The Iran-Saudi deal: A bid to end endless war

March 23 2023

Photo Credit: The Cradle

The Beijing-brokered rapprochement between Tehran and Riyadh is expected to have significant implications for peace and prosperity in and around West Asia, given the considerable influence the two nations wield in the region.

Author F.M. Shakil

By F.M. Shakil

The China-mediated Saudi-Iran peace agreement, inked on 10 March in Beijing, marks a significant geopolitical shift with far-reaching implications for the Persian Gulf and Iran’s neighboring countries. For decades, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been engaged in ideological and economic competition on the territories of their neighbors, causing regional tensions to escalate.

If the agreement is successful and relations between Riyadh and Tehran improve as envisioned, tensions will likely begin to significantly subside in the Persian Gulf, Levant, and further afield in neighboring Pakistan and Afghanistan. The former, long concerned about its security and energy supply vulnerabilities, will potentially benefit from improved relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which could help address its oil and gas crises.

Similarly, Afghanistan, whose Taliban-led government is still struggling to gain international recognition and is in dire need of reconstruction and investment initiatives, may also benefit from the kingdom’s rapprochement with the Islamic Republic.

Persian Gulf States

An early litmus test for the Saudi-Iranian reconciliation will be its impact on Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, where a perceived proxy war has wreaked havoc on their respective economies and in their public spheres.

One of the most critical areas where the impact of the peace agreement will be tested is Yemen, where Iran and Saudi Arabia have backed opposing sides in the country’s eight-year war. The conflict has resulted in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises after a Saudi-UAE-led coalition in 2015 launched military attacks against Yemen’s pro-Iran Ansarallah movement, which had seized control of the capital, Sanaa.

Iran’s permanent mission to the UN said in a statement that the Iran-Saudi deal will “accelerate the ceasefire, help start a national dialogue, and form an inclusive national government in Yemen.”

Meanwhile, in the Levant, Lebanon is deeply mired in an unprecedented economic crisis, exacerbated by the deterioration of ties between Riyadh and Beirut. This divide has been fueled by the expansion of Iran-backed Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah’s power in Lebanon. The World Bank has reported that Lebanon’s economic crisis is among the worst globally in a century, and the situation continues to deteriorate as quickly as the country’s free-falling lira.

Tensions came to a head in 2017 when then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who had previously been Saudi Arabia’s closest ally in Lebanon, announced his resignation in a televised statement from Riyadh. Lebanese lawmakers charged that he was forced to step down after being detained and roughed up by his Saudi hosts.

The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia has also impacted Iraq, which has suffered greatly since the illegal US-led invasion in 2003. Despite various domestic and foreign initiatives to stabilize matters and reach a consensus on vital issues of governance, the Iraq arena remains volatile, with ongoing violence and political instability.

The crisis in Syria is often viewed as a collection of proxy wars between regional and international powers. The 12-year conflict has been fueled by the involvement of various foreign actors, including the US, UK, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Qatar, France, and Saudi Arabia. These powers have politically and militarily backed different sides in the conflict – and in the case of the west, imposed oppressive economic sanctions – leading to a complex and ongoing crisis that has caused significant suffering for the Syrian people.

Relief for Pakistan?

Pakistan’s top policymakers are optimistic about the resumption of work on the “Peace Gas Pipeline” following the restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia. A source in the Pakistani Foreign Office informs The Cradle that Riyadh’s opposition was the main reason the project stalled.

Geopolitical analyst Andrew Korybko goes a step further, predicting that the reconciliation between Tehran and Riyadh will unlock the full potential of a Russia-Iran-India led trade route project – the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) – by connecting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to a series of promising Eurasian megaprojects. These projects will run through Pakistan and connect Russia and India by road, making it a significant development for the region’s transportation infrastructure.

Authorities in Islamabad also believe that the Saudi-Iran agreement will help reduce the activities of Saudi-sponsored sectarian militant groups, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sippa-e-Sahaba (later renamed Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat), as well as the Sunni militia Jundallah, based in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, which has claimed to have killed hundreds of Iranian security personnel. These organizations have been involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan, particularly targeting the Shia community. According to Korybko:

“Inadvertently, the Baloch element of Pakistan’s security issues may worsen soon. After being cut off by Riyadh and losing their jobs, these militants may join other extremist groups like the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or sub-nationalist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), unless Islamabad detains them or initiates their disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration.”

Afghanistan

For years, Riyadh went head-to-head with Iran to shape Afghanistan’s internal governance and politics and limit Tehran’s influence in its bordering state. Following the 1979 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the establishment of a communist government under the six-year leadership of Babrak Karmal, the Saudis used Afghan ethnic and religious groups to spread their Salafist, jihadi ideology.

Meanwhile, Iran supported several Shia groups that took over parts of Hazarajat in central Afghanistan near the western periphery of the Hindu Kush range, leading to the formation of Hezb-e Wahdat after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death in 1989.

The US, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan formed a Pashtun jihadi fighter – or mujahidin resistance force – to fight the Soviet troops, with groups such as Gulbuddin Hikmatyar’s Hizb-i Islami and Abdul Rasul Sayyaf’s Ittihad-i Islami joining the US-backed war against the communist Afghan government.

Saudi Arabia’s rivalry with Iran led to the funding of an Islamic complex in Kabul in 2012, with the intention of competing against Iran’s Khatam al-Nabyeen mosque and Islamic University, built in 2006.

With diplomatic relations set to resume between Iran and Saudi Arabia in two months, it remains to be seen whether Afghanistan will benefit from this detente. While some experts are skeptical that Afghanistan will see any immediate relief from this rivalry, they note that the country is likely to benefit from the progress made in Iran’s Chabahar Port – co-developed with India – which is expected to accelerate in the near future.

Nonetheless, the Taliban’s international and especially regional recognition will likely be a key factor in determining whether Afghanistan can benefit from the resumption of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The ‘Asian Century’

On 17 March, Pakistan announced that it facilitated communication between Saudi Arabia and Iran during the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting in Islamabad in March last year. During a recent weekly briefing, a Foreign Office spokesperson stated: “We applaud this advancement. Together with various other countries and supporters of both Iran and Saudi Arabia, Pakistan encouraged the talks.”

Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman of Pakistan’s Senate Defense Standing Committee, tells The Cradle that the Iran-Saudi peace deal is a clear setback for the US and Israel, noting that there is little they can now do about the trend of declining US influence in West Asia and the concurrent rise of China in what is now being termed the “Asian Century.”

“The world has rejected the notion of a new cold war, which some hawkish elements in the west are peddling. The time has come when Asian hands must shape the Asian future, a process on which the region has already embarked,” emphasizes Syed.

He also adds that for Islamabad, this is excellent news, as China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are close friends and partners.

China, Syed says, has achieved a major diplomatic victory in midwifing this agreement, which is a major step forward toward peace, stability, and harmony in the Muslim world and could bring proxy wars to an end in the volatile region.

China-led security paradigms

What motivated Beijing to take on the role of mediator in the Iran-Saudi peace talks and engage directly in Persian Gulf security matters?

In recent years, China’s foreign policy has become more assertive, particularly since Xi Jinping became president in 2012. Analysts believe that Beijing’s decision to broker peace talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia is in line with its growing involvement in West Asia, which today extends beyond satisfying its energy needs, and includes conflict resolution, regional security, and domestic politics.

Another factor is China’s substantial investments in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects across the region, with agreements and understandings signed by twenty Arab states.

Xi Jinping’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) and “the Middle Eastern security architecture” have driven China to become more deeply involved in Persian Gulf politics and address the region’s security concerns. At the Communist Party’s annual congress in Hong Kong in 2022, President Xi stated that the GSI’s security parameters could effectively handle geopolitical conflicts, the food crisis, and the COVID-19 epidemic.

Tuvia Gering, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, explains to The Cradle that as China strives towards “national rejuvenation” and grows its vested interests in the Global South, top Chinese experts are debating whether to increase their involvement in political and security issues in West Asia and North Africa.

“Yang Cheng, a former diplomat and expert on Sino-Russian relations, thinks that China might eventually be able to work with [West Asian] countries on security issues and may become a major provider of security-related public goods,” Gering says, adding that the majority of China’s intelligentsia is in favor of getting more involved in regional issues.

The normalization of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia clearly has the potential to greatly impact West Asia and the wider region as a whole. By reducing political and sectarian rivalry, the deal could effectively neuter the tendency toward proxy wars and the spread of extremist ideologies.

Importantly, the rapid advancement of economic cooperation between the two countries and their regional neighbors could provide an excellent testing ground for Xi’s grand vision of replacing western-sponsored “endless war” with his “peaceful modernization” alternative for the Global South. While it is still too early to determine the extent of the deal’s impact, it is clear that this Iran-Saudi rapprochement is a positive step towards stability in West Asia.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.

Tyranny on the waters: The UAE-Israeli occupation of Yemen’s Socotra Island

March 24 2023

Photo Credit: The Cradle

The transformation of Yemen’s strategically-located Socotra Island into an Emirati-Israeli military intelligence hub has raised concerns for the Ansarallah movement and its allies, significantly increasing the geopolitical stakes of the Yemen war.

By Karim Shami

Located off the southern coast of Yemen in the Arabian Sea, the Socotra archipelago has become a focal point of regional and international interest because of its strategic proximity to one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

On 21 June, 2020, the Yemeni island was militarily occupied by Saudi Arabia’s Emirati coalition partner, which has aggressively pursued a policy of establishing and controlling ports throughout West Asia and the Horn of Africa since 1999.

The archipelago consists of four large islands: Socotra (3,796km²), Abd al-Kuri (130.2km²), Samhah (39.6km²), and Darsah (7.5km²), as well as three small islets.

Socotra, the biggest of the islands, lies 350 km south of the Arabian Peninsula and 95 km from Somalia. It is surrounded by the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea, and faces the Horn of Africa from the west. Around 20,000 shipping vessels pass around Socotra each year, including 9 percent of the world’s annual global petroleum supply.

The War on Yemen

The assault on Yemen was launched on 26 March, 2015, in an announcement by Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir from Washington DC, in which he stated that a coalition of ten countries, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, would take military action to reinstate the government of Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

Hadi had been ousted in popular protests in 2014, after losing the capital city, Sanaa, to the joint forces of the Ansarallah movement and their allies in the country’s armed forces. Based in northern Yemen, the Ansarallah movement had been advocating for fair representation in the government for a long time.

With US-backing, Saudi Arabia launched “Operation Decisive Storm,” and the air strikes began. Initially expected to last only a few weeks or months – and according to MbS himself, just “a few days” – the Yemeni war has now entered its eighth year and taken on a markedly different shape than the coalition initially contended.

Two years into the war, the Emiratis began pursuing their own hidden agenda of establishing a “self-styled maritime empire” in Yemen, which veered sharply from Riyadh’s objectives. To achieve this goal, Abu Dhabi sought to control the country’s southern coastline and its ports and enlisted the help of a local Yemeni proxy called the Southern Movement.

The Southern Movement was formed by secessionist tribes and groups seeking to divide Yemen along the old partition lines of 1967–1990. However, the movement had to be restructured to match the UAE’s aspirations, and in 2017 it was transformed into the Southern Transitional Council (STC).

Map of the Emirati-controlled areas and ports in southern Yemen

The significance of Socotra

Socotra Island falls under the territorial jurisdiction of the exiled Hadi government, which to this day – despite his physical absence and the replacement of the “presidency” with an 8-member, Saudi-sponsored Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) – remains Yemen’s internationally-recognized government.

However, on 30 April, 2018, the UAE deployed hundreds of troops with artillery and armored vehicles on the island, which is located 350 km away from the mainland conflict, without any prior coordination with Yemeni authorities.

The Riyadh-backed Yemeni government condemned the Emirati aggression, backed by local islanders protesting against the occupation of their territory. The Saudis were forced to intervene by sending troops and training locals to deter the UAE from seizing the island.

But later that year, UAE General Khalfan al-Mazrouei arrived on Socotra Island and has since been considered its de facto ruler. Under his leadership, the Emiratis gained the loyalty of local tribes by using bribery under the guise of “humanitarian aid.” They offered Socotra residents UAE passports and promised them an improved quality of life.

UAE General Khalfan al-Mazrouei arrives in Socotra, 2018

The STC seizes Socotra

On the morning of 21 June, 2020, the UAE-backed STC separatists forcibly seized control of Socotra and ousted the Saudi-backed, pro-Hadi forces.

The UAE had been planning and preparing for this operation for two years, using its Yemeni proxies to gain full control over the Socotra archipelago. The Emirati flag was raised across the territory, and UAE telecommunication companies replaced Yemeni ones. Consequently, all phone calls from Socotra now register Emirati phone networks.

UAE-Israel normalization

Three months after the seizure of Socotra, the highly-controversial Abraham Accords was signed in Washington DC between Israel and the UAE, along with Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. On the Arab side, the normalization thrust was led by Abu Dhabi, which quickly moved to expand its diplomatic, military, and economic ties with Tel Aviv.

Shortly after the signing of the Abraham Accords, reports and images of Israeli “tourists” visiting Socotra began to emerge. According to an Al-Mayadeen report, however, the Israeli visitors were not tourists, but rather, military experts.

An Israeli “tourist” in Socotra Island; picture via Twitter

Abd al-Kuri Island

In February 2023, Ansarallah released a statement condemning the UAE’s eviction of residents from Abd al-Kuri, the archipelago’s second-largest island. The resistance movement accused Abu Dhabi of carrying out a long-planned operation to transform Socotra into an Israeli-Emirati military and intelligence hub.

These actions by the UAE are not isolated incidents. In another 2022 episode, Ansarallah accused Abu Dhabi of transferring fishermen from the small island of Perim (13 km²) to other parts of the Taiz Governorate. Several months later, satellite imagery revealed the construction of a military base runway on the volcanic Island. Perim is now empty of its original inhabitants, according to media reports.

An Emirati military base on Perim Island (Mayyun in Arabic) on the Bab al-Mandab Strait

Perim Island has historically divided the Bab al-Mandab Strait into two waterways – whoever controls the island holds strategic influence over the strait. While Ansarallah’s statement about Emirati designs on Socotra was not entirely new, it raised hackles throughout the Arab world by confirming Israel’s military and intelligence presence on this key Yemeni island.

The UAE’s maritime ambitions

Many have questioned Abu Dhabi’s motivation for seizing Socotra and risking its relationships with Saudi Arabia and neighboring Oman (virtually overnight surrounded by UAE ports and bases). The UAE’s actions may be entirely attributed to the strategic vision of its President Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) and his no-longer secret desire to establish an Emirati maritime empire –from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea – by controlling the region’s key waterways.

The UAE’s economic reliance on these waterways is a clear driver of MbZ’s plans: non-petroleum commodity re-exports make up almost half of Abu Dhabi’s total exports. As such, maritime security is a top priority in the country’s foreign policy calculations.

The UAE currently controls 12 ports off the coast of Yemen, including Aden, Makha, Mukalla, Al-Dabba, Bir Ali, Belhaf, Rudum, Zoubab, Al-Khawkhah, Al-Khouba, Qena, and Al-Nashima. The country is also building a new port in Al-Mahra that will cost an estimated $100 million.

