Monthly Archives: February 2021

2021-02-10: News Headlines

Nicolas Niarchos (2021-02-10). The Suffering Underclass of War-Torn Yemen. thenation.com The Suffering Underclass of War-Torn Yemen…

Anand Naidoo (2021-02-10). The Heat: Yemen's war. america.cgtn.com U.S. President Joe Biden charts a new course in an effort to end the war Yemen.

_____ (2021-02-10). Why A War In Yemen? popularresistance.org The Saudis decided to enter an ongoing civil war in Yemen in 2015 for several reasons. The two countries share a long border at the southern end of their peninsula. This length of this border is matched by Yemen's coastline on the Arabian Sea, an access to ocean waters that Saudi Arabia does not have. | Even more important is that the southeast corner of Yemen sits at the point where the Red Sea flows into the Arabian Sea through a very narrow passageway. This would enable the Saudis to control shipping through the Red Sea. | Furthermore, Yemen has oil that generates revenue from contracts with private producers.

MEE and agencies (2021-02-10). Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi Arabia's Abha airport. middleeasteye.net Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi Arabia's Abha airport | Yemen rebels say four of its drones targeted Abha airport located around 120km from the border, leaving an aircraft in flames | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 13: 26 | The Houthis have previously hit Abha international airport, and regularly launch drones and missiles into Saudi Arabia (AFP) | Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-10). Macron's idea sign of his inability to think strategically. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (MNA)—"The idea to include Saudi Arabia must be seen within that context, i.e. the inability of Macron to think strategically and in more analytical detail about national and international relations", says Prof. Adib Moghaddam.

MEE staff (2021-02-10). Saudi Arabia 'suspended ministry website following criticism of hateful speech'. middleeasteye.net Saudi Arabia 'suspended ministry website following criticism of hateful speech' | Washington-based think tank says Riyadh has taken steps to remove anti-western and antisemitic content by its own officials and platforms in response to recent revelations | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 13: 24 | The Saudi Crown Prince has promoted himself as a reformist, but the rhetoric found on his government's platforms and by his appoin…

Nadda Osman (2021-02-10). Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi activist released from prison. middleeasteye.net Loujain al-Hathloul: Saudi activist released from prison | Blogger Nouf Abdulaziz, who was also swept up in Mohammed bin Salman's 2018 crackdown on dissent, also reportedly released | Wed, 02/10/2021 – 16: 56 | In a photo shared by her sister on social media, Loujain is shown smiling after her release (Screengrab/Twitter) | Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul has returned home after spendin…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-09). European Parliament proposes initiative for Yemeni ceasefire. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 09 (MNA) — Following the US claim to end the war in Yemen, some media outlets reported that the European Parliament is working on a plan to secure a ceasefire in the country.

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-09). US must take practical steps to end war in Yemen: official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 09 (MNA) — In an interview with Al Jazeera, an Iranian official said the United States must take practical steps to end the war in Yemen.

Adam Robertson Charlton (2021-02-09). Climate Crisis and Water Conflict: How Saudi's water insecurity led to war in Yemen. juancole.com Stavanger, Norway (Special to Informed Comment) — In the early hours of 14 September 2019, a fleet of drones attacked the Abqaiq-Khurais oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, the largest oil stabilisation plant in the world. The attack came shortly before Saudi Aramco —the Kingdom's state-owned oil company — was floated on the market, and Riyadh …

_____ (2021-02-09). How Rational Can The US Be In Dealing With Yemen And Iran? popularresistance.org This announcement does not augur peace in Yemen any time soon. Rather it looks a bit like political mystification that some have chosen to celebrate now, regardless of what it actually means, apparently in hope of making it a meaningful, self-fulfilling prophecy some time in the future. This does not seem likely, given what Biden actually said, but we shall see. | For the foreseeable future, Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, will remain the victim of a Saudi war of aggression and Saudi war crimes. Since March 2015, with the full support of the Obama administration, Saudi Arabia and its allies have tu…

MEE staff (2021-02-09). Saudi Arabia says regional states must be part of Iran nuclear talks. middleeasteye.net Saudi Arabia says regional states must be part of Iran nuclear talks | Kingdom calls on international community to confront Iran but fails to comment on US decision to end support for war in Yemen | Tue, 02/09/2021 – 21: 40 | Saudi King Salman headed a virtual cabinet meeting on Tuesday (AFP/File photo) | The Saudi government has called for regional countries to be part of any negotiations over Iran's nuclear…

