How Yemen changed everything

DEC 28, 2023

In a single move, Yemen’s Ansarallah has checkmated the west and its rules-based order.

Photo Credit: The Cradle

Pepe Escobar

Whether invented in northern India, eastern China or Central Asia – from Persia to Turkestan – chess is an Asian game. In chess, there always comes a time when a simple pawn is able to upset the whole chessboard, usually via a move in the back rank whose effect simply cannot be calculated. 

Yes, a pawn can impose a seismic checkmate. That’s where we are, geopolitically, right now. 

The cascading effects of a single move on the chessboard – Yemen’s Ansarallah stunning and carefully targeted blockade of the Red Sea – reach way beyond global shipping, supply chains, and The War of Economic Corridors. Not to mention the reduction of the much lauded US Navy force projection to irrelevancy.

Yemen’s resistance movement, Ansarallah, has made it very clear that any Israel-affiliated or Israel-destined vessel will be intercepted. While the west bristles at this, and imagines itself a target, the rest of the world fully understands that all other shipping is free to pass. Russian tankers – as well as Chinese, Iranian, and Global South ships – continue to move undisturbed across the Bab al-Mandeb (narrowest point: 33 km) and the Red Sea. 

Only the Hegemon is disturbed by this challenge to its ‘rules-based order.’ It is outraged that western vessels delivering energy or goods to law-breaking Israel can be impeded, and that the supply chain has been severed and plunged into deep crisis. The pinpointed target is the Israeli economy, which is already bleeding heavily. A single Yemeni move proves to be more efficient than a torrent of imperial sanctions. 

It is the tantalizing possibility of this single move turning into a paradigm shift – with no return – that is adding to the Hegemon’s apoplexy. Especially because imperial humiliation is deeply embedded in the paradigm shift. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the record, is now sending an unmistakeable message: Forget the Suez Canal. The way to go is the Northern Sea Route – which the Chinese, in the framework of the Russia-China strategic partnership, call the Arctic Silk Road.
 

Map of North-East and North-West Passage shipping routes

For the dumbfounded Europeans, the Russians have detailed three options: First, sail 15,000 miles around the Cap of Good Hope. Second, use Russia’s cheaper and faster Northern Sea Route. Third, send the cargo via Russian Railways. 

Rosatom, which oversees the Northern Sea Route, has emphasized that non-ice-class ships are now able to sail throughout summer and autumn, and year-round navigation will soon be possible with the help of a fleet of nuclear icebreakers. 

All that as direct consequences of the single Yemeni move. What next? Yemen entering BRICS+ at the summit in Kazan in late 2024, under the Russian presidency?

The new architecture will be framed in West Asia 

The US-led Armada put together for Operation Genocide Protection, which collapsed even before birth, may have been set up to “warn Iran,” apart from giving Ansarallah a scare. Just as the Houthis, Tehran is hardly intimidated because, as West Asia analyst ace Alastair Crooke succinctly put it: “Sykes-Picot is dead.” 

This is a quantum shift on the chessboard. It means West Asian powers will frame the new regional architecture from now on, not US Navy “projection.” 

That carries an ineffable corollary: those eleven US aircraft carrier task forces, for all practical purposes, are essentially worthless.   

Everyone across West Asia is well aware that Ansarallah’s missiles are capable of hitting Saudi and Emirati oil fields, and knocking them out of commission. So it is little wonder that Riyadh and Abu Dhabi would never accept becoming part of a US-led maritime force to challenge the Yemeni resistance.   

Add to it the role of underwater drones now in the possession of Russia and Iran. Think of fifty of these aimed at a US aircraft carrier: it has no defense. While the Americans still have very advanced submarines, they cannot keep the Bab al-Mandeb and Red Sea open to western operators. 

On the energy front, Moscow and Tehran don’t even need to think – at least not yet – about using the “nuclear” option or cutting off potentially at least 25 percent, and up, of the world oil supply. As one Persian Gulf analyst succinctly describes it, “that would irretrievably implode the international financial system.”

For those still determined to support the genocide in Gaza there have been warnings. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has mentioned it explicitly. Tehran has already called for a total oil and gas embargo against nations that support Israel. 

A total naval blockade of Israel, meticulously engineered, remains a distinct possibility. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salami said Israel may “soon face the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, and other waterways.”

Keep in mind we’re not yet even talking about a possible blockade of the Strait of Hormuz; we’re still on Red Sea/Bab al-Mandeb. 

Because if the Straussian neo-cons in the Beltway get really unhinged by the paradigm shift and act in desperation to “teach a lesson” to Iran, a chokepoint Hormuz-Bab al-Mandeb combo blockade might skyrocket the price of oil to at least $500 a barrel, triggering the implosion of the $618 trillion derivatives market and crashing the entire international banking system. 

The paper tiger is in a jam 

Mao Zedong was right after all: the US may be in fact a paper tiger. Putin, though, is way more careful, cold, and calculating. With this Russian president, it’s all about an asymmetric response, exactly when no one is expecting it.

That brings us to the prime working hypothesis perhaps capable of explaining the shadow play masking the single Ansarallah move on the chessboard.       

When Pulitzer-winning investigative journalist Sy (Seymour) Hersh proved how Team Biden blew up the Nord Stream pipelines, there was no Russian response to what was, in effect, an act of terrorism against Gazprom, against Germany, against the EU, and against a bunch of European companies. Yet Yemen, now, with a simple blockade, turns global shipping upside down. 

So what is more vulnerable? The physical networks of global energy supply (Pipelineistan) or the Thalassocracy, states that derive their power from naval supremacy? 

Russia privileges Pipelineistan: see, for instance, the Nord Streams and Power of Siberia 1 and 2. But the US, the Hegemon, always relied on its thalassocratic power, heir to “Britannia rules the waves.” 

Well, not anymore. And, surprisingly, getting there did not even entail the “nuclear” option, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington games and scaremongers like crazy.

Of course we won’t have a smoking gun. But it’s a fascinating proposition that the single Yemeni move may have been coordinated at the highest level between three BRICS members – Russia, China, and Iran, the neocon new “axis of evil” – plus other two BRICS+, energy powerhouses Saudi Arabia and the UAE. As in, “if you do it, we’ve got your back”. 

None of that, of course, detracts from Yemeni purity: their defense of Palestine is a sacred duty. 

Western imperialism and then turbo-capitalism have always been obsessed with gobbling up Yemen, a process that Isa Blumi, in his splendid book Destroying Yemen, described as “necessarily stripping Yemenis of their historic role as the economic, cultural, spiritual, and political engine for much of the Indian Ocean world.” 

Yemen, though, is unconquerable and, true to a local proverb, “deadly” (Yemen Fataakah). As part of the Axis of Resistance, Yemen’s Ansarallah is now a key actor in a complex Eurasia-wide drama that redefines Heartland connectivity; and alongside China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the India-Iran-Russia-led International North-South Transportation Corridor (INSTC), and Russia’s new Northern Sea Route, also includes control over strategic chokepoints around the Mediterranean Seas and the Arabian peninsula. 

This is another trade connectivity paradigm entirely, smashing to bits western colonial and neocolonial control of Afro-Eurasia. So yes, BRICS+ supports Yemen, who with a single move has presented Pax Americana with The Mother of All Geopolitical Jams.         

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

The Houthis Have Biden By the Shorthairs

DECEMBER 23, 2023

Source

“Yemen has said it would stop the blockade of Israel-bound ships as soon as sufficient food, water and medicine are allowed to enter Gaza. Guess that’s asking too much.” Elizabeth Murray@elizabethmurra

Mike Whitney

Yemen’s Houthi militia has shown how a small army can take on the American Empire and win. They have shown how courage, resolve and commitment to principle can act as a force-multiplier allowing a much weaker military to ‘punch above its weight’. They’ve also shown that a few well-placed missiles in key locations on the world’s most critical shipping lanes, can send tremors across the global economy and shake the “rules-based order” to its foundations. In short, the Houthis have shown that David can bring down Goliath without breaking a sweat, provided that David maintains his perch along the Bab-al-Mandab Strait.