By controlling these ports and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the UAE can dominate one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, elevating its position in global and regional trade to a strategic player.

In addition to its aggressive accumulation of Yemeni ports, the UAE also has a significant presence in the Horn of Africa, where it currently controls two ports in Eritrea and one in Somalia. It previously owned a port in Djibouti, but this became a point of territorial friction between the two countries. The UAE’s control over these ports and their strategic location in the region allow it to project its power and expand its influence in East Africa.

Why is Socotra important to Israel?

The UAE and Israel share mutual security concerns over Iran’s regional ascension over the past decade. The Islamic Republic’s naval presence is expanding into many new waterways, and its seaborne activities from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea alarm both nations. Given Washington’s growing reluctance to engage its armed forces in West Asia, MbZ turned to the region’s military behemoth and main Iranian rival to help him execute his vision. Unlike Israel, no other regional state has the ability to garner unconditional US support – nor the willingness to cavalierly defy international law and territorial integrity.

Abu Dhabi has calculated that it stands to benefit from Israel’s intelligence network and early warning systems, particularly after its cities were subject to unprecedented Ansarallah missile and drone strikes in January 2022.

For Tel Aviv, its physical presence in any Arab state is perceived as a victory, which aligns with its ambitions for regional expansion. By establishing a base on Abd al-Kuri Island, Israel can reinforce its maritime security – around 25 percent of its trade passes through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Another objective of the Israeli-Emirati military and intelligence hub could be to gather data or engage in espionage activities in the southern Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.

During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, Yemen – in partnership with Egypt – blocked the passage of Israeli ships and tankers from accessing the strategic strait, leading to disastrous consequences for Israel.

The tactic could be replicated under Ansarallah Chief Abdel Malak al-Houthi’s leadership, since the movement considers Israel one of its main regional adversaries. While it may seem like a distant possibility, if the war concludes under current Riyadh-Sanaa peace efforts and Ansarallah gains control of Yemen’s south, the movement will enjoy unusual leverage to obstruct Israeli shipments whenever Tel Aviv launches regional aggressions. It should be noted that Ansarallah has already publicly threatened, on several occasions, to strike sensitive Israeli sites with its new missile capabilities.

Moreover, there has been an ongoing “ghost ship war” between Israel and Iran for several years, with occasional reports of Iranian or Israeli ships being attacked in these waterways. Israel’s presence on Socotra Island could provide it with leverage over Iran in their waterway stand-off and enable Tel Aviv to counter Ansarallah inside Yemeni territory.

NATO’s Combined Maritime Forces

It is important to note that the involvement of the US in the Israeli-Emirati collaboration and actions in Yemeni waters is not confirmed. However, it is true that the US has been a maritime security provider for the Persian Gulf monarchies for decades, and its NATO-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) have been present in West Asian waters since 1983 – including leading hostile actions against Iraq and Somalia.

The CMF alliance has assumed responsibility for the security of four bodies of water: The Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.

But with China’s rapid rise as a global economic competitor, US policy pivoted further eastward, and Washington has sought to subcontract out its West Asian security policies to its regional allies.

As such, last December, the CMF assigned command of its Red Sea task force to the Egyptian Navy, who took over from US naval forces. In this regard, the UAE, backed by Israel, may be another candidate to lead a NATO-backed naval security operation in the region.

Map of the NATO-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) areas of operation in West Asian waterways

Implications for Iran and Saudi Arabia

Any Israeli expansion is likely to alarm Iran and vice versa, potentially leading direct or proxy clashes in various regional theaters. However, the presence of the UAE – Iran’s second-largest trading partner – in southern Yemen may limit Tehran’s options. Unless Iran perceives a serious security threat from the new “Arab-Israeli alliance,” it is unlikely to take any significant actions that could harm its trade relations with Abu Dhabi.

The war against Yemen has severely damaged Saudi Arabia’s image as a regional powerhouse. During the last few years, all major Saudi cities have been the subject of Ansarallah missile and drone strikes – including the country’s key oil infrastructure.

It has been humiliating for the Persian Gulf’s wealthiest and most heavily militarized state to have its vulnerabilities so completely exposed by West Asia’s poorest nation. In contrast, the UAE has thus far only benefited from the Yemen war and expanded its influence in the region.

Recently, there have been reports of a possible breakthrough in negotiations between Riyadh and Ansarallah, and observers are hoping for an early roadmap to end the conflict during the holy month of Ramadan. Obstacles are aplenty: The UAE is notably absent from the discussions, the Emirati-backed Yemeni separatists – the STC – reject any solution that doesn’t leave them in control of the south, and the US has sought to scuttle any final solution that undermines Washington’s regional leverage.

Liberating the island

Of all the stakeholders with interest in Socotra Island, none are ultimately as important as the Yemeni ones, primarily the UAE-backed STC, the Saudi-backed PLC, and Iran-backed Ansarallah.

In his most recent televised appearance, Ansarallah’s Abdel Malik al-Houthi stated: “We seek to defeat the aggression, whether on the islands, on land or at sea, and from anyone who violates our independence and the sovereignty of our country.” Unlike other leaders, al-Houthi’s threats are usually translated into action and Ansarallah will not hesitate to strike the Israeli-Emirati bases or seize their ships if the aggression continues.

Ansarallah is currently the strongest player in Yemen, controlling more than 80 percent of the country in terms of population density. On the other hand, the PLC is the most vulnerable of the three main Yemeni players, and Riyadh’s recent rapprochement agreement with Tehran has further weakened the group. If an agreement is reached between Riyadh and Sanaa, the PLC will have one of two options: to hand over their weapons or merge into Ansarallah’s armed forces.

On the other side of the spectrum, the UAE-backed STC is worried about ongoing peace talks and fears being left alone to fight head-to-head with Ansarallah-aligned armed forces.

The question now is whether there will be a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Ansarallah that excludes the UAE and its Yemeni proxies. If that happens, Sanaa’s armed forces will almost certainly turn their big guns on the Emiratis and their Yemeni interests. The Saudis will have already calculated this outcome as they seek to advance a deal with Ansarallah. In this event, it is unlikely that Riyadh will come to Abu Dhabi’s assistance. Their common goals in Yemen ended years ago.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.

Yemen enters 9th year of war with lethal missile arsenal: Al-Houthi

March 26, 2023

Source: Agencies

By Al Mayadeen English 

Ansar Allah leader says the steadfastness of Yemenis was the pillar in preventing the coalition of aggression from achieving its goals in the war on the country.

The leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

The leader warns the countries of aggression.. The speech of Mr. Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi on the occasion of the National Day of Resilience 03-09-1444

The leader of Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, revealed that the Yemenis are entering the ninth year of aggression on their country equipped with a large arsenal of deadly long-range precision missiles capable of inflicting mass destruction on the enemy’s vital and sensitive facilities.

In a televised speech on the occasion of the eighth anniversary of the aggression against Yemen, Al-Houthi said most of the arms used to kill the Yemeni people are US-made weapons, launched from US-made fighter jets under US supervision, which also supplied the strike coordinates on the ground, adding that the aggression forces are also trained and mentored by US military officials.

Ansar Allah leader slammed the blatant attempts to portray the war on Yemen as an internal conflict and stressed that it is clearly an aggression by the United States and its proxies.

Read more: Defense Minister: Yemen ready for any combat against Israeli enemy

Announcing the launching of the aggression on Yemen from Washington – in 2015 – revealed the true nature of the US role in the war against the country, Al-Houthi continued, adding that the US, through its tools, seeks to occupy Yemen and control its resources and wealth, including its energy sources.

As the coalition of aggression clearly failed to reach its goals, it is currently after other options and an alternative tactic, Al-Houthi said.

He also stated that the cover that the Americans provide their allies with or the international institutions that condone the coalition of aggression and its crimes, not to mention its vain endeavors… they all have no value whatsoever. 

Al-Houthi indicated that the two regional countries that launched the aggression, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are well aware that they have not achieved their aims and have incurred heavy losses, explaining that the United States, the Israeli occupation entity, and Britain seek to keep Riyadh and Abu Dhabi stuck and trapped in the cycle of this war.

Read more: Al-Houthi to coalition of aggression: Our patience will run out

The US is forcing Saudi Arabia to pursue the war despite Riyadh’s realization that this will only lead to more military losses and will take a heavy toll on the country’s economy and security, he noted.

Al-Houthi warned that if the coalition’s plan is to continue the war and siege on Yemen and to maintain the current status of no war, no peace, then this is in no way acceptable. 

Coalition’s crimes are documented

Leader of Ansar Allah touched on the crimes of the aggression coalition, saying that the coalition sought through its crimes to kill the largest number of Yemenis.

The coalition also aimed to deprive the Yemeni people of their national wealth and their rights, loot their resources, and prevent the employees from receiving their earned salaries, he added.

The crimes also included preventing citizens from traveling abroad to receive treatment, whether by land or air, which caused great suffering to the people of Yemen and the death of thousands of patients, he said. Al-Houthi stressed that among the coalition’s crimes was targeting the health and education sectors, by bombing hospitals, schools, universities, medical centers, and water-storage tanks.

Read more: 75+ US organizations endorse protests against war on Yemen this month

Facilities that offer care for blind people and citizens with special needs also came under the coalition’s attacks, Al-Houthi said, adding that Islamic institutions that teach religious values and the Quran, in addition to Islamic monuments, mosques, and even cemeteries were also bombed.

All the crimes of the coalition of aggression are clear and well documented by all means, he stressed, adding that they cannot justify nor lie about the brutalities they have committed.

With regard to the blockade and seige on Yemen, Al-Houthi said that it is part of the war on the country, and depriving the people of their right to their national wealth is only part of the aggression.

Stirring up strife inside the country and destabilizing its security are also “part of the war” on Yemen, he added, warning that if the coalition seeks to implement this plot as part of its aggression on the country, then “we will deal with it as a state of war.”

The leader of Ansar Allah movement advised Saudi Arabia and the UAE not to continue the aggression that only serves the interests of the United States and to take their interests into consideration, which are to achieve the prisoners’ exchange agreement and lift the siege, stressing that the path to peace is paved by stopping the aggression, ending the blockade and occupation, rebuilding the country, and compensating for the damage and destruction the war has caused.

Read more: Sanaa says to respond to Saudi-led coalition if escalation continues

He also pointed out that many people of the Islamic and Arab nations stood idle and just watched with complete silence, despite the clear oppression targeting the Yemeni people, stressing that the “legitimate right of the people of Yemen is to stand firm and confront the unjust criminal aggression.”

The war waged by the aggression coalition “is unjust and unjustified,” he said. The coalition committed crimes starting from the first moments of the aggression, he noted, referring to the role of the collaborators among the Yemenis, which comes as part of the war aimed at occupying the country using internal tools.

The Yemeni people revealed their steadfastness through their patience, cohesion, resistance, endurance of all the suffering and oppression, and fighting on all combat fronts.

National Steadfastness Day

Ansar Allah leader declared Sunday Yemen’s National Day of Steadfastness and called on the Yemenis to widely participate in marches marking the eighth anniversary of the aggression on Yemen.

He said that the coalition of aggression practiced injustice and oppression on a daily basis throughout the eight years, adding that “our people are practicing holy jihad in every sense of the word, and it is our responsibility to take this honorable stance and resist for the sake of God.”

According to him, National Steadfastness Day is an occasion to show the resilience of the people of Yemen and their adherence to their position against the aggressors and their proxies, adding that this position was reflected by heading to the battle fronts, mass response to general mobilization, and the vast participation in marches and demonstrations.

Read more: Marches across Yemen to pledge loyalty to Al-Sammad, support Palestine

Al-Houthi pointed out that the people’s steadfastness was reflected in the heroic battles fought by the Yemeni Armed Forces and Popular Committees on the battlefronts, explaining that “one of the manifestations of national and popular steadfastness is being stationed on the fronts despite the long years of aggression and economic burdens.”

According to him, another manifestation “of patience and steadfastness is the position of the families of the martyrs who set the most wonderful examples through their patience, contentment, and pride in the sacrifices they made, as well as the sacrifices made by the wounded and their families, and the heroes still fighting on the fronts and their families.”

The leader of the Ansar Allah indicated that local military manufacturing, despite the difficulties and limited capabilities, also reflects national steadfastness, adding that the resilience of the people of Yemen led to “the failure of the coalition of aggression to achieve its goals and endeavors to occupy all of our country and seize control without facing any form of resistance.”

Al-Houthi concluded that one of the most prominent goals of the coalition of aggression, which was thwarted by popular steadfastness, was to establish military bases throughout Yemen and plunder the country’s wealth, noting that the coalition failed to occupy the strategic depth of the country, which became the basis for liberating the occupied regions.

International duplicity in dealing with the aggression against Yemen and the Ukrainian war

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Arab union: Iran-Saudi detente set to end regional conflicts

Thursday, 23 March 2023 9:20 AM  [ Last Update: Thursday, 23 March 2023 10:57 AM ]

The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers held the 155th ministerial meeting at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the GCC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 22, 2023.

The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has hailed a recent agreement signed between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic relations after seven years of estrangement, saying the accord will mark a positive step in resolving differences and ending regional conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.

In a statement issued by the GCC Ministerial Council at the end of its 155th session, the body said the agreement, signed in Beijing at the initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, includes resumption of diplomatic relations, reopening of embassies, and activation of security and economic cooperation accords between Tehran and Riyadh.

The GCC is a union of six countries in the Persian Gulf region including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.

It expressed hope that the agreement would establish relations among countries on the basis of understanding, mutual respect, good neighborliness, respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and adherence to the United Nations Charter and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and international laws and norms.

Iran and Saudi Arabia have supported opposite sides in several conflict zones across the Middle East, including in Yemen and Syria. 

After several days of intensive negotiations hosted by China, the two countries finally clinched a deal on March 10 to restore diplomatic relations and re-open embassies and missions within two months.

Iran FM says will meet Saudi counterpart ‘in near future’
Iran’s foreign minister says Tehran proposed three locations for a meeting with the Saudi Arabian foreign minister in the near future.

According to a joint statement, Iran and Saudi Arabia underscored the need to respect each other’s national sovereignty and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of one another.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and China also expressed their firm determination to make their utmost efforts to promote regional and international peace and security.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday that he will meet his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan “in the near future,” and that Iran has proposed three locations for the meeting.

The GCC Ministerial Council also appreciated the efforts of Oman and Iraq for hosting numerous rounds of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia during 2021 and 2022.

It also commended China’s efforts to sponsor and host the talks that resulted in the agreement and to help enhance security and peace in the region.

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Response to be swift if ‘Israel’ attacks anyone in Lebanon: Nasrallah

22 Mar 2023

Source: Agencies

By Al Mayadeen English 

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah touches on numerous domestic, regional, and international issues, from the Israeli occupation to Palestine and Yemen.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah making a public address on March 22, 2023 (Al Mayadeen)

The incident that took place earlier in the month in Northern occupied Palestine caused confusion for the Israeli occupation, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Wednesday.