Sara Flounders (2021-02-09). Evaluating Biden's Yemen policy: Bait and switch. workers.org Feb. 7 — President Joe Biden seemed to announce an end to Washington's complete support for Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen last week, reversing Trump's and even the Obama/Biden administration's public policy. He called the war a "humanitarian and strategic catastrophe." In his first presidential foreign policy speech on Feb. . . . |

Manlio Dinucci (2021-02-09). ´Dialogo strategico ª tra Italia e Arabia Saudita. globalresearch.ca Ha suscitato critiche il fatto che Matteo Renzi, ricevuto a Riad da Sua Altezza Reale Principe Mohammed bin Salman, abbia lodato l'Arabia Saudita. Nessuna critica invece, ma sostanziale consenso, quando lo stesso Renzi, in veste di presidente del consiglio nonché …

Manlio Dinucci (2021-02-09). ´Diálogo estratégico ª entre a Itália e a Arábia Saudita. globalresearch.ca Tem suscitado críticas o facto de Matteo Renzi, recebido em Riade por Sua Alteza Real, o Príncipe Mohammed bin Salman, ter elogiado a Arábia Saudita. Sem críticas, mas com um consenso substancial, quando o mesmo Renzi, como Primeiro Ministro e …

MEE staff (2021-02-09). Twitter suspends accounts, removes verification of Saudi political prisoners. middleeasteye.net Twitter suspends accounts, removes verification of Saudi political prisoners | Decision criticised as 'uncalled for' as the detainees are held in situations beyond their control | Tue, 02/09/2021 – 11: 54 | Ali al-Omari (L) and Awad al-Qarni have been in jail since 2017. Their verified Twitter badge has recently been removed by the social media giant (Twitter) | Twitter has removed the blue verified badge from…

Nadda Osman (2021-02-09). Loujain al-Hathloul was released, but other Saudi women activists remain behind bars. middleeasteye.net Loujain al-Hathloul was released, but other Saudi women activists remain behind bars | MEE takes a look at other advocates still imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for pushing for women's rights in the kingdom | Tue, 02/09/2021 – 17: 55 | MEE takes a look at the women's rights activists still behind bars in Saudi Arabia (Illustration by Mohamad Elasaar/MEE) | After more than 1,000 days in detention, Saudi women'

Peoples Dispatch (2021-02-09). Anti-war groups and opposition demand the UK government suspend arms sale to Saudi Arabia. peoplesdispatch.org The demand to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia has gained widespread support in the UK and across party lines in the parliament following Joe Biden's announcement for the same last week…

Ralph Nader (2021-02-09). Democrats Disarm Themselves Before Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial. counterpunch.org Donald Trump, has with luck, eluded the consequences of being a failed gambling czar with no respect for the law. But his luck has reached a new level with Congressional Democrats refraining from holding him accountable for breaking the law and violating the Constitution as regularly as the rising and setting of the sun for

yenisafak (2021-02-08). Iran's Zarif meets UN envoy for talks on Yemen conflict. yenisafak.com Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met in Tehran on Monday with Martin Griffiths, the UN envoy to Yemen, according to local media.Talks between the two sides focused on the Yemeni civil war and regional developments, the official IRNA news agency reported.Griffiths arrived in the Iranian capital on Sunday for talks with officials there on a resolution of the seven-year Yemeni conflict."The visit is part of the Special Envoy's diplomatic efforts to support a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people," a statement released by Griffiths' office said.On Sa…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-08). Yemen's Houthis renew offensive to capture government stronghold Marib. middleeasteye.net Yemen's Houthis renew offensive to capture government stronghold Marib | The push comes as UN special envoy to Yemen is in Iran to discuss the crisis in a sign of renewed diplomatic efforts with new US administration | Mon, 02/08/2021 – 16: 08 | A pro-government tribal fighter sits in a position where he fights against the Houthis in Marib, Yemen October 2 2020 (Reuters) | Houthi fighters…

_____ (2021-02-08). Defensive Moves Or Preparation For War With Iran? popularresistance.org The US has decided to deploy the Israeli Iron Dome Missile Interceptor Systems, purchased in 2019, in Eastern European countries and also in the Gulf countries where the US Central Command (CENTCOM) operates and has established operational military bases. This step coincides with the US decision that Israeljoin CENTCOM (with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrein, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan and more) following the normalisation of trade and diplomatic relations between several Arab and Islamic countries and Tel Aviv.