Here’s what’s going on: The Houthis occupy an area along the narrowest part of the Red Sea that is the most important shipping corridor in the world. It is “responsible for 12% of international trade and almost one-third of global container traffic.” When the movement of ships is disrupted along this waterway, insurance premiums skyrocket, prices on retail merchandise rise, and oil prices go through the roof. That is why western powers are committed to keeping these shipping lanes open at all times whatever the cost. Here’s some background from CNN:

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are stepping up their strikes on ships in the Red Sea, which they say are revenge against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza.

The attacks have forced some of the world’s biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, which could potentially cause a shock to the global economy.

The Houthis are believed to have been armed and trained by Iran, and there are fears that their attacks could escalate Israel’s war against Hamas into a wider regional conflict. Who Are The Houthis, CNN

At present, these shipping lanes are effectively closed due to Houthis attacks on Israeli-bound vessels. This, in turn, has slowed overall traffic to a crawl. If the current situation persists or gets worse, the impact on the global economy could be catastrophic.

Today on UK Column News (1pm UK time) I will cover the latest on Yemen and how Ansarullah is already winning the war against the US-led global coalition destined for failure in the 'graveyard of invaders' which is the Yemen. pic.twitter.com/ZKXhuyiAjO

— vanessa beeley (@VanessaBeeley) December 20, 2023

Here’s more from the Washington Post:

On Monday, oil giant BP became the latest company to announce it would be pausing its shipments through the Red Sea. Several shipping companies, including MSC, Maersk, Euronav and the Evergreen Group, have said they are also avoiding the Suez Canal as militants target cargo vessels.

Roughly 10 percent of all maritime oil trade goes through the Red Sea — which connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. Without access to the Red Sea route, many ships will have to take the far longer and costlier journey around Africa to reach their destinations….

It urged “the global community to continue to pursue every possible diplomatic effort in support of security in and safe navigation through this region that is vital to international trade.”New U.S.-led Red Sea task force won’t stop shipping attacks, Houthis say, Washington Post

It’s worth noting that the Houthis have repeatedly said that ships that are NOT bound for Israeli ports, will not be attacked. But that has not stopped all of the major shipping companies from rerouting their vessels from the Red Sea to the Cape of Good Hope. This alternate route adds weeks to the sailing time forcing carriers to raise their cargo prices and adjust their schedules. Bottom line: The action of the Houthis is going to further boost inflation in western countries pushing their economies into a sharp and protracted nosedive.

Surprisingly, the Houthis do not stand to gain anything for their efforts. In fact, they are putting themselves at great risk (of retaliation by the United States) in order to pressure Israel into stopping its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip and to allow the starving Palestinian people access to food, water and medical supplies. The Houthis should probably be applauded for their selfless compassion and humanity, but Washington doesn’t see it that way. They don’t think see the Houthis’ action as laudable, virtuous or just. They see it as a challenge to American primacy. They see it as a threat to their regional hegemony and global leadership. They see it as interference in their Gaza policy in which Israel has been granted carte blanche to kill and maim as many Palestinians as it sees fit in order to achieve its own strategic objective, which is Greater Israel. So, what we have is an unstoppable force and an immovable object. We have two opposing points of view, and no way to resolve their differences without a direct military confrontation. That means there’s going to be trouble in the very near future.

🚨🇾🇪🇺🇸 Yemeni Houthis have prepared NAVAL MINES for American & Israeli ships. pic.twitter.com/niBQsghTmM

— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) December 22, 2023

And that is why, last Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that he had assembled a ten-member maritime coalition that would patrol the waterways in the Red Sea and defend the “freedom of navigation” in that area. (Coalition members include: Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.)

Now a reasonable person might wonder why Austin would cobble together another makeshift military coalition—whose strategic goals are far from clear—instead of first contacting the Houthi leadership to see if a deal could be worked out and a confrontation avoided. But those who have followed US foreign policy for the last 30 years, know that the US does not negotiate with people or countries it considers its inferiors. So, that option was quickly discarded. Instead, the US has decided to pursue its traditional approach to emerging crises, which involves a fair amount of incendiary rhetoric followed by a military hammer-blow. And, that appears to be the direction that things are now headed. Check out this excerpt from an article by John Helmer:

“… on Monday, in the Moscow newspaper Vedomosti, it was reported that Russian experts expect “most likely, the Americans will launch missile and bomb attacks on command centres and military depots of the Houthis, or targeted strikes by special forces may follow in order to eliminate the commanders of the movement. The operation will be roughly comparable to the actions of Western allies in Syria or Iraq.” The newspaper claimed that, according to its source, “the military forces of Saudi Arabia and the UAE may participate in the operation – their armed forces and their proxies have been waging a sluggish war against Iran’s allies in Yemen since 2015. John Helmer, Dancing With Bears

And respected publications in the western media are calling for a war with the Houthis too. This is from The World Socialist Web Site:

The US media is, meanwhile, agitating for the Biden administration to target both Yemen and Iran. In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal wrote, “The press is reporting that the Biden Administration is contemplating the use of military force in response to continuing attacks on commercial shipping by the Houthi militia in Yemen. It’s about time. The Houthi missile attacks pose the most significant threat to global shipping in decades, and they will continue unless a global coalition unites to stop them.”

The Journal continued, “The question is whether the U.S. and other Western navies are merely going to play defense and catch missiles as the Houthis set the terms of battle. Sooner or later a Houthi missile may get past U.S. naval defenses and kill American sailors. Then the White House will have little choice other than to strike back.” The Journal demands that the US escalate against Iran, declaring, “Eventually Iran’s rulers have to know that their assets—military and nuclear—are at risk if they continue to foment disorder, attack U.S. allies, and target American bases or ships.” As Gaza genocide continues, US prepares major escalation of war throughout Middle East, World Socialist Web Site

Map of current USN positions in the region FYI pic.twitter.com/kGPF5IQ8LA

— 🏛 Aristophanes 🏛 (@Aristos_Revenge) December 19, 2023

So, there’s definitely an element within the foreign policy establishment that supports the idea of a war on Yemen. We expect this ‘rush to war’ will gain momentum in the weeks ahead as more ships are diverted to Africa and hostilities continue to mount. But there’s no sign that the Houthis are going to ease up on their demands or abandon the Palestinian cause anytime soon. If anything, they appear to be more resolute than ever as is evident in this quote by Houthi Council member Muhammad al-Bukhaiti,

“Even if America succeeds in mobilizing the entire world, our operations in the Red Sea will not stop unless the massacre in Gaza stops. We will not give up the responsibility of defending the Moustazafeen (oppressed ones) of the Earth.”

There’s not a lot of wiggle-room here. The Houthis want a cessation of the violence and the distribution of humanitarian aid. And they are willing to go to war with the United States to make sure their demands are met. And no one knows better than the Houthis, what that means. During the 9 years they were at war with Saudi Arabia, Washington provided the weapons and embargo-power that led to the deaths of an estimated 377,000 people. “More than half died due to starvation and disease caused by the siege.” (Antiwar.com)

So, the Houthis know what savagery Washington is capable of. Even so, they are not backing down and not caving in. There’s going to be a ceasefire or there’s going to be a war. It’s up to Biden to decide. But if he opts for war, he should realize that it’s not going to be a cakewalk. Oh, no. There are going to be attacks on American bases, American warships and Saudi oil fields and infrastructure. Oil prices will soar, commercial shipping will grind to a standstill, and global equities will tumble. And, all the while, China and Russia will be watching from the sidelines while Uncle Sam drains his last ounce credibility and power down a black hole on the Arabian Peninsula.

This is how Houthi leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi summed it up:

“If the US wants to go to war with us, they must know that we are waiting. We want a direct war between Yemen and the US and Israel. We are not afraid of America and all the people of Yemen will stand against them.”

This is a war that the United States can easily avoid by simply ‘doing the right thing’ and approving a ceasefire now. That will bring a swift end to Israel’s atrocities and stop the attacks on commercial shipping at the same time. That’s a solution we can all live with.

Bahrain? Lmfao what a sellout pic.twitter.com/24hSDP6s77

— missfalasteenia (@missfalsteenia) December 19, 2023

Sanaa to respond to states that open airspace against Yemen: Al-Houthi

December 22, 2023

Source: Al Mayadeen

Yemen’s Supreme Political Council member, Mohammad Ali al-Houthi speaks to Al Mayadeen on December 22, 2023. (Al Mayadeen)

By Al Mayadeen English

Yemen’s Supreme Political Council member, Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, says the maritime routes through the Red Sea are safe for any vessel except those belonging to “Israel” or heading for its ports.