The Israeli occupation forces had revealed that they suspected that Hezbollah was behind the security incident in northern occupied Palestine, during which it is alleged that “someone infiltrated the northern borders and detonated an explosive device.”

The IOF described a “dangerous security incident” in northern occupied Palestine, and indicated that “the security issue was caused by a side bomb that was detonated on Route 65 at the Megiddo junction.”

In a speech delivered during the memorial ceremony for the deceased founder and chairman of Al-Qard Al-Hassan Foundation, Hussein Al-Shami, Sayyed Nasrallah explained that “Hezbollah’s silence regarding the incident is part of its strategies in the battle against Israel.”

“Let the Israelis investigate the incident, and when they have results, their findings will be built upon,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, explaining the resistance’s silence regarding the operation by underlying that Hezbollah was not obliged to comment on every incident.

Addressing Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant, Sayyed Nasrallah said, “Do whatever you want, you can attempt the impossible, and your threats will yield no results.”

“The Israelis were right in assuming that Hezbollah was behind the operation since they perceive it as not afraid of going to battle,” he explained.

“What the enemy is threatening could be the very reason for its demise,” the Hezbollah leader asserted. “The Resistance in Lebanon stands by its word, and any Israeli attacks on Lebanon, regardless of the location or figure, Lebanese or foreign, will be met with a swift and decisive response from the resistance, and this must be understood.”

“Waging war against Lebanon might lead to an all-out regional war, and this is something the Israelis are afraid of. The threats the Israelis are making might be the very thing that prevents this entity from making it into the 80-year mark.”

“The maritime borders issue proved that the enemy fears going to war with Lebanon, and their threats could be the root cause of their demise,” the Hezbollah chief said. “Israel is afflicted today and the entity never went through so much despair, frustration, and weakness […] The Israeli government is one of corrupt and extremist madmen.”

“The fools in the Israeli government are revealing the truth about the entity that others are trying to conceal, and when the enemy’s leadership is of this level of ineptitude, we must know that the end is near,” he said.

Fearing pivot eastward nonsensical

Sayyed Nasrallah underlined that the rising USD rate in Lebanon was illogical, and the state is responsible for curbing scalping.

“The economic situation requires dialogue, but certain parties are rejecting this at a time when exchanging blame will yield no results,” the resistance leader explained. “The grey area between the Lebanese politicians is becoming very narrow, but there is no reason not to call for dialogue to discuss the economic and financial situation.”

Moreover, Sayyed Nasrallah underlined that China was ready to offer a hand to Lebanon to get it out of its economic slump. “There is a consensus that improving the living conditions in Lebanon is linked to improving the economy, and China is ready to provide assistance in this regard.”

“The world is pivoting eastward, like Saudi Arabia, which invited the Chinese President to Riyadh and held conferences that no one held it accountable for,” the Hezbollah chief stressed. “Fearing Lebanese-Chinese collaboration is nonsensical, and such a decision requires political decisiveness and courage.”

Furthermore, he explained that there are various countries all over the world that are on the verge of collapse, with many of them risking collapse very soon, calling for the people to come together and help each other, especially in light of the holy month of Ramadan. “Hezbollah, using its full capabilities, is standing by the people, and that will always be its role.”

Touching on the election of a Lebanese President, Sayyed Nasrallah said developments were taking place at a slow pace; however, “efforts are still ongoing to elect a Lebanese President.”

Additionally, the resistance leader denied there being any appendage to the Saudi-Iranian agreement regarding Lebanon, Yemen, and other countries.

 High hopes for Yemen solution

Talking about the latest developments in Yemen, Sayyed Nasrallah said that “as a result of the regional circumstances and the failure of the aggression on Yemen, there are high hopes for a solution.”

“What we heard about a prisoner swap deal in Yemen brings joy to every honorable heart,” he added.

“Since the first day of aggression on Yemen, we have stood beside the Yemeni people, and this is a stance that we take pride in,” the Hezbollah chief underlined. He further hoped for the situation to get better and culminate in the ending of the aggression and blockade on Yemen.

Iraqi resistance, Iran resilience undermined US in region

On the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq, Sayyed Nasrallah explained that the invasion of Iraq was a prelude to invading six other countries, including Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Somalia, and Libya.

“Iraq was liberated with the blessing of the valiant Iraqi resistance that was fighting the invaders and occupiers who came to stay in Iraq, but they left after 8 years after the Resistance exhausted the American occupation forces. It was not due to the efforts of the takfiris who sowed death in mosques.”

“The Iraqi resistance and Iran’s steadfastness are what led to the failure of the US project for the region,” noting that “the Iraqi people still have many challenges when it comes to confronting American influence.”  

“The fate of the country is upheld”… Nasrallah: There is no justification for not calling for dialogue!

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شيا تكرّر: سنتعامل مع فرنجية رئيساً

 الأربعاء 22 آذار 2023

(هيثم الموسوي)

ابراهيم الأمين

 مساعي بكركي لم تجمع القوات والتيار على أي اسم

 تفاصيل مناورة جنبلاطية أسقطها سمير جعجع

ليس صحيحاً أن الجمود يكتنف مساعي انتخاب رئيس جديد للجمهورية. الأدقّ القول إن هذه المساعي لا تزال تصطدم بعوائق جدية تمنع أياً من الفريقين المتنازعَين من ضمان وصول من يرشحون. وإذا كان الفيتو سلاحاً رئيسياً لدى خصوم ثنائي أمل وحزب الله، فإن الفشل، في المقابل، هو حصيلة سعي هؤلاء إلى مرشح واحد في وجه مرشح الثنائي.

خارجياً، لا تزال المساعي الفرنسية مع السعودية تصطدم بجدار من السلبية، خصوصاً لجهة تسويق فكرة المقايضة بين رئاستي الجمهورية والحكومة. لكن الفرنسيين، لمسوا من الجانب السعودي هذه المرة، لا حاسمة لكل من نجيب ميقاتي ونواف سلام، وأن الموقف الرافض لفرنجية ليس حاسماً بالقدر نفسه. ويميل المطّلعون على بعض تفاصيل الاجتماعات إلى أن السعودية التي لم تفتح أي باب للتواصل مع رئيس تيار المردة، غير مضطرة الآن لإعلان موقف نهائي منه. فيما ليس لدى أصدقائها في لبنان موقف موحد بعد. إذ سمع بعض النواب السنة نصيحة سعودية بعدم قطع التواصل مع الرجل، فيما قيل لمجموعة أخرى من هؤلاء بألا يبحثوا في فكرة ترشيحه.

ويقول مسؤول التقى معنيين بالملف اللبناني في العاصمة الفرنسية قبل ثلاثة أسابيع، إنه سمع منهم أن تسويق فرنجية أمر صعب للغاية. لكنه يتحدث عن تبدل مفاجئ في الموقف الفرنسي الذي يدعم فكرة المقايضة بين فرنجية وسلام. وبحسب المسؤول نفسه، فإن الأمر قد يكون متصلاً بمستجدات لدى الجانب الأميركي الذي يتحكم بالحركة الفرنسية. إذ إن الأميركيين أبلغوا جهات لبنانية عدة بأن واشنطن تنتظر حصول انتخابات رئاسية في أسرع وقت، وأنها رغم تفضيلها مرشحين على آخرين، إلا أنها ملتزمة التعامل مع أي رئيس منتخب. علماً أن السفيرة الأميركية في بيروت دوروثي شيا أجابت ثلاثة مسؤولين لبنانيين قبل أسابيع، لدى سؤالها عن سليمان فرنجية، بالعبارة نفسها: «إذا تم انتخابه سنتعامل معه كرئيس شرعي للجمهورية اللبنانية».

وبحسب المسؤول نفسه، فإن الاتفاق الإيراني – السعودي استفز الأميركيين والأوروبيين، وربما يحمل التبدل في الموقف من فرنجية في طياته رسالة إلى السعودية، باعتبار أن الغربيين يعتقدون أنه في حال ساعدت إيران السعودية في إقفال ملف الحرب في اليمن، فهي مستعدة لدفع الثمن في لبنان وسوريا وأماكن أخرى إن اقتضى الأمر.

إلا أن كل هذه المداولات لا تعني شيئاً جازماً، بل تعكس صورة اللقاءات والاجتماعات الجارية بين عواصم خارجية. وبحسب معنيين فإن الاتصالات الداخلية تأخذ في الاعتبار مواقف القوى الخارجية الأساسية. كما أن في لبنان قوى كثيرة تعتقد أنه يجب الوقوف على خاطر السعودية في الملف الرئاسي، وأن أي اتفاق مع الأميركيين والفرنسيين من دون رضا السعودية قد يبقي الوضع في لبنان أسير المزاحمات القائمة. وهو موقف يتردد بقوة لدى الفريق الداعم لفرنجية من زاوية أن توفير الأصوات الكافية لإيصاله إلى قصر بعبدا ليس أمراً مستحيلاً مهما كانت الصعوبات. لكن المهم، هو أن يصل مع توافق يسمح بتخفيف الضغوط الاقتصادية عن لبنان، وإلا فإن أي رئيس ينتخب من دون غطاء خارجي، سعودي على وجه الخصوص، سيكون امتداداً للسنوات الأخيرة من عهد الرئيس ميشال عون.

لائحة مرشحي بكركي

وسط هذه الأجواء، كان البحث الداخلي ينطلق من فكرة أن تفاهماً يمكن توفيره بين القوى الممثلة نيابياً للمسلمين، . وأن مواقف حزب الله وحركة أمل الداعمة لفرنجية قد تجد من يلاقيها في الأوساط السنية التي تتأثر بمزاج تيار المستقبل، وأن رئيس الحزب التقدمي الاشتراكي وليد جنبلاط، قد لا يكون بعيداً في حال توافرت عناصر التسوية. وبالتالي، فإن المقصود بهذا التوصيف القول إن المشكلة موجودة الآن لدى القوى الممثلة نيابياً للمسيحيين. وهي قوى منقسمة على نفسها بصورة غير مسبوقة، حتى في المناخات التي رافقت الفوضى الكبرى في العام 1988، ما استنفر البطريركية المارونية لتولي مهمة قد تكون صعبة. ومع معرفة البطريرك بشارة الراعي بصعوبة الأمر، ونوبة الإحباط التي أصابته جراء رفض القوى البارزة دعوته إلى حوار ثنائي أو ثلاثي أو جماعي في بكركي، إضافة إلى خشيته من تقديم مرشحين لا يؤخذ بهم داخلياً أو خارجياً، فإن الراعي يجد نفسه مضطراً للقيام بدور خاص. وهو وجد الأنسب تكليف راعي أبرشية إنطلياس المطران أنطوان بو نجم التنقل بين مكاتب القيادات المسيحية لاستمزاج الرأي حول كل تفاصيل الملف الرئاسي.

وقد تبين لبو نجم أن النقاشات العامة لن تقود إلى تفاهم سريع. إذ كان الحديث ينتقل سريعاً إلى البحث ليس في المواصفات التي سبق لكل طرف أن تحدث عنها، بل إلى البحث في الأسماء التي تعكس هذه المواصفات، وهو ما جعل الموفد البطريركي يحمل ورقة تسجل الملاحظات، قبل أن تتحول إلى ورقة تضم أسماء مرشحين تفضلهم بكركي أو يطرحهم الآخرون. وانتهى به الأمر إلى لائحة غير قصيرة تشمل كل المرشحين الذين يدورون في فلك القوى المعنية.

هل تبدل الموقف الفرنسي – الأميركي «نكاية» باتفاق بن سلمان مع إيران؟

وبحسب متابعين، فإن اللائحة المفتوحة أقفلت على 11 اسماً، جرى التداول ببعضهم مرات كثيرة خلال الفترة الماضية، وتضم: قائد الجيش العماد جوزيف عون، رئيس تيار المردة سليمان فرنجية، رئيس تيار الاستقلال ميشال معوض، مدير المخابرات السابق العميد جورج خوري، السفير في الفاتيكان النائب السابق فريد الياس الخازن، رئيس لجنة المال النيابية إبراهيم كنعان، وزير الداخلية السابق زياد بارود، وزير المالية السابق جهاد أزعور، النائب نعمة افرام، النائب السابق صلاح حنين ووزير الدولة في أولى حكومات الطائف المسؤول القواتي السابق روجيه ديب.

وإذا كانت مهمة وضع الأسماء في لائحة واحدة ليست بالأمر العسير، فإن محاولة احتساب الأصوات التي تنالها تحتاج إلى جهد كبير. لكن، ولأسباب غير معلومة، كتب المعنيون بالاستطلاع آراء كل القوى بجميع المرشحين، وتمثّلت الخلاصة التي يعتد بها في مقارنة مواقف القوتين الأبرز عند المسيحيين من أسماء هذه اللائحة. ويشير مصدر متابع تسنى له الاطلاع على لائحة الأسماء أن الجوجلة النهائية أظهرت أن رئيسي حزب القوات سمير جعجع والتيار الوطني الحر جبران باسيل توافقا فقط على رفض المرشحين سليمان فرنجية وجورج خوري. لكن التباين كان واضحاً بينهما بالنسبة للأسماء التسعة الباقية. إذ أعلن جعجع تأييده لأربعة أسماء هي: جوزيف عون، ميشال معوض، نعمت افرام وصلاح حنين. بينما أيد باسيل خمسة أسماء هي: إبراهيم كنعان، فريد الخازن، جهاد أزعور، زياد بارود وروجيه ديب (انظر الجدول المرفق).

وفي انتظار ما سوف تؤول إليه الخلوة الروحية التي دعا الراعي النواب المسيحيين إليها، فإن المناخات المحبطة تسكن بكركي، لكنها تعتبر أنه لا يمكن لها أن تقف مكتوفة الأيدي أمام ما يجري، وسط تعاظم خشيتها من تفاقم الخلاف المسيحي – المسيحي حول الملف الرئاسي والخشية من توسعه إلى ملفات أخرى.

مناورة فاشلة

ومع كل هذه المناخات السلبية، فإن المساعي الجارية بعيداً من الإعلام تواصلت من قبل أطراف من خارج النادي المسيحي. وإذا كان ثنائي أمل وحزب الله يعلن تمسكه بترشيح فرنجية، ويبدي الاستعداد للنقاش مع الآخرين حوله، فإن التمثيل السياسي السني في حالته الراهنة يجعل أصوات غالبية سنية وازنة في جيب السعودية، والأخيرة طرف لا يمكنه إدارة تسوية مع كل الأطراف المسيحية. ما يعني عملياً أنه لم يبق غير جنبلاط من يمكنه المحاولة والسير بين حقول الألغام. وعلم أن مبادرة لم تعش طويلاً، ناقشها مساعدون لجنبلاط مع قوى بارزة في الوسط المسيحي انطلاقاً من خلاصة مواقف القوات والتيار من اللائحة المنسوبة إلى المطران بو نجم.