Ali Harb (2021-02-08). Jailed Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul set to be released, sister says. middleeasteye.net Jailed Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul set to be released, sister says | Hathloul has been in prison for more than 1,000 days, where her family says she endured torture | Mon, 02/08/2021 – 22: 20 | Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul had been sentenced to almost six years in jail (AFP/File photo) | After more than 1,000 days in detention where she endured torture and hunger strikes, Saudi women's rights activis…

Ali Harb (2021-02-08). Loujain al-Hathloul to be freed on Thursday, sister says. middleeasteye.net Loujain al-Hathloul to be freed on Thursday, sister says | Saudi women's rights activist has been in jail, where her family says she endured torture, for more than 1,000 days | Mon, 02/08/2021 – 22: 20 | Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul had been sentenced to almost six years in jail (AFP/File photo) | After more than 1,000 days in detention where she endured torture and hunger strikes, Saudi women's rights acti…

2021-02-09: News Headlines

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-09). US must take practical steps to end war in Yemen: official. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 09 (MNA) — In an interview with Al Jazeera, an Iranian official said the United States must take practical steps to end the war in Yemen.

Adam Robertson Charlton (2021-02-09). Climate Crisis and Water Conflict: How Saudi's water insecurity led to war in Yemen. juancole.com Stavanger, Norway (Special to Informed Comment) — In the early hours of 14 September 2019, a fleet of drones attacked the Abqaiq-Khurais oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, the largest oil stabilisation plant in the world. The attack came shortly before Saudi Aramco —the Kingdom's state-owned oil company — was floated on the market, and Riyadh …

_____ (2021-02-09). How Rational Can The US Be In Dealing With Yemen And Iran? popularresistance.org This announcement does not augur peace in Yemen any time soon. Rather it looks a bit like political mystification that some have chosen to celebrate now, regardless of what it actually means, apparently in hope of making it a meaningful, self-fulfilling prophecy some time in the future. This does not seem likely, given what Biden actually said, but we shall see. | For the foreseeable future, Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, will remain the victim of a Saudi war of aggression and Saudi war crimes. Since March 2015, with the full support of the Obama administration, Saudi Arabia and its allies have tu…

Sara Flounders (2021-02-09). Evaluating Biden's Yemen policy: Bait and switch. workers.org Feb. 7 — President Joe Biden seemed to announce an end to Washington's complete support for Saudi Arabia's war on Yemen last week, reversing Trump's and even the Obama/Biden administration's public policy. He called the war a "humanitarian and strategic catastrophe." In his first presidential foreign policy speech on Feb. . . . |

Manlio Dinucci (2021-02-09). ´Dialogo strategico ª tra Italia e Arabia Saudita. globalresearch.ca Ha suscitato critiche il fatto che Matteo Renzi, ricevuto a Riad da Sua Altezza Reale Principe Mohammed bin Salman, abbia lodato l'Arabia Saudita. Nessuna critica invece, ma sostanziale consenso, quando lo stesso Renzi, in veste di presidente del consiglio nonché …

Manlio Dinucci (2021-02-09). ´Diálogo estratégico ª entre a Itália e a Arábia Saudita. globalresearch.ca Tem suscitado críticas o facto de Matteo Renzi, recebido em Riade por Sua Alteza Real, o Príncipe Mohammed bin Salman, ter elogiado a Arábia Saudita. Sem críticas, mas com um consenso substancial, quando o mesmo Renzi, como Primeiro Ministro e …

MEE staff (2021-02-09). Twitter suspends accounts, removes verification of Saudi political prisoners. middleeasteye.net Twitter suspends accounts, removes verification of Saudi political prisoners | Decision criticised as 'uncalled for' as the detainees are held in situations beyond their control | Tue, 02/09/2021 – 11: 54 | Ali al-Omari (L) and Awad al-Qarni have been in jail since 2017. Their verified Twitter badge has recently been removed by the social media giant (Twitter) | Twitter has removed the blue verified badge from…