Yemen | Al-Houthi to Al-Mayadeen: All options are on the table to respond to any potential American aggression

Yemen’s Supreme Political Council member, Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, confirmed in a statement to Al Mayadeen that the goal of the maritime coalition was intended to protect “Israel” and not international navigation.

Al-Houthi stressed that the discourse and statements of the Yemeni Armed Forces confirm that international navigation is safe for everyone, except for Israeli ships or those bound to the ports of the Israeli occupation.

The official also indicated, in his statement, that the US supports the massacres in the Gaza Strip, demanding that those who feel insecure in the Red Sea and seek security must stop the Israeli massacres.

Regarding the repercussions of the declared maritime coalition, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, al-Houthi confirmed that the US move is militarizing the Red Sea and impacting international shipping traffic. Al-Houthi also indicated that the Yemeni people cannot stand by idly if Yemen is exposed to US or even non-US aggressions, explaining that “all options are on the table to respond to any possible American aggression.”

Through Al Mayadeen, al-Houthi advised both Saudi Arabia and the UAE “not to stand with the Israelis in the face of those who support the Palestinian people,” considering that it is not right for Saudi Arabia to be neutral toward what is happening to the Palestinians.

Al-Houthi further declared that Yemen “would prefer if Saudi Arabia were not to take part in any alliance that supports Israel.”

In the same context, the Yemeni official also indicated that the Israeli occupation posed a threat to the future of Saudi Arabia, and noted that Egypt protected the Suez Canal when it rejected the offer to join the US-led alliance in the Red Sea.

Moreover, al-Houthi warned that any country that opens its airspace to fighter jets that bomb Yemen will be dealt with, adding that the Yemeni Armed Forces are “working to overcome the practical field challenges facing the missiles that we use to target the occupying entity.”

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Al-Houthi, through Al Mayadeen, called on every Muslim “whose heart is strained by what is happening in Palestine” to withdraw their financial assets from the banks of countries that support “Israel”.

Everyone must raise their voice to stop the aggression

On his part, Yemeni Ansar Allah spokesperson Mohammad Abdel Salam reaffirmed that “normal people” living “human values” would “strongly reject the continued massacre of the Zionist enemy entity against the people of Gaza.”

Abdel Salam considered that “Israel’s” massacres were supposed to cause world concern, stating that Yemen’s naval operations were only a source of concern to the Zionist entity for pushing it to halt its aggression and lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The spokesperson warned the whole world against Israeli attempts to implicate them in expanding the confrontation to new fronts. Particularly, Abdel Salam noted that the Arab and Islamic states in the region must do all that is possible to support the Gaza Strip and not “grant” the prime minister of the Israeli occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, “a lifeline from his predicament.”

الشعوب السوية التي تعيش القيم الإنسانية ترفض بشدة استمرار كيان العدو الصهيوني في مجازره بحق أهل غزة وهذا ما يفترض أن يثير قلق العالم، أما عمليات اليمن البحرية فليست مصدر قلق لأحد سوى للكيان الصهيوني لدفعه نحو وقف عدوانه ورفع حصاره عن غزة، وكل العالم يجب أن يقف هذا الموقف وألا…

— محمد عبدالسلام (@abdusalamsalah) December 21, 2023

He also called on the world to “raise its voice in support of an immediate cessation of aggression and lift the siege on Gaza”, commending Malaysia’s position not to welcome Israeli vessels.

Yemen’s Ministry of Transport in Sanaa issued a statement confirming that navigation in the Red and Arab Seas was “safe for all vessels other than those of the Zionist enemy or destined for its ports”.

In its statement, the Ministry stated that vessels destined for “Israel” were subject to prevention and targeting from the Yemeni Armed Forces. The statement reassured all shipping companies, global shipping lines, and relevant organizations, including the International Maritime Organization and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, that this will continue until the blockade on the Gaza Strip was lifted.

Read more: Ships captured in Yemen to only leave on Palestine’s terms: Exclusive

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Operation Al Aqsa Flood

Yemen’s impact: A source of US’ national humiliation

December 19, 202

Source: National Review

A photo posted by the Yemeni Military media depicting vehicles carrying the Al-Mandib-2 anti-ship cruise missile during the 21 September revolution commemoration parade, Sanaa, 2022 (Military Media)

By Al Mayadeen English

US’ inability or restriction of the US Navy to counteract these disruptive and economically impactful acts should be a source of national embarrassment, says Rich Lowry, the editor-in-chief of National Review.

Rich Lowry, the editor-in-chief of National Review, wrote a piece in which he acknowledged that the sole superpower in the world [the United States] has failed to safeguard one of the most crucial global trade routes from “a band of third-world rebels”.

He gushed: “Welcome to the latest humiliation of a Biden-administration foreign policy premised on not being overly provocative toward our enemies.”

Following a prolonged series of operations by the Yemeni Armed Forces in Yemen, shipping firms have declared their intention to steer clear of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, a narrow passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

This marks “a setback for freedom of navigation”, a cornerstone of the U.S.-led global order, and a significant triumph for the Yemeni Armed Forces. They have capitalized on drones, missiles, and attempted ship seizures to gain an advantage over the world’s preeminent navy.

That’s the take offered by Lowry who further argued that a minor waterway is not being discussed but a critical route for East-West trade. Approximately 12 percent of global trade and a substantial volume of oil from the Gulf traverse the Red Sea, as per Lowry.

In Lowry’s view, the interruption of this trade essentially provided the Yemeni Armed Forces with “global reach”. Shipping insurance rates are increasing, and businesses are opting to avoid the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, a crucial shortcut linking Europe and Asia. Instead, they are opting for a longer and more costly route around the Cape of Good Hope.

The gist of Lowry’s argument is that the inability or restriction of the US Navy to counteract these disruptive and economically impactful acts should be a source of national embarrassment.

The Red Sea as a war zone

On Monday, and under the guise of securing international maritime trade routes, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a 10-nation “multinational security initiative under the umbrella of the Combined Maritime Forces and the leadership of its Task Force 153, which focuses on security in the Red Sea.”

Earlier today, mobilizing efforts in the face of the Yemeni forces, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin invited dozens of nations to take steps to address the operation conducted in the Red Sea as he spoke at a defense ministerial to tout a new military operation to secure commerce in the waterway.

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“We’re all here because many countries can directly contribute to our common efforts to keep strategic waterways safe,” Austin said, according to prepared remarks.

Calling Yemen’s attacks “reckless”, he described it as “a serious international problem” that needs “a firm international response,” which, as revealed earlier, will bring “together multiple countries to include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.”

Meanwhile, the Associated Press, which cited an unnamed defense official, reported that several other countries have also agreed to be involved in the operation but preferred not to be named.

While the main claimed reason behind establishing the maritime coalition was the Yemeni operations, which focused solely on Israeli ships and interests, the occupation entity was not named in the list of members of the newly created force.

No further details were unveiled regarding the task force or how it will conduct its operations, amid rising concerns that it might turn the Red Sea into a military confrontations zone and that its publicly declared mission is only part of its real objectives in the strategic trade route, but it is expected to become clearer in the coming weeks.

No compromise on Palestine

In response to Western warnings and pressure on Yemen to stop its operations, the head of Sanaa’s negotiating delegation, Mohammad Abdul Salam, affirmed that “the Red Sea is safe for everyone except ships affiliated with the Israeli enemy,” emphasizing that “Yemeni operations have a significant economic impact on Israel.”

Abdul Salam emphasized that “any actions taken by the Yemeni Armed Forces are linked to lifting the blockade on Gaza and halting the aggression against the Strip.”

“The Palestinian cause does not tolerate compromise, and we cannot accept what is happening to the people of Gaza,” he warned. 

Additionally, Ali al-Qahoum, a member of the political bureau of the Yemeni Ansar Allah, echoed last week the same sentiment, underlining that Yemen will not abandon the Palestinian cause no matter what, despite American, Western, and Israeli threats.