وبحسب المعنيين، فإن الفكرة انطلقت من كون جنبلاط يتعامل مع فرنجية كمرشح تحد. وإنه لن يدعمه في حال ظلت المواقف الداخلية والخارجية رافضة لأي توافق حوله. وهو لذلك بادر إلى طرح حوار يقود إلى خيار توافقي، معتبراً أنه يمكن طرح أسماء قد لا تحظى بموافقة كاملة من ثنائي أمل وحزب الله، لكنها لا تشكل استفزازاً لهما أو لأطراف خارجية. ولم يحتج النقاش إلى وقت طويل، حتى يختصر جنبلاط لائحة بو نجم باسمين فقط: جهاد أزعور وصلاح حنين. لكن جنبلاط انطلق من الفيتو القائم من جانب التيار على حنين، ليضع اسمه جانباً، وليحاول إقناع «القوات» السير بأزعور، باعتبار أن الأخير هو أحد مرشحي جنبلاط، ويحظى بدعم التيار، ويملك علاقات قوية مع الرئيس نبيه بري، ولديه عدم ممانعة من السعودية، ولا يظهر أن لديه مشكلة جدية مع الأطراف الغربية من أميركا إلى فرنسا.

وبحسب المعنيين، فإن فكرة جنبلاط، كانت تستهدف تفاهماً غير معلن بين قوى بارزة، تضم من صوتوا لميشال معوض، إضافة إلى أصوات التيار والنواب الأرمن، والنواب السنة الذين تمون عليهم السعودية وقسم غير قليل من أصوات كتلة التغييريين، ما يكفي لإيصال أزعور في الدورة الثانية، في حال التزم الجميع بتأمين النصاب وعدم تعطيل الجلسة.

عند هذا الحد، كان جنبلاط والمتحمسون لفكرته يعتبرون أن نجاح الخطة يقضي بحصول موافقة من القوات اللبنانية، أي تعديل موقف القوات الرافض لأزعور، لأسباب مختلفة، بينها الخلاف المرتبط بمواقف خاله النائب الراحل جان عبيد الذي كان على صدام مع القوات، واعتبار القوات أن عائلة أزعور تقف إلى جانب التيار الوطني الحر، وأنه لم يسع إلى بناء علاقة مع القوات، وأن لديه مواقف «ملتبسة» من حركة 14 آذار. مع ذلك، فإن المصادر تشير إلى أن جعجع وافق على مبدأ البحث، لكنه بعد اجتماعات ومشاورات داخل القوات ومع المؤثرين من حولها، أبلغ جنبلاط رفضه التام ترشيح أزعور عارضاً العودة إلى ترشيح صلاح حنين كحل وسطي. ويبدو أن القوات قطعت الطريق على أي محاولة لثنيها عن موقفها، بأن أبلغت من يهمه الأم أن موقفها الرافض لأزعور حاسم ولن يتأثر بأي تطور أو تغيير في مواقف أي جهة داخلية أو عربية أو دولية.

على أن النتيجة العملية كانت في تعطيل هذه المحاولة – المناورة، والتي يعتقد البعض أن جنبلاط لم يكن ليفكر فيها من دون التواصل أو التشاور مع جهات مؤثرة داخلياً وخارجياً. وهو ما دفعه إلى الإعراب عن إحباطه وخشيته من الفراغ، محذراً من أي رهانات على تغييرات في العالم الذي يسير نحو مواجهات قد لا تبقي على شيء.

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We are doubling our strategic missile stockpile: Saree

March 19, 2023

Source: Al Mayadeen Net

By Al Mayadeen English 

Saree points out that the Yemeni armed forces contended a criminal coalition that was effectively and operatively spearheaded by the United States of America.

The Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces Brigadier General Yahya Saree on September 14, 2019 (AFP)

The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said, “Our armed forces managed to thwart the declared and undeclared goals of aggression against Yemen.”

Saree added commemoratively, in today’s press conference, “Today, as we approach the ninth year anniversary of the aggression against Yemen, we proclaim to the world that the Yemeni people have not and will not surrender.”

He also pointed out that “the [yemeni] armed forces contended a criminal coalition that was effectively and operatively spearheaded by the United States of America, who directed the coalition of aggression’s operation rooms,” pointing out that “the Americans were in charge of running espionage activity, monitoring, surveillance, and logistical support for the aggression.”

Brigadier General Saree also confirmed that the Americans directed each and every raid “by setting the target, training the pilots, supplying the planes with fuel, and guiding them into the Yemeni cities.”

المؤتمر الصحفي بشأن كشف حصاد ثمان سنوات من الصمود في وجه العدوان سيتم عرضه في تمام الثالثة عصر اليوم إن شاء الله.

— العميد يحيى سريع (@army21ye) March 19, 2023

Saree also revealed that the Americans “oversaw and managed the imposition of the blockade on Yemen,” stressing that “the battle of the Yemenis with the alliance of evil has not ended yet.”

The stock of strategic missiles was doubled

The top Yemeni official confirmed that the Yemeni missile force now possesses expertise and capabilities, which makes it “more ready to ram more enemy bases and facilities,” explaining that it possesses missile systems in abundance and in a wide-range variety, including “ballistic and winged.”

He added that his forces are continuing to “double the strategic stockpile of missiles,” as a deterrent force that has proven effective, explaining that “the unmanned air force granted the Yemenis a significant edge in their war against the aggressor’s coalition, and the competent employment of the missiles piqued the interest of foreign experts.”

Brigadier General Saree further confirmed that “the Saudi enemy is downplaying the losses in its ranks,” taking decisive action against whoever attempts to reveal them. 

In the meantime, he warned that “the client regimes” who launched this aggression against Yemen “must come to terms with reality, today Yemen has become significantly more powerful.”

He addressed the countries of aggression, saying, “Today, our missiles and drones can reach your capitals to target your military and vital installations,” vowing to redouble efforts in preparation for any potential developments, “including readiness to confront the forces of invasion and aggression.”

He pointed out that the aerial raids launched by the aggression against Yemen amounted to more than 274,302 raids, with only 59 raids last year.

Furthermore, Saree affirmed the armed forces’ readiness to “implement any directives to adequately deal with any foreign military presence on Yemeni territory,” stressing that “the fires that have ignited the war may flare up again.”

The losses of the Saudi enemy army amounted to more than ten thousand dead

The top Yemeni official went on to unpack in detail the operations carried out by the armed forces, noting that they conducted more than 13,229 military operations.

He pointed out that “the missile force carried out 1,828 military operations, of which 1,237 targeted enemy gatherings inside Yemeni territory,” and “589 missile operations targeted the enemy beyond Yemeni territory, including operations in the depths of KSA and UAE.”

On the other hand, the losses of the Saudi army during the 8 years of aggression against Yemen amounted to “more than 10,840 dead and injured,” while “the losses of the Emirati enemy amounted to more than 1,251 dead and injured, including high ranking military officers.” Furthermore, “36 Saudi officers and soldiers were killed and 45 others were injured during the eighth year of aggression.”

As for the mercenary forces, Saree said that “more than 40 Sudanese officers and soldiers were killed during the eighth year of the aggression, and 65 others were injured.”

“The losses in the ranks of the Yemeni mercenaries amounted to more than 261,243 dead and injured throughout the 8 years of the war”.

“In the eighth year, the death toll of Yemeni mercenaries exceeded 2,500, with more than 5,050 injured,” he said, adding, “Our forces succeeded in destroying more than 18,397 vehicles, armored vehicles, personnel carriers, tanks, bulldozers, and weapons.” 

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The Iranian-Saudi Understanding: A Major Shift for the Region

March 17, 2023

By Mohammad Youssef

The Iranian-Saudi rapprochement under the Chinese flag was the event that made the headlines this week, and will continue to do so for a quite long time to come.

The understanding, or the agreement that was reached and pronounced in the statement, reflects a total new shift, a major one that would positively affect the region and its countries in the future.

What is so important about this agreement is that it reflects a major transformation in the perspective of the different parties in viewing and assessing the situation.

It comes after a long ordeal and bitter experiences that littered the history of the relation of the two countries.

Both capitals Tehran and Riyadh are fully convinced they needed this agreement.

For its part, Saudi Arabia is in need for this agreement in accordance with its new policy of zero problems.

Mohammad bin Salman [MBS], with his wide ambition to revive Riyadh and its role, is in need for stability to carry out his 2030 vision. Any escalation in the region would most likely put his dreams and plans of development into jeopardy. This in turn, would put his plans to assume power at risk also.

MBS understands very well the geopolitical influence Tehran has in the whole region. He also hopes this would open the path for a settlement for his Yemeni crisis, as he has been struggling to get out of the quagmire.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is in need for this agreement with Riyadh as well. Tehran has always longed for a mutual agreement with Saudi Arabia to settle all neighboring disputes so it can be fully free to combat the American-‘Israeli’ threats.

Riyadh plays a central role in the region and has an immense influence over the Gulf countries. It is not surprising at all to say it dictates most of the policies there.

Iran, for its part, needs Saudi Arabia to stop its animosity and to cease supporting Tehran’s enemies.

The agreement that was concluded in China would finally serve as a platform to all those necessities from both sides.

The agreement itself is very important because it comes under the Chinese mediation.

This would count more for China’s vitality and tell a lot about the mounting ascending Chinese rule in the world and more specifically in the region.

Both Washington and Tel Aviv were not happy at all to hear about the new agreement between the rival countries.

Their first reactions were distressed and reflected their disappointment and dismay.

The agreement should be monitored very well, and it does not mean that the two countries have become friends. Riyadh did not come out of the American cloak, neither departed its orbit. Tehran is also still fixed at its principles that enshrine its policies.

We have to give an opportunity and a window of time for this understanding to materialize well and see whether it is going to grow and succeed to become a full-fledged agreement.

The hopes are there now and hopes are pinned that this become a reality because it would bring huge benefits to the whole region and its people.

الرياض مستعدّة للانسحاب… والعين على موقف واشنطن: لا ملحق يمنيّاً لـ«إعلان بكين»

 الأربعاء 15 آذار 2023

لقمان عبد الله  

كانت المفاوضات بين الجانبَين اليمني والسعودي قد قطعت أشواطاً كبيرة بالفعل (أ ف ب)

حفّز إعلان السعودية وإيران استعادة علاقتهما الثُنائية، تساؤلات كثيرة حول تفاصيل الاتفاق وما إنْ كان يحتوي ملحقات سرّية، خصوصاً في شأن الملفّ اليمني الذي انعقدت جولات تفاوض عديدة بشأنه بين الرياض وصنعاء في مسقط. الأكيد أن الاتّفاق ليس مثار قلق لدى حلفاء طهران، بقدْر ما هو كذلك من وجهة نظر أصدقاء الرياض الذين بنوا برامجهم واستراتيجيّاتهم على تأجيج الصراع بين الجانبَين الإيراني والسعودي. بالنسبة إلى دول «محور المقاومة» وقِواه، فإن الخلاف الرئيس مع المملكة يتمثّل في التصاقها بالمشروع الأميركي، وتماهيها معه، وتمويلها تطبيقاته الهدّامة في كلّ من سوريا واليمن والعراق ولبنان؛ وعليه، فكلّما ابتعدت الرياض عن واشنطن في أيّ ساحة من ساحات المنطقة، كلّما سنحت الفرصة لتكون أقرب إلى خصوم الولايات المتحدة.

ومن هنا، لا خشية مطلقاً لدى هؤلاء من أيّ ملحق سرّي أو غير معلَن للاتفاق الإيراني – السعودي، خصوصاً في شأن اليمن. فطوال السنوات الماضية، طُرح الملفّ اليمني على الجانب الإيراني من قِبَل أطراف وازنة مِن مِثل روسيا والاتحاد الأوروبي، ودول خليجية كقطر وسلطنة عُمان، وأخرى آسيوية على رأسها باكستان، وأيضاً من قِبَل الأمم المتحدة، لكن الجواب الإيراني كان واحداً في كلّ المرّات والفترات، ومفاده أن مناقشة هذا الملفّ مكانها في صنعاء وليس في أيّ مكان آخر. كذلك، حاول الجانب السعودي طرْح المسألة اليمنية في مفاوضات بغداد مع الوفد الإيراني، ولكن من دون جدوى، فيما لم تفوّت الرياض وسيلة لتفادي التواصل المباشر مع حركة «أنصار الله»، إلى أن اقتنعت العام الماضي بعقم خيارها تجاهُل صنعاء، وانسداد كلّ الأبواب لتجاوزها، فلجأت مرغمة إلى التفاوض المباشر معها.

يُضاف إلى ما تَقدّم، أن المفاوضات بين الجانبَين اليمني والسعودي كانت قد قطعت أشواطاً كبيرة بالفعل، ليس في ما يختصّ بوقف إطلاق النار وتوسعة الهدنة فقط، بل وصولاً إلى مناقشة صيَغ للحلّ النهائي. وبحسب معلومات «الأخبار»، فإن من جملة ما طُرح في تلك المفاوضات، مسألة خروج القوّات الأجنبية من اليمن تمهيداً للبدء بحوار يمني – يمني. وفي هذا المجال، لم تمانع الرياض تلبية مطالب صنعاء، بل وأبدت استعدادها للانسحاب خصوصاً أن كلّ ما تملكه من قوّات على الأرض لا يتجاوز الـ200 جندي وضابط، بالإمكان إجلاؤهم خلال دقائق، لكنها أوضحت أنه ليس في مقدورها دفْع واشنطن أو لندن أو أبو ظبي إلى اتّخاذ قرار مماثل، وهو ما مثّل إحدى الإشكاليات التي اعترت طريق التفاوض. إذ اعتبرت «أنصار الله» أن السعودية التي قدّمت نفسها بوصفها قائدة لـ«التحالف» الذي يضمّ الأميركيين والبريطانيين والإماراتيين، مسؤولة عن إيجاد الحلّ المناسب لإقناعهم بالخروج، مصرّةً على ضرورة انسحاب جميع «القوّات الأجنبية» بلا استثناء. وبالنتيجة، كاد الاتّفاق بين صنعاء والرياض يُعلَن لولا التدخّل الأميركي الخفيّ لعرقلته، بدافعٍ من سعي الولايات المتّحدة إلى إبقاء الوضع الراهن ورقة مزدوجة بيدها، تُستخدَم من جهة من أجل ابتزاز وليّ العهد السعودي، محمد بن سلمان؛ ومن جهة أخرى في الاستمرار في خنْق اليمن وشلّ قدراته ومنْعه من استخدام موقعه الاستراتيجي، أخذاً في الاعتبار خصوصاً مصالح إسرائيل.

جرت أخيراً نقاشات شاركت فيها موسكو وطهران وصنعاء بهدف إيجاد مخرج للرياض من المستنقع اليمني

في الفترة الأخيرة، جرت نقاشات شاركت فيها موسكو وطهران وصنعاء وعواصم أخرى، في محاولة لإيجاد مخرج للرياض من المستنقع اليمني، يحافظ في الوقت نفسه على المطالب اليمنية الأساسية. أريدَت، من خلال ذلك، خصوصاً من جانب روسيا، محاولة تكبير المسافة الفاصلة بين السعودية والولايات المتحدة، على رغم إدراك الجميع أن الخلاف متركّز حالياً مع الحزب «الديموقراطي»، فيما لا تزال علاقة المملكة بالدولة العميقة الأميركية قائمة، وفق ما يؤشّر إليه مثلاً وجود خمس مجموعات عمل أميركية في الرياض لتعزيز التعاون الأمني والعسكري والسياسي بين الجانبَين. لكن الإيرانيين والروس، وحتى الصينيين، يُجمعون على ضرورة السعي إلى الابتعاد بالسعودية عن أن تكون «أداة» بيد الولايات المتحدة في النزاعات الإقليمية، وهو ما يصبّ في خانته اتّفاق عودة العلاقات الديبلوماسية بين طهران والرياض، برعاية صينية.