Ralph Nader (2021-02-09). Democrats Disarm Themselves Before Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial. zcomm.org If the Democrats do not go full throttle in this trial — this last clear chance to exercise the Constitution against Tyrant Trump — they will be remembered as profiles of infamy…

yenisafak (2021-02-08). Iran's Zarif meets UN envoy for talks on Yemen conflict. yenisafak.com Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met in Tehran on Monday with Martin Griffiths, the UN envoy to Yemen, according to local media.Talks between the two sides focused on the Yemeni civil war and regional developments, the official IRNA news agency reported.Griffiths arrived in the Iranian capital on Sunday for talks with officials there on a resolution of the seven-year Yemeni conflict."The visit is part of the Special Envoy's diplomatic efforts to support a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people," a statement released by Griffiths' office said.On Sa…

Daniel Martin Varisco (2021-02-08). Biden is Right to end US involvement in Bloody Yemen Conflict, but he Needs to end the War itself. juancole.com Glen Cove, N.Y. (Special to Informed Comment) — President Biden's about face on Saudi support for the war in Yemen, including setting aside the disastrous idea of designating the Huthis as a unique set of "terrorists", is a hopeful step, but the road to peace is a steep climb. As noted by a recent report …

Ali Harb (2021-02-08). Jailed Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul set to be released, sister says. middleeasteye.net Jailed Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul set to be released, sister says | Hathloul has been in prison for more than 1,000 days, where her family says she endured torture | Mon, 02/08/2021 – 22: 20 | Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul had been sentenced to almost six years in jail (AFP/File photo) | After more than 1,000 days in detention where she endured torture and hunger strikes, Saudi women's rights activis…

Ali Harb (2021-02-08). Loujain al-Hathloul to be freed on Thursday, sister says. middleeasteye.net Loujain al-Hathloul to be freed on Thursday, sister says | Saudi women's rights activist has been in jail, where her family says she endured torture, for more than 1,000 days | Mon, 02/08/2021 – 22: 20 | Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul had been sentenced to almost six years in jail (AFP/File photo) | After more than 1,000 days in detention where she endured torture and hunger strikes, Saudi women's rights acti…

_____ (2021-02-08). Defensive Moves Or Preparation For War With Iran? popularresistance.org The US has decided to deploy the Israeli Iron Dome Missile Interceptor Systems, purchased in 2019, in Eastern European countries and also in the Gulf countries where the US Central Command (CENTCOM) operates and has established operational military bases. This step coincides with the US decision that Israeljoin CENTCOM (with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrein, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Pakistan and more) following the normalisation of trade and diplomatic relations between several Arab and Islamic countries and Tel Aviv.

yenisafak (2021-02-07). Saudi-led coalition intercepts rebel drone from Yemen. yenisafak.com The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said Sunday it had intercepted an explosive-laden drone fired by Houthi rebels towards Saudi Arabia.The Houthi drone attack was a "systematic and deliberate attempt to target civilians and civilian objects", coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki said in a statement cited by Saudi SPA News Agency.There was no comment from the Houthi group on the coalition's statement.The rebel movement regularly announces rocket and drone attacks on Saudi territories, saying they are a reaction to the Saudi-led coalition's assault on Yemen.Yemen has been wracked by violence and instability since…

yenisafak (2021-02-07). UN envoy visits Iran for talks on Yemeni conflict. yenisafak.com UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths arrived in Tehran on Sunday for talks with Iranian officials on a resolution of the 7-year Yemeni conflict.A statement released by his office said that Griffiths will meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and other senior officials during his two-day visit."The visit is part of the Special Envoy's diplomatic efforts to support a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people," the statement said.According to the statement, Griffiths' immediate priority is "to support agreement between the parties to the conflict on…

MEE and agencies (2021-02-07). Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted Houthi armed drone attack. middleeasteye.net Saudi-led coalition says it intercepted Houthi armed drone attack | The incident comes days after President Biden announced ending of US support for Saudi-led operations in Yemen | Sun, 02/07/2021 – 11: 15 | Drone attack attributed to Houthis comes after US moved to delist the rebels as a terrorist group (AFP) | An armed drone launched towards Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthis was intercepte…

Joe Gould (2021-02-07). Biden to Stop Selling Smart Bombs to Saudi Arabia, Will Keep Supplying It With Everything Else. anti-empire.com Editor's note: If Saudis run out of smart bombs and go to dumb ones, how is that any better? |
| The Biden administration has paused indefinitely two precision guided munition sales to Saudi Arabia, worth as much as $760 million, as part of a new policy aimed at curtailing violence in Yemen, Defense News has learned. | However, that policy, announced Thursday by President Joe Biden, left open the possibility for future sales that are considered vital for Saudi Arabia's national defense, a fine line that would mean some munitions sales will continue. | "We are ending all American support for offensive operati…

news.un (2021-02-07). US decision will provide 'profound relief' to millions in war-torn Yemen: UN spokesperson. news.un.org The US announcement revoking the previous administration's terrorist designation of Yemen's Houthi movement, formally known as Ansar Allah, will provide "profound relief" to millions in the country, who depend on international assistance and imports for their survival, the UN Spokesperson said on Saturday.