The Yemeni official warned that “those who provide protection to Israel should bear the consequences,” stressing that Yemen “will spare no effort or resources in supporting Palestine and Gaza until victory and the eradication of Israel.”

Elsewhere, al-Qahoum made it clear that Yemen has all the defensive options to respond to any hostile actions by the US, “Israel”, and the West, with surprises that are beyond imagination.

He assured that Yemen possesses all the factors of strength and resilience that qualify it to be pivotal and influential in international equations, with elements of strength that make it steadfast in supporting Palestine.

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Operation Al Aqsa Flood

ماذا تعرض واشنطن ويرفض نتنياهو؟

السبت 16 كانون الأول 2023

ناصر قنديل

يبدو الكلام سريالياً عندما نقول إن الرئيس الأميركي جو بايدن ليس جدياً على الإطلاق في السعي لحل الدولتين الذي يصرّح به صباحاً ومساء، وأنه في الوقت ذاته على أعلى درجات الجدية في جعل مشروع حل الدولتين عموداً فقرياً للمشروع الأميركي لإنهاء الحرب في غزة، وأنه في الوقت الذي لا يختلف بايدن عن بنيامين نتنياهو ولا معه لجهة التمسك بالحفاظ على القدس عاصمة موحّدة لكيان الاحتلال وحماية المستوطنات في الضفة الغربية تحت سيطرة الاحتلال، ومثلها غور الأردن، لكنه يختلف معه كثيراً في الاعتقاد أنه بات مستحيلاً الفوز بالحرب العسكرية، وأنه لا بد من مناورة سياسية كبرى تُعيد خلط الأوراق، وتنقل المأزق الذي يخيم فوق رأسي أميركا و»إسرائيل»، الى الضفة المقابلة التي تشمل الفلسطينيين بكل مكوناتهم السياسية، وخصوصاً السلطة الفلسطينية وحركة حماس، ثم بينهما وبين المحيط العربي الصديق لواشنطن وخصوصاً مصر والسعودية.

من زاوية النظر الأميركية أن الهزيمة العسكرية وقعت، وأن العزلة الدولية وقعت أيضاً، ولكنها تعتقد أن استرداد زمام المبادرة السياسي والعسكري، وتعويض الخسائر واحتواء المأزق أمر ممكن. وجوهر ما تتبناه واشنطن يقوم على السعي لتقديم التطبيع مع السعودية كثمن يستحق القبول بمبدأ حل الدولتين، والسعي لتعزيز السلطة الفلسطينية بوجه حماس وقوى المقاومة. وتعتقد واشنطن أنه بدلاً من صيغة المبادرة العربية للسلام التي كان فيها التطبيع جائزة عربية يجري تقديمها لكيان الاحتلال لقاء سلة تتضمن قيام دولة فلسطينية على الأراضي المحتلة عام 67 وعاصمتها القدس، ثمّة فرصة لتقديم جائزة إسرائيلية للعرب لقاء التطبيع السعودي خصوصاً، والجائزة هي وقف الحرب على غزة ومبدأ دولة فلسطينية دون التزام بحدودها والتعهّد بمصير القدس فيها، والاكتفاء بكونها منزوعة السلاح، وأن «إسرائيل» مستعدّة لتسليم غزة للسلطة الفلسطينية تحت وصاية عربية مصرية سعودية، سوف يضمن مساراً جديداً ينقل المأزق إلى الضفة المقابلة.

يتطلع الأميركيون الى قيادة إسرائيلية تلاقيهم في هذا المشروع لإطلاق ديناميكية تعتقد أنه يتم خلاله بيع وقف حرب فاشلة تحتاج إلى البحث عن مخرج لوقفها، وهذا يعني تقديم لا شيء، بل شراء مخرج مقابل لا شيء، وأنه عبر هذا المشروع سوف يتمّ استرداد ما تمّت خسارته في العلاقات الدولية والشارع الغربي، وفتح الباب الواسع لمفاوضات سعودية إسرائيلية علنية تحت عنوان التطبيع، سوف يمثل إغراء يمنح القيادة الاسرائيلية التي تنجزه ثمناً كافياً تقدمه لمجموع المستوطنين في الكيان كبديل عن النصر الموعود في الحرب، بينما تتمكّن خلاله السعودية من تقديم سيرها بالتطبيع كثمن لاسترداد ما فشل سواها بتحصيله من الحقوق للفلسطينيين، وتتهم خلاله حماس وقوى المقاومة بالعبثيّة والمغامرة، وتشارك السعودية ومصر مع أميركا وأوروبا برعاية مفاوضات إسرائيلية مع السلطة الفلسطينية تحت عنوان حل الدولتين، يجري خلالها تأجيل بحث القدس وحق العودة، واعتبار الانطلاق من حكومة موحدة وأجهزة أمن موحدة تتسلم غزة ومناطق سيطرة السلطة في الضفة نقطة بداية ضرورية، يعقبها مع استقرار الوضع الأمني لسنوات البحث بتوسيع نطاق جغرافية سيطرة السلطة إلى مناطق جديدة، يطرح خلالها تبادل الأراضي بين الضفة والنقب، وإذا كانت مفاوضات تطبيق اتفاق أوسلو استهلكت ثلاثين عاماً فلم لا نستهلك مثلها مجدداً.

نتنياهو ومعه نسبة غير قليلة من ساسة الكيان وقادته العسكريين، يشكّكون بالوردية التي تمثلها السردية الأميركية، ويرون أن دونها عقد كثيرة، أهمها أن حماس وقوى المقاومة تملك قدرة الرفض والتعطيل، وبيدها ورقتان مهمتان؛ الأولى القدرة على مهاجمة قوات الاحتلال في مناطق انتشارها في غزة وبصورة تجعل بقاءها مستحيلاً، وتسليمها لاحقاً للسلطة الفلسطينية مستحيلاً. والثانية ورقة الأسرى التي لن تفرط بها حماس وقوى المقاومة، إذا استشعرت وجود مؤامرة تستهدفها من أي إطار سياسي يفترض ان يتم الإفراج عن الأسرى من ضمنه، ووفقاً لرؤية نتنياهو ومن يؤيده، أن ما سيحدث هو أن «إسرائيل»، سوف تكون قد تنازلت عن رفضها حلّ الدولتين دون أن تحصل على شيء. فالأمن سوف يبقى بيد حماس وقوى المقاومة وكذلك الأسرى، والتطبيع لن يمضي قدماً إلا على إيقاع خطوات عملية على طريق قيام الدولة الفلسطينية، وقضية القدس عقبة كافية لإحراج السعودية والسلطة الفلسطينية ودفعها للتراجع. والحديث عن دولة فلسطينية منزوعة السلاح لا يُبنى عليه شيء، لأن غزة بعد تركها عام 2005 كانت منزوعة السلاح عملياً، باستثناء ما سيكون مسموحاً للدولة الفلسطينية تحت عنوان حفظ الأمن، وهي اليوم ترسانة سلاح نوعي، رغم الحصار، وتجربة السلطة الفلسطينية في الضفة الغربية تقول أنها تضمحل أمام كل من يدعو للمقاومة، لأن المزاج الفلسطيني الشعبي والشبابي، خصوصاً ليس مزاجاً يمكن رشوته بأحاديث السلام.

لا يمانع نتنياهو بالاتفاق على إدارة الحرب بدلاً من تصعيدها، وربطها بأكثر من هدنة يتم خلالها تبادل الأسرى، لكن بديله هو حرب مستمرّة لسنوات، في غزة وعلى جبهة لبنان، لا تصل إلى الحرب الشاملة الا باتفاق أميركي إسرائيلي. وبين هذين المشروعين تدور انقسامات داخل الكيان، وتصاغ تسويات أيضاً بالمقابل، وتستمر الحرب وتحديات جبهة غزة وجبهات المساندة في لبنان والعراق وسورية والبحر الأحمر، بصورة يفقد جيش الاحتلال معها مزيداً من الخسائر الجسيمة مع خسارة صورة التفوق العسكري، وتفقد أميركا كل يوم صورة الردع التي تحرص عليها، خصوصاً في الممرات المائيّة، وأهمها البحر الأحمر.