على أن الأطراف كافّة، بمَن فيهم الأميركي، يدركون أن حجر الرحى في ما يتّصل باليمن قائم في صنعاء. صحيح أن «أنصار الله» لا تُنكر تلقّيها مساعدات عسكرية من طهران، لكنها تؤكّد أن هذه المساعدة ليست مشروطة، وأنها مستعدّة لتلقّي أيّ معونة من الدول الصديقة الراغبة في ذلك، على أساس احترام السيادة الوطنية للبلاد، فيما تتعاطى إيران، من جانبها، بواقعية سياسية مع حلفائها، مدرِكةً ضرورة مراعاة خصوصيّاتهم الوطنية. وفي هذا المجال، أكد السفير اليمني في طهران، إبراهيم الديلمي، أن «السعودية طلبت من إيران في الجلسات السرّية في بغداد ومسقط خلال الأعوام الماضية، الاتّفاق أوّلاً على الملفّ اليمني، فكان ردّ الإيرانيين صريحاً وواضحاً بأن القرار في ما خصّ هذا الملفّ موجود في صنعاء وليس في طهران». كما اقترح الجانب الإيراني على السعوديين وقْف العدوان ورفْع الحصار، وأبدى استعداده، بالاتّفاق مع اليمنيين، للعبِ دور الميسّر من خلال استضافة مفاوضات بين المملكة و«أنصار الله»، منبّهاً إلى أن إيران ليست وسيطاً في هذا النزاع، بل هي دائماً ما أعلنت انحيازها إلى جانبه اليمني. ومن هنا، انحصر النقاش في مسألة استعادة العلاقات الديبلوماسية، علماً أن إيران كانت تخضع حينها لعقوبات أميركية قصوى، مترافقة مع تهديد بشنّ حرب عليها، فيما كان اقتصادها يعاني أزمة كبرى. وإذا كانت تلك هي حالها في ذروة الحصار، فما الذي سيوجب عليها اليوم، بينما تعاظمت قدراتها العسكرية، وتعزَّز حضورها السياسي، وتَحسّن وضعها الاقتصادي، تقديم تنازلات سواءً ربطاً بملفّاتها الداخلية، أو الملفّات الإقليمية ذات الصلة بها؟

من ملف : اتفاق بكين: لا «ملحق» يمنياً

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Failed Saudi Attempts To Affect Yemen’s Position After Restoring Relations With Iran

Mar 13, 2023

The Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen in Tehran, Ibrahim Al-Dailami, confirmed that the Saudi regime failed in its attempt to influence Sanaa political and military position, and that the only way for Riyadh to find peace with Yemenis is to stop the aggression and siege imposed on them, and begin serious negotiations with Sanaa, warning that the continuation of the blockade will lead to entering a new phase of confrontation.

Al-Dailami revealed in an interview with Al-Manar TV that the Saudi regime tried to exploit its negotiations with Tehran during the last period to influence the political and military decision and position of Sanaa.

“The Iranians made it clear to the Saudis during the meetings that the relationship with Yemen is one of sincere brotherhood, and that the aggression and blockade must end,” he added.

The Iranians assured Saudi Arabia that “the decision is in Sanaa, not in Tehran.”

Al-Dailami commented on the recently announced Iranian-Saudi rapprochement agreement by saying, “If the understandings bring peace in the region, it will be in the interest of everyone, but the Saudis are the ones who want to change in the region.”

For his part, Yemen’s ambassador to Syria, Abdullah Sabri, said: The Iranian-Saudi agreement is encouraging, and we are waiting to see to what extent its implementation will be, as it is an inauguration of a new phase of consensus, noting that China’s sponsorship of the Iranian-Saudi agreement show that China, as an international power, has become more flexible and free from traditional procedures.

Ambassador Sabri confirmed: “We reached a truce in Yemen about a year ago as a result of the Yemeni force. Consequently, Saudi Arabia understood that it was incapable of a military solution.”

Many reports revealed during the past periods that Saudi Arabia is trying to seek help from the parties of the axis of resistance to influence the decision of Sanaa, and push it to back down from its negotiating position and its demands. However, the responses received by Riyadh all confirmed that the decision can only be found in Sanaa, and that it must negotiate directly with the Yemenis and respond to their demands represented in ending the aggression, siege, and occupation.

In another context, Ambassador Al-Dailami considered that “the first phase of the aggression ended during the past eight years, but the siege continued.”

He added that the continuation of the blockade will lead to a new phase of the war.

The leader of the revolution, Sayyid Abd al-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, recently confirmed that the current state of “de-escalation” will not continue indefinitely, warning the forces of the aggression coalition and its sponsors that “patience will run out”, in a clear message pointing to the need to stop procrastination and prevarication.

Earlier, the armed forces called on the countries of aggression not to miss the opportunity for peace on offer, and to take the warnings of the leader of the revolution seriously.

A member of the Ansar Allah Political Bureau, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, warned a few days ago that “negotiations may not succeed, and the Yemeni people may be forced to wage a decisive battle to end the aggression and lift the siege.”

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100 Organizations Ask for Yemen Resolution

MARCH 13, 2023

BY HAYLIE AROCHO – ISAAC EVANS-FRANTZ

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We have seen much recently about the Ukraine war anniversary. But March also marks the eighth anniversary of the war on Yemen and the 20th on Iraq. Members of Congress should introduce a Yemen War Powers Resolution before this war enters a ninth year.

In the past few weeks, activists in 17 cities across the United States protested at congressional offices and beyond, calling on lawmakers to bring the harmful U.S. role in the Yemen war to an end.

During the demonstrations, activists called on Sen. Bernie Sanders and other federal lawmakers to introduce a new Yemen War Powers Resolution this month. If brought up for a vote, Congress could order the president to end U.S. participation in the catastrophic conflict, which the U.S. has enabled for eight years. Sen. Sanders sponsored last year’s bill, but when he moved to bring the resolution to a vote in December, the Biden administration shut him down.

Sen. Sanders pledged to return to the Senate floor with a new Yemen War Powers Resolution if he and the administration were unable to agree to “strong and effective” action that would achieve his goals.

In the absence of meaningful public action from Biden to this end, the time is now for Sen. Sanders to make good on his pledge. For more than 11 months, Saudi Arabia has not bombed Yemen. However, without a negotiated settlement, this could change anytime. If the United States continues to support the war, it will be implicated in Saudi aggression if, and likely when, the conflict reignites.

Approximately two–thirds of the Royal Saudi Air Force receive direct support from U.S. military contracts in the form of spare parts and maintenance. The Saudi-led coalition has relied on this support to carry out these offensive strikes in Yemen. The United States has no sufficient compelling interest in Yemen that justifies complicity in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Since March 2015, the Saudi Arabia and /UAE)-led bombing and blockade of Yemen have killed hundreds of thousands of people and wreaked havoc on the country, creating one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. 17 million people in Yemen are food insecure and 500,000 children are experiencing severe wasting.

For years Saudi Arabia –– and the Yemeni government it supports –– have prevented virtually any containerized goods from entering Hodeida, Yemen’s principal Red Sea port. Containerized goods include essentially everything other than food and fuel.

This has hurt the economy and prevented critical life-saving medicine and medical equipment from reaching people in need. With apparent never-ending U.S. military support, Saudi Arabia lacks an important incentive to completely lift the blockade and withdraw from Yemen.

In 2018 Saudi dictator Mohammed Bin Salman ordered the murder of U.S. journalist Jamal Khashoggi and then lied about it. Just last year Saudi Arabia manipulated global energy markets to raise fuel prices and empower Russia in its immoral and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

These are just two examples of Saudi Arabia conduct harmful to the United States and its allies. The Biden administration was correct in October when it called for a re-evaluation of the US-Saudi relationship, urging Congress to propose measures to hold Saudi Arabia accountable. Passing the Yemen War Powers Resolution is a chance to do exactly that.

More than 100 national organizations – humanitarian, veterans’, libertarian, and others – wrote to Congress as recently as December urging passage of the Yemen War Powers Resolution. Bernie Sanders should re-introduce his resolution.

Under Article I of the U.S. Constitution, the power to raise and support armies is reserved for Congress. No Congressional authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) has been issued for Yemen. The War Powers Resolution empowers Congress to invoke its war powers authority to end unconstitutional U.S. participation in wars like the war in Yemen.

Saturday, March 25 will mark the eighth anniversary of the beginning of the Saudi-led coalition’s bombing of Yemen. To mark the occasion, US and international groups will hold an online rally to inspire and enhance education and activism to end the war in Yemen. Join grassroots groups on March 25th at noon Eastern Time and please sign the petition at PeaceAction.org.

Haylie Arocho is a Northeastern student and fellow with Action Corps, a grassroots humanitarian advocacy organization that co-leads a coalition to end U.S. participation in the war in Yemen. Isaac Evans-Frantz is the founding director of Action Corps.

Exclusive: The hidden security clauses of the Iran-Saudi deal

March 12 2023

The Cradle reveals confidential clauses of the agreement struck between Tehran and Riyadh, which was reached courtesy of Beijing.

Photo Credit: The Cradle

By Hasan Illaik

Under Chinese auspices, on 10 March in Beijing, longtime regional competitors Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to restore diplomatic relations, after a break of seven years.

In its most optimistic reading, the deal can be seen as a historic strategic agreement, reflecting major changes underway in West Asia and the world. At worst, it can be characterized as an “armistice agreement” between two important rivals, that will provide a valuable space for direct, regular communications.

The Sino-Saudi-Iranian joint statement on Friday carried strong implications beyond the announcement of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh, severed since 2016.

The statement is very clear:

• The embassies of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic Iran will reopen in less than two months.
• Respect for the sovereignty of States.
• Activating the security cooperation agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran signed in 2001.
• Activating the cooperation agreement in the economic, trade, investment, technology, science, culture, sports and youth sectors signed between the parties in 1998.
• Urging the three countries to exert all efforts to promote regional and international peace and security.

At first glance, the first four clauses suggest that the Chinese-brokered deal is essentially a mending of diplomatic relations between the two longtime adversaries. But in fact, the fifth clause is far from the standard text inserted into joint statements between states.

It appears to establish a new reference for conflicts in West Asia, in which China plays the role of “peacemaker” — in partnership with Iran and Saudi Arabia — in which Beijing assumes a role in various regional conflicts or influences the relevant parties.

Sources familiar with the negotiations have revealed to The Cradle that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not merely coat-tail a deal already underway between Tehran and Riyadh. Xi has, in fact, personally paved the way for this agreement to materialize. The Chinese head of state delved deep into its details since his visit to Saudi Arabia in December 2022, and then later, during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Beijing in mid-February 2023.

More than one round of negotiations was held under Chinese auspices, during which the Iranians and Saudis finalized details negotiated between them in Iraq and Oman, during earlier rounds of talks.

It was by no means a given that the two sides would arrive at an agreement in their last round of discussions (6-10 March, 2023). But the Chinese representative managed to overcome all obstacles between the two delegations, after which the parties obtained approval from their respective leaderships to announce the deal on Friday.

China as regional guarantor

In the past couple of days, much has been written about the strategic implications of a  Chinese-brokered Saudi-Iranian agreement and its impact on China’s global role vis-à-vis the United States. The Persian Gulf is a strategic region for both powers, and the main source of China’s energy supply. It is likely why Beijing intervened to stem tensions between its two strategic allies. It is also something Washington, long viewed as the region’s “security guarantor,” could never have achieved.

Undoubtedly, much will be said about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s (MbS) “strategic adventurism” and his exploitation of  global changes to offset the decline of US regional influence. The rise of a multipolar, post-American order allows traditional US allies some space to explore their international options away from Washington, and in service of their immediate national interests.

Saudi Arabia’s current interests are related to the ambitious political, economic, financial, and cultural targets that MbS has set out for his country, and are based on two pillars:

• Diversifying regional and global partnerships in order to adapt to global systemic changes that will help realize Riyadh’s grand plans.
• Establishing security and political stability to allow Saudi Arabia to implement its major projects, especially those outlines in MbS’ “Vision 2030,” through which Riyadh envisions itself transforming into a regional incubator for finance, business, media, and the entertainment industry – similar to the role played by the UAE in decades past, or by Beirut before the Lebanese civil war in 1975.

In short, regional and domestic security and stability are vital for Riyadh to be able to implement its strategic goals. As such, confidential clauses were inserted into the Beijing Agreement to assure Iran and Saudi Arabia that their security imperatives would be met. Some of these details were provided to The Cradle, courtesy of a source involved in the negotiations:

• Both Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake not to engage in any activity that destabilizes either state, at the security, military or media levels.
• Saudi Arabia pledges not to fund media outlets that seek to destabilize Iran, such as Iran International.
• Saudi Arabia pledges not to fund organizations designated as terrorists by Iran, such as the People’s Mojahedin Organization (MEK), Kurdish groups based in Iraq, or militants operating out of Pakistan.
• Iran pledges to ensure that its allied organizations do not violate Saudi territory from inside Iraqi territory. During negotiations, there were discussions about the targeting of Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia in September 2019, and Iran’s guarantee that an allied organization would not carry out a similar strike from Iraqi lands.
• Saudi Arabia and Iran will seek to exert all possible efforts to resolve conflicts in the region, particularly the conflict in Yemen, in order to secure a political solution that secures lasting peace in that country.

According to sources involved in the Beijing negotiations, no details on Yemen’s conflict were agreed upon as there has already been significant progress achieved in direct talks between Riyadh and Yemen’s Ansarallah resistance movement in January. These have led to major understandings between the two warring states, which the US and UAE have furiously sought to undermine in order to prevent a resolution of the Yemen war.

In Beijing however, the Iranian and Saudis agreed to help advance the decisions already reached between Riyadh and Sanaa, and build upon these to end the seven-year war.

Hence, although the Beijing statement primarily addresses issues related to diplomatic rapprochement, Iranian-Saudi understandings appear to have been brokered mainly around security imperatives. Supporters of each side will likely claim their country fared better in the agreement, but a deeper look shows a healthy balance in the deal terms, with each party receiving assurances that the other will not tamper with its security.

While Iran has never declared a desire to undermine Saudi Arabia’s security, some of its regional allies have made no secret of their intentions in this regard. In addition, MbS has publicly declared his intention to take the fight inside Iran, which Saudi intelligence services have been doing in recent years, specifically by supporting and financing armed dissident and separatist organizations that Iran classifies as terrorist groups.

The security priorities of this agreement should have been easy to spot in Beijing last week. After all, the deal was struck between the National Security Councils of Saudi Arabia and Iran, and included the participation of intelligence services from both countries. Present in the Iranian delegation were officers from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and from the intelligence arms of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

On a slightly separate note related to regional security — but not part of the Beijing Agreement — sources involved in negotiations confirmed to The Cradle that, during talks, the Saudi delegation stressed Riyadh’s commitment to the 2002 Arab peace initiative; refusing normalization with Tel Aviv before the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital.

