that the UK Government can properly be deemed to have "actual knowledge... of the use by Saudi Arabia of weapons, including UK-supplied weapons, in attacks directed against civilians and civilians objects, in violation of international law", since at least May 2015.

The UK Government asserts that it is not taking an active part in the military campaign in Yemen. However, the UK has issued more than 100 licences for arms exports to Saudi Arabia since the State began bombing Yemen in March 2015. For the period January to June 2015, licences for exports to Saudi Arabia were worth more than £1 ¾ billion, the vast majority of which (by value) appear to be for combat aircraft and air-delivered bombs for the use of the Royal Saudi Air Force.

In 2013, David Cameron hailed the Arms Trade Treaty as a landmark agreement that would "save lives and ease the immense human suffering caused by armed conflict around the world." He said Britain should be proud of the role it had played in securing an agreement that would make the world safer for all.

Amnesty International UK Director, Kate Allen, said:

“The UK has fuelled this appalling conflict through reckless arms sales which break its own laws and the global Arms Trade Treaty it once championed.

“This legal opinion confirms our long-held view that the continued sale of arms from the UK to Saudi Arabia is illegal, immoral and indefensible.

“Thousands of civilians have been killed in Saudi-led airstrikes, and there’s a real risk that misery was ‘Made in Britain’.”

Saferworld Executive Director Paul Murphy said:

"UK Government policy on Yemen is in disarray. The UK gives aid to Yemen with one hand while supporting the destruction of the country with the other."

“With the first face-to-face peace talks since the beginning of the Yemeni conflict happening this week, the UK Government should help turn a fragile ceasefire into a permanent peace by stopping its support to one side of the conflict.”

“It’s time the UK acted as a peace broker, rather than an arms broker. The UK government must halt these arms sales immediately.”

Although the focus of their opinion was on the UK Government’s legal obligations regarding the authorisation regime for weapons transfers to Saudi Arabia, the lawyers underscored that all sides to the conflict in Yemen are accused of serious breaches of international law.

The conflict in Yemen has turned the country into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Civilian targets including hospitals, schools, markets, grain warehouses, ports and a displaced persons camp have been hit in airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition forces. Since the conflict escalated in mid-March 2015, more than 5,800 people have been killed and tens of thousands wounded. 2.5 million have been forced to flee their homes. Over 80 per cent of the population (21 million people) are in need of humanitarian aid, including two million children at risk of malnutrition.

All sides in the conflict are responsible for causing the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The UK is not alone in sending arms to and supporting parties to the conflict. Several other countries, including France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Russia and the US have reportedly also supplied arms to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition now fighting in Yemen, with supplies to the Houthis clouded in secrecy.

The agencies called on the Government to immediately take five steps:

  • Suspend arms transfers and military support to Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners which could be used to commit or facilitate further serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Yemen
  • Carry out a thorough and independent investigation into UK arms sales and reported war crimes in Yemen
  • Make every possible diplomatic effort to help bring the conflict to an end
  • Continue to push for an end to the de facto blockade so that vital humanitarian and commercial supplies enter Yemen and reach those most in need.
  • Fully implement the provisions of the Arms Trade Treaty, and encourage all other arms exporters to do the same

http://www.saferworld.org.uk/news-and-views/news-article/683-press-release-uk-government-breaking-the-law-supplying-arms-to-saudi-say-leading-lawyers

16.12.2015 – Saferworld

The lawfulness of the autorisation by the United Kingdom of weapons and related items for export to Saudi Arabia in the context of Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen

In this legal opinion commissioned by Saferworld and Amnesty International - both members of the Control Arms coalition - Professor Philippe Sands QC, Professor Andrew Clapham and Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh of Matrix Chambers conclude that, on the basis of the information available, the UK Government is acting in breach of its obligations arising under the UK’s Consolidated Criteria on arms exports, the EU Common Position on Arms Exports and the Arms Trade Treaty by continuing to authorise transfers of weapons and related items to Saudi Arabia within the scope of those instruments, capable of being used in Yemen.

Download the legal opinion

http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/1023-the-lawfulness-of-the-authorisation-by-the-united-kingdom-of-weapons-and-related-items-for-export-to-saudi-arabia-in-the-context-of-saudi-arabias-military-intervention-in-yemen#.VnNQ4wAR-84.facebook

China

17.12.2015 – Janes

UAE, Saudi Arabia operating Chinese UAVs over Yemen

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have both acquired Chinese-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to meet urgent operational requirements arising from their military intervention in Yemen, it was revealed during a panel discussion held by the Atlantic Council think tank on 8 December.

"The drones the UAE is using in Yemen are Chinese because they failed to get US approval," US Marine Corps General (retired) James L Jones said. Gen Jones served as National Security Advisor in 2009-2010 and is now affiliated with the Atlantic Council.

Nawaf Obaid, a former advisor to the Saudi ambassadors to the United Kingdom and the United States, immediately added "that is true, us too", indicating Saudi Arabia has also acquired Chinese UAVs because it could not obtain US ones – by Jeremy Binnie

http://www.janes.com/article/56742/uae-saudi-arabia-operating-chinese-uavs-over-yemen

Kommentar: Der zweite Artikel, der sich mit chinesischen Waffen im Jemenkrieg befasst.