فيديوات متعلقة

هام جدا – السيناريو الأميركي الجدي لانهاء الحرب

جدوى جبهات المساندة لغزة ؟

اسرائيل لا تعتدي وتلتزم بالعهود؟؟؟؟؟؟؟ مثال اتفاقاتها مع مصر والأردن!!!!!!!!
أسئلة عن الحرب والهدنة -31-

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Moscow and Gaza: Is Russia Ready for a Major Shift in its Middle East Policy?

DECEMBER 12, 2023

Image by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona.

Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books. His latest is “These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons” (Clarity Press, Atlanta). Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA), Istanbul Zaim University (IZU). His website is www.ramzybaroud.net

BY RAMZY BAROUD

Gaza was among the main topics on the agenda of Russian President Vladimir Putin as he arrived in the Middle East region on Wednesday, December 6.

Some news reports referred to the trip as ‘rare’, especially since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.

We know that the situation in Gaza, namely the Israeli war and the subsequent genocide, is a major objective in Putin’s visit, based on press statements from Russia’s official media.

But we do not know, yet, exactly how Gaza factored in, in Putin’s one-day visit.

Putin’s visit included the UAE and Saudi Arabia, two of the richest and most economically influential Arab countries, which are, like Russia, members of OPEC+ – the larger and most influential group of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Oil prices, energy supplies and the fractious security of the Red Sea waterways are reportedly also part of Putin’s agenda. However, it is unlikely that the Russian president has initiated such an important visit to discuss any of these issues.

Indeed, fluctuating oil prices and achieving OPEC+ consensus regarding production levels have been ongoing issues linking Russia to the Middle East for years, especially since the start of the Ukraine war, which invited unprecedented US-Western sanctions.

But what does Putin have to say about Gaza, in particular?

In the early phase of the Israeli war with the Palestinian Resistance in the besieged Gaza Strip, Russia had taken a guarded position, condemning the targeting of civilians, while calling for a comprehensive political solution.

But, days later, Moscow’s position began evolving into a stronger stance, namely condemning the Israeli war on Gaza, Washington’s blind support for Tel Aviv and the US’ intransigence during UN Security Council meetings.

President Putin, on October 13, compared Israel’s besiegement of the Gaza Strip to the Nazi siege of Leningrad in 1941. “In my view it is unacceptable, more than two million people live there. Far from all of them support Hamas, by the way, far from all. But all of them have to suffer, including women and children,” he said.

Moscow’s UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, has repeatedly attempted, to no avail, to pass a UNSC resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. His efforts culminated to nil due to US refusal, backed by equally strong rejection of other Western allies of Israel.

Despite his unsuccessful efforts, Nebenzia has used the UNSC as a platform to declare Russia’s progressively strong stances against the Israeli war, going as far as questioning Israel’s long-touted ‘right to defend itself’.

“All they (the West) can do is to keep (talking) about Israel’s alleged right for self-defense, which, as an occupying state, it does not have, as was confirmed by the (UN) International Court consultative ruling in 2004,” Nebenzia said on November 2.

Following the US shameful use of the veto power to block the passing of a UNSC resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the Russian representative Dmitry Polyanskiy stated: “Our American colleagues have condemned thousands – if not tens of thousands – more civilians (..) including women and children, to death, along with the UN workers who are trying to help them.”

But for various reasons, the Russian position did not evolve beyond political rhetoric, however strong, into any tangible strategies.

The typical explanation for Russia’s inability to formulate a practical strategy regarding Gaza is its lack of any serious diplomatic or political capital beyond the current war on Ukraine; and that Moscow was fully aware of the Middle East’s delicate geopolitical balances.

But things began to change – not in Moscow, but in Gaza itself.

Over two months into a war that has resulted in the killing of more than 17,000 civilians, so far, Tel Aviv is finally discovering the limits of its military power.

Moreover, the war gradually began to destabilize the Middle East, involving state and powerful non-state actors, many of whom are close allies to Moscow and protectors of Russian interests in the region.

They include Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ansarallah in Yemen, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq and, of course, Hamas itself.

As a sign of closer relationship between Hamas and Russia, the Palestinian movement has released all Israeli captives with dual Israeli-Russian citizenship.

It has done so without a formal prisoner swap agreement, like the ones that have been mediated through Qatar and Egypt, resulting in the release of scores of Israelis and hundreds of Palestinians, starting on November 24.

Surely, Putin’s visit to the Middle East carries greater meaning than the mere ‘emphasis on the strong relationships’ between Russia and a few Arab countries. This meaning is compounded by the immediate visit to Moscow by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on December 7, also with the sole purpose of discussing the situation in Gaza.

Is it possible that Russia has finally found a geostrategic opportunity in the Middle East that would allow it to expand, in terms of its strategic alliances and political role, beyond Syria?

This expansion must appear as an attractive opportunity for Moscow, especially as early signs of Israeli military failure and, by extent, American failure, in Gaza are becoming unmistakably clear.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to deliver an important speech at the 21st Doha Forum in Qatar on December 10.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, was quoted by the TASS news agency on December 6 as confirming that Lavrov will be discussing the war in Gaza and the overall situation in Palestine and in the Middle East.

“The minister will pay special attention to the problem of Palestinian-Israeli settlement, of course, and security issues in the Middle East,” she said.

None of this, including the potential new Russian ‘vision’ in the Middle East, would have been possible if it were not for the Israeli-US inability to defeat small Resistance groups in a tiny, besieged region like Gaza.

Aside from the setback of the Israeli military machine, which has been financed and sustained by Washington, the genocide in Gaza has cost the US whatever little political credibility it still enjoyed in the Middle East.

Time will tell whether Russia will be able to stake a claim and help define a new Middle East in the post-Gaza war.

However, one of the most important factors that Russia will consider before making any major moves is the tangible outcome of the Israeli war on Gaza.

And, unlike most Israeli wars against Palestinians and Arabs in the past, this time around it seems that Palestinian Resistance – despite its very limited capabilities in the face of a powerful Israel-US military machine – is the one most likely to control the outcomes.

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Yemeni Forces claim attack on Strinda oil tanker headed to ‘Israel’

December 12, 2023

Source: Yemeni Armed Forces telegram channel

The Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson highlights that the “Israel”-bound Norwegian-flagged oil tanker was only targeted after its crew had rejected all warning calls.

Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree – undated- (Mehr News Agency)

By Al Mayadeen English

“In support of our Palestinian people, amid their grave plight, who are currently facing death, destruction, and siege in the Gaza Strip, and in response to the calls of the free people of Yemen and the free people of our Umma, the naval forces have executed a top-tier military operation against the Norwegian ‘Strinda’ ship,” his statement opened up. 

In a televised statement, Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree confirmed that the naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces targeted an oil tanker with a missile strike.

The Norwegian-flagged ship was loaded with oil and headed to the ports of the Israeli occupation, General Saree announced in the statement. 

The Yemeni Armed Forces succeeded in the past two days in enforcing the ban they had declared earlier this week without the need for military action.

The statement emphasized that the “Strinda” oil tanker was only targeted with a missile after the crew rejected all warning calls. 

“The Yemeni armed forces will not hesitate to target any ship that violates the directions in previous statements,” he stressed.

Prior to the Yemeni statement, the US CENTCOM stated that “the Motor Tanker STRINDA was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM)” launched from an area of Yemen controlled by Ansar Allah while passing through Bab al-Mandab Strait.

CENTCOM Statement on missile attack in the Bab-el-Mandeb
At around 4 p.m. EST on December 11, the Motor Tanker STRINDA was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi controlled area of Yemen while passing through the… pic.twitter.com/OJDoubAU2D

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 12, 2023

Earlier today, the British Maritime Trade Operations Department said a fire broke out on board a ship near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, off the Yemeni coast.

The administration stated on its website that the incident took place 15 miles west of the port of Mokha in Yemen and is currently under investigation. Additionally, it was reported that all crew members of the affected ship were safe.

This statement coincided with the announcement made by the official spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, who posted on the X platform, “An important statement from the Yemeni Armed Forces in the coming hours.”

Read more: US attempts to protect Israeli ships in Red Sea failed: Al-Qahoum 

On Sunday, the Yemeni Armed Forces announced the introduction of a new actionable decision in support of Gaza, which will see the prohibition of all ships bound to the occupation entity, regardless of their nationality, from passing through the Arabian and Red seas until food and medicine sufficient to the needs of the population enter the besieged Strip.