What is perhaps most remarkable, and illustrates the determination by the parties to strike a deal without the influence of spoilers, is that Iranian and Saudi intelligence delegations met in the Chinese capital for five days without Israeli intel being aware of the fact. It is perhaps yet another testament that China — unlike the US — understands how to get a deal done in these shifting times.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of The Cradle.

الحسابات الأميركية السعودية بين اليمن وسورية ولبنان

الخميس 9 آذار 2023

ناصر قنديل

منذ مدة تمرّ العلاقات الأميركية السعودية بأزمة ثقة، وتأكيد الطرفين الأميركي والسعودي على الطابع الاستراتيجي لتحالفهما، لم ينف اعتراف الفريقين بأزمة في العلاقة التي كانت لها قواعد تقليدية تقوم على موقع مرجعي للسياسات السعودية الخارجية ترسمه سقوف السياسات الأميركية. وبدأت تتغيّر مع موقف سعودي يرسم هوامش مستقلة تتسع تدريجياً حتى طالت ما تعتبره واشنطن بداية مساس خطر بالثوابت، مثل الموقف من تدفقات الطاقة، ورفض السعودية الالتزام بالدعوات الأميركية لزيادة الإنتاج، والعقوبات على روسيا وتمسك السعودية بالتعاون معها كشريك كامل ضمن إطار أوبك بلاس من خارج نظام العقوبات، وصولاً الى العلاقات الصينية السعودية ووصفها أميركياً بالإنقلاب على العلاقة التاريخية الأميركية السعودية، وتوصيف الرياض لها ضمن إطار الشركات المتعددة، حتى خرجت مواقف أميركية رسمية من البيت الأبيض ووزارة الخارجية تتحدّث عن أن العلاقة مع الرياض قيد التقييم، وأن هذا التقييم سينتهي بإجراءات.

في هذا السياق يقرأ الخبراء التعقيدات المرافقة لظهور التوجه السعودي نحو السعي لتمديد الهدنة في اليمن وفق مقاربة تراعي مطالب حركة أنصار الله، والحديث السعودي عن الحاجة للانفتاح على الدولة السورية، والنقاش السعودي حول الوضع في لبنان، حيث ظهر استعداد سعودي لمشاريع تسويات في الملفين اليمني والسوري لا تنضبط بالسقوف السابقة التي اعتمدتها السعودية سابقاً، حملتها تصريحات سعودية واضحة تتحدث علناً عن استحالة الاستمرار بالسياسات السابقة، ككلام وزير الخارجية السعودية حول سورية، ويبدو للمتابعين أن هذا التراجع السعودي عن السقوف العالية تجاه اليمن وسورية، والإنفتاح على خيارات جديدة يمكن أن تنجح في صناعة التسويات، يرافقه موقف سعودي سلبي تجاه التسوية في لبنان، بل موقف سعودي بسقف أعلى من الموقف الأميركي في السلبية تجاه فرص تسوية تخرج لبنان من الاستعصاء الخانق في مقاربة الاستحقاق الرئاسي، وهو ما يعتقد الخبراء أنه نتاج كون السعودية في اليمن تقاتل بجيشها، وفي العلاقات العربية والدولية حيث القضية السورية حاضرة تستنزف بسمعتها ومكانتها، بينما لا تتكبد أي أكلاف في لبنان، حيث تستثمر حراك أطراف لبنانية مستعدة لضبط إيقاعها على التوقيت السعودي، وهي تحاول أن تعوض عبر المكاسب الممكن تحقيقها عبر التصعيد والتشدد في لبنان، ما سوف يكون عليها تقديمه من تنازلات أو تكبده من أكلاف في تسويات ممكنة في ملفي اليمن وسورية. ويعتبر الخبراء ان هذه الصلة هي التي تفسر البطء في مساري التسوية في اليمن وسورية، بانتظار أن يؤتي التشدد والتصعيد في لبنان بعض الثمار، أو يسلك طريق التقدم.

مقابل هذه المقاربة ثمة مقاربة مخالفة في تفسير وتوصيف مسار الموقف السعودي تجاه اليمن وسورية ولبنان، واستطراداً ما تسميه بتعقيدات العلاقة الأميركية السعودية، وتقول هذه المقاربة إن الحاجة الماسة لتحقيق تقدم سعودي في اليمن وسورية ولبنان، سواء في سلوك خط التسويات أو التصعيد ترتبط بالحاجة لتسهيل أميركي، حيث لواشنطن مقاربة لا تتقاطع في النظرة مع الحسابات السعودية، والحساب الأميركي نحو سورية عبرت عنه زيارة قائد القوات الاميركية الى شرق الفرات لإعلان التمسك بتعطيل أي انفتاح على الدولة السورية وإعلان التمسك بالكانتون الكردي. وقد ترجمت هذا الموقف تصريحات أميركية متكررة تحذر من الانفتاح على الدولة السورية، وفي اليمن لا تزال واشنطن تأمل أن تنتزع من أي تسوية لوقف الحرب في اليمن، ترتيبات تتصل بأمن الملاحة في الممرات المائية التي يسيطر عليها أنصار الله وخصوصاً مضيق باب المندب، وضمانات لأمن كيان الاحتلال، وصلة ذلك بمستقبل السلاح الصاروخي للأنصار، وشرعنة قواعد أميركية في الأرض اليمنية وتسهيلات لحركة الطائرات الأميركية المسيرة في الأجواء اليمنية، بينما لا تمانع واشنطن بتسوية في لبنان تستوحي الطريقة التي تم عبرها ترسيم الحدود البحرية للبنان تفادياً لقيام حزب الله بوضع فائض قوته على الطاولة وتهديد أمن «إسرائيل»، وهي بذلك ترسم سقفاً للمقاربة اللبنانية أدنى من السقف السعودي وأكثر انفتاحاً على خيارات التسوية.
– تملك واشنطن مفاتيح التعطيل والتسهيل، وهي تستخدمها عبر رسائل مشفرة نحو الرياض، فتعرض عليها منحها تفويضاً مشروطاً في لبنان لقيادة الاستحقاق الرئاسي بشروطها، مقابل انضباط الرياض بالسقوف الأميركية لملفات اليمن وسورية، وهذا ما يربك الحسابات السعوية ويفسر التباطؤ في رسم الخيارات وتظهير المواقف، لكن الوقت يضيق، ففي سورية تسارع تركي نحو دمشق وموعد يقترب لعقد القمة العربية في الرياض التي يريدها السعوديون مناسبة لا ينالها سواهم لعودة سورية الى الجامعة العربية، وفي اليمن حدود لاستعداد أنصار الله للانتظار ومنح المهل، وفي لبنان تغلق الأبواب على الرهانات الرئاسية التي قيل للسعودية إنها رهانات رابحة ويتقدم الخيار المقابل بثقة، بينما تضع المقاومة الأميركي أمام معادلة تحميله مسؤولية إدامة الفراغ ومنع التسويات وصولاً إلى الفوضى وتضع مقابلها استعدادها للحرب على الكيان، فتنشأ دينامية الجنرال وقت التي لا تدع مجالاً لمواءمة قسمة الحقل على قسمة البيدر، ويصير على العشاق أن يتفرقوا لأن الدف قد تمزق، فلا تبقى السعودية قادرة على ضبط ايقاعها في اليمن وسورية على التوقيت الأميركي ولا تبقى اميركا قادرة على ضبط إيقاعها في لبنان على التوقيت السعودي. هي شهور فاصلة ستقول الكثير.

التعليق السياسي

إلى الحوار در

بعدما تبدّدت الأحلام بفرض خريطة طريق تحكم الاستحقاق الرئاسي عنوانها السعي لتجميع الغالبية اللازمة لانتخاب المرشح ميشال معوض، أي 65 صوتاً، وبدأت جبهته الداعمة تتفكك ومجموع ناخبيه يتقلص، منذ قرّر الحزب التقدمي الاشتراكي الخروج من هذه الجبهة نحو ترشيح قائد الجيش وآخرين كخيارات متفق عليها مع شركاء ترشيح معوّض وفي مقدمتهم القوات اللبنانية بالانتقال إلى الخطة باء، وبدعم الخارج الراعي والمساند، صارت الخطة باء في الواجهة وانتهى الرهان على ترشيح معوض وتحول الى حصان أعرج عاجز عن المضي في السباق، وقد انفض الثلث المعطل المفترض من حوله، فكيف بالسعي لتجميع الغالبية.

في الخطة باء سعي لتمرير إمكانية انتخاب قائد الجيش دون تعديل دستوري وطرحه مرشحاً توافقياً لا يمثل ما يمثله معوض من استفزاز بخطاب عدائي للمقاومة، وهو المرشح الجدّي للحلف الداخلي والخارجي المناوئ للمقاومة، ليس بالضرورة لاعتباره مناوئاً، بقدر اعتباره مؤهلاً لخلط الأوراق وإرباك الحسابات، لكن الخطة باء أصيبت بالمقتل وسقطت بالضربة القاضية مع إعلان رئيس مجلس النواب استحالة انتخابه دون تعديل دستوري، باعتبار غياب الإجماع الذي تحقق في التسوية السياسية التي تمت في الدوحة ومن ضمنها وصول العماد ميشال سليمان الى رئاسة الجمهورية، يجعل أي انتخاب دون تعديل الدستور عرضة لطعن مؤكد ينتهي بإبطال الانتخاب.

صار الفريق المناوئ للمقاومة خالي اليدين من أي مرشح، ولا خطة ج، وليس من السهل إنتاج مرشح ثالث وتجميع الثلث المعطل من حوله لتحقيق التوازن التفاوضي في مواجهة الإعلان المتتابع لدعم ترشيح فرنجية وحشد تأييد يتجاوز الثلث المعطل ويقترب من الأغلبية وراءه، وبالتالي لم يعد هذا الفريق المناوئ هو الفريق المفاوض المقابل لمؤيدي فرنجية، بل هو واحد من مجموعة أطراف مدعوة للحوار طلباً للتوافق حول الاستحقاق الرئاسي، وهي أطراف تتراوح في أحجامها وتتفاوت في مقاربتها، وليس بينها أي خيار قادر على تجميع الثلث المعطل منفرداً.

العودة للحوار اليوم تحظى بموافقة كتل نيابية تمثل أكثر من ثلثي مجلس النواب، وهو النصاب اللازم لانتخاب الرئيس، وعلى مناوئي المقاومة الاختيار بين مقاطعة الحوار وتظهير حجمهم الفعلي العاجز عن تعطيل النصاب، وهذا أمر جيد، أو المشاركة في الحوار منعاً لانكشاف تراجع حجمهم، وهذا جيد ايضاً.

عنقود العنب يؤكل حبة حبة، والحبة الناضجة اليوم هي إلى الحوار در.

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The School of Soleimani: From Birth until Martyrdom

Feb 3, 2023

By Al-Ahed News

The book has so far been available in the markets in four languages…

“Soleimani’s School: From Birth in Kerman until Martyrdom in Baghdad…” is the title of a book penned by Pakistani author Sayyed Hassan Reza Naqavi. First published in Urdu, Persian, then English, the Lebanese capital Beirut hosted the ceremony to sign the Arabic version of the book.

The event, which was held at the Cultural Counsellorship of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Lebanon, was first addressed by the publisher, the manager of al-Walaa Publishing House Hassan Khalifeh.

“Qassem Soleimani has passed through the borders of geography and entered the hearts and minds of people. He is a one-of-a-kind man within the Axis of Resistance. And a good proof on being a global hero is that a Pakistani author pens a book in Urdu about his life. This book is definitely useful for whoever desires to learn about the aspects of the life and the leading role of martyr Soleimani in making victories,” Khalifeh underlined.

Before signing the book, the author remarked that Martyr Qassem Soleimani was not only admired by Muslims, but also valued and appreciated by the Christians and the Druze. “Given what I’ve read about the past three decades, I didn’t find any person, except for religious clerics, who served Islam and humanity as Hajj Qassem Soleimani.”

All walks of life in Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq considered him part of them, Naqavi explained.

During a conversation with al-Ahed News, the author emphasized that he was inspired to write the book about the life of the former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard [IRG] Quds Force by the personality of Martyr Qassem Soleimani himself, given the fact that he reads and writes about history of different figures in different countries, which clearly displayed the martyr’s uniqueness.

Mr. Naqavi detailed the distinction of martyr Soleimani by listing some of the characteristics conveyed in his personality. “I had seen Islam and resistance, his role in helping the poor and vulnerable people, his anti-US and anti-‘Israel’ policies in the region, and his struggle for Islam and the Islamic Revolution, and for saving the lives of people in Syria and Iraq from Daesh [Arabic for ‘ISIS/ISIL’].”

The course of writing the first-published version of the book took the author almost two years during which he cited several sources and reports, and interviewed different Iranian figures whether from the political and military fields who mainly contributed to collecting the information found in this book.

Sayyed Naqavi didn’t spare the opportunity to express for our website his love the Lebanese resistance group Hezbollah. “When I was 9-yo in Pakistan, the picture of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was hung in our home. And after the July 2006 war, we published about the “Manifest Victory” and celebrated it in Pakistan, and displayed an exhibition about Hezbollah’s victory in the war against ‘Israel’.”

Iran’s Cultural Counselor in Lebanon, Sayyed Kumail Baqer, for his part, described the meeting held to sign this book as a good proof to display who is Hajj Qassem Soleimani and the school he left behind. The meeting attended by people of different nationalities is a good proof that Hajj Qassem Soleimani is an international personality who was a main pillar in the formation and devotion of this front.

US Attempts To Impede The Muscat Negotiations; Sana’a Threatens To Resume Military Operations

 Feb 25, 2023

After five months of negotiations, the Zionist-American-Saudi-Emirati aggression coalition is still looking for different kind of ways to impede steps that could possibly extend the armistice.
This time, the Saudi aggression wants to open roads(in frontline zones) in exchange for paying the salaries of employees, opening the port of Hodeidah, and expanding the routes from Sanaa airport. However, Sanaa completely rejected this offer, as it links humanitarian files with military ones, stressing the need to separate the humanitarian file, for it is an entitlement to any progress towards any armistice.

An airstrike in Sanaʽa on 11 May 2015

The leader of the revolution, Sayyid Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, threatened during a speech last Friday to resume military operations, accusing the aggression coalition of prolonging the negotiations and evading the implementation of humanitarian entitlements, emphasizing the complications that stand in the way of negotiations.

Washington changed Riyadh’s position

The recent round of discussions would have yielded a comprehensive solution to the war on Yemen, according to a private source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sanaa, had it not been for the interventions of the United States of America through its ambassador to obstruct any signature by the party of the aggressive Saudi coalition, indicating that among the agreements that the parties would have concluded, were it not for the interventions Washington and its directions to the Saudi side, were total military withdrawal from Yemen and the direct payment of salaries to employees.