Aaron Maté (2021-02-07). Biden reduces US role in Saudi war on Yemen, but leaves room to continue crisis. thegrayzone.com A massive humanitarian crisis and Houthi-led resistance forced President Joe Biden to change course on Yemen. But that won't stop the US and Saudi Arabia from trying to impose imperial terms on the Yemeni people, scholar and author Isa Blumi says. President Biden has taken important steps to reduce the US role in the war on Yemen, while still leaving room to continue supporting the Saudi-led campaign and imposing its terms on the Yemeni people. Isa Blumi, associate professor at …

Online News Editor (2021-02-07). Spain's FM begins Gulf tour in UAE. laprensalatina.com Cairo, Feb 7 (efe-epa).- Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Arancha Gonzalez Laya on Sunday arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), kicking off a Gulf trip that will also take her to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Spanish official held a meeting with the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Sheikh Saif …

Alex MacDonald (2021-02-07). Ali al-Nimr and two other Saudis jailed as minors have death sentences commuted. middleeasteye.net Ali al-Nimr and two other Saudis jailed as minors have death sentences commuted | Rights group Reprieve welcomes the news but calls for others imprisoned as minors to receive similar treatment | Sun, 02/07/2021 – 14: 11 | Ali al-Nimr, a Saudi youth facing the death penalty for taking part in pro-reform protests, posing for a photo at an unknown location (AFP) | Saudi Arabia on Sunday commuted th…

Alex MacDonald (2021-02-07). Jailed Saudi teen Ali al-Nimr has death sentence commuted to 10 years in prison. middleeasteye.net Jailed Saudi teen Ali al-Nimr has death sentence commuted to 10 years in prison | Rights group Reprieve welcomes the news but calls for others imprisoned as minors to receive similar treatment | Sun, 02/07/2021 – 14: 11 | Ali al-Nimr, a Saudi youth facing the death penalty for taking part in pro-reform protests, posing for a photo at an unknown location (AFP) | Saudi Arabia has commuted the deat…

Online News Editor (2021-02-06). Yemeni conjoined twins head to Jordan after Houthis' refusal to Saudi gesture. laprensalatina.com Sana'a, Feb 6 (efe-epa).- Fifty-day-old Yemeni conjoined twins were flown by UNICEF-chartered ambulance aircraft from the Yemeni capital Sana'a on Saturday to the Jordanian capital Amman where they are to have a life-saving separation surgery after the Houthi rebels refused a Saudi offer to evacuate them. Muhammad and Ahmad Yasser al-Bukhaiti were born connected at …

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2021-02-06). Citing Humanitarian Impact, Biden Reverses 'Dangerous' Designation of Houthis as Terrorist Group. commondreams.org Moving forward, said one expert, "the international community needs to stop fueling the conflict, generously fund Yemen's humanitarian response, and prioritize peace." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/foodaid.jpg

_____ (2021-02-06). Biden Says He's Ending The Yemen War. popularresistance.org The February 4 announcement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that President Biden would end U.S. support for "offensive operations" in Yemen was understandably met with celebration by those opposed to the war. Almost six years of the U.S.-Saudi‚ÄëU.A.E. war on Yemen have left the country devastated by humanitarian disaster and famine. Anti-war activists have spent these years‚Äâ—‚Äâfirst during the Obama-Biden administration, then the Trump-Pence administration, and now the Biden-Harris administration‚Äâ—…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-06). Stopping arms sales to Riyadh could be a step forward. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 06 (MNA) — The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that stopping arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition could be a step toward correcting past mistakes of the US.

sputniknews (2021-02-06). Biden Set to 'Put a Little More Distance' in Relations With Israel, Focus on Iran – Reports. sputniknews.com The approach of the new US administration will reportedly be different from what former president Donald Trump had pursued – namely, embracing ties with Saudi Arabia and Israel.