In a statement, Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree declared that this prohibition is “effective immediately,” noting that Sanaa, “out of its commitment to the safety of maritime navigation, warns all ships and companies against dealing with Israeli ports.”

“The Yemeni Armed Forces emphasize their full commitment to the continuity of global trade movement through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea for all ships and all countries, except those ships associated with Israel or those that will transport goods” to the occupation entity.

In an earlier statement, on November 19, the Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson, Yahya Saree, announced the Forces’ intention to target any ships owned or operated by Israeli companies or bearing the Israeli flag. This statement, made on the group’s Telegram channel, also included a call for all nations to withdraw their citizens employed in the crews of any such ships.

“We urge all countries to avoid shipping on vessels owned by Israeli companies or operated by them,” he further stressed.

This comes alongside other attacks claimed by Yemen against Israeli targets, including the launch of long-range cruise missiles and attack drones on several occasions, as well as ballistic missiles at “Eilat” located in the southernmost region of occupied Palestine.

Read more: Israeli ship seized by Yemen in Red Sea raises fear of shipping chaos

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Some Previous Posts

• Global strike in solidarity with Gaza
• Lebanese, Palestinian, Yemeni Resistance bomb Israeli military sites
• Yemeni Resistance Displays Solid Determination to Humiliate the Aggressors, Support Palestine Simultaneously
• Yemeni Forces Down Spy Drone over Hajjah
• Oil Prices Soar after Retaliatory Yemeni Missile, Drone Strikes on Saudi Facilities
• Exclusive: Sanaa announces all Aramco facilities are targets
• LARGE DRONE ATTACK HITS SAUDI ARABIA AMID REPORTS OF NEAR PEACE TALKS WITH HOUTHIS (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
• We are doubling our strategic missile stockpile: Saree
• Who is looting Yemen’s oil, and where does it all go?
• Saree announces targeting “Emirati mercenaries and ISIS” in Usaylan
• Saree: Operation Yemen Hurricane is in response to continued aggression
• Brigadier General Saree illustrates 2021 Yemen achievements العميد سريع يستعرض حصاد 2021: تحوّل إلى العمليات الهجومية النوعية
• Saree: Yemeni Ballistic Missiles Hit Sensitive Targets in Saudi Jizan, Painful Ops Coming
• Saudi Warplanes Kill, Injure 11 Members of Same Family in Yemen’s Hajjah
• As US Renews Support for Saudi War in Yemen, Civilian Death Toll Nearly Doubles
• Yemeni Forces refute Saudi coalition’s allegations of controlling Haradh
• Yemeni Resistance strikes the heart of Dubai and Abu Dhabi
• Is the US serious about protecting Saudi-led coalition Member States from Yemeni attacks?

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Operation Al Aqsa Flood

محور المقاومة ينتقل جماعيّاً إلى التصعيد

الاثنين 12 كانون الأول 2023

ناصر قنديل

على إيقاع واحد تبدو جبهات المواجهة التي يخوض عبرها محور– المقاومة بقيادة واضحة للمقاومة في غزة، مواجهته المدروسة مع كيان الاحتلال ومن خلفه القرار الأميركيّ بالردع لمنع أي مؤازرة لغزة شعباً ومقاومة. وقد ظهر خلال يومين ماضيين، وبالتزامن مع وصول جيش الاحتلال إلى شوارع مدينة خان يونس، حيث يبدو أن فصائل المقاومة الفلسطينية، وخصوصاً قوات القسام وسرايا القدس، قد أعدّت ما يلزم لمواجهة شاملة نوعيّة وكميّة، ظهرت ساعة الصفر معلنة للانتقال إلى المواجهة المفتوحة في كل مناطق الاشتباك في غزة، شمالاً وجنوباً، مدناً ومخيّمات، وكأن قوات احتياطيّة كانت موجودة تنتظر لحظة الدخول إلى خان يونس بصفتها كلمة السر للهجوم الشامل، على طريقة ما جرى في غلاف غزة. واجه جيش الاحتلال عواصف ناريّة من كل حدب وصوب، تطويق وإطباق، كمائن وقذائف هاون، مشاة يهاجمون الدبابات ببسالة نادرة وحرفيّة عالية، فتحترق عشرات الآليات ويُصاب مئات الجنود والضباط.

– التوقيت لغزة، لكن الإعلان لليمن، فلم تكَدْ غزة تفتح نيرانها في افتتاح المرحلة الجديدة، حتى خرج الناطق العسكريّ اليمنيّ يعلن أن مضيق باب المندب مقفل أمام عبور أي سفن متّجهة الى موانئ كيان الاحتلال، وفق معادلة طالما غزة تحت الحصار فإن الكيان سوف يوضع تحت الحصار. وبدأ اليمن تنفيذ القرار فوراً، عبر تسيير دوريات من الزوارق للتفتيش عن السفن التي يشكّ بها وفقاً للوائح المتداولة على مواقع التجارة الدوليّة لوجهة السفن التجارية وحمولتها. وتم أمس، إيقاف سفينتين وإعادتهما من المضيق إلى المحيط الهندي، والقرار اليمنيّ تحدٍّ واضح ومباشر للاستراتيجية الأميركية حول دور قواتها العسكرية في البحر الأحمر طوال خمسين عاماً. ولسان حال اليمنيين، استخدمت أميركا الفيتو في مجلس الأمن الدوليّ لمنع وقف النار على غزة، ونحن نستخدم الفيتو في البحر الأحمر لمنع إمداد كيان الاحتلال بالنفط والمواد الاستهلاكيّة ومنع التجارة معه، فماذا سيفعل الأميركي، هل يذهب الى الحرب فيشتعل البحر الأحمر كلياً، أم يرتضي قواعد الاشتباك التي فرضها أنصار الله؟

– بالتوازي كانت القواعد الأميركيّة في سورية والعراق تتلقى أكبر عدد من الهجمات وأكثرها قسوة، عبر الصواريخ الموجّهة والطائرات المسيرة الانتحارية، وواشنطن أيضاً بين خيارَيْ الردّ الذي يجسّد الردع، كما ورد في البيانات الأميركية أول أيام حرب غزة. وهذا سوف يستدرج الحرب إلى البحر الأبيض المتوسط حيث تربض المدمّرات والحاملات الأميركيّة، ويصبح البحر الأبيض المتوسط ساحة حرب لا تجارة وتحاصر أوروبا بين بحرين مشتعلين بلا موارد طاقة، ولا تجارة مع الخليج أو مع الهند والصين، والتراجع الأميركي يعني إضافة لسقوط الردع والمهابة، أن الزمن بات ينفد بسرعة من طريق الحرب الإسرائيلية الأميركية على غزة، وقادة الكيان يقولون إن لم تفعل أميركا ما يجب مع اليمن سوف نضطر نحن لفعل ذلك، فهل يفعلون ويشعلون البحر الأحمر؟

– تبقى الجبهة العقدة بالنسبة لأميركا و»إسرائيل»، هي جبهة لبنان التي ادّخرت مقدراتها، سواء بالقدرة النارية أو بالقدرة البشرية، للمرحلة الفاصلة، وقد ارتفعت وتيرتها إلى الحدّ الذي لم يعد قادة كيان الاحتلال من سياسيين وعسكريين يملكون جواباً يقولونه لمئة ألف مستوطن هجروا من مستوطناتهم، وقد تحوّل شمال فلسطين المحتلة الى جبهة حرب، وضربت التحصينات والمواقع وأُحرقت الدبابات وقُتل الجنود أو جُرحوا، والمساعي الدبلوماسية التي تحدّث عن انتظار نتائجها وزير حرب الكيان يوآف غالنت انتهت بلا جدوى، وقد سمع الموفدون جواباً واحداً، تتوقف الحرب على غزة ثم نصغي ونجيب، فماذا سيفعل الإسرائيلي، هو يختنق عسكرياً في غزة، ويختنق سياسياً في العالم، كما يقول الشارع الذاهب إلى الإضراب الشامل اليوم والضاغط على حكومات اضطرت أن تؤيّد دعوة وقف إطلاق النار في مجلس الأمن، حتى وجدت واشنطن نفسها وحيدة تستخدم الفيتو وتتساءل إلى متى سوف تستطيع ذلك، وهي أيضاً تخسر في شارعها؟

– الوقت ينفد حتى داخل الكيان، ولم تعد للحرب خريطة طريق للنصر، وعائلات الأسرى تتحوّل شارعاً فاعلاً يستقطب المعارضين للحكومة والمعارضين للحرب على السواء، فهل يشكل توسيع الحرب نحو اليمن أو نحو لبنان، أو كليهما، طريقاً للخروج منها عبر توسيعها، بالنسبة لبنيامين نتنياهو؟

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Yemeni threat poses very serious strategic threat to ‘Israel’: Media

December 10, 2023

Source: Israeli media

A picture taken during an organized tour by the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement on November 22, 2023, shows the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, seized by the Yemeni Navy, docked in a port on the Red Sea in the Yemeni province of Hodeida, with Palestinian and Yemeni flags installed on it. (AFP)

By Al Mayadeen English

Israeli media say “Israel” is framing the Yemeni threats in the Red and Arabian Seas as detrimental to global trade and shipping routes.

