03.11.2016 | 21:05

Jemenkrieg-Mosaik 223 - Yemen War Mosaic 223

Yemen Press Reader 223: Krise im Detail–Zentralbank–USA–Schutzverantwortung?–Politiker-Argumente–Humanitäre Katastrophe–Italien–Deutschland–US-Bürger, Israelis bei Saudis–Britischer Geheimkrieg

 

Yemen crisis analysis – Central Bank – What the US can do for Yemen – “Responsibility to Protect” – Politicians’ pro-Saudi arguments – Humanitarian catastrophe – Italy’s and Germany’s dirty war – US, Israelis in Saudi air base – Britain’s secret war in Yemen – and more

 

Schwerpunkte / Key aspects

Klassifizierung / Classification

cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important

cp2 Allgemein / General

cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation

cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis

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

cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche/ UN and peace talks

cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

cp9 USA

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

cp11 Deutschland / Germany

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade

cp13b Flüchtlinge / Refugees

cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism

cp15 Propaganda

cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids

cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War

cp18 Sonstiges / Other

Klassifizierung / Classification

***

**

*

(Kein Stern / No star)

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

cp1 Am wichtigsten / Most important

1.11.2016 – ACAPS (*** A H)

Crisis analysis of Yemen

Topics:

Politics and security

Humanitarian access

Displacement

Food security and livelihoods

Health

Nutrition

WASH

Shelter and NFIs

Education

Protection

https://www.acaps.org/country/yemen/crisis-analysis

Comment: A very detailed analysis of the Yemeni humanitarian crisis.

3.11.2016 – Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies (** B E H P)

Yemen Without a Functioning Central Bank: The loss of basic economic stabilization and accelerating famine

Executive Summary

The Yemeni government’s decision in September to relocate the central bank and replace its governor has left the country without an institution capable of providing basic economic stabilization. While all the belligerent parties to Yemen’s armed conflict have sought to leverage economic factors, the incapacitation of the central bank may represent an unprecedented escalation in this regard and the international community must act to ensure the starvation of millions of people is not employed as a tactic of this war.

In July this year the United Nations elevated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen to Level 3 – the highest designation the UN has – placing it in the same category as Syria, Iraq and South Sudan. As of October, some 370,000 Yemeni children were acutely malnourished; four out of five of Yemen’s 26 million people required humanitarian assistance, and for nearly half the population this assistance was considered life-saving.

The Central Bank of Yemen (CBY) had, until recently, been among the only state institutions to operate effectively at a national capacity throughout the last five years of political upheaval and armed conflict. Even as central government authority eroded across the country, the CBY had continued financial coordination with local governing councils to facilitate basic public service provision, dispersed monthly salaries to 1.2 million Yemenis on the public payroll, protected the value of the domestic currency and ensured importers access to foreign currency to purchase basic commodities. All this, while also fulfilling Yemen’s foreign debt obligations and maintaining the trust of international financial markets.

Through these actions the CBY preserved baseline economic stability and prevented one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises from becoming far worse. Such interventions were, however, predicated upon two factors that no longer apply: (1) the CBY having access to foreign currency reserves to finance operations, and (2) a tacit agreement between the main warring parties to respect the central bank’s neutrality and not to interfere in its operations.

Since the CBY's incapacitation there has been a marked deterioration in the country's humanitarian situation. It is absolutely essential that all the parties to the conflict, as well as local, regional and international stakeholders, coordinate efforts to empower the CBY to resume its functions as quickly as possible, irrespective of its location. In particular, there is an immediate critical need to pay the monthly salaries of the country’s civil servants, most of whom have not received their wages since August. Given that most civil servants are heads of households, they equate to as many as 6 millions Yemenis who have been without an income for more than two months. The resumption of import credits is also essential to ensure the country’s food supply; Yemeni wheat importers estimate that without renewed import financing for grains, existing domestic supplies will be exhausted within two months – by Mansour Rageh, Amal Nasser and Farea Al-Muslimi

http://sanaacenter.org/publications/item/55-yemen-without-a-functioning-central-bank.html

2.11.2016 – National Interest (** A P)

How America Can Genuinely Push the Saudis on Yemen

The United States must begin to use its considerable leverage over the Saudi-led coalition to ensure that Power’s message isn’t just a collection of words on a piece of paper that will be tossed in the shredder as soon as the Security Council adjourns for the day. Instead, Washington—in partnership with the other members of the Security Council—must stop tiptoeing around the issue and demand that the Saudis and all combatants in the war stop firing on one another, take more care in protecting civilians during their operations, speed up the delivery of humanitarian assistance to a population that sorely needs it, and get to the business of a negotiation.

First, the UN Security Council must adopt a new resolution modifying the terms for a conflict-ending settlement. The last substantive resolution, passed on April 14, 2015, is incredibly outdated and has become an obstacle to a peace negotiation rather than an enabler. The April 2015 resolution, passed weeks after the Saudis began their bombing campaign and at a time when the Council believed that Riyadh would make short work of the Houthis militarily, is essentially a surrender document in favor of Yemeni president Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government. The terms are completely lopsided, and place the onus on the Houthis and armed supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh to surrender all of their weapons, withdraw from all the territory they acquired and cease acting as a government before the Yemeni authorities even engage in diplomacy.

President Hadi has repeatedly cited the existence of this Security Council resolution as an excuse to keep a hard-line position and refuse to entertain any suggestions that would lessen his power or remove him from office. The Security Council therefore needs to take that excuse away, by passing another resolution that strips away the previous preconditions and codifies the UN envoy’s roadmap for a peaceful resolution to the war.

Secondly, the Obama administration should directly tell the Saudis that if it refuses to use its influence over Hadi to force him to cooperate with the UN-led process, then the United States will use its own influence over the Saudis by blocking any further offensive-weapons sales that could be used in Yemen.

Finally, if the situation remains unchanged, the war continues and Washington has persuadable evidence that the Yemeni government is an impediment to a peace deal, U.S. officials should seriously review whether additional punitive measures should be applied directly to Hadi's inner circle—and to Hadi himself. Thankfully, the Security Council already has the authority to do exactly that.

The United States can no longer cry about the conflict from the sidelines – by Daniel R. DePetris

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-skeptics/how-america-can-genuinely-push-the-saudis-yemen-18271

Comment: DePetris is absolutely right on UN Security Council resolution 2216. – I disagree when the author suggests that there still is not the time to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia just NOW.

2.11.2016 – Medialens (** A P)

Yemen Vote - The Responsibility To Protect Profits

At first sight, compassion appears to loom large in 'mainstream' politics and media. When the American and British governments target countries like Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, 'compassion' is always at or near the top of the agenda.

Time and again, the cry from the political system is: 'We Must Do Something!' 'We' must save Afghan women from the 'Medieval' Taliban. 'We' must save Kuwaiti new-borns flung from their incubators by Iraqi stormtroopers. 'We' must saveIraqi civilians from Saddam's shredding machines. 'We' must save civilians in Kosovo from Milosevic's 'final solution'.

As for the suffering civilians of Aleppo in Syria, hard-right MPs like Andrew Mitchell demand, not merely that 'we' save them, not merely that 'we' engage in war to save them, but that 'we' must confront Russia, shoot down their planes if necessary, and risk actual thermonuclear war – complete self-destruction – to save them:

State-corporate propaganda is full of 'shoulds', all rooted in 'our' alleged 'responsibility to protect'. Why 'us'? Why not Sweden or Iceland? Because 'we' care. 'We' just care more.

A key task of the corporate media is to pretend this is something more than a charade.

If politicians are clearly bluffers, corporate journalists are selected because they powerfully echo and enhance the alleged need for compassionate 'intervention'.

The message is always the same: we understand you're sincere, but sometimes you have to drop your reflexive 'anti-Americanism', drop your blinkered adherence to 'principled opposition' and live in the real world. You can't just sit on your hands, you can't just righteously preach – you have to act!

This is the shtick of the corporate warmonger and it is repeated over and over again. It appears to be the key function that determines whether a commentator is granted job-for-life privileges at newspapers like the Guardian, The Times and Telegraph.

But the point is that compassion – the kind rooted in an understanding that all suffering is equal, the kind that feels even more responsibility for suffering caused by our own government – is not partial, it does not defer to power. It doesn't fall silent when 'we' are committing crimes. Quite the reverse.

The Yemen Motion

On October 26, Emily Thornberry, Labour shadow foreign secretary, placed the following motion before the House of Commons:

As for Thornberry's motion, more than 100 Labour MPs – almost half the Labour Party – failed to support it. As a result, it was defeated by 283 votes to just 193, a majority of 90.

Since the rejection of the motion, 'Do something!' crusaders like Aaronovitch, Freedland and Cohen have printed not a word about 'our' 'responsibility to protect' civilian life in Yemen.

In the entire UK 'mainstream' press, we found a single opinion piece, in the Guardian, condemning the vote

No corporate journalist raised the question that cried out to be asked: if Britain cares enough about civilian suffering in Kosovo, Libya and Syria to actually go to war, then how can it not merely suspend support for Saudi Arabia while potential war crimes are investigated?

Literally no journalist made the point that the vote makes a complete nonsense of the UK's famed enthusiasm for 'responsibility to protect'. The warmongers' silence tells us their 'compassion' is a tool of realpolitik, nothing more.

http://www.medialens.org/index.php/alerts/alert-archive/2016/830-yemen-vote-the-responsibility-to-protect-profits.html

Comment: Perfectly unmasking Western interventionist policy and Western hypocrisy.

3.11.2016 – Open Democracy (** B P)

Uncomfortable assumptions about security: the UK vote on support for Saudi Arabia

Pervasive and problematic assumptions about the UK’s security lie at the heart of parliament’s recent decision to continue to support Saudi Arabia, despite accusations of war crimes in Yemen.

MPs in Westminster voted last week against a Labour motion calling on the UK government to withdraw its support for the Saudi-led coalition? What arguments could possibly justify the decision made by 283 MPs to continue to back a government which stands accused, not just once but on repeated occasions over the last 18 months, of deliberately targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure?

Several MPs argued that despite serious allegations of war crimes by the Saudi coalition, it remains right and proper to continue to provide support to the Saudi government, in the form of arms exports and specialist military advice.

The legal question-marks hanging over UK arms exports to Saudi Arabia could not be clearer.

Despite these grave concerns, some MPs argued that any action to suspend such deals would be premature. They suggested that Saudi Arabia should be given more time to undertake its own internal investigations of alleged violations, despite the lengthy delays and unsatisfactory outcomes so far.

It is hard to see how this position can be squared with the government’s pride in the “leading role” it recently played in the negotiation of the legally-binding international Arms Trade Treaty.

The arguments put forward in defence of the status quo last week suggest otherwise. They imply that the principles and obligations that are supposed to define the UK’s role in the world are discretionary; they can be trumped, when required, by a series of pragmatic assumptions, priorities and interests. It is therefore worth examining and exposing these arguments, as they play a crucial role in shaping the UK establishment’s response not only to the current crisis in Yemen, but to national security policy more generally.

The ‘benign influence’ argument

The jobs argument

The ‘regional security ally’ argument

The argument that a UK ally should receive unwavering support in the face of accusations of war crimes deserves further scrutiny. As with the jobs argument, the implication of this position is that the lives of those thousands of civilians who have been killed by the Saudi-led coalition are somehow less important than the lives of people in the UK, who must be protected from the threat of terrorism at any cost.

It is likely that the MPs who spoke in defence of Saudi Arabia’s importance as an ally would want to distance themselves from that position. But the shameful reality is that parliament’s refusal to suspend its support for Riyadh gives exactly that message. And in doing so it shines an uncomfortable light on an assumption that lies at the heart of the UK’s current approach to security - that the security of people in this country is a supreme imperative, to which the needs of others can be legitimately subordinated.

In May this year, the Ammerdown Group published a discussion paper, Rethinking Security, which offered a critique of the UK’s current approach to security. It pointed out that the problem with UK security lies in the dominant narrative about what security means, whom it should benefit, and how it should be achieved. It argued that this narrative privileges UK national security over the security of people elsewhere, rather than recognising security as a common right; that it aims to advance ‘national interests’ defined by the political establishment, including corporate business interests and UK ‘world power’ status, and so dissociates the practice of security from the needs of people in their communities, and that it assumes a short-term outlook.

The parliamentary debate last week is a stark illustration of the pervasive nature of this narrative, and its impact on the critical political decisions of the day. Shamefully, it is the people of Yemen who will pay the price for this approach, unless and until we challenge these assumptions and make a compelling case for a new approach to security, that can better meet the needs of all people, whether they live in the Middle East or the UK.

https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/celia-mckeon/uncomfortable-assumptions-about-security-uk-vote-on-support-for-saudi-arabia

Comment: Unmasking the arguments of those who further want to back the Saudi war in Yemen, for what reason ever.

31.10.2016 – CNN (** B K)

Film: Yemen: Why people are dying

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10154871089948641

Comment by Judith Brown: A brilliant summary of the war on Yemen. Well done CNN.

and

2.11.2016 – France 24 (** B H K)

Film: Yemen: 'A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRncWzgDv5M

and

2.11.2016 – Press TV Iran (** A H)

Film: “Hunger, malnutrition, airstrikes

continue to plague #Yemen. Shocking film on the Yemen famine.

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10154870796458641

2.11.2016 – Real News (** B K P)

Film / Audio: Are the U.S. Claims that Iran Is Arming the Yemeni Houthis Credible?

Investigative journalist Gareth Porter scrutinizes the claims made by the U.S. and finds credibility of Its evidence highly questionable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM7pbDhwpfs

3.11.2016 – Rationalgalerie (** B K P)

Saudis kämpfen für Menschenrechte in Jemen

Deutscher Rüstungskonzern liefert die Rechts-Hilfe

Hoppla, wird sich der letzte deutsche Präsident des UN-Menschenrechtsrates Joachim Rücker, unser SPD-Mann aus Schwaben, gedacht haben: Hoppla, da sind sie ja wieder, die Saudis, als die erneut in den UN-Menschenrechtsrat gewählt wurden. Von den Saudis weiß man ja, dass sie als wesentliches Menschenrecht die Scharia auf Vorrat halten, inklusive Enthauptungen, Steinigungen und Folterei aller Art. Für einen Wimpernschlag könnte Rücker sich gefragt haben, ob das Land denn wirklich ausgerechnet in den Menschenrechtsrat gehöre, aber dann hat er sich wahrscheinlich an die Milliarden und Abermilliarden erinnert, die Deutschland mit den Saudis im Rüstungssektor umsetzt und war überzeugt: Wenn einer sich um Menschenrechte kümmert, dann doch wohl die Saudis. Inzwischen ist Joachim Rücker zum Job des neuen Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für die „Stabilitätspartnerschaft im Mittleren Osten“ gewechselt. Zu dieser Gegend gehören Saudi Arabien wie auch der Jemen.

Besonders intensiv sorgen sich die saudischen Freunde Deutschlands um die Menschenrechte im Jemen. So gründlich, dass die Opfer ihrer Bomben – gern Frauen, Kinder, Alte, Zivilisten aller Art – gar nicht mehr an Menschenrechte denken müssen. Denn seit dem letzten Jahr führen die Saudis im Jemen etwas durch, das in deutschen Medien vornehm eine „Militärintervention“ genannt wird. Na klar, wer eine blutige Diktatur ein „Königreich“ nennt, der muss einen völkerrechtswidrigen Überfall auf ein Nachbarland auch eine „Intervention“ nennen. Und wer sich die Partner dieser „Intervention“ ansieht, der weiß, dass die Menschenrechte der Jemeniten in guten Händen sind: Denn neben Saudi-Arabien bomben dort Bahrain, Katar, Kuwait, die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate und Ägypten, eine prima Mischung aus islamischen Diktaturen und einer laizistischen. Unterstützt werden sie von Freiberuflern der al-Qaida im Jemen (AQAP) und eines Ablegers des Islamischen Staates (IS). Alles bekannte Kämpfer für Menschenrechte.

Um die jemenitischen Menschenrechte macht sich auch ein deutscher Konzern verdient. Der verdient nämlich jede Menge Kohle durch die Lieferung von erstklassigen 1.000-Pfund-Bomben aus der MK-Serie an die Saudis: Die Rheinmetall AG. So trug dieser Rüstungslieferant jüngst noch zur Illuminierung einer Beerdigungsfeier im Jemen bei. Dabei kamen doch glatt 140 Menschen ums Leben. Um deren Rechte muss sich schon keiner mehr kümmern. – von Ulrich Gellermann

http://www.rationalgalerie.de/home/saudis-kaempfen-fuer-menschenrechte-in-jemen.html = http://www.kritisches-netzwerk.de/forum/saudis-kaempfen-fuer-menschenrechte-jemen

Kommentar: Eine ungewöhnliche Sicht auf den Jemenkrieg – es fällt auch reichlich schwer, angesichts des westlichen Verhaltens nicht in Zynismus und Sarkasmus zu verfallen.

1.11.2016 – Il Manifesto (** B K)

Italy’s dirty war in Yemen

It is possible that Italian-made bombs were the ones that hit the building in Sana’a in Yemen on Saturday. At this location, a funeral was in progress. There were 155 casualties and more than 530 wounded. The correspondent for the British TV channel ITV Neil Connery, who entered the building shortly after the bombing, posted via Twitter the photo of a component of a bomb that, according to a Yemeni official, was the Mark 82 type (MK 82).

Other images published via Twitter are more accurate: They report the tag detached from a bomb with the inscription: “For use on MK82, FIN guided bomb.” The serial number follows: 96214ASSY837760-4. The device was manufactured under license of the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon for use on a MK82 bomb. But it is not clear which company actually made it and which country exported it. It could have been Italy.

MK82 bombs are, in fact, manufactured in the Domusnovas factory in Sardinia by RWM Italia, a German subsidiary of the Rheinmetall conglomerate, with a registered office in Ghedi, Brescia province. These bombs are exported from Italy with the permission of the Armament Exports Licensing Unit (Italian acronym UAMA).

Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti confirmed it last Wednesday, albeit indirectly, when she answered a question by Representative Luca Frusone (M5S). Pinotti said: “The company RWM Italia has exported to Saudi Arabia under a license issued in accordance with current legislation.”

But a key fact is missing in the detailed tables compiled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attached to the government report that show all the individual licenses issued to manufacturers: the country of destination. For example, it is reported that in 2015 RWM Italia was issued 24 licenses for a total value of over €28 million, but the target countries are not listed.

It is reported, for example, that in 2015, RWM Italia was granted a license to export 250 500-pound MK82 inert bombs along with 150 other inert MK 84 bombs, for a total value of over €3 million, but the ministerial table does not mention the buyer country, making it impossible for Parliament and research centers to analyze the data.

But one thing is certain: In the years 2014-15, the Renzi government authorized exports to Saudi Arabia for a total value of nearly €419 million, a quantum leap from the last decade.

But there is another fact. In the months between October and December 2015, at least four Boeing 747 cargo planes from the Azerbaijani company Silk Way, loaded with a cargo of bombs produced in the Domusnovas factory of RWM Italia in Sardinia, departed from the civil airport Elmas in Cagliari. The cargo landed at the Taif base of the Royal Saudi Air Force in Saudi Arabia. Last January, the Italian Network for Disarmament filed a complaint with various prosecutors about these expeditions and those of all military systems that Italy is sending to Saudi Arabia. Brescia Deputy Prosecutor Fabio Salamone has opened an investigation “against unknown parties” for alleged violations of the law on armament exports.

Last February the European Parliament voted by a large majority for a resolution in which it requested the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commission Vice-President, Federica Mogherini, to “launch an initiative by the European Union and the imposition of an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia,” based on the serious allegations of violations of international humanitarian law committed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

Instead, exports of arms and military deals of European countries with the Gulf monarchies have continued – by Giorgio Beretta

http://ilmanifesto.global/italys-dirty-war-in-yemen/

Comment: I did not know that this type of bombs used for the Sanaa funeral air raid (and also for the Saudi air raid at a security center and prison at Hodeida, resulting in 64 killed, also is produced in Italy. – And thus, this is not only “Italy’s dirty war”, but “Germany’s dirty war” as well – as this bomb factory in Sardinia is a part of the German Rheinmetall company. Shame on them all.

1.11.2016 – Almanar (**B K)

122 Israeli, US Officers Stationed in Saudi Faisal Air Base

Leader of the Zionist party Meterz, Zahava Gal, said that 122 US and Zionist officers and pilots are stationed in Faisal bin Abdul Aziz air base in Saudi Tabuk, Israel in Arabic website reported.

The deployment of these officers comes under a US-Saudi agreement and indicates the extent of the development of military relations between the Saudi regime and the Zionist entity.

Leader of Meretz revealed that the agreement includes the installation of the Zionist “iron dome” air defense system, hoping to catch up with what the American Patriot system has failed do.

Zahava Gal explained that the area is being under the custody of the Americans and the Zionists, while Saudis are not allowed to enter, stating that the Zionist entity has no problems with the Saudi authorities, but the problem lies within the extremist ideas in the Saudi society.

Gal disclosed the agreement because she objects the dispatch of Zionist officers to the Saudi air base, saying: “Given that Saudi Arabia decided through a secret agreement with Israel to hand over the islands of Sanafir and Tiran to Israeli army soon, we do not have the need to send our specialized officers to the King Faisal air Base in Tabuk. I declare that this reckless decision by Benjamin Netanyahu will drag us to the trap of Saudi terrorism sooner or later.”

The leader of Meretz party has published the names of the 122 officers operating in Tabuk air base.

http://english.almanar.com.lb/84291

and

1.11.2016 – Almrasel (** B K)

Israeli politician reveals the names of 122 Israeli and US officers in King Faisal Base in Tabuk (see article for names)

Leaked Israeli positions including site "Israel Arabic," quoting the leader of the party "Meretz" leftist liberal list of more than 100 Israeli air officer present at the base of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

And describes the Israeli party leader said the presence of Israeli officers at King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia said a Saudi agreement US requires the presence of the Israelis and the Americans at the air base and the non-existence of the Saudis were agreed on 20 April, one year after the start of the Saudi war on Yemen.

They security and Israeli media sources that Israeli and US officers, air traffic controllers are actually running the process of aerial bombing in Yemen are participating in the flights and the implementation of a large number of raids, Israeli and American pilots from King Faisal base in Tabuk.

Site "here with you always," the Israeli squadron finally signing a memorandum of understanding between Saudi Arabia and the United States in the field of monument advanced systems for air interceptor missiles and radar systems in the modern King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk.

According to the document leaked by Zahava Gal-On, leader of the party "Meretz" leftist liberal in Israel was signed this agreement with the Saudi authorities after Obama's visit to Riyadh in the (April 20 / April 2016) target to cover the Iron Dome system.

The information was leaked by Gal-On, indicates that the management of this process will be under the auspices of the two sides are not allowed to be present where the Saudis According to these statements are not Israel's problem with the Saudi authorities, but the problem lies in the extremist ideas in Saudi society.

He said Gal-On: Given that Saudi Arabia decided through a secret agreement with Israel to hand over the islands of Sanafir and Tiran to Israeli army soon we do not have the need to send our officers who are specialized to the King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk, I declare that this decision reckless on the part of Benjamin Netanyahu Saoukana into the trap of Saudi terrorism sooner or later.

And it published the leader of the party "Meretz" the names of 122 officers from the Israelis and Americans working at King Faisal Air Base in Tabuk [Arabic; translated by Google Translator]

[following list of 122 names]

http://www.almrasel.net/?p=11028 and also here: http://israellinarabic.com/%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B6%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7-%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D9%83-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B5%D9%84/

Comment by Judith Brown: This article written in Arabic lists the names of Israelis (the names are written in English) that the article claims are working in the military command in Riyadh. The first few of these names sound Jewish names but most of the later names don't sound Jewish so I'm not sure how accurate this report is.

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10154868172828641

Comment: The list is both Israelis and Americans. Thus definitely many names won’t be Israelian.

12.7.2015 – Plymouth Institute for Peace Research (*** B K P)

Britain’s Secret War in Yemen: A Background to the Houthi Crisis and How UK Policy Crushes Socialism

The carnage in Yemen is exacerbated by hitherto unreported British foreign policy interests, including the crushing of socialist elements and the killing of civilians in anti-Huthi operations.

BRIEF HISTORY

AFTER “AL-QAEDA”

From 1962, Britain ran a covert mercenary war in Yemen, in which a staggering 200,000 people died in an eight year period, many from chemical weapons, such as phosgene, produced by the tax-funded Porton Down laboratories (the UK’s biochemical warfare plant). The operations were run by MI6 head Dick White, and former MI6 vice chief turned banker George Young via the latter’s Mossad-allied proxy, Neil McLean

By the late-1970s, the CIA and MI6 were training fascistic Yemeni collaborators to ‘draw the Russians into the Afghan trap’, in the words of US President Jimmy Carter’s National Security Advisor Brzezinski.

For the advocates of financial neo-liberalism, it is necessary to counter socialism in Yemen, and indeed everywhere, especially as ‘There are an estimated 100,000 military and civil employees in the south who were forcibly retired after 1994, and their pension arrangements were at the core of the original protests in 2007’,

COUNTER-REVOLUTION

The Southern secessionist movement is a loose association of interests, including the Yemeni Socialist Party, local branches of the Islah party, Nasserites, and Baathists, using ‘grassroots networks to mobilize support for the movement … Since 2007’, HRW continues

Since 2007, the security forces and especially the Central Security, one of the organisations trained directly or indirectly by the UK MoD, ‘have carried out widespread abuses in the south—unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions, beatings, crackdowns on freedom of assembly and speech, arrests of journalists, and others’.

In the UK, we hear a lot about China’s use of State-internet censorship, including its persecution of bloggers. When it comes to the UK elite’s allies, however, we have our own media blackout, as little of the above has been reported in the UK.

NORTHERN CIVIL WAR

In the North, a civil war has been fought intermittently since 2004 against Huthi ‘rebels

The ‘Huthis object to what they say is the government’s failure to end Saudi-inspired Sunni Islamic missionary activities in Sa’da, which they say clash with traditional Zaidi doctrine’. In the 1990s, the ‘Believing Youth’ established schools to teach the Zaidi code. However, the Yemeni Government, ‘which originally supported these schools[,] decided around [the year] 2000 that they represented a Zaidi revival that might threaten its power base’

In 2006, Britain exported £7.5 million-worth of weapons to Yemen, which, as we shall see, were used to deadly effect.

Since 2007, international aid agencies have sought access to the northern Sa’da governorate. As the military operations intensified, the Yemeni authorities ‘severely restricted humanitarian access to tens of thousands of civilians in need’. Over the years, the war has intensified. ‘After a fifth round of fighting erupted in May 2008’, HRW continues, ‘the government blocked the movement of all commercial goods, including staple foods and fuel, an act that appears to constitute an illegal collective punishment’

On the civil war issue and the human rights abuses, the British media were largely silent, and on the issue of Britain’s involvement, totally silent.

Violence erupted around Hasama, near Malahit and Razih on the border with Saudi Arabia, and in Saqain, south of Sa’da town. The Yemeni Armed Forces attacked Huthi rebels by ‘using fighter jets, artillery, and tanks.

After August 2009, the start of the war’s ‘sixth round’, shelling by both sides, coupled with Government aerial bombing resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and the razing of ‘entire villages’.

On 12 February 2010, Saleh and the Huthis ‘agreed on a truce

HRW also reports that in November 2009, Saudi Arabia, which receives the biggest arms shipments in the region from the UK, including pathogens, nuclear-grade materials, aircraft, and tanks, entered the war by sending jets into Yemen’s airspace to bomb Huthi-held positions. In that month, ‘following what it said was a cross-border raid on its territory, Saudi Arabia engaged the Huthis in sustained hostilities, including airstrikes, and established a “buffer zone” inside Yemen along the Saudi border’. In addition to the above admission considering UK MoD training of Yemen’s Minister of the Interior, the MoD noted its ‘Training support to Saudi Armed Forces’, which has been going on since at least the 1960s

After the invasion of Northern Yemen, Liam Fox, Britain’s then-Secretary of State for Defence, ‘visit[ed] the Kingdom … [H]is programme included an insight into the training given to Saudi pilots by the [UK] RAF’. The MoD further reported that the Saudi regime ‘signed an agreement in 2007 for the supply of 72 Typhoon aircraft to the Royal Saudi Air Force worth £4.43bn’.

CONCLUSION

The dilemma for Britain’s elite in Somalia and Yemen alike is the strategic importance of the Gulf of Aden, and thus the prevention of socialist development in either country. Analysts understand that if foreign policy has to be presented to the public, it must be framed as if Britain is responding to threats to national security – by By T.J. Coles

http://www.pipr.co.uk/all/britains-secret-war-in-yemen-a-background-to-the-houthi-crisis-and-how-uk-policy-crushes-socialism/

Comment: Superb article.

cp2 Allgemein / General

3.11.2016 – Shoa.org (B P)

The Tragedy in Yemen

Imagine if the Islamic Republic of Iran, complaining that its regional rival Saudi Arabia was meddling in a neighbor’s politics for sectarian reasons, led a coalition to invade that country. As a result, after 18 months, at least 10,000 civilians had been killed or wounded, more than half the country’s people needed food aid and three million people had been displaced.

Sanctions would be leveled. Pundits would write agonized essays comparing the country to Nazi Germany. Sabers would be rattled. War would likely follow. However, when these roles are reversed and the Saudis and their Gulf allies are the aggressors, it’s a different story.

Why the double standard? Because the US is allied to the Saudi royals and the US was evicted from Iran. When a friend commits a war crime, excuses are made.

http://www.shoah.org.uk/2016/11/03/the-tragedy-in-yemen/

3.11.2016 – The Majority Report with Sam Seder (* A K P)

Film: Juan Cole: Taking Back Mosul From ISIL & War Crimes in Yemen - MR Live - 11/3/16

Good morning everyone! On today’s show, Professor Juan Cole (@jricole) of Informed Comment joins us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZInLFIl0d0

3.11.2016 – The Nation * B K)

The United States May Be Guilty of War Crimes in Yemen

Rather than concede the failure of their strategy or agree to a negotiated settlement with the rebels and other key actors in Yemen, such as former president Ali Abdullah Saleh (who has sided with the Houthis, his former enemies), they chose to escalate the air campaign—much as the Syrian government (with strong Russian assistance) has done in Aleppo and other rebel-held areas of that country. Much as in Syria, moreover, the Saudi campaign seems to be aimed at undercutting popular support for the rebels by attacking civilian targets.

Despite Saudi claims that they are striking military targets only, civilians appear to be the main victims of the air war.

This is reason enough to command our concern and attention. But what sets this apart from the similar horrors in Aleppo is the fact that many (if not all) of the bombs being dropped on these civilians were provided by the United States and that the planes used to deliver them were in many cases guided there by US-supplied target data and refueled mid-air by US tanker planes. If Saudi Arabia is eventually found guilty of war crimes, the United States, at the very least, is an accessory to the carnage.

What explains this reprehensible and possibly felonious behavior? The most likely explanation is that the White House sought to mollify the Saudis after Washington signed a nuclear accord with the Iranians.

If Washington’s involvement in the Saudi intervention has been largely invisible to people in this country, quite the opposite is true to people in Yemen.

That US support for the Saudi air campaign is fostering anti-Americanism in Yemen became painfully evident in mid-October.

There is no compelling reason to assist Riyadh in this bloody and foolhardy misadventure, and every reason to disassociate ourselves from the resulting carnage. From a purely practical perspective, continued support for the Saudis will only breed more anti-Americanism and terrorist violence in the Middle East. But it is the ethical dimension that should concern us the most: Continued neglect of US complicity in war crimes in Yemen will blight our moral authority for years to come and undermine our efforts to persuade others—for example, the Russians—to discontinue air attacks on civilians in Syria and other heavily populated areas – by Michael T. Klare

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-united-states-may-be-guilty-of-war-crimes-in-yemen/

Comment: May Be? Bombing schools, homes, markets, funeral, roads, bridges, water tanks, food silos with US intelligence is 'MAY BE'??

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1153910184662010

3.11.2016 – Ahmad Alghobary (B K)

A horrible situation in #Taiz city,I visited Aljahmlia area ,I took some photos of houses destruction #Yemen . displaced ppl r suffering (photos)

https://twitter.com/AhmadAlgohbary/status/794206954583367680

3.11.2016 – Time (* B K P)

What You Need to Know About the Crisis in Yemen

[Overview article]

Yemen’s 18-month civil war has killed about 10,000 people, and now it is pushing the country to the brink of famine. More than 21 million Yemenis — 80% of the population — are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, according to the U.N.

Drowned by the noise of the U.S. presidential election and overshadowed by the conflict in Syria and Iraq, war and hunger have quietly ravaged Yemen. Like those of drowned Syrian toddler Alan Kurdi, face down in the surf, or Aleppo boy Omran Daqneesh in the back of an ambulance, the images of emaciated 18-year-old Yemeni woman Saida Ahmad Baghili beg a neglected question: How did we get here?

1. A humanitarian crisis waiting to happen

2. The immediate roots of the conflict date back to the Arab Spring

3. It’s a messy, brutal war, and the U.S. has weighed in

Yemen’s conflict has been characterized as a proxy war between Shi’ite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia, but the situation is more nuanced. Iranian policy analyst Mahan Abedin describes Iran’s conduct as “high on rhetoric but low on decisive action.”

4. Experts foresee a protracted conflict

The collapse of U.N.-sponsored peace talks in August, October’s escalation and a recent cholera outbreak that added stress to Yemen’s already failing health care system have led to speculation that the country could become “the next Syria.”

Alexander Corbeil, lead analyst for Ottawa-based think tank the SecDev Group, told TIME that Yemen is unlikely to become a realm for regional power plays in the way that Syria has, in part because Washington and Riyadh have a vested interest in keeping other actors out. At the same time, he forecast “a grinding, protracted conflict with huge humanitarian implications.”

Naji Hussein, a police officer who lives in U.A.E. and had just returned from visiting family in Al Bayda, Sana’a, told TIME in an email Tuesday that most local farms and fields in the area had been destroyed or abandoned. Food prices have also soared: beans that used to cost 60 Yemini Riyal ($0.24) now cost $1.04.

“It’s difficult to live,” Hussein wrote. “We live in fear. We hear the airplanes and we don’t know when the next attack is going to be.”

http://time.com/4552712/yemen-war-humanitarian-crisis-famine/?xid=fbshare

1.11.2016 – The Antimedia (* B K P)

Media Silent as US-Backed Coalition Purposely Starves Yemeni Civilians

As reports repeatedly surface regarding Saudi Arabia’s deadly actions in Yemen, the media continues to largely ignore the blatantly horrific aggression being launched on Yemeni civilians by a U.S. ally. Instead, it perpetually hypes up Russia’s actions in Syria.

The United States and its so-called allies are playing a dangerous game of torture with the Yemeni people. Where high-level bombs (including British-made banned munitions) that have directly targeted civilians are unable to do the job, the coalition has launched a widespread attack on the basic needs of Yemeni civilians, which has now resulted in widespread famine.

The U.S. is well aware that the Saudis’ current procedures, even with American and British assistance, are woefully inadequate at avoiding hospitals. Rather, they are adept at causing mass civilian death — and these Western powers continue to support the onslaught. The lack of compassion towards the Yemeni people was captured brilliantly by newly-appointed U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson — Britain’s version of Donald Trump — when he stated someone else will “happily supply arms” to the Saudis if the U.K. stops doing so.