It was agreed to hand over the salaries of all employees, and Saudi Arabia gave verbal approval to Sanaa in this regard. However, the visit of the American envoy to the region changed Riyadh’s position later, as the latter has not yet responded to the proposal of Sanaa, which was submitted through the Omani mediator, that requires expediting the payment of salaries starting next March.

Three key points

Regarding the latest developments in the course of the negotiations taking place in Muscat, the leader of the revolution, Sayyid Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, revealed what is going on behind the scenes of the negotiations in Muscat, accusing the United States of America of deliberately impeding peace and seeking to hinder the efforts made by the Sultanate of Oman in order to reach an agreement that ends the suffering of the Yemeni people.

The leader of the revolution said, in his speech on the occasion of the anniversary of the martyr President Saleh al-Sammad, that the American side is working to obstruct the Omani efforts in three main points, the first of which is its attempt to distance the coalition from any obligations arising from any agreement, and to acquit Saudi Arabia of its direct role as the leader of the aggression against the people of Yemen. In addition, it refused to link the payment of state employees’ salaries to the proceeds of oil and gas sales. Also, they are trying to “transform the matter into a purely internal conflict” and “attempt to delay the expulsion of the occupying foreign forces.”

In the second point, Sayyid Al-Houthi explained that “the American is trying to turn the issue into a purely internal issue,” stressing that “this can never be accepted, and the issue cannot turn into a problem with small mercenaries who are nothing but recruits with the aggression coalition.” Stressing that: “The role of the one who presented himself since the beginning of the aggression as a leader of the war and an executor of offensive operations against our country cannot turn into a mere mediator.”

With regard to the third point, the Leader stated that “the Americans are playing their game on the issue of the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country and are trying to postpone this step indefinitely,” stressing that “we cannot accept the continuation of the occupation and the presence of foreign forces in our country, and this is a fundamental issue. for us.”

“We will continue with all options, with all efforts in all fields, to achieve complete freedom and complete independence, and to retain all parts of our country from every foreign occupation,” Sayyid Al-Houthi assured.

America obstructs the path of peace

Western media confirmed in its reports that America is obstructing the peace process in Yemen, as the American magazine “National Interest” revealed in a recently published report that the decision of the war powers in Yemen was withdrawn from voting in the Senate during the past month, noting that if the decision was passed, this would have ended the direct US military intervention in the Saudi war in Yemen.

According to the magazine, the withdrawal of the resolution came after President Joe promised Eden and his administration to veto the resolution if it was passed, which confirms Washington’s unwillingness to end the war, which expresses their desire for a return to military escalation.

Dangerously opportunistic approach

The Russian delegate, Dmitry Polyansky, to the Security Council, during a special session in mid-January held to discuss the situation in Yemen, said: “The international community must do everything in its power to restore peace to Yemen,” continuing to say: “Moscow maintains its relationship with the Sanaa authorities.”

The representative of Russia added that Western countries seek to plunder and export Yemeni oil and gas, and do not want to reach a comprehensive solution in Yemen, indicating that the goal of Westerners is not to reach a comprehensive solution in Yemen, but rather to export its “oil” to global markets. He said: Western countries practice opportunism by focusing on obtaining Yemeni oil and gas, and we consider this opportunistic Western approach very dangerous and harmful to sustainable peace in Yemen.

Dangerous plots and moves

Political analysts and observers confirmed that there is a clear duplicity of the Americans in Yemen, as their talk about peace contradicts their movements in reality. There is a continuous aggressive behavior and an influx of American forces in Bab al-Mandab and off the Yemeni coast, and the construction of military bases in the governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra, in addition to the islands of Mayon and Socotra, adding: that there are conspiracies and dangerous movements by American-British plotters, in a new transformation of the conflict and with new methods in a clear dedication to the continuation of the aggression and siege on Yemen, all of Yemen, with American-Western intransigence and insistence in imposing a state of no peace and no war and tireless work in building occupation projects, and this is what is happening in reality , and without a clear horizon for a solution, blocking any moves or efforts that contribute to achieving peace.

Repeated attempts to escalate

They pointed out that Washington views peace in Yemen as a real danger threatening its colonial presence in the country, especially with the adherence of Sanaa, which succeeded in imposing its conditions and demands on the negotiating table, in controlling over all the details of the open confrontation with the forces of the Zionist-American-Saudi-Emirati coalition of aggression, in various fields.

Sanaa is able to overcome the plots

The American, British and all the countries of aggression in Yemen, realize their inability to confront Sanaa after their failure for the eighth year in a row to achieve any significant victory in the military field. Their fears lie not only in getting off Yemen, but also in what Sanaa represents today, of a great power capable of overturning the military equations in the region and influencing regional balances, which means that the Western colonial presence that dominates and invests the wealth of the neighborhood will not be safe.

In conclusion:

The American steps and attempts to obstruct the path of peace in Yemen are nothing but confirmation of what is certain, which is that the aggression against Yemen is an American aggression par excellence, and it served the agenda of America and Britain. Also, it should that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are only tools in this aggression that was announced from Washington.

Air defense weapons, “surface-to-air” missiles.. (Miraj, Saqr, Sadiq systems, Haidar, B19 radar)

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Sayyed Al-Houthi: Our Investigation Confirmed The American Role In Targeting Al-Sammad

Feb 24, 2023

Sayyed Al Houthi Addresses Americans, British, Saudis And Emiratis: “Leave All Our Provinces, Our Territorial Waters”

The leader of the revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik Badr al-Din Al-Houthi, confirmed that the personality of the martyr President Saleh al-Sammad in loyalty and patriotism and his ability to unite the home front prompted the aggression to assassinate him.

This came in a speech he delivered on the occasion of the anniversary of the martyr President Saleh Al-Sammad.

Sayyed Abdulmalik affirmed that the aggression sought to target the martyr al-Sammad due to his active role in confronting the aggression and supporting the just cause of our people, adding that the aggression noticed in the martyr al-Samad his superior ability to unify the internal ranks as a priority of confronting the aggression.

Sayyed Abdulmalik Al-Houthi said: “On the anniversary of the martyr President Saleh al-Sammad, we remember him, as he was a model of honesty, loyalty, patience and relentless pursuit of God’s pleasure.”

Regarding the assassination of the martyr President Saleh Al-Sammad, Sayyed Abdulmalik indicated that “In the stages of escalation by the aggression to control Hodeidah, the martyr Al-Sammad was present there to mobilize the people and activate all official and popular capabilities.”

In his speech, Sayyed Abdulmalik accused the US of being behind the assassination of the martyr President Saleh Al-Sammad.

He said: “the US was the one who determined for the Saudi to target the martyr Al-Sammad as a primary target.”

The leader affirmed that all the campaigns carried out by the coalition forces in their aggression against Yemen, including the campaign that targeted Hodeidah, were carried out under US supervision.

In his speech, Commander Abd al-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi explained that the Yemeni people surprised the coalition, which had thought that the assassination of al-Sammad would break its will and weaken it, saying: “the result was completely the opposite.”

He added, “After the assassination of the martyr al-Sammad, Yemeni people showed an increase in their determination, patriotism and sacrifice”.

Sayyed Al Houthi Addresses Americans, British, Saudis And Emiratis: “Leave All Our Provinces, Our Territorial Waters”

Feb 24, 2023

Leader of the Yemeni revolution, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, revealed on Thursday the developments of the Muscat consultations between Sanaa and Riyadh, and the American role in obstructing them with the aim of benefiting from the sale of weapons and its continuation in occupying Yemen and its sea outlets.

This came in a speech that he delivered on the occasion of the anniversary of the martyred President Saleh Al-Sammad.

Al-Houthi explained that the American regime seeking to obstruct efforts by distancing the Saudi-led coalition from assuming any obligations arising from any agreement or understanding, trying to transform the issue and “as if it were a purely internal battle.

The leader of the revolution affirmed that who launched the aggression and war on Yemen is the Saudis, along with the Emiratis and their mercenaries who joined under American, British and Zionist supervision.

Therefore, the coalition cannot shirk through its well-known official statements announcing any commitments to any agreements or understandings, because it is the belligerent and aggressor party that leads the position and the war on our country as it is present at the political level in the United Nations and the Security Council, in addition to its planes and missiles that bomb, kill and destroy the infrastructure and destroy facilities in the country.

“Let the Americans and the British know, and let the Saudis and Emiratis know that they have to hold their obligations and entitlements that are legitimate for our people.”

Sayyed al-Houthi explained that the American sought to obstruct the understandings led by Oman by obstructing the file of salaries and entitlements that our people receive from our national wealth, noting that the national wealth and its sources are occupied by the coalition in Marib and Shabwa and Hadramout, as well as ports.

The aggression coalition practically controls our national wealth and is responsible for plundering that wealth and depriving the people of for eight years, in addition to compensation, he said.

The leader al-Houthi indicated to “the American played a game on the issue of the withdrawal of foreign forces from Yemen in trying to make this point postponed indefinitely and to keep the military presence in our country.

“We cannot accept the continuation of the imbalance in the country, or there be a solution to the internal problems in light of the existence of a state of war, siege and foreign presence in the country.”

He added, “We cannot accept understandings and search for solutions to political problems in light of the existence of war, siege and occupation, because understanding under such a situation is blackmail and direct interference in the affairs of our country. Let the Americans know that and let the picture be clear to our people.”

Al-Sayyed reaffirmed that one of the priorities and basic issues that we adhere to in any dialogues is the humanitarian and livelihood file for our people, and this is a priority and a humanitarian and legal entitlement, even as stipulated in the international law to which they belong.

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Al-Houthi to coalition of aggression: Our patience will run out

17 Feb 2023

Source: Al Mayadeen Net

By Al Mayadeen English 

The leader of Ansar Allah affirms that the movement will not squander the achievements of the Yemeni people in terms of freedom and independence.

The leader of Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi

The leader of Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, said, “The stage we are in, in Yemen, is a stage of war, and what has calmed down is none but military escalation,” pointing out that “we are today in the position of confronting targeting and threats, as the stage of just following up on the news of the attacks on our nation [without acting] has come to an end.”

Al-Houthi warned and advised the coalition of aggression that patience will run out, “as we cannot accept depriving our people of their national wealth.”

He added, on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversary of Hussein Badr Al-Din Al-Houthi, today, Friday, “We are currently going through a de-escalation phase under Omani mediation and intensive efforts to stop the aggression on Yemen.” He also thanked the Omanis for their efforts and stressed the necessity of addressing the humanitarian and livelihood file, which “we cannot barter or remain silent about.”

The Yemeni leader affirmed that “we will not squander the achievements of our people in terms of freedom, independence, and maintaining dignity,” stressing that in any dialogue to be held, “the [main point should be that] enemies must end their aggression against our country.” He warned that “time may run out and we may return to pressure options to obtain our people’s right to their wealth.”

“If peace is what they want, its path is clear; its key is [solving] the humanitarian file and its ultimate goal is to end the aggression, siege, and occupation.”

Read more: ‘Final warning’: UN accused of blockading Yemeni people – Official

Enemies provide all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons

The leader of Ansar Allah movement said the Americans and Western countries occupy countries and appoint puppet governments therein to suppress anyone who opposes their hegemony.

Al-Houthi added that the Americans and their affiliates violate the sovereignty of states and their ambassadors meddle in everything, both issuing directives as if they are the rulers of the countries in question.

“The Americans are the ones that launch military attacks and aggressions, such as their invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, their aggression against Yemen, and their occupation of Palestine,” the Yemeni leader said, adding that they “do their best to destabilize the security of our nation, through the founding of Takfiri groups and exerting pressure on the [countries’] regimes to facilitate their operations.”

عمل الأعداء على زعزعة أمن أمتنا عبر إنشاء الجماعات التكفيرية والضغط على الأنظمة لتسهيل عملياتها.

قائد حركة أنصار الله السيد عبد الملك بدرالدين #الحوثي بمناسبة الذكرى السنوية للشهيد حسين بدر الدين الحوثي. pic.twitter.com/wovOFxHjh7

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 17, 2023

In this context, he reaffirmed that “the Takfiri groups are made by the West and America with the aim of distorting the image of Islam.”

The Yemeni leader indicated that “the enemies provide all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons, to hostile countries, whereas the countries that come under attack are denied any such weapons.”

Al-Houthi affirmed, “They want us to be a nation deprived of any ability to defend itself, and that is why they are working to ban the supply of weapons to any country they want to target.”

He further added that “the enemies impose agents and ignorant individuals on peoples and in important positions in state institutions with the aim of inflicting as much damage on them as possible and controlling them, thus forcing peoples to yield.”

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Absenting the Palestinian cause to wipe out the people’s memory

The Ansar Allah leader pointed out that “the enemies exerted strained efforts to keep the Palestinian cause out of the school curricula and were keen to exclude anything that could advance the nation’s level of awareness.”

He considered that “all forms of injustice and criminal activities are imposed on the Palestinian people on a daily basis.”

عملوا على تغييب #القضية_الفلسطينية من المناهج الدراسية وحرصوا على تغييب كل ما يمكن أن ينهض بمستوى وعي الأمة.

قائد حركة أنصار الله السيد عبد الملك بدرالدين #الحوثي بمناسبة الذكرى السنوية للشهيد حسين بدر الدين الحوثي. pic.twitter.com/CSGOhhCGKY

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) February 17, 2023

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سورية بالفعل قلب العروبة النابض

 الثلاثاء 14 شباط 2023

معن بشور

شريان الأخوّة العربية الى سورية المنكوبة والمتدفّق من لبنان وفلسطين والعراق ومختلف الدول العربية، حكومات وشعوباً، منظمات وأفراداً، يتجاوز في أهميته البعد الإنساني الى أبعاد قومية وإسلامية، أخلاقية وسياسية.

فهو على الصعيد الإنساني تأكيد على عمق الروح الإنسانية في أمتنا، والتي تتجاوز في عمقها ودلالاتها، كل محاولات التفرقة بين أبناء أمة واحدة، بل تؤكد انّ أمتنا ما تزال تولي الاعتبارات الإنسانية ما تستحقّه من اهتمام يتجاوز كلّ الحساسيات والحسابات الضيقة.