Israeli media outlets commented Saturday on Yemen’s recent decision to prohibit any ship from reaching Israeli ports via the Arabian and Red seas if Gaza’s needs for food and medicine are not met.

Tamir Hayman, the former head of the Israeli occupation’s military intelligence division, said that the Yemeni threat is a problem for “Israel’s national security” and poses a very serious strategic threat to “Israel’s maritime freedom,” pointing out that Yemeni threats would impact Israelis in terms of higher living costs.

In a related context, the military commentator for the Israeli Channel 12, Nir Dvori, mentioned that “Israel” is attempting to convey a message to the United States that the Yemeni threats are not just “Israel’s” problem but a global issue, requiring not only Israeli intervention but global attention.

Dvori emphasized that “Israel” is framing the Yemeni threats as detrimental to global trade and shipping routes, stressing the importance of addressing this matter globally rather than “Israel” tackling it alone.

On his part, Chen Herzog, the Chief Economist at BDO Consulting, warned that the Yemeni threat to maritime shipping to “Israel” could lead to a hefty economic price in living costs and supply chains, highlighting that “Israel’s” annual import volume of goods amounts to around 400 billion shekels, with 70% arriving by sea.

Herzog explained that the Yemeni threat impacts “Israel” at three levels: firstly, an increase in insurance costs for maritime transport to “Israel” due to heightened risks. Secondly, the potential shift in shipping routes from the East to “Israel” may require vessels to circumnavigate Africa instead of passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. This would extend sailing time by 30 days, resulting in increased maritime shipping costs. The third level is manifested in foreign shipping companies entirely avoiding Israeli ports to mitigate risks or due to insurance company restrictions.

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The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Sunday the introduction of a new actionable decision in support of Gaza, which will see the prohibition of all ships bound to the occupation entity, regardless of their nationality, from passing through the Arabian and Red Seas until food and medicine sufficient to the needs of the population enter the besieged Strip.

In a statement, Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree declared that this prohibition is “effective immediately,” noting that Sanaa, “out of its commitment to the safety of maritime navigation, warns all ships and companies against dealing with Israeli ports.”

“The Yemeni Armed Forces emphasize their full commitment to the continuity of global trade movement through the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea for all ships and all countries, except those ships associated with Israel or those that will transport goods” to the occupation entity.

It is worth noting that the spokesperson did not void the earlier equation, which constitutes that the Yemeni army will continue targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea until the war on Gaza stops.

Implementing previous warnings, the Yemeni Armed Forces captured last month the Israeli Galaxy Leader vessel in the Red Sea via a naval operation landing on its deck, before leading it to the sea off the coast of Hodeidah.

The army also successfully targeted two Israeli cargo ships earlier this month, using a drone and missiles, while forcing several shipping vessels to reroute or entirely change course away from the Red Sea, subsequently increasing delivery periods, costs, and insurance rates.

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Operation Al Aqsa Flood

How Yemen is inflating Israel’s war cost

DEC 1, 2023

Source

By targeting Israel and Israeli-owned vessels, the Yemeni resistance threatens Israel’s trade-based economy and exacts an international cost for Tel Aviv’s devastating war on Gaza.

Photo Credit: The Cradle

Khalil Harb

Despite facing its own war-stricken challenges and humanitarian crises, Yemen has consistently demonstrated unwavering support and solidarity with Palestine. In the Arab world, the poorest state in West Asia stands unparalleled in organizing massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations. 

However, recent events mark a historic shift, as the Ansarallah-led government, for the first time, has directly engaged in strikes against Israel that originate from the territory of “Happy Yemen.”

The extensive range covered by Yemen’s missiles and drones in their journey toward Israel – exceeding two thousand kilometers – serves as a resounding rebuttal to US attempts to contain the conflict from becoming a wider West Asian one. 

If there were any doubts about Sanaa’s prominent role within the Axis of Resistance previously, they are now unequivocally laid to rest.

Ansarallah answers back 

The Yemeni escalation began with an open declaration, transitioning from the stage of mere threats against Washington’s military support in the war on Gaza. It progressed to the launching of missiles and drones towards the city of Um al-Rashrash (Eilat), followed by a strategic shift to naval operations against Israeli-linked vessels, as announced by the Yemeni Armed Forces on 19 November. Notably, this escalation culminated in what is believed to be the first attempt to target a US military ship with missiles.

Since Ansarallah leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi’s warning to the US, Yemen’s resistance activities have intensified, spanning from Um al-Rashrash to the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden. 

This new dimension to the Resistance Axis’ reach creates regional confusion for the US military, which has unabashedly sided with Israel’s assault on Gaza, and works to conceal the genocide employed against 2.3 million civilians in the besieged Strip.

The repercussions have reverberated in US political and security recalculations across the entire region. Perhaps most significantly, these actions have compelled the occupation state to reassess its economic losses and the costs of prolonged war. 

The latest economic fallout is a notable incident involving the container ship Zim Europe, operated by the Israeli shipping company Zim. Concerned over Yemeni threats against Israel-linked ships, the vessel was forced to alter its course, deviating from its planned route through the Suez-Bab al-Mandab Canal. 

Instead, the Zim Europe embarked on a sea journey 56 percent longer, circumnavigating Africa through the Atlantic Ocean and Cape of Good Hope, reflecting the economic and logistical hurdle now faced by Israeli shipping companies.

At the same time, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that “two ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the general location of USS Mason (DDG-87) and M/V Central Park.”

This incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden as part of what was described as a rescue mission for the cargo ship Central Park, operated by Zodiac Marine and owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. 

But what does this mean from a broader perspective? 

Global trade disruption 

First, Ansarallah in Yemen has positioned itself outside the jurisdiction of any temporary truces declared in Gaza. 

Second, if the reports from CENTCOM are accurate, this incident marks the first notable clash between Yemeni forces in Sanaa and US forces. This confrontation gained momentum as the Israeli aggression on Gaza intensified, with Ansarallah claiming the downing of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone in Yemeni territorial waters on 8 November. 

Third, the cost of the war is dramatically escalating for Israel. An optimistic calculation in early November was that a year-long war fought solely on the Gaza front would cost Tel Aviv over $50 billion, or 10 percent of Israel’s GDP. That’s an unrealistic figure given that Israel is already engaged on its northern border with the Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah, and has significantly widened its military scope in the occupied West Bank. 

Moreover, it does not consider the extraordinary costs associated with disrupting Israeli trade. The occupation state imports and exports nearly 99 percent of goods via waterways and shipping. These imports include much of the country’s food supply, which Israel does not, and cannot, produce.

Today, according to Foreign Policy magazine, “only Russia’s and Ukraine’s Black Sea ports incur significantly higher war risk premiums than Ashdod [Israeli port] does.” And if Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah escalates, that will take out Haifa’s port too, which the Lebanese resistance targeted in the 2006 war.

All of this has vast international repercussions too. The disruption of commercial traffic between the Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandab doesn’t only apply pressure on Israel: approximately 12 percent of global trade annually, including about 21,000 ships and 6 million barrels of oil per day (9 percent of the total transported by sea), relies on this route. 