Further, the fact the U.S.-backed Saudi coalition is striking a country that is home to both ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula but have not attempted to hit these two groups at all within a 19 month period, tells one all they need to know about the phony war on terror – by Darius Shahtahmasebi

http://theantimedia.org/coalition-starves-yemeni-civilians/

2.11.2016 – RT (* A P)

Film: ‘Outstanding abuser:’ Saudi Arabia appoints notorious lawyer to probe its own airstrikes in Yemen

Yemen has been devastated by a wave of deadly strikes from the Saudi-led coalition lately. In light of recent attacks, Saudi Arabia has appointed a military lawyer to investigate the possible human rights violations caused by coalition bombing in Yemen. But Bahraini, Colonel Mansour Al-Mansour's involvement has been questioned - along with his reputation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKtXPE5mgFU

Comment: See earlier reporting in YPR 222.

2.11.2016 – Press TV Iran (* A K P)

Saudi attack on Sana'a funeral, war crime: Human rights lawyer

“The attack itself in my views was a war crime because it was largely an attack method involved mass deaths of civilians,” Edward Corrigan, an international human rights lawyer, said in an interview with Press TV.

He went on to say that Saudi Arabia violated international humanitarian law by attacking civilians, the wounded, and medical personnel using a vicious "double-tap attack tactic."

The human rights attorney also stressed that Saudis and their American backers are deliberately using the double bombing tactic in Yemen and elsewhere in order to terrorize civilians, adding, “The CIA has been using the double tactic in Yemen and other countries in order to terrorize people and prevent people from going in and looking for survivors. But this clearly is a war crime.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the expert stated that unconditional support by the US and some other countries has helped Saudi Arabia escape justice and accountability for war crimes.

He also strongly denounced mass arms sales to Saudi Arabia by Washington and its Western allies.

“The accountability is vital that unfortunately is not being enforced in this instance. The trouble is that the United States, Britain, Germany and France have sold mass amounts of arms to Saudi Arabia and its [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council allies.”

The analyst suggested that judicial proceedings at the International Criminal Court should be commenced in order to condemn Saudi war crimes.

http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/11/02/491827/Yemen-Sanaa-Saudi-Arabia-US-Edward-Corrigan-Press-TV and full interview in film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Br4QJleNNk

2.11.2016 – SRF (* B K)

Jemen: 20 Millionen Menschen sind von Hilfslieferungen abhängig

SRF News befragte den Islamwissenschafter und Terrorismusexperten Guido Steinberg zur Lage im Konfliktgebiet.

SRF News: Der Jemen soll kurz vor dem Kollaps stehen, ist das wirklich der Fall?

Guido Steinberg: Ja, das ist tatsächlich der Fall. Schon vor diesem Krieg war die Lage im Jemen katastrophal, vor allem, weil der Wassermangel immer dramatischer wird. Das hat sich verstärkt, weil das Land von der Versorgung durch der Aussenwelt abgeschnitten ist. Die Saudis und ihre Verbündeten haben eine Seeblockade und eine Luftblockade verhängt, so dass mittlerweile mehr als 20 Millionen Einwohner des Landes von Hilfslieferungen abhängig sind. Die kommen aber viel zu selten.

Was müsste geschehen, damit die Kriegsparteien im Jemen Frieden schliessen können?

Eigentlich sieht die Lösung ganz einfach aus, weil beide Kriegsparteien sich nicht gegeneinander durchsetzen können.

Eine militärische Lösung zeichnet sich in dem Konflikt also nicht ab. Weshalb lenkt Saudi-Arabien trotzdem nicht ein?

Saudi-Arabien hat andere Kriegsziele. Sie gehen sehr weit über das hinaus, was bis jetzt erreicht wurde.

Die USA fordern Saudi-Arabien dazu auf die Luftangriffe einzustellen, wird der Druck der Amerikaner Friedensgespräche beschleunigen?

Ja, der Druck der Amerikaner ist schon wichtig. Doch sie spielen eine zumindest dubiose Rolle.

http://www.srf.ch/news/international/jemen-20-millionen-menschen-sind-von-hilfslieferungen-abhaengig

2.11.2016 – City (* B P)

Journalism alumna gives inspiring talk about Yemen reporting

You would think that someone reporting in the midst of the ongoing Yemeni Civil War would be terrified. Twice, Iona Craigthought she would die. But never has she regretted her goal – to be the voice of the Yemeni people.
“I’m not that brave, but I'm stubborn,” she says. “The danger doesn’t put me off.”
Returning to City, freelance journalist Iona Craig took time out of her busy schedule to deliver a well-received talk about her experiences reporting in Yemen.

Iona arrived in Yemen in October of 2010, just in time for the Arab Spring. Despite initially working for the Yemen Times, as the revolution brewed, she left to focus on her freelance work and wrote for The Times as their Yemen correspondent. When the civil war began in March of 2015, she was the first journalist to get into the country. From systematic bombings of civilian villages and a dire humanitarian crisis fuelled by political instability and corruption, Iona has seen unforgettable images and scenes during her time in Yemen. “It became clear that there was no regard for civilian life,” she says.

However, Iona’s dedication exceeded her worries. Despite being smuggled into Yemen’s eastern port city of Aden from Djibouti by boat, making countless trips across the country in the dreadful heat and coming face to face with Al Qaeda, she does it because she is “passionate about it”.

With her burka and her vigorous heart, Iona continues to report in the third deadliest country for journalists. “I’m banned from Saudi Arabia and I’ve gotten the rise out of the Yemeni government. But my job is to be critical of them,” she says. “It’s not an easy job, but being able to give back to those who’ve helped me and the country I love makes it rewarding.”

Iona has contributed to over 20 publications during her time in Yemen, including The Times, USA Today, Foreign Policy and VICE. She was awarded the Martha Gellhorn Prize in 2014, the Orwell Prize for Journalism in May this year, and the Kurt Schork Memorial Award for freelance reporters in September – by Naomi Schanen

http://www.city.ac.uk/news/2016/october/journalism-alumna-gives-inspiring-talk-about-yemen-reporting

2.11.2016 – RT (* B K P)

Saudi Arabia working overtime to 'disappear' Yemen as a political entity

What you are witnessing today in Yemen is a religious and cultural genocide, Catherine Shakdam, Director of Programs at Shafaqna Institute of Middle Eastern Studies, told RT.

RT: Leading politicians may call for Saudi strikes to be reined in, but then arms firms are funding get-togethers like these. How concerned are you at the proximity of weapons-makers to the decision-makers?

Catherine Shakdam: Very concerned. This is a concern that has been ongoing since the beginning of the war since March 2015. The closeness of the war lobby in the US and other capitols in the West and Saudi Arabia is a political reality that we have had to deal with from the very beginning of this onslaught on Yemen. And this goes further to prove that Saudi Arabia has no interest in stopping the wanton murder of civilians. Just as much as I would say the war lobbies don’t have an interest in stopping the flow of weapons to Saudi Arabia. They are making billions of dollars. Why would they stop?

RT: The Saudi ambassador's comment that the air strikes in Yemen will continue 'no matter what'. Does that level of hubris surprise you?

CS: No, not at all. I think that is the thing. For a very long time now we have been told by Riyadh that this war on Yemen was a war of political restoration. That what they wanted to do was to restore the real legitimate power of Yemen through President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Quite clearly it was never an issue; this is not why this war has been waged. If anything this war has been waged against Yemen because Riyadh wants to destroy a potential enemy, a potential contender in the region in terms power, in terms of military power, in terms of economic power. Even though Yemen is very poor, it has a great potential. And this is something that the Saudis have tried to rein in and have tried to prevent Yemen to rise to its full potential (with interview in film)

https://www.rt.com/op-edge/365114-saudi-arabia-yemen-war/and the film on youtube also: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDAOkcCLuRI

2.11.2016 – Laura Silverman (A K)

Number of times Trump has been in the media in the past year: 1,984,162 versus Yemen: 233,665. My piece in @StylistMagazinewith @Nawalf

https://twitter.com/lauraclemency/status/793770249564917760

1.11.2016 – Der Freitag (* B K)

Beide Länder [stehen] als Synonym für Leid, Tot und das Versagen der Weltgemeinschaft. Und werfen zudem ein schlechtes Bild auf die zwei Weltmächte unserer Zeit, die in beiden Fällen umstrittene Positionen einnehmen.

Die Rede ist von Syrien und Jemen.

Jemen und Syrien wurden beide nach den Revolutionen zerrissen und sind in den Strudel internationaler Politik geraten. Russland und die USA nahmen jeweils die Position der Regierungsseite ein und unterstützten diese im Kampf gegen die Revolten.

Während Syrien viel präsenter in den deutschen Medien behandelt wird, ist die Nachrichtenlage über Jemen deutlich überschaubarer.

Ähnlich ist es mit der Rollenverteilung der beiden Unterstützer der Regierungen. Russland ist deutlicher im Kreuzfeuer der Medien, während die USA für ihre Rolle weniger Kritik hinnehmen müssen.

US-Regierungsdokumente, die Reuters zugespielt wurden, belegen die Befürchtungen von Beamten, dass die USA als Unterstützer der Regierungskoalition im Jemen für die Rechtsverstöße ebenjener mit verantwortlich gemacht werden können – von Abraham Garcia.

https://www.freitag.de/autoren/abrahangarcia/des-beiden-schuld-der-anderen-leid

Kommentar: Der Autor formuliert sehr vorsichtig.

26.10.2016 – Secular Talk (* B H K)

Film: Saudi Arabia Is Deliberately Starving Yemen - With Help From The West

The Yemen war uniquely combines tragedy, hypocrisy and farce. First come the casualties: around 10,000, almost 4,000 of them civilians. Then come those anonymous British and American advisers who seem quite content to go on “helping” the Saudi onslaughts on funerals, markets and other obviously (to the Brits, I suppose) military targets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9kmy2k8BrM

29.10.2009 – The Interpreter (* B K P)

Yemen: An Iranian under every bed?

The northern rebellion would largely go unnoticed in the West were it not for the fact that the al-Houthis are Zaydi Shi'a and, as all Arab states would have us believe, there is no Shi'a opposition movement that doesn't have the fingerprints of Tehran all over it. While there is more than a grain of truth in this assertion (Hizbullah being the prime example), Shi'a Islam, like Christianity, contains a broad range of denominations and Zaydism differs significantly from mainstream Shi'ism.

Zaydism is above all about local leadership rather than a centralised authority resident in Tehran, Qum or Najaf, so the likelihood of them dancing to Tehran's tune is remote. Still, the possibility of Iran supporting the Houthis as part of a larger anti-Saudi campaign can't be entirely discounted.

It suits Arab states to draw connections between the al-Houthis and Iran without providing proof because it supports the argument that Iran is an expansionist state that uses Shi'a minorities as stalking horses for Persian interests. Accusations by Sunni states of Iranian complicity in any Shi'a-led protest or uprising is also designed to internationalise the conflict by taking the focus off local grievances which are often the real reason for the conflict. 

Last week President Saleh managed to accuse Iranians (though not the Iranian Government) of funding the al-Houthis with a view to creating a Shi'a zone along both sides of the Saudi border. Which makes 
this story about the seizure of Iranian arms bound for northern Yemen a case of particularly good timing. Naturally, the Iranians deny the reports – by Rodger Shanahan

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/yemen-iranian-under-every-bed

Comment: In 2009, the Houthis rebelled and fought against the then president Saleh, and also the Saudis interfered and bombed Saada province, the Houthi stronghold. Already at that time, the Saudis played the tune of Iranian support for the Houthis – and, at that time, president Saleh also did. Already in 2009, the Iran story did not sound credible.

cp3 Humanitäre Lage / Humanitarian situation

3.11.2016 – Tagesschau (* A H K)

Jemen im Krieg: Reportage aus Sanaa

Seit 2014 kämpft der jemenitische Präsident Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi gegen die Huthi-Rebellen im Land. Seit 2015 erhält Mansur Unterstützung durch eine von Saudi-Arabien angeführte Koalition von Staaten, welche Luftangriffe ausführt. Der Kampf zwischen den verfeindeten Parteien hat zu einer Hungerskatastrophe im Land geführt. ARD-Korrespondent Thomas Aders (SWR) berichtet in einer Reportage aus der Stadt Sanaa über die Auswirkungen des Kriegs auf die Menschen im Jemen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QXBrISJJs8

Kommentar: Relativ harmlose Bilder aus Sanaa. Und der Krieg ist KEIN Stellvertreterkrieg zwischen den Saudis und dem Iran.

3.11.2016 – European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (A H)

“Forgotten” Yemen Crisis Requires Robust and Sustained Support

Jean-Louis De Brouwer, the director for Europe, Eastern Neighbourhood and the Middle East for EU Humanitarian Aid recently returned from a fact-finding mission in war-torn Yemen. The first high-level visitor from an international donor organization since the escalation of the conflict in March 2015, De Brouwer met with de facto authorities and representatives from the humanitarian aid community in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital. Below are a few of his impressions.

Q: How would you describe the humanitarian situation in Yemen right now?

Q: What is the EU doing to help?

A: Across Yemen, EU humanitarian aid is assisting people who are affected by the conflict. Through our numerous humanitarian partners we provide food, shelter, water, health, cash assistance and other life-saving emergency help. The needs are massive and the EU recently allocated an additional €40 million in assistance to Yemen. This brings the total EU humanitarian funding to the country to €120 million since the beginning of the conflict.

Q: What are the specific challenges of bringing humanitarian aid to those in need?

A: Access to populations in need remains a major challenge, according to the EU's humanitarian aid partners. Yemen is extremely volatile with a range of active armed factions, including Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and elements affiliated with Islamic State (ISIS). Fighting between the Houthi and Yemeni government troops is still ongoing on many fronts. All of this puts humanitarian workers at severe risk and hampers the delivery of humanitarian supplies.

Q: The Yemeni health system is on the brink of collapse. What are your observations?

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/field-blogs/stories/forgotten-yemen-crisis-requires-robust-and-sustained-support_en = http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/forgotten-yemen-crisis-requires-robust-and-sustained-support

Comment: Just remember the EU states fueling the war and disaster by selling arms to Saudi Arabia: UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and others.

3.11.2016 – World Food Programme (A H)

Yemen Market Watch Report, Issue No. 6, October 2016

Prices of food and fuel commodities largely kept their stabilizing trend in October, but continued to be significantly higher than the pre-crisis levels.

The cost of the minimum food basket has slightly increased in October compared to that in September and was 24% higher than the pre-crisis level.

Consumers reportedly changed their buying behavior as many of them purchasing small quantities and requesting traders for buying on credits due to lack of money caused by absence of salaries and loss of income resulted from disruption of their livelihoods. Consequently, despite purportedly better supply of goods through informal cross-border overland imports during the past few months, consumers’ reduced demand for commodities led to lower/stable prices.

According to Alert for Price Spikes (ALPS) methodology, in October 2016, normal situation prevailed for wheat flour, vegetable oil and red beans while sugar continued on a crisis status. The ALPS indicator for the cost of the minimum food basket remained at normal level.

http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-market-watch-report-issue-no-6-october-2016 and in full: http://www.wfp.org/content/yemen-monthly-market-watch-2016 = http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/wfp288335.pdf

3.11.2016 – Red Cross (* A H)

30% of the overall needed medical supplies are entering Yemen. No matter how hard we try, we'll never be able to cover the country's needs

https://twitter.com/ICRC_ye/status/794125493368979456

Comment: It means that 7 out of 10 people might not even get medical assistance. It means that your disease might get only 30% cured.
It means that some areas will not even be reached.
It means so many things but it comes down to two: life vs death
Lift the blockade on 
#Yemen

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/photos/a.961595153893515.1073741828.961126490607048/1153706478015714/?type=3

2.11.2016 – Tagesschau (* B H K)

Film: Ein Land kurz vor dem Kollaps

Angesichts der katastrophalen Lage im Bürgerkriegsland Jemen schlagen Hilfsorganisationen Alarm: Millionen Menschen fehle es an Nahrung und Medikamenten, Kliniken und Schulen seien zerstört. Doch ein dauerhafter Waffenstillstand ist nicht in Sicht. Matthias Ebert über ein Land vor dem Kollaps.

http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/jemen-525.html

2.11.2016 – Tagesschau (* B H)

Film: "Die Reserven sind aufgebraucht"

Im Jemen spiele sich derzeit eine der größten weltweiten Krisen ab, doch die Welt bekomme zu wenig davon mit, sagt Robert Lindner von der Hilfsorganisation Oxfam im Gespräch mit tagesschau24. 80 Prozent der Bevölkerung - rund 21 Millionen Menschen - seien auf Hilfe angewiesen.

Nach eineinhalb Jahren Krieg im Jemen haben die Menschen ihre Reserven aufgebraucht. "Sie sind verzweifelt und ausgezehrt", sagt Robert Lindner von der Hilfsorganisation Oxfam. 80 Prozent der Bevölkerung seien auf Hilfe angewiesen, rund drei Millionen Menschen seien in ihrem eigenen Land auf der Flucht.

Oxfam und andere Hilfsorganisationen versuchten, Trinkwasser sowie Sanitäreinrichtungen zur Verfügung zu stellen. Doch zunehmend fehlten Nahrungsmittel. Und das, was auf den Märkten angeboten werde, sei kaum mehr bezahlbar. Viele Menschen seien lebensbedrohlich unterernährt.

http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/jemen-oxfam-101.html

2.11.2016 – Save the Children (* B H)

Jemen: Cholera-Ausbruch bestätigt, Masern auf dem Vormarsch

Die Kinderrechtsorganisation Save the Children bestätigt neue Cholera-Fälle im Jemen. Kinder im Jemen sind einer dreifachen Bedrohung ausgesetzt: Cholera, Masern und Mangelernährung. Medikamente sind derart knapp und teuer, dass Eltern gezwungen sind, zwischen ihren Kindern zu entscheiden.