وهو على الصعيد الأخلاقي يعبّر عن مدى ما تتمتع به شعوبنا من وفاء تجاه سورية التي ـأسماها يوماً الرئيس الخالد الذكر جمال عبد الناصر «قلب العروبة النابض».
فالفلسطينيون رغم ظروفهم الصعبة التي يفرضها عليهم الاحتلال، من عنف يومي، وإغلاق مناطق ومخيمات وحصار مستمر منذ حوالي العقدين على غزة، لا ينسوا أن الشيخ عز الدين القسّام جاء من جبلة، وان سعيد العاص الشهيد على أرض فلسطين جاء من حماة، وأن مطران القدس المقاوم ايلاريون كبوجي جاء من حلب، وأنّ البحار الشهيد جول جمال جاء من اللاذقية، وانّ سورية بكلّ مناطقها قد فتحت أبوابها لعشرات الآلاف من الفلسطينيين الذين شرّدتهم نكبة 1948، وانّ سورية قدّمت آلاف الشهداء في معارك الصراع مع الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، وانّ أبناء الجولان السوري يشاركون الفلسطينيين عذابات الاحتلال منذ 55 عاماً، وانّ المقاومة الفلسطينية قد أنطلقت من قلب سورية عام 1965، وأنّ سورية بقيت أمينة على هذه المقاومة، فلسطينية أو لبنانية أو عراقية…

أما لبنان فلا ينسى أهله تلك العلاقة المميّزة، بينه وبين سورية، وهي علاقة مصير ومسار واحد، كما لا ينسون تضحيات الجيش العربي السوري على أرض لبنان في بيروت والجبل والبقاع والجنوب في وجه الاحتلال الإسرائيلي، كما لا ينسون كيف فتحت مدن سورية ذراعيها لمئات الآلاف من اللبنانيين في كلّ اللحظات الصعبة التي مرّوا بها خلال الحروب التي عاشها لبنان، لا سيّما يوم اضطر الآلاف منهم للجوء الى سورية خلال حرب تموز 2006، ناهيك عن دور سورية في احتضان المقاومة اللبنانية، الوطنية والإسلامية، الباسلة قبل التحرير وبعده.

أما العراقيون فكيف ينسون موقف سورية، شعباً وقيادة ورئيساً، في رفض الحصار والحرب والاحتلال عام 2003، والتي جسّدها خطاب الرئيس بشار الأسد في قمّة شرم الشيخ في 1/3/2003، وكيف وجد أكثر من مليوني عراقي في دمشق والمدن السورية ملاذاً آمناً لهم بعد احتلال بلدهم، وكيف واجهت دمشق تهديدات واشنطن للامتناع عن دعم مقاومة الشعب العراقي ضدّ الاحتلال، كما لا ينسى العراقيون لجان نصرة العراق في سورية قبيل الاحتلال عام 2003، والتي كان يرأسها المناضل العروبي الكبير منصور سلطان الاطرش (رحمه الله) والتي عمّت كلّ الأراضي السورية.

وفي الجزائر، التي كانت طائرتها هي الأولى التي نزلت الى مطار دمشق بعد الزلزال المدمّر لتعبّر عن وفاء الجزائر لدعم سورية اللامحدود لثوراتها التحررية وآخرها عام 1954، وحيث توجه العديد من شباب سورية، الى معسكرات الثورة ليشاركوا أشقاءهم الجزائريين في ثورتهم التاريخية..

ومصر لا تنسى سورية الإقليم الشمالي في الجمهورية العربية المتحدة ، وشريكتها في التصدي للعدوان الثلاثي على مصر، ودور أبطالها في تلك المواجهة (جول جمّال وتفجير بارجة جان بارت) وقبله سليمان الحلبي الذي اغتال القائد العسكري البريطاني كليبر، ناهيك عن شراكة مصر وسورية في نكسة حزيران 1967، كما في انتصار تشرين الأول 1973، كما في يوم أزمة القمح عام 1976 حين تبرّعت سورية بنصف مخزونها الاحتياطي لنجدة مصر المحاصرة آنذاك.

وتونس الخضراء لا تنسى موقف سورية «يوم الجراد» الذي قضى على محصول القمح التونسي كله، فكان القمح السوري هو البديل.

وفي اليمن، فكيف ينسى اليمنيون الطائرات العسكرية التي انطلقت الى صنعاء يوم حصارها المشؤوم عام 1968، كما لا ينسى اليمنيون احتضان سورية لثورتهم في جنوب اليمن ضدّ الاستعمار البريطاني…

اما شعوب الخليج والجزيرة العربية فلا تنسى مواقف سورية الى جانبها في العديد من الأزمات التي واجهتها عبر العقود الماضية، فيما لا تنسى دول المغرب العربي والسودان وقفات دمشق الى جانبهما في معظم المعارك التي فرضت عليهم..

انّ هذا التفاعل والتضامن العملي بين سورية وأشقائها العرب وقضاياهم هو الذي جعلها هدفاً دائماً للحروب والفتن والحصار الاستعماري ـ الصهيوني عليها، والتي بلغت ذروتها في الحرب الكونية عليها وفيها، والمستمرة منذ 12 سنة، والتي لم تكن تستهدف تدمير سورية الدولة والمجتمع فقط، بل تدمّر علاقة سورية بهويتها العربية وهي التي كانت تدرك على الدوام أنّ العروبة ليست مجرد هوية ثقافية وتاريخية وحضارية لها فحسب، بل العروبة هي ضمان أمنها الاستراتيجي وأفقها الاقتصادي ونهوضها الحضاري..

واذا كانت المساهمات من دول عربية وإسلامية وصديقة عبّرت عن مكانة سورية في الأقليم والعالم، فإنّ المطلوب استكمال هذه المساهمات بالانخراط في المعركة العربية والإقليمية والعالمية لكسر الحصار على سورية الذي حذرّنا منذ سنين من مخاطره وآثاره الضارة على الشعب السوري، وجاء الزلزال المدمر ليوضح فداحة هذه المخاطر والأضرار ويتسبّب بارتفاع أعداد ضحاياه ومشرّديه الى أرقام كبيرة..

واليوم تشكّل هذه الهبّة الشعبية العربية لإغاثة سورية، حقيقة إنّ سورية بالفعل هي قلب العروبة النابض وأنّ ما قدمته لأشقائها دون منّة أو استعراض لا يمكن لهم أن ينسوه، بل أن هذه الهبّة الشعبية العربية والإسلامية، ولأبناء الدول الصديقة ستستكمل بمعركة إسقاط الحصار على سورية، وإسقاط الهيمنة الاستعمارية والصهيونية على الأمّة والعالم.

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عودة أميركية إلى «اليمن»: لماذا يتأخّر إعلان الهدنة؟

 الإثنين 6 شباط 2023

يعزّز الأجواء التشاؤمية، عودة الترتيبات العسكرية في المحافظات الخاضعة لـ«التحالف» (أ ف ب)

رشيد الحداد

صنعاء | تواصِل الدبلوماسية العُمانية بذل المزيد من الجهود على طريق إزاحة العقبات التي لا تزال تحول دون إعلان تمديد الهدنة في اليمن، على رغم توصّل الرياض وصنعاء إلى تفاهم على فصْل الملفّ الإنساني عن الملفَّين العسكري والسياسي. وبالتوازي مع ذلك، يأتي إعلان وزارة الخارجية الأميركية عودة مبعوثها، تيم ليندركينغ، إلى المنطقة، ليثير الخشية من ضغط أميركي متجدّد في اتّجاه تكريس الوضع القائم، ومنع الإعلان عن اتّفاق نهائي. وفي هذا الإطار، لا تستبعد قيادات في صنعاء أن تضطرّ الرياض إلى التراجع عن التزاماتها والانقلاب على تفاهماتها مع «أنصار الله»، وخاصة أن المبعوث الأميركي سبق له أن تسبّب بإفشال اتّفاقات سابقة غير معلنة، أواخر تشرين الأول من العام الماضي، كما سبق لصنعاء أن اتّهمت واشنطن ولندن بإفشال جهود تمديد الهدنة.

وممّا يعزّز الأجواء التشاؤمية تلك، عودة الترتيبات العسكرية في المحافظات الخاضعة للتحالف السعودي – الإماراتي، وأحدثُها تشكيل ما يزيد على ثمانية ألوية عسكرية بقِوام أكثر من 20 ألف عنصر سلفي تحت مسمّى «درع الوطن»، ومنْحها صفة رسمية من قِبل رئيس «المجلس الرئاسي» رشاد العليمي، وكذلك رفض الحكومة الموالية لـ«التحالف» التراجع عن قراراتها الاقتصادية الأخيرة المتمثّلة في رفْع سعر الدولار الجمركي على الواردات التي تدْخل إلى ميناء عدن، والتي من شأنها مضاعفة معاناة اليمنيين. ويُضاف إلى ما تَقدّم، استمرار التصعيد العسكري السعودي ضدّ سكان القرى الحدودية مع جيزان في محافظة صعدة، وتأخّر الموافقة السعودية الرسمية على مطالب صنعاء المتّصلة بالملفّ الإنساني.

نفت قيادات في صنعاء توقّف المشاورات بين الأخيرة والرياض

مع ذلك، تؤكد مصادر دبلوماسية في الحكومة الموالية للتحالف، لـ«الأخبار»، استمرار الجهود الإقليمية والدولية لتذليل الخلافات، مستدركةً بأن تلك الجهود التي كانت حقّقت تقدّماً في مسار السلام، لا تزال من دون نتائج عملياتية حتى الآن، في وقت دعا فيه رئيس بعثة الاتحاد الأوروبي، جبرائيل فيناليس، وسفراء عدد من الدول الأوروبية، خلال زيارتهم أواخر الأسبوع الماضي لمدينة عدن، إلى دعم المساعي الهادفة إلى إحلال السلام. أمّا في صنعاء، ومع دخول الشهر الرابع منذ انتهاء الهدنة من دون إعلان تمديد جديد لها، ومرور نحو شهر على الحراك الدبلوماسي المكثّف الذي رفَع سقف التوقّعات الشعبية برفع الحصار عن مطار صنعاء وميناء الحديدة وصرف المرتّبات من دون استثناء، فقد نفى عضو الوفد المفاوض، حميد عاصم، الأنباء عن توقّف المشاورات بين صنعاء والرياض، منبّهاً في الوقت نفسه إلى أن «أنصار الله لا تملك المزيد من الخيارات في هذا الجانب، فإمّا السلام الشامل أو العودة إلى الحرب»، مؤكداً «رفْض صنعاء طلب الرياض بخصوص المنطقة العازلة على الحدود اليمنية السعودية بعرض 30 كلم». بدوره، توقّع وزير الدولة في حكومة الإنقاذ، عبد العزيز البكير، «انفراجة وشيكة» خلال الأيام القادمة، وقال، في تغريدة، إن هناك مؤشّرات إلى استجابة السعودية لمطالب «أنصار الله»، وهو ما سيتيح إعلان الاتفاق والشروع في تنفيذ بنوده.

ومع اقتراب انعقاد جلسة خاصة لمجلس الأمن لمناقشة مستجدّات الأوضاع في اليمن منتصف الشهر الجاري، حيث من المقرّر أن يقدّم المبعوث الأممي إحاطته الدورية بشأن الجهود الأخيرة لإحياء الهدنة وفقاً لجدول أعمال الجلسة الذي أُقرّ الأربعاء الماضي، أعلنت الولايات المتحدة بدء مبعوثها إلى اليمن جولة جديدة في المنطقة تشمل الإمارات وعُمان والسعودية، قائلةً إن ليندركينغ سيحثّ الأطراف كافة على تكثيف مشاركتهم مع الأمم المتحدة لإطلاق عملية سياسية يمنية – يمنية، يمكن أن تنهي الحرب بشكل دائم. وفي هذا الإطار، شدّد المبعوث الأميركي على ضرورة اغتنام أطراف الصراع فرصة التهدئة للبدء بهذه العملية، لافتاً، في كلمة بمناسبة مرور عامين على تعيينه، إلى أن الهدنة ساعدت على تهيئة الظروف لمفاوضات سلام شاملة.

كي على ضرورة اغتنام أطراف الصراع فرصة التهدئة للبدء بهذه العملية، لافتاً، في كلمة بمناسبة مرور عامين على تعيينه، إلى أن الهدنة ساعدت على تهيئة الظروف لمفاوضات سلام شاملة.

خريطة تفاعلية توضح جرائم العدوان السعودي الأمريكي على اليمن

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Sanaa slams Saudi charges vs. detained Yemeni woman as fabricated lies

February 4, 2023

Source: Al Mayadeen net 

By Al Mayadeen English 

The ministry of human rights in Sanaa called on the UN and international organizations to step in and stop the criminal acts committed by the Saudi regime against Yemenis residing in the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Human Rights in Sanaa denounced the arbitrary arrest of the Yemeni citizen, Marwa Abd Rabbuh Hussein Al-Sabri (29), by the Saudi authorities in Holy Mecca while she was performing the Umrah act of worship, and the “fabrication of false malicious charges against her.”

In a statement, the Ministry confirmed that the sentence issued against this Yemeni woman by the Saudi regime, which entails imprisoning her for a year, represents a flagrant violation of human rights and all humanitarian laws, in addition to being contrary to religious and social values.

After receiving insults targeting Yemenis from a Saudi policewoman inside the holy place, Al-Sabri responded to the degrading statements by calling out the Kingdom’s criminal acts against her country.

“Saudi Arabia destroyed our country,” she told the officer.

The statement indicated that this act, “in addition to it being a new provocation to the feelings of millions of Yemenis and their traditions, values, and noble customs ​​that oppose insulting the dignity of women and demand upholding their status, the Saudi regime carried out two crimes, first arresting her while she was performing the sacred rituals against a crime she did not commit and the other being that the [Saudi] regime did not respect the sanctity and holiness of the place.”

مروه الصبري قالت الحقيقة ولم تقل شيء غير الحقيقه وهو فعلا ( #أنتم_السعوديين_دمرتم_بلدنا ) لذا نقول للنظام السعودي #اطلقوا_اليمنية_مروة_الصبري اطلقوها دون شرط او قيد فلن يقف الشعب اليمني مكتوف الايدي اذا لم يتم اطلاقها والا فالشعب اليمني قادر على ان يطلق سراح مروه الصبري وغيرها . pic.twitter.com/PhC9EqwpXn

— د.هناء الحسني (@hna_alhasny_20) February 3, 2023

The Ministry stressed that “those provocative actions against the feelings of all Muslims require proposing a new approach toward separating the sacred rituals from the power and tyranny of the Saudi regime.”

“It is indignant that the Saudi regime commits such an act against a Yemeni woman who came to perform rituals while subjecting her to security harassment and verbal assault, which prompted her to utter a word summarizing what was committed over eight years of killing and siege against her people, while the regime continues its cold-blooded crimes and siege against the Yemeni people.”

مروة الصبري
امرأة عظيمة من بلد عظيم وشعب أعظم
مروة الصبري واجهت سطوة الجبروت والبوليس والمخابرات السعودية بحزم وقوة لم يعهدها النظام السعودي ولا يريد أن يسمع كلاما من هذا
سيسمعه من الف مليون رجل وامرأة
سيبذل الشعب اليمني كل ممكن لإخراجها وإعادتها لأولادها وأهلها pic.twitter.com/BGZxIgnXWM

— عبدالرحمن الأهنومي (@Alahnomi_ABDO) February 3, 2023

This violation is added to a series of previous crimes committed by the Saudi regime against Yemeni women, including killing, siege, and humiliation, the Ministry further stressed.

In its statement, the Ministry of Human Rights demanded the immediate release of the Yemeni citizen and called on all the Yemeni people and human rights activists in the Arab and Islamic world to condemn this act and show solidarity with what Yemeni women have been subjected to. 

The Ministry also called on the United Nations and other humanitarian and international organizations to condemn and denounce the incident and to put pressure on the Saudi regime to release her, in addition to pushing the Saudi authorities to stop their crimes, violations, and arbitrary arrests against Yemeni citizens residing in the Kingdom, demanding the UN to provide them with legal protection.

Read more: 

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