19.10.2015 – Rubin Center

CHINA’S MIDDLE EAST FOREIGN POLICY AND THE YEMEN CRISIS: CHALLENGES AND IMPLICATIONS

This article examines the broad implications of the 2015 Yemeni civil war on Chinese foreign policy in the Middle East. The findings show that the ongoing crisis in Yemenpresents a challenge to the key element of non-intervention guiding Chinese foreign policy in the region and may force Beijing to gradually abandon its low-key strategy in managing its relations with the countries in the region.

The Yemeni civil war is pushing the Middle East closer to a wider regional conflagration and has added a new layer of unpredictability to the many, multidimensional conflicts that have turned large swaths of the region into war zones. The complexity of the Yemeni sectarian conflict has manifested itself fully in the way Chinese non-interference policy attempts to balance the aforementioned interests. On the one hand, China continues to side with Iran and its allies in the region to contain Washington and its allies’ influences in the Middle East. On the other hand, it is employing a cautious balancing act to avoid a fragmented and unstable Yemen, which would intensify conflict and terrorism in the region.

This article has examined whether the continued conflict in Yemen is expected to make a substantial impact on China’s non-interference policy in the region. The findings suggest that while the conflict in Yemen presents certain challenges to Chinese foreign policy in the region, it still does not require a major change in Beijing’s non-intervention behavior. However, the prolongation of the Yemeni civil war could threaten China’s broader national interests–economic, strategic, and security–which would force Beijing to gradually abandon its non-interference policy. To be sure, China has always intervened in the Middle East, and still does, mainly related to keeping the peace, managing conflicts, and seeking regional security.[39] Beijing certainly has the capabilities to interfere in conflicts in the region but has lacked the will to get heavily involved in military conflict in the Middle East, as everywhere else in the world. It continues to demonstrate its formal commitment (at least in its rhetoric) to the non-intervention principle.

In addition, this article examined whether there has been a noticeable change in China’s foreign policy in the context of the conflict in Yemen. Beijing’s reaction to the Yemeni civil war may well elicit a response from other great powers and the countries in the region. However, from China’s point of view, at least for now, the implementation of a nuclear agreement with Iran and regional stability are a much higher priority for the international community than the Yemen crisis. Thus, China’s stance on the Yemen conflict and the ongoing Middle East crisis is in fact much closer to that of the great powers.

The escalating crisis in Yemen poses challenges for China’s interests and the core principle of its foreign policy in the Middle East. For a long time, Beijing did not perceive conflicts in the region as having a direct impact on its interests, but due to its emergence as a dominant trading partner and its desire to build a sphere of influence, it has become a responsible stakeholder in the Middle East. As such, China acknowledges that it shares the great burden of ensuring Middle East peace and stability.

One practical step in this direction was already taken when China acted to prevent Pakistan from joining the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthi rebels, which inevitably would have led to an escalation in the Yemen conflict. According to Pakistani officials, Chinese President Xi assured his Pakistani counterpart that China would stand behind Islamabad in the event of its ties unraveling with the Arab world. China’s assurance of $46 billion in economic investment and assistance to Pakistan was one of the factors that persuaded Islamabad turn down the Saudi request for military support for its campaign against Houthi rebels, despite immense pressure from Riyadh. Therefore, it is almost inevitable that China must forgo strict compliance with its non-intervention policy and become proactively involved in the region – by Mordechai Chaziza

http://www.rubincenter.org/2015/10/chinas-middle-east-foreign-policy-and-the-yemen-crisis-challenges-and-implications/

Wirtschaft / Economy

17.12.2015 – Al Araby

Make coffee not war: Brewing up peace in Yemen

An initiative to revive and promote Yemeni coffee as a symbol of peace has been launched in Sanaa, in parallel with the Geneva peace process many here hope will bring an end to the conflict in the South Arabian nation.

The week-long initiative started on Sunday, and several coffee shops in Yemen's capital have joined the effort - which also seeks to encourage farmers to grow coffee beans.

Coffee is one of Yemen's most famous crops, and is closely linked to its history. Yemeni coffee, which is associated with the Read Sea city of Mocha, is known for its high quality and exceptional taste. "The event carries a lot of hope for the Yemenis, and is a message to all participants in the Geneva II talks to take a break from war and seek a lasting piece," said Yasmine al-Nazeri, a researcher with the German International Development Agency (GIZ) in Yemen – by Farouq al-Kamali

http://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/features/2015/12/17/make-coffee-not-war-brewing-up-peace-in-yemen

Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War

Von dem Waffenstillstand ist nichts mehr übrig geblieben. Vor allem die Saudis und ihre Verbündeten haben den Waffenstillstand offensichtlich zu militärischen Geländegewinnen genutzt, sprich: Den Waffenstillstand gezielt gebrochen. Damit sind die wohl nur als lästig empfundenen Friedensgespräche zu Ende und man kann das machen, was man eigentlich will: Krieg führen.