7,6 Millionen Menschen sind durch den aktuellen Cholera-Ausbruch im Jemen gefährdet – darunter 3,8 Millionen Kinder. Die Nachricht fällt in eine Woche intensiver Kämpfe im Jemen, nachdem eine 72-stündige Waffenruhe letzte Woche tatenlos verstrichen ist und nicht zu einem Friedensabkommen führte.

1,5 Millionen Kinder sind nach 19 Monaten der Gewalt im Jemen akut mangelernährt. Die Immunsysteme dieser Kinder sind durch die Mangelernährung geschwächt und für Infektionskrankheiten besonders anfällig.

Im al-Sabeen Kinderkrankenhaus in der jemenitischen Hauptstadt Sana’a werden unter anderem Yasmine, sieben, sowie ihre Schwestern und ihre drei Brüder (Drillinge) gegen Cholera behandelt.

Yasmines Vater Bashir (38) erzählt: «Ihre Grossmutter zeigte Symptome und drei Tage später waren unsere sechs Kinder krank. Sie hatten starken Durchfall. Yasmine fiel ins Koma, ich hatte solche Angst.»

Weil das al-Sabeen Krankenhaus, wie alle medizinischen Einrichtungen im Jemen, selber kaum mehr Zugang zu Medikamenten hat, müssen Patienten diese ausserhalb des Krankenhauses selber besorgen. Die Medikamente sind, wenn überhaupt auffindbar, stark überteuert.

Bashir fährt fort: «Mein Cousin lieh mir Geld für die Medikamente. Ich fuhr die ganze Nacht durch die Stadt. Schliesslich fand ich eine einzige Flasche Kalium – doch wir bräuchten eigentlich zwei. Ich gab meiner Tochter Yasmine die Medizin, weil ihr Zustand sehr ernst war.»

Dr. Najat, der für Yasmines Behandlung zuständig ist, sagt: «Yasmine leidet an Nierenversagen, eine Folge der starken Dehydrierung durch ihre Cholera-Infektion. Sie braucht unbedingt intensive Pflege. Uns fehlt es an allem: Medikamenten, Ärzten, Löhnen für die Angestellten.»

Zwei Drittel aller Menschen im Jemen haben keinen Zugang zu sauberem Wasser und sanitärer Versorgung, besonders in den Städten. Eine Cholera-Epidemie wird damit noch wahrscheinlicher.

Save the Children Mitarbeitende haben ausserdem mindestens fünf neue Masern-Fälle registriert. Dr. Najat sagt: «Uns wurden fünf Masern-Fälle aus Sa’dah überwiesen. Masern sind hoch ansteckend, die Krankheit könnte sich in Sana’a ausbreiten.»

Edward Santiago, Länderdirektor von Save the Children im Jemen, sagt: «Die de fakto Blockade Jemens führt zu einem extremen Mangel an Nahrung, Medikamenten und medizinischem Zubehör. 600 Gesundheitseinrichtungen mussten aufgrund des Konflikts geschlossen werden. Viele weitere wurden schwer beschädigt.»

Save the Children fordert eine sofortige und anhaltende Waffenruhe im Jemen sowie die grossangelegte Lieferung von Nahrung, Benzin und Medikamenten ins Land.

Save the Children bereitet derzeit ein Cholera-Präventionsprogramm vor, das bald anlaufen und während mindestens drei Monaten andauern wird.

https://www.presseportal-schweiz.ch/pressemeldungen/jemen-cholera-ausbruch-bestaetigt-masern-dem-vormarsch

2.11.2016 – Middle East Eye (* B H)

'To beg or to steal?' Starving Yemenis turn to crime to feed families

Jails in war-stricken Taiz overcrowded with prisoners driven to steal by poverty and hunger following collapse of government welfare system

Languishing in the overcrowded cell that he shares with 11 other prisoners, 'Mohammed' said that the worst thing about being locked up was not knowing whether his wife and four children were starving.

“I lost my job at the beginning of the war,” said the 35-year-old construction worker, who has been held in the prison at Taiz’s al-Turbah police station since late August

Unable to afford the family’s monthly rent of 15,000 rials ($60) and threatened with eviction by their landlord, Mohammed, not his real name, described to Middle East Eye how weeks before his arrest he had been faced with a dismal choice.

"I’d sold most of the equipment and furniture in my house, including the bottle of propane [a gas cannister used for cooking] and the beds. My children were starving to death so I had only two choices: either to beg or to steal. I preferred to steal to keep my dignity."

At midnight on 20 August, Mohammed stormed into a local shop and stole mobile phone cards worth 50,000 rials ($200).

He proceeded to sell the cards to other shops in the same area and used the money to pay his landlord and feed his family.

By the time he was caught by the police he was penniless again

Faisal Mahyoub, an officer in al-Turbah police station said there were currently about 20 prisoners being held who had admitted stealing from homes and shops to buy food for their families.

Many other prisons in Taiz province were filled with inmates driven to crime in similar circumstances, he added.

Similar cases have also been reported in several other provinces controlled by both pro-government forces and the Houthis.

Yemen is facing a humanitarian catastrophe as a consequence of the war with more than half of the country’s population in dire need of aid and more than one million children at risk of dying from starvation, according to United Nations figures.

One factor that has further contributed to the plight of many poor Yemenis has been the collapse of the country's welfare system.

Even if he does get out of prison, he said he and his family had nothing left and would be force to join the millions displaced from their homes by Yemen's war.

"I am longing for my children," he said, despairingly. "I appeal to charitable people to pay my debt, and then we will leave our house and head to the nearest camp." – by Nasser Al-Sakkaf

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/beg-or-steal-starving-yemenis-turn-crime-feed-families-1791761087

2.11.2016 – Red Cross (A H)

"I am a physician- not a magician. I can't save lives if I don't have the supplies needed to do so", said one doctor to us in #Taiz

https://twitter.com/ICRC_ye/status/793767404505554944

How do children in your country spend their day? Yemen's children spend their day fetching water for their households (photo)

https://twitter.com/icrc_ye/status/793830915399180288

1.11.2016 – Living in Yemen on the Edge / Reuters (A H) K)

Photo: Starved and injured. It's a war on our #Children. Reuters photo

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/photos/a.961595153893515.1073741828.961126490607048/1152423461477349/?type=3

1.11.2016 – Fatik Al-Rodaini (A H)

Footage taken today during food distribution by @monareliefye's ground crew in al-Qarashia area of Hodeidah in western #Yemen @monarelief

https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/793583754061152256 and https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/793525325242175491 and https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/794185232849272833 and https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/794187098349772800 and https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/794194312426913792 and https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/794197041748447232

1.11.2016 – Twitlonger (A H)

#Yemen survival tips

Water collection techniques Cluster munitions Health Communication

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sp8m7m

1.11.2016 – Ahmad Alghobary (* A H K)

Heartbreaking . Photos by me in my city Dhamar hospital #Yemen . the story is in the photo No 1.

https://twitter.com/ahmadalgohbary/status/793471508232310785

Comment by Judith Brown: This is part of the ongoing story of Yemen. I have a very close friend who pregnant close to where bombs were falling and her baby too has problems. I have heard that there are more and more babies being born with deformities. Difficult enough in a stable country, but so challenging in a country like Yemen with its infrastructure destroyed

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10154868244248641

1.11.2016 – Red Cross (A H)

Something as simple as bread is hard to afford for many Yemenis. We @ICRC are helping 35, 000 ppl in Taiz get bread every day.

https://twitter.com/icrc_ye/status/793449251556720640

Comment by Judith Brown: Simple things are do difficult in Yemen. The reality is that there is not enough money to cope with the need.

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10154868238973641

1.11.2016 – WHO (A H)

WHO has trained 43 doctors and nursing staff from Al-Thawra & Al-Olofi hospitals in #Hudaydah#Yemen, on #choleraoutbreak management.

https://twitter.com/whoyemen/status/793521551639449600

1.11.2016 – Doctors Without Borders (A H)

Photo: An MSF nurse in the nursery department takescare of a new baby who was born in the Al-Salam hospital in Amran. His mother Yousra says “I delivered my baby in Al-Salam hospital in Khamer. I suffered a lot to reach the hospital. My house is in Gorban, which is a rugged area. When I started feeling the delivery pain, my husband began to look for a car to take me to the hospital. He found a car after searching for five hours, but I had to walk for half an hour to reach the main street where the car was waiting. We reached the hospital four hours later and I delivered once I arrived; I had a baby boy. I am still tired after all I went through.”

https://www.facebook.com/MSF.Yemen/photos/a.366530653455229.87534.365494296892198/1122040774570876/?type=3&theater

1.11.2016 – Almasdar (* A H K)

Mass displacement among intense fighting southwest Yemen’s Taiz

Tens of families have been displaced seeking shelters and safety as battlefields intensified on Tuesday southwest Yemen’s Taiz city.

A local source said that over a hundred families have left their houses in Al-Selw district of Taiz as shelling by Houthi gun men and forces of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh on villages increased.

Fierce clashes have been ongoing in the area between forces of Houthi-Saleh and government forces backed by popular resistance fighters. Added the source.

http://almasdaronline.com/article/85953 and:

1.11.2016 – Judith Brown (* A H K)

Photos: More displaced this time from Taiz. There are 3.5 million Yemenis displaced - from all parts of Yemen but especially in the northwest Saada region. Many of the people of Taiz had left the city a long time ago. The ground war in Taiz is particularly fierce and brutal, with fighters from Islah militias, Abu Abbas's militias, Al Qaeda, plus fighters from the Houthi-Saleh alliance. It must be intolerable living there.

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10154868192463641

1.11.2016 – Press TV Iran (* A H)

Film: UN warns of ‘catastrophic situation’ in Yemen

A top UN official has warned of a catastrophic situation in Yemen if the warring sides do not reach a peace agreement at the earliest. UN humanitarian chief, Stephen O'Brien, says more than 21 million Yemenis are in need of protection and humanitarian aid. He says over two million people, including 370,000 children are suffering from malnutrition. Meanwhile, United Nations envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has said that the people of Yemen are being held hostage to personal and reckless political decisions. Interviewy: Hisham Al-Omeisy, Sanaa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX2lgfi2Djk

31.10.2016 – Press TV Iran (* A H)

Film: Hunger, malnutrition, airstrikes continue to plague Yemen

The already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen is growing at an alarming rate. Over 80 percent of the population is in need of assistance with about 14 million people suffering from food insecurity.
Our correspondent Mohamed al-Attab has gone among the people and sent us this report on their hardships.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8FwSOsL3qI

3.11.2016 – Dr. Ahmed Farhan (A H)

Film: Mother and killed son in the morgue.

https://twitter.com/abrahama999/status/794151555620540416

cp5 Nordjemen und Huthis / Northern Yemen and Houthis

2.11.2016 – Ministry of Industry and Reade (A P)

The Ministry of Industry and Trade staff condemns the destruction of all the productive and industrial activities by the aggressor

In the protest at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the ministry staff strongly condemned the targeting of American and Saudi aggression of all productive and industrial activities in the country, demanding the neutralization of all commercial and industrial activities.

The employees who participated in the protest confirmed in the statement for them their condemnation since the early days all acts of destruction and siege by the Saudi aggression.

http://www.moit.gov.ye/moit/node/2621

2.11.2016 – Tasnim News (B K)

Yemeni Army’s Missiles to Reach Riyadh: Analyst

A senior Yemeni political analyst praised the growing military might of his country’s army and Popular Committees in confrontation with a Saudi-led coalition, saying that the range of Yemen’s missiles will grow to reach Riyadh and even beyond it.

“As you have seen since the beginning of the war, the Yemeni nation has always increased its military capabilities and expanded the scope of operations against the enemy,” Seyyed Sadiq al-Sharafi said in an interview with the Tasnim News Agency.

“The Yemeni forces have also enhanced their missile power,” he said, adding that the army and Popular Committees’ missiles now can reach Jeddah.

The Yemeni analyst went on to say that in the future, the range of the army missiles will grow further and they could reach Riyadh and beyond it as well as places like Dubai.

The forces of the Arabian Peninsula country have already hit Saudi positions with various homegrown ballistic missiles, including “Qaher-1”, which has a range of 500 kilometers, and “Borkan-1”.

The solid propellant and Scud-type Borkan-1 missile reportedly has a range of more than 800 kilometers.

http://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2016/11/02/1229091/yemeni-army-s-missiles-to-reach-riyadh-analyst

Comment: That is no news. The missile at Jiddah airport had a range of ca. 800 km.

Comment: Iranian media. Putting fuel on fire. Instead of bringing sides, again, at the peace table.

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1152545558131806

2.11.2016 – Sputnik News (* A H K)

Houthi Rebels Displace Over 150 Families in Southwestern Yemen

Houthi militias have forced more than 150 families out of their homes in a number of towns and villages in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz, media reported on Wednesday.
Since clashes escalated between government forces and Houthi militias on Monday, more than 100 families from the As Silw District, east of Taiz, have been displaced, Al Arabiya reported, citing human rights organizations sources. According to local sources, over 50 families from the towns of al-Dayh and al-Rawd, west of Taiz, were forced to leave their homes after threatening at gunpoint by Houthi rebels on Monday.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611021047002406-yemen-displacement-houthis/

and

2.11.2016 – Hussam Almolaiki (* A H K)

Selw area is empty now after force displacement of innocents people by Houthis forces in #Taiz (photos)

https://twitter.com/hussam25173474/status/793782997296250881

and

2.11.2016 – Hisham Al-Omeisy (A H K)

Also local reps that male villagers were detained by Houthis on suspicion are members/aiding Taiz resistance

https://twitter.com/omeisy/status/793835201612898304

2.11.2016 – Nasser Arrabyee (A P)

Salaries handed 2Yemenis from Sat After President Samad met with chiefs of 3 State powers Saudis failed 2 starve humans as it failed by bombing (photo)

https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/793856476829941760

2.11.2016 – Nasser Arrabyee (A P)

#End_impunity_Day Yemen Media Union calls for holding accountable US-backed Saudi war criminals who killed more than 30 journalists

https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/793766221569265664and http://www.epa.eu/politics-photos/citizens-initiative-recall-photos/international-day-to-end-impunity-for-crimes-against-journalists-in-yemen-photos-53101111 (EPA seems to downsize 50 % the figure of the journalists killed by the Saudi coalition).

1.11.2016 – Nasser Arrabyee (A K)

Yemen armed tribesmen Keep sending their fighters to support army against US-backed Saudis who kill under US-UK cover (photos)

https://twitter.com/narrabyee/status/793516349179981824

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

3.11.2016 – Gulf News (A T)

Government officials in the port city of Al Mukalla told Gulf News yesterday that a suicide bomber driving a small van laden with explosives was killed when his car exploded before reaching military sites on the city’s eastern outskirts.

The officials said that the car exploded on the main road close to the headquarter of the 2nd Military Region and the governor’s temporary office in the city’s Khalef area. No one was hurt in the botched attack.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/demonstrators-across-yemen-reject-un-plan-for-hadi-exit-1.1923801

2.11.2016 – Yemen Updates (A P)

Parents and mothers of detainees in Aden demand fair trial or their immediate release (images)

https://twitter.com/yemen_updates/status/793844916334067712referring to https://twitter.com/Anees2200/status/792868940020084741

Comment: We always are told of people detained by the Houthis – the Hadi / Saudi side seems not to be different in this matter.

2.11.2016 – Resumen Mediooriente (* B P)

El separatismo retrasa los esfuerzos por la paz en Yemen

El conflicto ha llevado a la división de facto de Yemen, creándose ejércitos rivales e instituciones tanto en el norte como en el sur. Todo esto podría significar el tener que dibujar de nuevo el mapa del Medio Oeste.

La tregua de tres días para permitir la entrada de más ayuda humanitaria y preparar una solución política se rompió la semana pasada, reflejando la incapacidad de llegar a acabar con la inamovible guerra.

Pero, detrás de los desacuerdos de los combatientes sobre cómo distribuir el poder, el futuro de Yemen como un Estado unido parece cada vez más improbable.

La llegada al poder de los hutíes en el norte ha provocado el resurgimiento del separatismo del sur, un movimiento que ve la fractura del poder del Estado como su momento para alzarse.

Al mismo tiempo, el sur y su mayor ciudad, Aden, sirven de base para el gobierno reconocido internacionalmente, el cual trata de recuperar el control del país, incluso si supone hacer una difícil alianza con los separatistas – by Noah browning

http://www.resumenmediooriente.org/2016/11/02/el-separatismo-retrasa-los-esfuerzos-por-la-paz-en-yemen/

2.11.2016 – Yemen Updates (A P)

While Yemen is bankrupt and suffering from severe financial crisis, Prz Hadi appoints more officials, diplomats and ministers.

https://twitter.com/HadiPresident/status/793774429402718209 (Arabic)

cp7 UNO und Friedensgespräche / UN and peace talks

3.11.2016 – Aljazeera (*A P)

Yemen: Thousands protest UN envoy's peace plan

Rallies take place in Aden and elsewhere, with protesters saying UN envoy's plan would legitimise the Houthis' "coup".

Thousands of Yemenis protested against a new peace proposal to end the conflict submitted by the UN envoy to the war-torn country, saying the plan would legitimise the rebels' power grab.

The demonstrations in the southern city of Aden and other locations took place on Thursday shortly before UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed arrived in the capital Sanaa for peace talks with Houthi rebels.

"We reject the plan of Ould Cheikh," read one of the banners carried by protesters in Aden - the government's temporary base - who responded to a call by authorities in the city to rally.

"No to an initiative that legitimises the coup," said another.

President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on Saturday rejected the envoy's peace plan, saying it would reward the Houthis for seizing the capital and "opens a door towards more suffering and war".

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/11/yemen-thousands-protest-envoy-peace-plan-161103140021988.html and also http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-yemen-envoy-s-visit-to-sanaa-sparks-protests/678159

Comment: Peace agreement means compromise, they seem to forget that. – What do the demonstrators await Hadi will do? He is no supporter of southern separatism, wants to hold on a unified Yemen, but you see a lot of former Southern Yemen’s flags in the photo.

3.11.2016 – Gulf News (A P)

In Riyadh, Hadi said on Wednesday that his government will keep extending its hand of peace if the rebel movement honours previous peace initiatives. At a meeting with US and UK envoys, Hadi said he urges the international community who has stood by his government since the beginning of the transitional period, to cast blame on Al Houthis and the ousted president for their attempts to destabilise the country.

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/yemen/demonstrators-across-yemen-reject-un-plan-for-hadi-exit-1.1923801

Comment:Nothing new. Hadi rejected the latest peace plan; does he really think the Houthis would go back to the past and “honour previous peace initiatives” (which were more favorable for Hadi)?

3.11.2016 – Anadolu (A P)

UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed arrived in capital Sanaa on Thursday, a week after unveiling a plan for ending the country’s two-year-old conflict.

An official source at Sanaa’s international airport, who spoke to Anadolu Agency anonymously due to restrictions on speaking to media, said Ahmed had arrived from Djibouti.

The source did not elaborate further.

While in Sanaa, the UN envoy is expected to discuss his peace plan with representatives of both the Shia Houthi militia and allied forces loyal to former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-yemen-envoy-s-visit-to-sanaa-sparks-protests/678159

3.11.2016 – UN Envoy to Yemen (A P)

Back to Sana'a for the second time in less than a week to discuss the details of the roadmap and security plan

https://twitter.com/OSESGY/status/794186489915654144

3.11.2016 – Reuters (* A P)

Yemen peace hopes flicker as Saudi studies U.N. plan - diplomats

Diplomats promoting a U.N. plan to end Yemen's war detect cautious support for its ideas from Saudi Arabia, raising hopes the proposals might unlock stalled efforts to end the 19-month-old conflict and a worsening humanitarian disaster.

While both parties unofficially rejected the proposal last week, a senior diplomat at the United Nations told Reuters that Saudi Arabia appeared broadly to accept the initiative and had encouraged Hadi to deal with it.

"As far as I'm aware the Saudis have accepted the roadmap ... they have certainly done a very good job behind the scenes of encouraging Hadi to get closer on the spectrum of accepting it than he previously was," said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The United Arab Emirates, another key country in the coalition, said last week that it supported the plan.

Neither the Saudi nor Yemeni governments immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment.

A Yemeni diplomatic source, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said that most, but not all, of the Saudi leadership had agreed to the plan.

The source added that concerns by the kingdom and Houthi officials about a withdrawal by the group from Yemen's population centres were being addressed by Oman, a neutral party in the regional power struggle.

"The Saudis are worried that the Houthis won't comply, while the Houthis fear it could expose them to attack. Oman told the Saudis it would use its influence with the Houthis to guarantee a withdrawal according to the U.N. plan," the source said – By Noah Browning and Michelle Nichols

http://in.reuters.com/article/yemen-security-idINKBN12Y1I5

Comment: Already a prominent article by important Saudi commentator Al-Rashed (see YPR 222, cp7) indicated that the Saudis would accept the UN plan. – Anyway, asking for a unilateral retreat only by the Houthis cannot work, as I pointed out in my comments in YPR 222, cp7. A new, better, neutral UNSC resolution on Yemen also would be very helpful for achieving piece (see cp1 above).

2.11.2016 – AFP (* A P)

UN envoy seeks Yemen peace deal in coming weeks

The UN envoy for Yemen said he will immediately return to the region to try to clinch a peace deal in the coming weeks, even though both sides have rejected his proposals.
“The ball is in the court of the Yemeni parties,” Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told the Security Council which met to discuss the 19-month war in Yemen.
The council is seeking to turn up the pressure on both the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government to end the war that has killed thousands and brought the country to its knees.
“What are the parties waiting for to sign a political agreement? Have they not understood that there are no winners in wars?” asked the envoy.
Ould Cheikh Ahmed has presented a roadmap to the Houthi rebels and their allies and the Yemeni government to revive political talks, but he acknowledged to the council that his proposals had been rejected.

http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/dceabe45-159e-49fd-becb-995a250a7286.aspx

2.11.2016 – AP (* A P)

PROPOSED UN RESOLUTION DEMANDS YEMEN CEASE-FIRE AND TALKS

A proposed U.N. resolution would demand that all parties in Yemen immediately honor an April cease-fire and resume peace negotiations.

The draft Security Council resolution, obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press, also calls for transparent and timely investigations of alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law - and accountability for those responsible for violations and abuses.

Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said Tuesday he expects to circulate the draft to the council "in the coming days." It was first published by Inner City Press.

The U.N. special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has drafted a roadmap covering political and security issues. It was immediately rejected by President Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi of Yemen's internationally recognized government who would lose power under its provisions – by Edith M. Lederer

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_UNITED_NATIONS_YEMEN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-11-02-18-32-02 = http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/proposed-resolution-demands-yemen-cease-fire-talks-43257449 = https://www.yahoo.com/news/proposed-un-resolution-demands-yemen-cease-fire-talks-223133375.html

Comment: Britain in any way is one of the main Saudi supporters and inadequate as peace dealer in the Yemen war. – A new UNSC resolution which really would help to bring peace to Yemen must be really neutral – the former resolution 2216 (as the British playing the role of peace broker here) are very far apart from that.

2.11.2016 – Hussam Al-Sanabani (A P)

UN Envoy to Yemen will arrive 2 Sana'a tomorrow, in the same time activists raisng voices oppose his bias role. Demanding UNSG 2 replace him

https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/793883790275780608

2.11.2016 – Al Arabiya (A P)

Houthis accuse UN envoy of fueling war in Yemen

Houthi militia leaders slammed the UN special envoy for Yemen, accusing him of being biased and not impartial, the Arabic website of Al Arabiya News Channel reported.

A spokesman for the Houthi militias, Mohammed Abdul Salam accused the UN envoy of fabricating evidence against them, specifically when he condemned their attempted attack on Makkah – stating that the allegation was false.

Salam’s comments came a day after Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told the Security Council at a briefing on the situation in the country that the deterioration of the economic situation threatens to worsen the humanitarian crisis, calling on Yemeni actors prioritize national interest.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/11/02/Houthis-accuse-UN-envoy-of-fueling-war-in-Yemen.html

1.11.2016 – Inner City Press (*A P)

On Yemen, Draft Resolution Demands Cessation of Hostilities, Envoy Would Report Back in 15 Days

The Saudi led coalition bombed the funeral of the father of Yemen interior minister Jalal al-Roweishan in Sana'a on October 8, the same day the UN Security Council met about airstrikes in Syria.

Inner City Press asked Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UN Abdallah Yahya A. Al-Mouallimi to confirm it was an Saudi strike and explain it. He said, "I am not aware of it." Vine video here.

After Saudi Arabia was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council on October 28, with the votes of 152 of the 193 member states, the Saudi-led Coalition's bombing of Yemen picked up pace, including killing detainees in Al Hudaydah.

Much has been said about the Yemen draft resolution being worked on by the penholder the UK, without circulation to the 15 Security Council members. On November 1 UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the Press about the draft; at 5 pm Council president for November Fode Seck of Senegal also referred to it.

Now a draft has been obtained by Inner City Press and is exclusively published below: it does not condemn the airstrikes but demands a cessation of hostilities, and for the envoy to report back in 15 days.

On October 31 outside the UN Security Council, envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed came out to take questions. But Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesman said he would only take two questions because he had to meet Ban -- strange, given that Ban's scheduled only listed him at 4 pm, three hours in the future.

Inner City Press asked, quite audibly, if weapons sales to Saudi Arabia by the UK and US is helpful to his mandate. Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesman cut in, awarding the question to another. After that, Inner City Press asked again, if US fueling of Saudi warplanes helps the envoy's mandate. He did not answer. Video here.

He walked down the hall where Inner City Press under Ban's censorship order can't go without a minder but others can. But where was he headed, with three hours until his listed meeting with Ban?

The next day November 1, Ansar Allah's spokesman mocked Ban's envoy, full Arabic statement obtained and published by InnerCityPro.com here. – By Matthew Russell Lee

http://www.innercitypress.com/yemen219fishy110116.html = http://innercitypress.blogspot.de/2016/11/exclusive-nov-1-on-yemen-draft.html

1.11.2016 – Sputnik News (* A P)

Pardon Me Gov! Churkin Calls Out UK for Getting Rich Off War in Yemen

Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin issued a blistering criticism of the UK on Monday, suggesting that Britain has little business overseeing questions on Yemen at the Security Council, given that it is also one the largest suppliers of arms to the Gulf states bombing the country.
Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council devoted to the situation in Yemen on Monday, Churkin pointed out that British weapons have been used by the Saudi-led coalition.

"It's known, for example, that the UK is one of the largest suppliers of all sorts of weapons in the region, which are then used against Yemenis," the ambassador stressed. "Since March 2015, The Guardian and The Independent have reported that London had sold weapons worth more than 3 billion pounds, or over $5 billion [to Gulf countries]. Pretty good money to line one's pockets with from a war, no? Civilians are being killed by these weapons."
In this context, Churkin asked Security Council members to consider "how a country that has a clear material interest in the continuation of the conflict can oversee the Yemeni dossier to the Security Council?"

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611011046972523-churkin-slams-uk-on-yemen/

1.11.2016 – Human Rights Watch (* A P)

How Saudi Arabia Kept its UN Human Rights Council Seat

How did Saudi Arabia, which has been indiscriminately bombing Yemeni civilians for 18 months, just get re-elected to the Human Rights Council, the United Nations' premier human rights body?

Why? Because it had no competition. Seats on the Human Rights Council are shared among five regional groups. This year, the Asia group put forward just four candidates for their four open seats on the council, effectively guaranteeing their election. Unsurprisingly, Saudi Arabia, China, Iraq, and Japan all won.

Saudi Arabia’s pre-cooked victory raises a serious question – is the integrity of the Human Rights Council compromised if some countries don’t even have to compete for a seat on the body? This was one of the reasons its predecessor, the UN Commission on Human Rights, was shut down and replaced with the council 10 years ago.

Had Saudi Arabia faced a competitive slate, other countries could have closely scrutinized its numerous violations of the laws of war in Yemen, as was apparently the case for Russia’s actions in Syria. In fact, Saudi Arabia was the least popular candidate in its group, receiving the smallest number of votes. Had there been competition, this could have meant defeat for the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s election follows its successful blackmail campaign to have its coalition removed from the UN secretary-general’s “List of Shame” for killing and maiming children and attacking schools and hospitals in Yemen. Saudi Arabia got its way, though at the cost of its outrageous tactics being made public.

Candidate countries that run without competition cannot possibly face proper scrutiny of their human rights records.

If Russia’s loss teaches us anything, it is that at least some competition is crucial to the credibility of the election process. It is time to put an end to backroom deals and make all countries earn their seat on the Human Rights Council. – by Joyce Bukuru

https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/11/01/how-saudi-arabia-kept-its-un-human-rights-council-seat

cp8 Saudi-Arabien / Saudi Arabia

Siehe / See cp 12

3.11.2016 – Human Rights Watch (* A P)

Saudi Arabia: Sentence Over, Activist Still Held

8 Years for Protesting 2008-2009 Gaza War

Saudi authorities are still holding a Saudi activist even though his eight-year sentence for protesting the war in Gaza expired on October 5, 2016. Saudi activists said that the man, Khalid al-‘Umair, began a hunger strike in al-Ha’ir prison, south of Riyadh, on October 6 to protest his continued imprisonment.

Saudi Arabia bans all forms of public protest throughout the country, and has prosecuted dozens of people for protest-related crimes since 2011, sentencing over 25 to death.

“Saudi Arabia’s inexplicable move to hold Khalid al-‘Umair, even though he completed his unjust sentence, points up just how arbitrary the country’s criminal justice system is,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Saudi authorities should immediately release Khalid al-‘Umair so he can go on with his life.”

A person with direct knowledge of al-‘Umair’s case told Human Rights Watch that Saudi authorities arrested al-‘Umair and approximately 14 others, among them Saudis and Palestinian residents of Saudi Arabia, on January 1, 2009, as they were approaching al-Nahda street in central Riyadh to begin a protest march against the Israeli bombing of Gaza at that time.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/11/03/saudi-arabia-sentence-over-activist-still-held

2.11.2016 – Ekurd (* B P)

Redrawing Maps: Is Saudi Arabia next in line?

The map of the Middle East drawn by Gertrude Bell, Winston Churchill, Lawrence, Mark Sykes, General Edmund Allenby, Arthur James Balfour, Reginald Wingate and Harbert Samuel at the beginning of the 20th Century has brought nothing but conflict to the region for the last one hundred years. Obviously, however, people have yet to draw a lesson from this tragic mistake.

The map drawn by Robin Wright and published in The New York Times newspaper in 2013 revealed another imminent danger. According to this map, the Middle East’s biggest and wealthiest country, Saudi Arabia is to be divided into five parts.

Immediately after the introduction of the map, developments in this direction began to occur one after another.

The 250-year history of Saudi Arabia is fraught with civil wars, political assassinations, and tribal conflicts of varying intensity. Since the 18th century, three kingdoms have been founded and destroyed; the currently existing Saudi Kingdom is the fourth one in the same region.

The artificial borders drawn up at the Cairo Congress of 1921 were dictated to Saudi Arabia by means of military and economic coercion. Although Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 under the guidance of Sultan Abdulaziz, the internal strife within the country has seen no end.

The Shiite-Sunni conflict is yet another destabilizing factor endangering the Arabian Peninsula.

For 200 years, the cartographers of the Middle East have intricately shaped the region in accordance with their plans. They imposed their own policies upon the region by holding sway over states, armies, clans, and political or religious leaders. Today, every state whose borders are in question is faced with a grave danger – by Harun Yahya

http://ekurd.net/redrawing-saudi-arabia-2016-11-02

Comment: These cards exist – US plans according to “Divide and rule”. Whether this really can come true, for my opinion is rather doubtful.

2.11.2016 – RT (* A P)

‘Like asking if you’ll stop beating your wife’: Saudi ambassador dodges Yemen cluster bomb question

The Saudi ambassador to the US has dodged a journalist’s question on the use of cluster bombs in Yemen, saying it’s like asking, “Will you stop beating your wife?” He also said the Saudi-led coalition will continue bombing Yemen, “no matter what.”

Prince Abdullah Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States, was confronted by a reporter from the Intercept, the publication said on Tuesday.

“Will you continue to use cluster weapons in Yemen?” the reporter asked the diplomat.

Al-Saud laughed before answering: “This is like the question, ‘Will you stop beating your wife?’”

After the reporter repeated the question, the ambassador again dismissed it, saying “You are political operators. I’m not a politician.”

Speaking at the Annual Arab-US Policymakers Conference last week, al-Saud insisted that the Saudi-led coalition will continue its bombing campaign in Yemen, the Intercept reported.

“If anyone attacks human lives and disturbs the border, in whatever region, we’re going to continue hitting them, no matter what,” said al-Saud.

https://www.rt.com/news/365096-yemen-cluster-bombs-question/ with film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql8RXwCPTfI

Comment: Earlier reported by Inner City Press. Here again to show Saudi elite’s mental insanity. And he thins it is a good joke to tell he beats his wife.

1.11.2016 – Quartz (* A P)

The Saudi government has made the trip to Mecca nearly 500% more expensive

A nearly six-fold hike in visa fees to Saudi Arabia has been met with heavy criticism, with many Muslim countries voicing concerns that the plan will be an added burden to pilgrims visiting Islam’s holiest sites.

As part of the proposed plan, a single entry visa now costs $533, an increase from the previous fee of $93. A multiple entry, 6-month visa would cost $800 and a one-year visa would cost $1333. The revised visa fees affect all tourists, religious or business visitors, but exempts those traveling for the first time to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage or the lesser, non-mandatory pilgrimage known as the Umrah.

The plan, which was based on a recommendation from the Saudi ministries of finance and economy, came into effect on Oct. 2 and coincided with the beginning of the new Islamic year. The new rules are seen as part of a wider campaign to lessen the kingdom’s dependence on oil and to increase revenues in other areas, including immigration fees.

The trip carries considerable costs for visitors, especially for transportation and lodging, and depending on your geographic location, could cost from as low as $800 to upwards of $7,000. A 2012 Pew Research found that the pilgrimage to Mecca was a rare and expensiveevent for many Muslims across the world – by Abdi Latif Dahir

http://qz.com/823978/the-saudi-government-has-made-the-trip-to-mecca-nearly-500-more-expensive/

1.11.2016 – Noto Wahabism (A H)

Film: Filipino worker from #Saudi_Arabia, crying and asking for help. 
ROSALINA EUGINIO says she is raped by brother of her employer in Riyadh , she's crying while asking for help.
Foreign workers are not more than slaves in the eyes of Saudi monarchy.

https://www.facebook.com/NotoWahabism/videos/1009421205853128/

cp9 USA

Siehe / See cp1

3.11.2016 – The Hill (* A P)

Dem presses administration on US role in Yemen conflict

A Democratic congressman who has been critical of U.S. support for the Saudi Arabia-led campaign in Yemen is demanding details on the U.S. role in the conflict, saying the United States could be violating the law of war.

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) asked Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Secretary of State John Kerryin a letter to explain a senior administration official’s recent comment that U.S. support for the coalition does not include target selection and review.

“I find it deeply troubling that the U.S. apparently has no advanced knowledge of what targets will be struck by jets that are refueled by U.S. personnel with U.S. tankers,” wrote Lieu, an Air Force veteran who taught the law of armed conflict (LOAC) while serving.