18.12.2015 – Sputnik News

Ballistische Raketen von Jemen auf Saudi-Arabien abgefeuert

Zwei ballistische Raketen sind übereinstimmenden Berichten zufolge vom Jemen aus auf Saudi-Arabien abgefeuert worden. Eine von Saudi-Arabien geführte Koalition fliegt seit dem Frühjahr Angriffe auf Rebellenstellungen im Jemen.

Nach Angaben des Senders Sky News Arabia schlug eine der Raketen im jemenitischen Marib ein, in dem sich saudische Truppen befinden. Die zweite Rakete explodierte im Raum Nadschran auf saudischem Territorium.

http://de.sputniknews.com/politik/20151218/306591523/jemen-saudi-arabien-raketen.html 18.12.2015 – RT

2 ballistic missiles fired from Yemen at Saudi Arabia – reports

Saudi Arabian air defense has intercepted one of two ballistic missiles fired from the territory of Yemen, according to AFP. The second ballistic missile landed in a desert area east of the Saudi city of Najran, the Saudi-led coalition said in a statement.

No injuries have been reported so far.

https://www.rt.com/news/326417-saudi-ballistic-missile-yemen/

18.12.2015 – Kleine Zeitung / Die Zeit

Regierungskräfte eroberten zwei Städte im Jemen zurück

Regierungstreue Kräfte haben im Nordjemen zwei Städte von den Rebellen zurückerobert. Wie am Freitag aus Militär- und Stammeskreisen verlautete, fielen innerhalb von 24 Stunden zunächst die Stadt Harad und dann Hams, die Hauptstadt der Provinz Jawf. An den Kämpfen gegen die schiitischen Houthi-Rebellen waren Truppen des Präsidenten Abd Rabbo Mansur Hadi beteiligt.

Bei der Einnahme von Harad wurden etwa tausend Soldaten von der Luftwaffe einer von Saudi-Arabien angeführten arabischen Militärkoalition unterstützt. Die saudi-arabische Luftabwehr fing nach Angaben der Militärkoalition unterdessen über dem jemenitischen Gebiet Marib eine im Jemen abgefeuerte Rakete ab. Eine weitere Rakete ging demnach im saudi-arabischen Wüstengebiet Najran an der Grenze zum Jemen nieder.

http://www.kleinezeitung.at/s/politik/aussenpolitik/4890523/Regierungskraefte-eroberten-zwei-Staedte-im-Jemen-zuruck und http://www.zeit.de/news/2015-12/18/jemen-regierungskraefte-erobern-zwei-staedte-im-jemen-von-rebellen-zurueck-18145803

18.12.2015 – BBC

Yemen forces capture ground as fragile talks continue

Yemeni government forces have captured a rebel-held town in the north of the country, as fighting threatened to derail peace talks and a ceasefire.

Hundreds of troops crossed into Yemen from Saudi Arabia, taking control of Hazm, capital of Jawf province, military and tribal sources said.

On Thursday, troops seized Harad, near the Saudi border, in Hajja province.

Violence has continued, despite a UN-backed ceasefire and peace talks in Switzerland which began on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia said two ballistic missiles were fired at the kingdom from Yemen on Thursday.

It said one was intercepted and the other landed in desert east of Najran. It did not say whether there were any casualties.

Rebels have also accused Yemeni and allied Saudi-led coalition forces of repeatedly breaching the ceasefire, which is meant to last for a week.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35130861 and from Reuters: http://news.yahoo.com/yemen-government-forces-capture-northwestern-city-peace-talks-122831596.html

Comment: I guess this is what the Houthi protests are about... When they stop fighting, the other side carries on. The difficulties the Saudis have is that since starting the war, they have really achieved nothing - the country is destroyed, but the Houthi-Saleh alliance is just as strong as the day when Saudi first dropped a bomb - stronger in fact - the so called 'liberated' areas of Lahj and Aden are largely controlled by extremist militias particularly AQ., Hadi is in Aden but so unpopular he can't have Yemeni bodyguards. They are desperate to say that they achieved something by all this destruction, and they can't win whilst the Houthi-Saleh alliance are defending. So they try to make gains in a ceasefire. The problem then is that the Houthi-Saleh alliance has to respond, and so war continues.

https://www.facebook.com/yemennewstodayenglish/posts/1074792992673191

Kommentar: Albern ist die Benennung der Regierungstruppen und Saudis als „Yemen forces. Was sind denn ihre Gegner, die Huthis und die mit ihnen verbündeten Teile der jemenitischen Armee? Russen? Syrer? Argentinier?

Neue Artikel zum Nachlesen 1-69: / Yemen Press reader 1-69:

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/dklose oder / or

http://poorworld.net/YemenWar.htm

Fotos vom saudischen Luftangriff auf Al Aawar, 13. Dezember / Photos from Saudi air attack at Al Aawar, December, 13

(18 +, Nichts für Sensible; Graphic!)

http://poorworld.net/Yemen/YemenImages2015-12-13-AlAawar.htm

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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