“The U.S. would appear to be violating LOAC and international standards by engaging in such direct military operations if U.S. personnel are not aware if targets are civilians or military, if the loss of life and property are disproportional, or if the operation is even militarily necessary.” – by Rebecca Kheel

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/304150-dem-presses-administration-on-us-role-in-yemen-conflict

1.11.2016 – Hintergrund (* B K T)

Vom Terror der Todesengel
Seit 15 Jahren setzen die USA Drohnen im Kampf gegen mutmaßliche Terroristen ein – worunter vor allem Zivilisten zu leiden haben. Mit einem „Who the fuck did that?“ begann vor fünfzehn Jahren mit dem westlichen Militäreinsatz in Afghanistan auch die Geschichte des Drohnen-Krieges der USA. An jenem Tag – dem 7. Oktober 2001 – hatten US-Piloten im Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) in Saudi-Arabien eine Menschenmenge im südafghanischen Kandahar, dem Machtzentrum der damaligen Taliban-Regierung, im Visier. (…) Drohnen-Angriffe gehören seitdem zum Alltag in vielen Ländern – vor allem in Afghanistan. Laut dem Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ), einer in London ansässigen Organisation, ist das Land am Hindukusch das am häufigsten von Drohnen bombardierte Land der Welt. Laut den bekannten Daten, unter anderem zusammengestellt vom TBIJ sowie von der US-Denkfabrik „New America“, fanden im Zeitraum 2001 bis 2013 mindestens 1.670 US-amerikanische Drohnen-Angriffe in Afghanistan statt. Wie viele Menschen bei diesen Einsätzen getötet wurden, ist unklar. Vor allem in Bezug auf Afghanistan ist die Datenlage sehr beschränkt. Vor einiger Zeit wurde bekannt, dass insgesamt mindestens sechstausend Menschen Opfer des Drohnen-Krieges wurden. Die Zahl bezieht sich auf Einsätze in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syrien, Somalia, Jemen, Libyen, Irak und den Philippinen – von Emran Feroz

http://www.hintergrund.de/201611014138/globales/kriege/vom-terror-der-todesengel.html

1.11.2016 – ABC News (* A P)

US Call for End to Airstrikes in Yemen Faces Backlash From Advocacy Group

After Samantha Power, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, demanded Saudi Arabia end its devastating airstrikes in Yemen, advocacy groups were quick to point out that the U.S. has been largely complicit in the carnage in Yemen by supplying the Saudi-led coalition with arms and support.

"Ambassador Power's remarks, calling for an end to unlawful strikes that kill civilians and hit protected civilian objects, are certainly welcome. But the U.S. has repeatedly failed to acknowledge its own role providing vital support to those airstrikes by refueling coalition planes and continuing to supply Saudi Arabia with U.S. weapons," Priyanka Motaparthy, senior emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch, told ABC News today.

"We've repeatedly called on the U.S. government to stop selling arms that could be used in unlawful strikes to Saudi Arabia. Members of Congress have also tried to stop these sales. It's time for the government to go beyond just statements and suspend their support," Motaparthy added – by Catherine Thorbecke

http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-call-end-airstrikes-yemen-faces-backlash-advocacy/story?id=43218473

1.11.2016 – Huffington Post (* A P)

Congressman Trolls Obama Administration Over Yemen Waffling

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) thinks it’s silly to simultaneously call for an end to Saudi-led bombing and enable it to continue.

A lawmaker critical of the United States’ role in enabling mass slaughter in Yemen is using an Obama aide’s statements to highlight problems with the administration’s narrative of the war.

After Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, urged the Saudis and their Iran-backed opponents, the Houthis, to stop fighting, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) issued a statement on Tuesday saying Power was on the right track.

“I commend U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power for calling for an end to airstrikes by the Saudi-led military coalition (which includes the United States) in Yemen,” Lieu said.

“The logical consequence of this apparent change in U.S. policy is that our nation must stop aiding and abetting the military coalition by pulling out of the coalition immediately,” he added. “The U.S. must stop refueling Saudi jets that have struck civilian targets over 70 times in Yemen; stop transferring vast amounts of arms to the Saudi military; and demand an independent investigation into allegations that multiple war crimes have been committed against Yemeni women, men and children by the Saudi-led coalition.”

Washington is not actually changing its policy, officials were quick to clarify after Power made her remarks Monday at a U.N. Security Council meeting.

But Lieu’s statement underscored how ludicrous it can sound for the U.S. to both call for strikes to end and keep enabling them with refueling, logistical support and weapons sales.

Power’s critique of the Saudis seemed unusually direct, but it matches the Obama administration’s broader approach to the coalition’s missteps: be loudly critical without actually doing anything to stop them.

Lieu’s statement suggested that the war’s critics are becoming increasingly aggressive in holding the Obama administration directly responsible for the more than 10,000 deaths in Yemen since the full-on fighting started last March.

Speaking of the U.S. as a member of the Saudi-led coalition represents a break from previous rhetoric from the congressman and other lawmakers. Even as they have blasted U.S. assistance for the coalition, they have mostly stayed loyal to the Obama administration’s argument that the president has not forced the U.S. to become a combatant in the conflict.

Denying combatant status is one way the administration has tried to distance itself from the scores of war crimes allegedly carried out by the coalition – by Akbar Shahid Ahmed

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/congressman-trolls-obama-administration-over-yemen-waffling_us_5818df9ce4b0f96eba96495d and rep. Lieu’s statement: https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-lieu-statement-us-call-end-airstrikes-yemen

1.11.2016 – The American Conservative (* B P)

How the U.S. Should Handle Its Reckless Clients

Aaron David Miller and Richard Sokolsky offer the next president some suggestions on what not to do in the Middle East.

U.S. support for the indefensible war on Yemen has often been explained as a way of appeasing the Saudis and their allies in response to the nuclear deal with Iran, but this has always struck me as more of a lame excuse than a real reason. The nuclear deal imposes significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, which clearly benefits Iran’s regional rivals. Even if the Saudis and the other Gulf states don’t see it that way, the U.S. didn’t need to placate them to conclude the nuclear deal, and their opposition to it would not have prevented the deal from being completed. The U.S. didn’t need to placate them, and it still doesn’t need to do that, but for other reasons has chosen to do so. The Obama administration backed an unnecessary war as part of an unnecessary bargain with bad clients, and it continues to do so nineteen months after the start of the Saudi-led intervention.

The trap that Miller and Sokolsky describe is one that the U.S. repeatedly falls into with its clients, especially those in that part of the world. When a client state wants the U.S. to do what it wants and to align its regional policies completely with theirs, the correct response is to refuse to cater to their preferences and to pursue U.S. goals even when they may conflict with what the client wants. When our interests and the interests of clients diverge, the U.S. shouldn’t privilege the latter or subordinate U.S. priorities to theirs. If that prompts a round of whining about being “abandoned,” there should be no rush to “reassure” them that the U.S. will always support them. Instead, Washington should use that as an opportunity to remind them that the client is the one that needs to prove its usefulness to us and not vice versa. The U.S. should never find itself in a position where it indulges destructive behavior from clients in order to demonstrate that it can be relied on – by Daniel Larison

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/larison/how-the-u-s-should-handle-its-reckless-clients/ is referring to:

31.10.2016 – Politico (* B P)

Memo to the Next President: Avoid the ‘Vision Thing’ in the Mideast

America has made too many promises there and must pare down its involvement to a minimum, say two long-time State Department Officials

here is our list of ten things the next administration should not do or say if it is to have any chance of navigating its way out of the landmines, traps, hopeless causes, and impossible missions that dot the region.

Sixth, do not get swept up in the cause of democratic evangelism, however noble and uplifting it is in the abstract. The region is not ripe for the spread of American values; that is the distressing lesson of the 13 years since the Iraq invasion and the failure of the 2011 Arab Spring. It requires a unique mix of arrogance and ignorance to assume that Middle Eastern elites and publics are somehow ready and willing to receive Washington’s advice on how they should govern themselves. The American form of governance is unique to our history, location and political culture. It is not for export.#

Seventh, don’t let our allies and friends “guilt” us into deepening our security commitments in the region and using force to solve what are essentially political problems—and problems that can only be solved by Arab governments—by raising doubts about America’s credibility. What these countries really want is for Uncle Sucker to take care of problems that are either of their own making or that do not implicate U.S. core interests in the region. Saudi Arabia should have been thanking the Obama administration for eliminating the threat of a nuclear Iran for at least the next 10-15 years. Instead, to reassure the Saudis of the credibility of the American security commitment and mollify their anger over the Iran agreement, Washington allowed itself to become the Kingdom’s enabler-in-chief for their woeful misadventure in Yemen – By AARON DAVID MILLER and RICHARD SOKOLSKY

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/10/memo-to-the-next-president-avoid-the-vision-thing-in-the-mideast-214401

cp10 Großbritannien / Great Britain

Siehe / See cp1

2.11.2016 – Huffington Post (*A P)

Labour Discontent As 100 MPs Abstain From Party’s Own Vote On Yemen Civil War

Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary Emily Thornberry championed the motion in the Commons - but it was defeated by 283 votes to 193.

It means 102 Labour MPs abstained or were not around to vote - a highly unusual number for a so-called Opposition day debate - which represents around half of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

One Labour MP told HuffPost UK it was a “shambles” to lose and then have the rival Government motion approved without a vote.

Throughout the debate, Thornberry was interrupted by her own MPs expressing disquiet with the motion.

Their unease stems, it appears, not from a refusal to want to do anything to end the conflict that has resulted in famine and thousands, more that the proposal would not lead to fewer casualties - and that the Labour leadership was over-reaching in its intentions – by Graeme Demianyk

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-100-mps-abstain-yemen-civil-war_uk_58111367e4b0672ea687abc1

Comment: detailed reporting YPR 222, 221.

1.11.2016 – Socialist Worker (A P)

Labour activists furious after MPs’ vote on Yemen

Labour Party members and activists were outraged last week as more than 100 Labour MPs refused to vote for their party’s motion on the war in Yemen.

The motion called on the government to suspend support for Saudi Arabia in the war.

Labour activist Stephen Barnes asked, “If I do a Labour doorstep, how to I explain the PLP’s policy on bombing children in Yemen?”

Swansea Labour councillor Nick Davies said, “Labour rebels either back Tories’ support for Saudi Arabia’s Yemen war, or they just pretend to just weaken Corbyn. Contemptible shower.”

John Woodcock led the attack. He suggested that Britain’s support for Saudi Arabia would “create fewer civilian casualties” because it was “focused on training Saudis to be better able to be in compliance with international humanitarian law”.

He earlier accused Labour’s leadership of “dangerous anti-West posturing”. – by Nick Clark

https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/43622/Labour+activists+furious++after+MPs+vote+on+Yemen

cp11 Deutschland / Germany

Siehe / See cp1

1.11.2016 – Auswärtiges Amt (A H P)

Humanitäre Krise in Jemen: Deutsche Hilfe unter schweren Bedingungen

Die humanitäre Krise in Jemen spitzt sich weiter zu. Mehr als 21 Millionen Menschen im Land benötigen dringend Hilfe. Das Auswärtige Amt unterstützt in diesem Jahr mit 28 Millionen Euro die Betroffenen mit humanitären Hilfsprojekten.

Schwerpunkte der deutschen Hilfsprojekte sind die Versorgung mit Nahrungsmitteln, Wasser, medizinischer Betreuung, Hygieneartikeln sowie Schutzmaßnahmen für Flüchtlinge.

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/HumanitaereHilfe/7_Aktuelles/161101_Jemen.html

Kommentar: Man soll ja nicht meckern und die Helfer tun sicher ihr Bestes, aber… Das Auswärtige Amt übt sich in Heuchelei. Deutschland könnte mehr für den Jemen tun und endlich konsequent sein, wenn es die Waffenlieferungen an Saudi-Arabien und die Unterstützung für Saudi-Arabien sowie für die ständig neue Kriege und neues Leid produzierende US-Interventionspolitik im Nahen Osten klar beenden würde. Jetzt gibt es also zur Beruhigung des eigenen Gewissens 1 Euro im Jahr pro Jemenit(in) – danke für die 3 Brötchen im Jahr, Herr Steinmeier, teilen wir uns das gut ein, ein Viertel Brötchen pro Monat – oder, anders gerechnet, der Gegenwert von 3 Stunden 20 Minuten saudischer Luftkrieg gegen Jemen – rund um die Uhr seit über 590 Tagen. Woran Deutschland ja mit verdient (siehe in cp13a).

And English version:

2.11.2016 – German Foreign Office (A P)

Humanitarian crisis in Yemen: German aid provided under difficult conditions

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is getting ever worse. More than 21 million people in the country are in urgent need of assistance. The Federal Foreign Office has provided €28 million this year to pay for humanitarian aid for those affected.

One of the biggest humanitarian crises worldwide

Difficult conditions for humanitarian workers

German assistance increased fourfold

The Federal Foreign Office has significantly increased humanitarian assistance to Yemen this year to around €28 million – more than four times the amount donated in 2015. The Federal Foreign Office works closely with German and international NGOs, members of the Red Cross Movement and UN aid organisations to implement aid projects.

German-funded projects focus on supplying food, water, medical care and hygiene items, and on protecting refugees.

German assistance is focused in those regions of Yemen that have taken in particularly large number of displaced persons.

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Aussenpolitik/HumanitaereHilfe/7_Aktuelles/161101_Jemen.html?version=3

Comment: A document of Western hypocrisy if you take into account the whole story: Germany closely allied to the main responsibles for this disaster, Saudi Arabia, US, UK. Germany supplies arms to Saudi Arabia. And now announcing humanitarian help: 1 dollar for every Yemeni. Great.

cp12 Andere Länder / Other countries

2.11.2016 – Lobelog (* A P)

Algeria in Yemen: Combatant or Mediator?

The GCC has reportedly turned to Algeria for help in Yemen. Last month, Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s deputy ministers for defense contacted their Algerian counterpart to request that Algiers deploy a “peacekeeping operation” in Yemen. An Algerian diplomat said that his government responded that it would “consider the proposal, but for the time being, the general feeling is one of refusal.” Although rather dismissive of the possibility of Algeria’s armed forces engaging in military operations in Yemen, the country’s foreign affairs minister, Ramtane Lamamra, stated that Algiers could perhaps “provide logistical support.”

As a large and gas- and oil-rich Arab state with a well-trained and experienced military, Algeria may appear at least on paper to be an ideal country to help Riyadh and Doha achieve their goals in Yemen. Yet having failed to bring Algeria on board last March, the Arab Gulf monarchies will have a hard time convincing the North African country to join their coalition in Yemen.

A key pillar of Algeria’s approach to international affairs, rooted in the North African country’s struggle for independence from French rule, is non-intervention in the affairs of foreign countries. This has often distinguished Algiers from other Arab states and at times placed it at odds with the West.

Moreover, as Algeria finds itself in a greater financial squeeze in this era of cheap oil, it has little appetite for investing in a war in southwestern Arabia

Finally, and arguably most importantly, Algeria’s partnership with Iran is deepening.

This growing bilateral relationship has geopolitical as well as economic dimensions. In recent years, the Algerians have highlighted their breaking ranks with Saudi Arabia and other GCC states on key issues pertaining to Tehran.

Although highly unlikely to join the military campaign against Houthi rebels, Algiers could prove useful as a potential mediator between the GCC and Iran, not only vis-à-vis Yemen but also in other parts of the region.

As an Arab League member in good-standing and a partner of Iran, Algeria could use its “neutrality” in the Saudi-Iranian geo-sectarian rivalry to help Riyadh and Tehran begin a necessary dialogue aimed at cooling tensions between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims and finding solutions to regional crises – by Giorgio Cafiero

http://lobelog.com/algeria-in-yemen-combatant-or-mediator/

1.11.2016 – The Intercept (* A P)

Report: Arab Gulf States Are Surveiling, Imprisoning, and Silencing Activists for Social Media Posts

Dissidents, journalists, and activists in the Gulf face retaliation, from censorship to imprisonment, for posting their beliefs on social media, argues Human Rights Watch in a new campaign and report called “140 Characters.”

“Gulf States are intimidating, surveilling, imprisoning, and silencing activists as part of their all-out assault on peaceful criticism, but they are seriously mistaken if they think they can indefinitely block gulf citizens from using social and other media to push for positive reforms,” Sarah Lee Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch wrote.

Social media’s popularity is expanding in the Middle East; over 17 million people opened up new Facebook accounts in the first quarter of 2014, according to a study conducted by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government. Use of Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, and other platforms is also on the rise.

“Hundreds” have been jailed or worse in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as a result of their social media use, Human Rights Watch writes.

In addition to condemning Gulf leaders for cracking down on social media activism since the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011, the human rights group draws attention to their use of often highly advanced surveillance tools to track them down.

The UAE government, however, has already purchased equipment like Internet monitoring tools from BAE Systems, and been linked to using hacking exploits from Israeli company NSO Group. These types of tools have also been discovered in Saudi Arabia — including software that hacks into mobile phones giving total access, including control of the camera and microphone – by Jenna Mc Laughlin

https://theintercept.com/2016/11/01/report-arab-gulf-states-are-surveiling-imprisoning-and-silencing-activists-for-social-media-posts/

1.11.2016 – Human Rights Watch (** A P)

140 Characters

Introduction

Intrusive Government Surveillance

Abusive GCC Laws Curtailing Online Speech and Other Rights

Laws Prohibiting "Insulting" Rulers, States, and Religion

Counterterrorism and Emergency Laws

Laws Limiting Freedom of Assembly

Cybercrime Laws

Revocation of Citizenship

International Legal Standards

Recommendations

To the Governments of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE

To Social Media and Surveillance Technology Companies Operating in GCC Countries

To the Governments of Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and Other Countries Where Companies that Sell Intrusive Surveillance Technologies are Based

Country Background

Bahrain

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

GCC governments have responded to political challenges and peaceful online criticism with repression. Hundreds of dissidents, including political activists, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, and bloggers, have been imprisoned across the region, many after unfair trials and allegations of torture in pretrial detention. GCC rulers' sweeping campaigns against civil society activists and political dissidents have included threats, intimidation, investigations, prosecutions, detentions, torture, and withdrawal of citizenship.

The 140 individuals profiled in this report come from different sects and viewpoints. Some are political dissidents, others are human rights activists, while still others are GCC citizens who have no background in activism or political activity yet faced government retribution for views expressed online or in public. The 140 cases represent the most prominent individuals in the Arab Gulf states who have faced government retaliation for exercising their right to free expression, but dozens of other individuals not included in this report have faced similar harassment and repression. Human Rights Watch does not endorse all of the views expressed by individuals profiled in this report. These views, which in some cases may be offensive or objectionable, nevertheless do not amount to speech that GCC governments can lawfully restrict without violating international human rights standards.

Intrusive Government Surveillance

Human Rights Watch has not documented clear evidence of intrusive surveillance of GCC citizens and residents by their governments. However, leaked corporate documents and reports from independent security researchers reveal that that Western companies have sold intrusion software to GCC governments that can be used to violate citizens' privacy rights. Research conducted by Toronto-based research group Citizen Lab has found evidence that intrusion software from Italian firm Hacking Team has been used by governments in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, while Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE may have purchased other intrusion software from FinFisher/Gamma International.4 FinFisher/Gamma International and Hacking Team suffered data breaches in 2014 and 2015 respectively, where internal emails and documents from each company were leaked online.5 These leaked documents corroborated many of Citizen Lab's findings and also identified additional customers, including the use of Hacking Team in Bahrain.6

Hacking Team and FinFisher/Gamma International sell intrusion software that allows a government to hack into laptops and mobile devices. Once such software is installed on a device, it can enable a government to access emails, text messages, call histories, contact lists, files, and potentially passwords. This software also allows authorities to turn on a phone or laptop's camera and microphone to take pictures or record video and conversations without the owner's knowledge. Both companies state that they only sell their tools and services to governments.

From the introduction:

Since the beginning of the Arab uprisings in 2011 all GCC states have expanded existing legislation and promulgated abusive new laws with a view to further curtailing free expression and punishing speech deemed "criminal" by GCC governments, particularly online and via social media networks. In addition to new penal code provisions, GCC governments have enacted repressive new laws and practices on counterterrorism, cybercrimes, peaceful assembly, and citizenship that aim to limit and deter peaceful expression and punish political dissidents and activists who criticize not only their own leaders but those of other GCC states and their policies. The various laws promulgated since 2011 have had a chilling effect on freedom of expression, in some cases branding government critics as "terrorists," or granting authorities the right to strip peaceful protesters and dissidents of their nationality.

https://features.hrw.org/features/HRW_2016_reports/140_Characters/index.html#

cp13a Waffenhandel / Arms trade

2.11.2016 – MbKS15 (A K)

Training aircraft Hawk T.165 # Arabia, No. ZB112 / ST012, during her return from a test flight (photo)

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/794018832465752064

Comment: One more fighter jet from Britain for Saudi Arabia (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Hawk). This photo of the Saudi fighter jet is definitely not made in Saudi Arabia, but certainly in Britain, look at the trees and buildings in the background. Saudi aircraft test flight in Britain.

1.11.2016 – MbKS15 (A K)

Closer look at the #RSAF Hawk T.165 (7901 & 7902) transiting through Heraklion while on delivery to #SaudiArabia — by: Maria Doulgeraki (photos)

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/793526117844021248

Comment: One more fighter jet from Britain for Saudi Arabia (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Hawk) – on its way for bombing Yemen

and also this one:

1.11.2016 – Gary Claridge (A K)

ZK620 CS051 Typhoon at Warton today. Shouldnt be long before this takes its first flight (photos)

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/793526787728965632 and also https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/793526787728965632

30.10.2016 – Hispan TV (* A K)

Revelado: Arabia Saudí planea comprar armas a Ucrania

Arabia Saudí tiene previsto ampliar sus cooperaciones con Ucrania y comprar armas y equipos militares a este país europeo.

"En el marco de las cooperaciones militares con otros países, el régimen de los Al Saud ha decidido comprar armas a Ucrania", han mostrado los documentos revelados este domingo por el diario libanés Al-Akhbar.

Según los documentos infiltrados, Ucrania ha propuesto recientemente a Arabia Saudí la venta de misiles de largo alcance, los misiles balísticos, así como los motores atmosféricos, y de este modo Riad se ha convertido en uno de los socios principales de la industria de defensa de Kiev.

En el marco de las cooperaciones militares con otros países, el régimen de los Al Saud ha decidido comprar armas a Ucrania", han mostrado los documentos revelados este domingo por el diario libanés Al-Akhbar.

Asimismo, han evidenciado la colaboración de Riad y Kiev en otros campos como la tecnología misilística y el sistema espacial.

http://www.hispantv.com/noticias/arabia-saudi/312804/comprar-armas-ucrania

Comment: In Spanish: Saudi Arabia plans to strengthen its ties with Ukraine.
How? In the only way it knows: buying arms.

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1153662524686776

Comment: Ukraine still has an important arms industry. Two ugly American allies unite on arms sales. Part of the deal: Missiles (for use in Yemen, presumably).

cp13b Flüchtlinge / Refugees

31.10.2016 – UN High Commissioner for Refugees (A H)

Yemen Situation - 2016 Funding Update as of 31 October 2016

172.2 required for 2016

70.6 M contributions received, representing 41% of requirements

101.6 M funding gap for the Yemen situation

http://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/Yemen%20Situation%20Funding%20Update%2031%20October%202016.pdfhttp://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Yemen%20Situation%20Funding%20Update%2031%20October%202016.pdf

Comment: Still needed: The equivalent of 12 hours Saudi aerial war against Yemen – all around the clock, since more than 590 days.

31.10.2016 – International Organization for Migration, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (* A H)

Yemen: Task Force on Population Movement | TFPM - 11th Report Executive Summary, October 2016

CONFLICT RELATED: The 11th TFPM identifies, in connection with the ongoing conflict, 2,179,278 internally displaced persons (IDPs) who remain in a situation of displacement across 21 governorates; the majority, 51%, are displaced in Hajjah, Taizz, and Sana’a. The TFPM has identified 1,010,016 returnees in 20 governorates; the majority, 68%, have returned to Aden, Amanat Al Asimah and Taizz.

NATURAL DISASTER RELATED: The 11th TFPM Report also provides figures on displaced and returnee populations in relation to displacement due to natural disasters

Through August and September 2016 the TFPM has observed a minor decrease in the conflict-related displacement of 25,824 individuals (-1.12%).

The dynamics of displacement in Yemen continue to shift, with new displacement continuing to occur in areas of prolonged and escalating hostilities, while simultaneously the emergence of return pockets have been observed.

The needs of IDPs, returnees, whether conflict or disaster related, and by extension members of the non-displaced host community remain high. Indicative data collected by the TFPM at the community level through key informants show that the following needs were identified as the number one priority among IDPs: food (66%), WASH (11%) and Shelter/Housing (7%). Access to income is reported as the fourth most commonly mentioned need, with 5% of the key informants expressing it as the top priority need.

With respect to shelter, the majority of IDPs are living in hosted situations (55%), while the next largest category are those that reside in rented accommodation (22%), followed by those residing in collective centres or spontaneous settlements (19%).

http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-task-force-population-movement-tfpm-11th-report-executive-summary-october-2016 and in full: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/tfpm_11th_report_october_2016.pdf

30.9.2016 – International Organization for Migration (A H)

Yemen Crisis: IOM Regional Response - Situation Report, 1 - 30 September 2016

IOM is providing psychosocial support activities to children and their parents in the Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) in Sana’a and Aden.

IOM continued providing healthcare assistance to Third Country National (TCN) migrants in Sana’a, Al-Hodaidah, Aden, Lahj, and Shabwah governorates. Health assistance to TCNs included; primary health care, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and health promotion services.

Mobile Emergency Units have been providing assistance along the Southern Coast of (Aden and Khor Omer, Lahj). The staff encountered 549 new arrivals with 337 men and 212 boys; all received water and dates.

Humanitarian workers face insecurity and movement restrictions. Access has been further restricted following the intensification of conflict.

http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-crisis-iom-regional-response-situation-report-1-30-september-2016 and in full: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/IOM_Yemen_Crisis_Sitrep_September_2016.pdf

15.–30.9.2016 – UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (A H)

Map: Yemen: Task Force on Population Movements 11th Report, September 2016

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/11th_report_maps.pdf

Yemen: Task Force on Population Movement | TFPM - 11th Report Abyan Governorate, September 2016

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/11th_report_governorates_profiles.pdf

cp14 Terrorismus / Terrorism

3.11.2016 – Noto Wahabism (A T)

Killed #ISIS fighter in Tlul al-Baj south #Mosul has forgotten his #Saudi passport, he is going to need it on his trip to hell! (photo)

https://www.facebook.com/NotoWahabism/posts/1011409762320939

cp15 Propaganda

3.11.2016 – CNN (A P)

Saudi general reacts to photo of starvation in Yemen

Christiane Amanpour presents Saudi Military Spokesman General Ahmed Asiri with a photo of the starvation conditions that have arisen during the war in Yemen.

http://edition.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/11/03/intv-amanpour-saudi-general-yemen-starvation-ahmed-asiri.cnn/video/playlists/amanpour/

Comment: Everything is used to make anti-Houthi propaganda. And, this was asked: The photo was not taken at Taiz, but in Hodeidah province.

3.11.2016 – Middle East Eye (* A P)

Few regrets: Saudi major general justifies 'ugly face' of Yemen war

In a wide ranging conversation, Saudi's military spokesperson describes a country with few regrets for its bombardment of Yemen.

When the general spoke to an invitation-only audience at London’s Royal United Services Institute on 1 November, he said that the Saudi-led coalition of 11 nations was “acting on behalf of the international community”.

Describing the rebel Houthis and the armed supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh as militias, al-Asiri commented that the coalition “supports the legitimate government (of Yemen) and we do not want the militias to succeed and become a model” that would cause more instability in an already very unstable region.

“The Houthis took the country by force," he said. "They say they want to be part of the government but keep their armed militias. If that were to happen, we would end up like Lebanon and that is not an acceptable situation.”

Al-Asiri insisted that the coalition forces are not systematically targeting civilians: “From day one, there were no attacks on infrastructure, no urban (bombing)," he continued. "We use precision weapons in support of troops on the ground.” He acknowledged that there has been “collateral damage but war has an ugly face and we have to deal with it”.

The major general's comments stand in stark contrast to numerous documented incidents of coalition bombs striking hospitals, schools, markets and essential infrastructure.

The coalition has accepted responsibility for the Sanaa attack but the major general insisted that the prison bombing had been misreported: “It was not a prison, it was the headquarters for the (rebel) security forces," he said.

Washington is already on record as wanting the bombing campaign to end. Here in the UK, a recent parliamentary opposition motion, though it failed, called for a halt to arms sales to Saudi Arabia.

But the major general was unperturbed, citing the longstanding relationship between his country and what he called “our friends”.

And, he said, in the unlikely event that some form of arms embargo did emerge either from America or Britain “the kingdom will find something in the open market but we hope that is not the case". The general noted that the arms industry was a big employer in the UK. “It serves the interest of UK factories,” adding that workers and their families benefitted.

Speaking without notes in a detailed and methodical presentation, he strongly denied claims that the Saudis were responsible for a naval blockade of humanitarian aid.

“It is misleading to speak of a blockade. All the ports are open, even those controlled by the Houthis. We control the movement (of ships) and screen to check for weapons. We want the goods to get to the people.”

He said that at ports controlled by the Houthis, humanitarian aid was seized by them to sustain military operations or to be sold on the black market or used to pressure rebel-besieged cities such as Taiz.

“Despite that, we work to get the goods to the people,” he said. The Saudis point to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre established in 2015 as proof of their commitment, arguing that Yemen is the centre’s top priority for aid.

He blamed the Houthis and Saleh for the collapse of peace talks earlier this year: “We engaged with the Houthis in three rounds of talks, we called them to get back (to the table) and to observe the ceasefire.” As far as the general was concerned, the conditions set by the coalition and the legitimate government of Yemen - including that the Houthis surrender their weapons - were reasonable: “We have to set conditions on the ground to ensure that the solution of today does not become the problem of tomorrow.”

He claimed Iran had 60,000 militiamen in Syria, a Hezbollah army in Lebanon, it was backing Shia militias committing atrocities in Iraq and was “supplying criminals in Bahrain”.

But pointing a finger of blame at Tehran does not erase an inescapable reality.

Thus far, none of those objectives [of Saudi Arabia for the Yemen war], by the major general’s own accounting, have been achieved. And the Yemeni people continue to pay a terrible price for “the ugly face of war" – by Bill Law

http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/saudi-major-general-yemen-and-ugly-face-war-1010695355

Comment: Repeating his well-known propaganda, which I already commented so often.

2.11.2016 – Saudi Press Agency (A P)

Wide condemnation of missile launched by Houthis towards Makkah

A number of Arab and Islamic organizations, councils and figures have condemned a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militia and their supporters towards Makkah.

They stressed Saudi Arabia’s ability to protect and maintain the security and stability in the country and the holy sites.

They were Scholars Association in South Africa; Tunisian religious, political and media figures; Egyptian scholars and head of the Islamic center in Washington.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/11/02/Wide-condemnation-of-missile-launched-by-Houthis-towards-Makkah.html

Comment: Still effects of this sectarian propaganda, enraging inter-Muslim strife. Look at the photo to see what the Saudis had made of Mecca. See article by Catherine Shakdam more below.

2.11.2016 – 5 Pillars (* A P)

Did Yemen’s Houthis really attack Makkah?

This past week has seen a significant media row in the Middle East over accusations by Saudi Arabia that Yemen’s Houthi movement targeted Makkah in a rocket attack. But what is the truth behind these accusations?

After Saudi Arabia made the accusation its regional allies, like Bahrain and Turkey, immediately began denouncing the “attack,” indicating the Houthis deliberately targeted the Islamic world’s holiest site. Some also instantaneously connected the attack to Iran who support the Houthis – a claim that has strongly been denied by both the Houthis and Tehran who say the target of the ballistic missile was a military base in Jeddah.

Nevertheless, Islamic scholars and prestigious organisations like Al Azhar University and the Organisation of Islamic Conference continued to condemn the attack with some even going so far as to call it an attack on the Islamic faith.

Over the course of the next few days, the story really picked up traction with mainstream media outlets such as Al Jazeera, The New York Times and The Independent all running with the story.

It also appears that by invoking the image of Makkah being attacked there has been a re-invigoration of support for the Saudis and their war against the Houthis in Yemen. Indeed, Golam Moshi, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said that his country would be willing to send troops “to protect the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.”

Some even claimed that the Houthis attacked Makkah because they are Zaydi, a branch of Shia Islam. Others said they have “no religion” and that is why they had no hesitation in attacking the holy site.

However, some have begun to question the validity of the Saudi claims. Why would the Houthis, an ultra-conservative Islamic political movement, attack the holiest site in Islam? Surely they must have been aware that such an action would draw widespread criticism from the Muslim world?

Also, the doubters pointed to the lack of proof the Saudis came up with, aside from an accusation in a statement.

The truth of the matter entirely depends on who you believe and perhaps where your political alliegances lie. – by Ahmed Kaballo

http://5pillarsuk.com/2016/11/02/did-yemens-houthis-really-attack-makkah/

Comment: The last sentence cited here simply does not make sense, as the whole allegation of this attack does not at all. The author himself states this by himself. Earlier reporting in YPR 222, 221, and read the following:

1.11.2016 – Shafaqna (* A P)

Lies, lies and more lies over fabricated Mecca attack – the opportunism of religious politicking is shameful!

Saudi Arabia’s propaganda machine has hit over-drive … Mecca the world has been warned was almost hit by a treacherous missile, and Islam’s holiest of sites were almost disappeared.

Wait a minute … I’m confused here! Who is doing the disappearing? I thought Riyadh was in charge of Islam’s grand cleansing campaign. You know all those pesky buildings and monuments Islam’s most venerable personalities rose with their two hands … Who needs those? Who needs museums, shrines, cemeteries and other reminders of what once was, and what stood at the birth of Islam?

Such trivialities are distractions from the true interpretation of Islam: Wahhabism. True believers should not bow, kneel or otherwise revere … except of course if veneration is spent in the worship of al-Saud monarchy.

Reciting Duas (supplications) at al-Baqee cemetery where members of the family of the Prophet Muhammad are buried is an act of apostasy under Wahhabism. But humiliating oneself before the majesty of al-Saud monarch is a duty none should EVER challenge, question, or otherwise dare to omit.

So here is a question: since the kingdom clearly could not care less about Islam’s religious heritage, why the sudden cahoots over a would-be-did-not-happen-invented-missile-attack the Houthis did not launch against Mecca? Why the sudden grand-standing?

When a crane fell during Hajj crushing to death dozens of pilgrims, Saudi Arabia commanded the world to hail the efforts its authorities exercised in keeping Mecca open to millions of Muslims.

When Saudi Arabia’s moral police was accused of sectarianism as its men beat and humiliated Shia Muslims on account their faith is a heresy under Wahhabism, the kingdom cried lèse majesté, arguing fabrication and ill-intended political manoeuvring,

When Saudi Arabia clergy called for the demolition of Mecca’s religious heritage, the world was told Mecca authorities had to make space for new fancy shopping malls

Notice a pattern here? No?

What manipulation? What the fact that Saudi Arabia happens to be blatantly and openly hypocritical as far as Islam’ sanctity is concerned?

Over 98% of the Kingdom’s historical and religious sites have been destroyed since 1985.

So NO when Saudi Arabia’ satellite countries rise in outrageover the phantasmagorical threat Yemen poses to the holy city of Mecca WE do buy it.

Saying something does not make it so!

Islam is not a commodity which can be waved around for political gain.

Islam does not belong to any one nation – by Catherine Shakdam

http://en.shafaqna.com/news/38940

Comment: The author is right when showing Saudi hypocrisy on Mecca – I believe the same when thinking of the bad taste Las Vegas copy into which the Saudis had changed Mecca.

2.11.2016 – Saudi Gazette (A P)

Khamenei ordered Makkah attack: Iranian opposition

President-elect of the Iranian Resistance “strongly” condemned the targeting of the holy city of Makkah with rockets launched from inside Yemen on Oct. 29.

Maryam Radjavi said the strikes were under the supervision of Quds Force, and ordered by Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.

She referred to the attack as a “declaration of war to all Muslims around the world”.

She called for the expulsion of the “anti-human” and “anti-Islamic” regime from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and requested Islamic countries to cut relations with the current Iranian regime.

“Even earlier the mullahs’ regime spared no effort to conduct crimes and desecration of Makkah and the sacred House of Allah. Among others were sending explosives to Saudi Arabia in 1986, and causing riot and chaos in Makkah in 1987 that took the lives of more than 400 pilgrims. This is the very same regime that did not even hesitate to explode the shrines of Shiite Imams in Mashhad and Samarra in a bid to maintain its infamous reign,” Radjavi said.

Earlier, the Iranian Resistance revealed transferring arm shipments by the mullah’s regime to Yemen.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/khamenei-ordered-makkah-attack-iranian-opposition/

Comment: Propaganda about the alleged Mecca attack still does not stop and is getting still more absurd. Now even Ayatollah Khamenei should have ordered this – well, this lady either will be able to show the documents showing his order or she must have a good contact to Khamenei if he has told her.

Comment: Fact is that Houthis launched the missile on Jeddah. Now everyone is using a lie making up a different story to serve personal agenda

https://www.facebook.com/LivingInYemenOnTheEdge/posts/1152019684851060

1.11.2016 – Anadolu (A P)

Yemeni vice president praises Turkish support for Yemen

Meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Yemen Levent Eler in Riyadh, VP touts 'historic' ties with Turkey

Yemen’s vice president on Tuesday praised Turkey’s attitude supporting the nation’s government and its efforts to end the turmoil there.
"Our relations with Turkey are historic and greatly appreciated by Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi," Lt. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, the vice president, said during a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Yemen Levent Eler in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 
"We praise Turkey's attitude supporting the efforts of the Saudi-led coalition which backs the legitimacy in our country," Yemen’s SABA news agency quoted him as saying. 
He added, "We express our thanks to the Turkish people, who stood against conspiracies that targeted legitimacy in both our countries, Turkey and Yemen."

For his part, Turkish Ambassador Eler stressed that his country would “continue its supportive role for constitutional legitimacy in Yemen, as we encourage all UN efforts to end the conflict and to stop the bloodshed in the country.”

http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemeni-vice-president-praises-turkish-support-for-yemen/676715

cp16 Saudische Luftangriffe / Saudi air raids

3.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Saudi barbaric aggression air raids Bani Matar, Hamdan

Saudi aggression warplanes launched 13 raids against two districts of Sanaa province overnight, officials told Saba on Thursday.
The barbaric raids targeted Bani Matar and Hamdan, damaging agricultural lands and properties of citizens.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445645.htm

3.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

US-backed Saudi barbaric airstrikes hit Saada, Najran

US-backed Saudi lethal aggression launched a series of airstrikes on Saada and Najran provinces overnight, a security official told Saba on Thursday.
The Saudi assault hit the area of al-Hasmah in shada district and launched three raids against Thaaban area, as well a raid against the Mandabah region in Saada.
The barbaric aggression also air raided several border areas in Najran.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445649.htm

3.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Saudi aggression warplanes target truckload of food

US-backed Saudi aggression warplanes targeted a truck loaded with food in the area of Bani Rabia of Razih district in the northern Saada province on Thursday morning, a security official told Saba.
The Saudi barbaric planes launched two raids on the truck, setting it on fire and killed its driver on the spot.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445659.htm

3.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Saudi airstrikes kill 3 citizens when targeting desalination plant in Mokha

US-backed Saudi barbaric aggression warplanes killed three citizens and injured nine others in an initial toll when targeted desalination plant in Mokha city early morning of Thursday, residents and official told Saba.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445662.htm and photos here: https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1598899187072736

Comment: Again and again: Willingly targeting main structures intending to starve the people out.

3.11.2016 – Legal Center (* A K PH)

Wednesday 2/11/2016
Targeting and bombing civilians by the warplanes of Saudi Arabia and its alliance.

Casualties and damages (full list):

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=717114851772216&id=551288185021551

2.11.2016 – Ahmad Alghobary (A K)

#Saudi air strikes targeted the main road in Sadaa city #Yemen Houses in Sadaa main road r completely destroyed by #KSA jets.

https://twitter.com/AhmadAlgohbary/status/793842449365872641

2.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Saudi aggression fighter planes waged 4 strikes on Nehm

Saudi aggression war jets launched four strikes on Nehm district of Sanaa province overnight, a security official told Saba on Wednesday.
The strikes targeted Bani Baraq and al-Madfon areas in the same district, causing destruction to citizen`s houses, properties and farms

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445583.htm

2.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Saudi barbaric aggression launch series air strikes on Saada, targeting farms

Saudi aggression fighter jets waged a series of strikes on Saada province early on Wednesday, as the enemy artillery and missile mercenaries fired on several districts in the same province, an official told Saba.
Five strikes targeted Maltah and al-Thoubat areas, as well four air raids hit Mandabah area in the province.
Moreover, the enemy war jets fired two strikes on al-Zawkal area and three other strikes on several areas of al-Dhahir district, burning farms.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445576.htm

and

2.11.2016 – Almasirah TV (A K PH)

Film: Najat family of raids Saudi American aggression in the province of Saada Razih

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2saHNcUwVI

and 2.11.2016 – Yemen Today TV (A K PH)

Film: Bombing Razeh, Saada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z9faV_IgMk

2.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

US-Saudi spy drone downed in Asir: army

The army and popular forces shot down a Saudi aggression spy drone in Alb area of Asir region late on Tuesday, a military official said.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445577.htm and https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/houthi-forces-shoot-saudi-drone-asir-province/

2.11.2016 – Legal Center (* A K PH)

1-11-2016
Targeting and bombing civilians by the warplanes of Saudi Arabia and its alliance
Casualties and damage (full list):

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=716530608497307&id=551288185021551

1.11.2016 – Fatik Al-Rodaini (A K)

Massive explosions were heard loudly minutes ago following intense Saudi jets flying over the sky of Hodeidah province in western #Yemen

https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/793578841847369729

1.11.2016 – Hussam Al-Sanabani (A K)

A thirst war. This week Saudi air strikes targeted Al-Salef, Al-khamlwa & Al-Sharaf water infrastructures in Hodidah. A new crises in #Yemen

https://twitter.com/hussamsanabani/status/793458612920279040

A thirst war, Hunger/thirst? Human can survive 3 weeks without food, but without water & exposeed 2 sunlight? (image)

https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/793526998937300993

and

1.11.2016 – Almasirah TV (A K PH)

Film: Saudi air raid at water pump, Hodeida province

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybglW2GZ3ik = https://www.facebook.com/881240811966559/videos/1149027371854567/

1.11.2016 – Saudi Arabia war crimes (* A K)

More photos from the Hodeidah prison air raid.

https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1598367357125919and https://www.facebook.com/SaudiArabia.war.crimes.against.Yemen/posts/1598375450458443

2.11.2016 – Judith Brown (A K)

I have been told that this dear little girl was killed by a bomb on my 70th birthday. You can see her body on the right hand picture. This was a house in Taiz bombed by Saudi Arabia. Can you think of one good reason why she deserved to die? (photos)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154870030543641&set=a.10154461224183641.1073741847.570773640&type=3

cp17 Kriegsereignisse / Theater of War

3.11.2016 – Katehon (A K PH)

Advances in Sana'a, Ma'rib and Ta'iz

Commanders of the Houthi alliance announced that they advanced in different parts of Sana'a, Ma'rib and Ta'iz provinces against the Saudi coalition’s terrorists and mercenaries. They have have taken control of the Qaran heights in Sana'a. They have also taken control of villages in southeastern Ma'rib province, killing 16 mercenaries and wounding dozens in this operation. They have dismissed reports that the terrorists entered the Western parts of Ma'rib.

The Houthi alliance assisted by local tribes has also seized territory in the eastern and central parts of Ta'iz, managing to cut the important terrorist supply routes between Ta'iz and Yemen's Southern provinces.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Yemeni tribal fighters have joined the Houthi alliance in their fight against the Saudi invasion and deadly air campaign since the funeral massacre in Sana'a.

The Houthi alliance targeted military bases and camps in the Saudi provinces of Najran, Jizan and Asir with artillery and missiles – by Abel Kotze

http://katehon.com/article/war-yemen-saudi-crimes-confirmed

3.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

The rocket and artillery units of the enemy Saudi mercenaries targeted the town of Haradh.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445649.htm

3.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Artillery unit hit enemy Saudi military camp, al-Kirs in Jizan

The army and popular forces' artillery unit pounded enemy Saudi al-Kirs military site in Jizan.
An army official spoke to Saba saying the attacks occurred late on Wednesday in retaliation for Saudi aggression air strikes at Yemeni civilians.
The attacks inflicted heavy losses among the enemy troops and equipment

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445672.htm

2.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Aggression mercenaries attacked in Najran

The army and popular committees targeted on Wednesday a grouping for the Saudi-American aggression at Al-Khadra’a border outlet in Najran.
A military source told Saba that the army and popular committees fired katyusha missiles against a grouping for the aggression mercenaries close to Al-Khadra’a border outlet in Najran. 
The source pointed out that the army and popular committees also foiled an attempt by the aggression mercenaries to advance towards Al-Buqa’ desert and burnt the vehicle which they were onboard.
The source also said that a Saudi soldier was snipped in Muth’in location.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445635.htm

Comment: Najran is a Saudi province at the Yemeni border, in the south occupied by Houthi / Saleh forces.

2.11.2016 – Hussam Al-Sanabani (A K PH)

Saudi withdraw National Guard force from Najran. Non predictable step. But why?

https://twitter.com/HussamSanabani/status/793936340480126976referring to https://twitter.com/NajranToday/status/793882358290219008

2.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Enemy Saudi missile and artillery mercenaries fired shells on various areas in Monabah, Shada and al-Dhahr districts of Saada, targeting the residents farms and homes

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445576.htm

2.11.2016 – MbKS15 (A K PS)

16 #Houthi leaders & 528 of their fighters were killed in Oct 2016 in #Yemen & at the #Saudi borders. All names are documented by @SyLvsT_R

https://twitter.com/MbKS15/status/793895919196536832

2.11.2016 – Yemen News (A K PH)

Film: Wars and battles took place in the Saudi-Yemeni border - Saudi-Yemeni border Najran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALxwl4V8mGI

2.11.2016 – Anadolu (A K)

Yemen: pro-Hadi forces say 15 of Houthis killed

Large numbers of residents displaced Taiz because of ongoing battles

At least 15 Shia Houthi militia were killed in clashes Tuesday in the provinces of Taiz and Al-Jawf, according to the pro-government Information Center.

The center said one of the fighters loyal to President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi was killed in the clashes and Houthis rebels are evacuating residents from a village in Taiz in order to convert it into a military zone.

Separately, a military source told Anadolu Agency that Houthis and forces that support exiled President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Monday managed to retake sites south of Taiz that were controlled by pro-Hadi forces.

The source, who was not authorized to speak to the media and wanted to remain anonymous, said pro-Hadi forces "were not able to maintain their military gains they had achieved in Monday’s battles."

Large numbers of residents had displaced from their homes because of the ongoing battles in Taiz, he added – By Murad al-Arifi

http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/yemen-pro-hadi-forces-say-15-of-houthis-killed-/676750

and, also on Jawf, so much different:

2.11.2016 – Saba Net (A K PH)

Army secures areas in Jawf

Dozens of US-backed Saudi mercenaries were killed and others injured, and many were arrested in unique operation carried out by the army and popular forces in al-Ghaile district of Jawf province, a military official told Saba on Wednesday. 
During the operation, the national forces secured al- Kawaihsh area and neighboring hilltops in al-Ghaile district, after the fierce battles drove the mercenaries to flee, the official said.

http://www.sabanews.net/en/news445581.htm

2.11.2016 – Islamic Invitation Turkey (A K)

PHOTOS: Yemen Hezbollah capture zionist Saudi Coalition positions in Ta’iz Province

The Houthi forces, backed by the Yemeni Republican Guard, continued their military operations inside the Ta’iz Governorate Tuesday, capturing several sites from the Hadi loyalists and Saudi-led Coalition.

According to the Yemeni Republican Guard’s official media wing, the anti-regime forces managed to seize several enemy positions in the Al-Salo area of the Ta’iz Governorate.

This powerful attack attack on Tuesday led the Houthi forces to seize more ground in the villages of Al-Seed and Al-Hasab.

The images above show the enemy weapons captured, along with the fighters killed by the Houthi forces in the Ta’iz Governorate on Tuesday.

http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/2016/11/02/photos-yemen-hezbollah-capture-zionist-saudi-coalition-positions-in-taiz-province/

Comment: Neither the Houthis is a “Yemen Hezbollah” nor the Saudis are “Zionist”. Interesting photos, the documents in a photo show that those who were repelled at that place were Yemeni fighters, Saudi mercenaries or any other anti-Houthi group.

cp18 Sonstiges / Other

2.11.2016 – UNESCO Doa (* B K P)

Film: End Impunity for Violence against Journalists in Yemen

UNESCO and its partners stand together with Yemeni journalists saying “No to Impunity” - the key message several international press freedom and media development groups and Yemeni journalists share on 2 November, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrNTjB0ISVQ

2.11.2016 – M. Alwadei (* B K)

Stop killing Journalists in Yemen #StopKillingJournalists

https://twitter.com/M_Alwadei4/status/793889090978492416

more than25Journalist killed witnesses of truth in Yemen since the start of the US-Saudi aggression against Yemen

https://twitter.com/M_Alwadei4/status/793888493667651584

Journalist Sami AbdelDayem was injured by Saudi airstrikes on funeral ceremony in Sana'a

https://twitter.com/M_Alwadei4/status/793889211933872128

Film: Mohammed Hamran news photographer, his son killed during the filming of a crime committed by the Saudi alliance Saada

https://twitter.com/M_Alwadei4/status/793889953386156032

and more at Hashtag https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopKillingJournalists?src=hash

2.11.2016 – Reuters (A T)

Yemeni money exchange, owners sanctioned for aiding AQAP - U.S. Treasury

A currency exchange business suspected of supporting al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the its two owners have been added to the U.S. Treasury Department's list targeting those who aid U.S.-designated terrorist groups, the department said on Tuesday.

Said Salih Abd-Rabbuh al-Omgy and Muhammad Salih Abd-Rubbuh al-Omgy were placed on the Treasury Department's specially designated nationals list along with their firm, the Al Omgy Exchange, which has been used by AQAP for financial transactions for several years, the department said in a statement.

The Treasury Department said AQAP uses accounts at the Al Omgy Exchange to disperse funding throughout Yemen and receive deposits, including extortion payments from Yemeni businesses.

It said AQAP earlier this year ordered a Yemeni petroleum firm in Hadramawt province to transfer $1 million to the Al Omgy Exchange to support the al Qaeda affiliate's activities.

The Treasury Department statement said Said al-Omgy owned an unknown number of money exchanges or money transfer organizations known as hawalas in Aden, Yemen, and used those institutions to conduct financial activity for AQAP – by David Alexander

http://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-usa-terrorism-idINKBN12W4UP

Comment by Judith Brown: Well the Yemeni currency exchange may be sanctioned but what about Hillary Clinton's emails that showed that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also supporting Al Qaeda. As well as the pictures of the Saudi led coalition fighting alongside ISIS and Al Qaeda.

https://www.facebook.com/judith.brown.794628/posts/10154868219898641

1.11.2016 – US Department of Treasury (A T)

Treasury Designates Financial Supporters of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula

Today, the United States, in close partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), took action to disrupt the operations and support networks of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Specifically, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the Al Omgy and Brothers Money Exchange (Al Omgy Exchange) and the company’s two owners Said Salih Abd-Rabbuh al-Omgy and Muhammed Salih Abd-Rabbuh al-Omgy pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of Al Omgy Exchange, and Said and Muhammed al-Omgy subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Acting under its authorities, the Central Bank of the UAE recently took swift action to eliminate any access to the UAE financial sector by Al Omgy Exchange in advance of today’s OFAC action.

“Today’s action reflects the strength of the U.S. partnership with the United Arab Emirates to degrade AQAP's capabilities to execute violent attacks and to identify and disrupt its financial and support networks,” said Adam J. Szubin, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “Al Omgy Exchange and its owners are responsible for financially facilitating and supporting AQAP and its violent attacks. Treasury will continue to work with our allies to protect the international financial system by exposing and taking action against AQAP supporters.”

https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl0601.aspx?src=ilaw

Comment: What about Hillary Clinton??? See: BOOM: Wikileaks Confirms Hillary Sold Weapons To ISIS, http://endingthefed.com/boom-wikileaks-confirms-hillary-sold-weapons-to-isis.html

2.11.2016 – AFP (A T)

Blacklisted Yemen firm denies helping al-Qaeda

A Yemeni money exchange firm Wednesday denied being involved in funneling money to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a day after Washington slapped it with financial sanctions.

Al-Omgy and Brothers Money Exchange issued a statement dismissing the accusations as "false" and mere "rumors."

In the statement, Said al-Omgy urged the Yemeni government to "demand a clarification from the UAE and the U.S. Treasury" over the measures taken against the company.

https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2016/Nov-02/379371-blacklisted-yemen-firm-denies-helping-al-qaeda.ashx

1.11.2016 – „Die Anstalt“ im ZDF (* B K)

Film: "USA vs. RUS, Jemen vs. Syrien"

Die Verteidiger der beiden Großmächte USA und Russland stellen bei dem Versuch eines Verfahrensdeals fest, dass sich ihre Mandanten gar nicht so unähnlich sind ...

https://www.zdf.de/comedy/die-anstalt/usa-vs-rus-102.html