Bab al-Mandab is a vital link in the trade between East and West Asia and Europe. Um al-Rashrash, strategically located in the Red Sea, plays a key role in this trade movement, connecting Israel to East Asian markets. 

The role of this port was strengthened after the signing of the US-brokered normalization agreement with the UAE and Bahrain three years ago, where it was agreed to transport shipments of UAE crude oil to Um al-Rashrash, to be transported through the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline – that is, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. 

The recent missile and drone strikes on Um al-Rashrash undermine not just Israel’s security but its economic ambitions, including vital tourism traffic that contributes substantially to its revenue. Tel Aviv’s obscure stance on the “Yemeni front” may stem from a desire to avoid security and political embarrassment resulting from this distant support.

The immediate impact of the Yemeni attack on Israel’s maritime trade is evident in the rapid rise in transportation costs. Israeli ships may need to avoid the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab altogether, opting for longer routes around Africa or resorting to higher-cost air transport. The fees of insurance companies, especially for Israeli ships or those transporting goods intended for the occupation state, will likely continue to increase.

Israel’s imminent implosion 

These economic challenges take on new dimensions, considering the Israeli Ministry of Finance’s estimate that the cost of the war exceeds $270 million per day, with Israel expected to bear a significant portion, in addition to US taxpayers. 

Pre-existing Israeli political and social unrest, coupled with a decline in foreign reserves, forced borrowing, and economic contraction, could substantially damage its economy. The World Bank’s estimation that 34.6 percent of Israel’s GDP depends on trade in goods is a case in point. Tens of billions of dollars in Israeli-Asian trade are also at risk due to the regional disruptions in the Red Sea.

All of this uncertainty adds to other concerns, such as a retreat of investors from risk, a sharp decline (by 70 percent) in the volume of invested capital since last October, and the mass “exodus” of settlers to their countries of origin. 

Sanaa’s participation in the Palestinian resistance’s Al-Aqsa Flood operation may also impact the ongoing US-backed, Saudi-led war in Yemen, particularly given unofficial reports of Saudi Arabia intercepting missiles launched toward Israel. 

Any hasty US attempt to intervene to protect Israel and confront Ansarallah’s decisions may lead to an increase in aggression against Yemen. This raises questions about the vulnerability of coalition partners, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, to Yemeni missiles once again. 

It would also prove how the US and its regional allies are a destabilizing force in West Asia – a force that the Axis of Resistance is effectively countering in the political, military, and economic realms.

Yemeni Armed Forces Announce New Phase Of Targeting Israeli Ships: A Stand Against Aggression

Nov 19, 2023

The Armed Forces announced today, Sunday, a new phase of targeting ships of the Zionist enemy entity and those dealing with the entity. The Armed Forces declared in a statement that, stemming from religious, national, and ethical responsibility, and in view of the brutal American-Israeli aggression that the Gaza Strip is subjected to, where daily massacres and genocidal extermination are taking place, and in response to the demands of our Yemeni people and the demands of free peoples and the rescue of our oppressed people in Gaza, it will target all types of the following ships:

1. Ships flying the flag of the Zionist entity.
2. Ships operated by Israeli companies.
3. Ships owned by Israeli companies.

The Yemeni Armed Forces appealed to all countries of the world to withdraw their citizens working within the crews of these ships and to avoid shipping on board or dealing with them, and that it is incumbent on the countries of the world to inform their ships to stay away from these ships.

Yesterday, a prominent source in the Yemeni naval forces confirmed that the naval forces are capable of targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea or any other place that the Zionist enemy does not expect. The prominent military source pointed out in a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that the armed forces are about to target all Israeli ships, whether they are heading to occupied Palestine or any other country.

On the 14th of this November, Sayyid Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi confirmed in a speech that Yemen is monitoring Zionist ships in the Red Sea to strike and punish them, and will continue to search despite the enemy’s attempts to camouflage them. He affirmed that they will spare no effort, and the missile force has started its work, and carried out a number of operations with missile shelling, and long-range missiles, to the south of occupied Palestine; to target Zionist Israeli targets there, as well as the drone aircraft.

Sayyid al-Houthi made a statement regarding the situation in the Red Sea. He said, “Especially in Bab al-Mandab, and what borders the Yemeni territorial waters, our eyes are open for permanent monitoring. We are constantly searching for any Israeli ship.”

He added some information for everyone’s understanding. “The Israeli enemy depends on its movement in the Red Sea, especially from Bab al-Mandab, on smuggling and camouflage. They did not dare to raise the Israeli flags on their ships. Instead, they resort to smuggling and closing Electronic radio devices.”

Moreover, Sayyid al-Houthi confirmed the intentions of the Yemeni forces. “We will target the ships of the Zionist enemy. They will not succeed in hiding. Even so, they will not succeed. We will search until we verify the ships that belong to them. We will not hesitate to target them.”

He wanted to let everyone know about the fear of the enemy. “The enemy is afraid. They depend on this method. This indicates the extent of the effectiveness and impact of the position of our country and our people. It also shows its impact on the Israeli enemy. They are afraid to this extent.”

He pointed out the enemy’s actions in Arab countries. “At a time when they raise the Israeli flags in their embassies in Arab countries, and in the capitals of Arab countries, they do not dare to raise the Israeli flag on ships passing through the Red Sea, or from Bab al-Mandab. Instead, they raise the flags of other countries. They camouflage their ships and close devices so that they seek not to be detected.”

Finally, he confirmed their determination. “But – Allah willing – we will catch them, with the success of Allah. We will punish them. At any level our hands and capabilities reach, we will not hesitate to target the Israeli enemy. This is our declared, explicit, and clear position. Let the whole world know about it.”

After the speech of Sayyid Abdulmalik al-Houthi, the Armed Forces announced the start of taking all practical measures to implement the issued directives regarding the appropriate treatment of any Israeli ship in the Red Sea. It confirmed that it will not hesitate to target any Israeli ship in the Red Sea or any place that the Yemeni Armed Forces can reach, starting from the moment this statement was announced.

The Armed Forces also confirmed that military operations against the Israeli enemy will not stop until the Israeli aggression stops against our brothers in the steadfast Gaza.

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Egypt on the Economic Corridor: No alternative for Suez Canal

Sep 12, 2023

Source: Al Mayadeen

The BW Lesmes is shown in the waterway of the Suez Canal on August 23, 2023 (AP)

By Al Mayadeen English

Former Suez Canal Authority Head asserts that there is no substitute for the Suez Canal in maritime transport, in response to the announcement of the Economic Corridor project by the United States, India, and Saudi Arabia.

General Mohab Mamish, former adviser to the President and former head of the Suez Canal Authority, emphasized that there is no alternative to the Suez Canal, which stands as the fastest route for maritime transport.

These statements come in response to the announcement made by the United States, India, and Saudi Arabia on the sides of the G20 summit on Saturday, regarding the launch of the Economic Corridor project which connects India to the Middle East and Europe through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and the Israeli occupation. 

In televised remarks, Mamish stressed that there can be “no comparison between a multimodal project and the Suez Canal, which is the fastest maritime route in the world.”

He also denied any potential impacts or repercussions on the canal in the future, stating that “the transportation process through it [the Economic Corridor] would be costly, time-consuming, and against the economics of maritime transport.”

Mamish explained that the project involves “transporting goods by sea, then by rail, followed by land transport vehicles before finally unloading on land.” He added that this is a “highly costly process with no comparison to the Suez Canal.”

In contrast, he explained that the Suez Canal is “capable and prepared to compete since it is the fastest, deepest, and most secure canal in the world. In just 11 hours, we reach the Red Sea and connect to Asia, Europe, and all the world’s ports.”

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It is worth noting that the Suez Canal is an artificial waterway at sea level in Egypt, running from north to south through the Suez Isthmus to connect the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It serves as the shortest maritime route between Europe and countries surrounding the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, making it one of the busiest shipping lanes globally.

Read more: Biden reveals the ME economic railway to counter BRI

During the G20 summit in New Delhi, US President Joe Biden announced a plan to build a railway and shipping corridor connecting India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the European Union, aiming to boost trade and political cooperation.

Biden stated that this deal is “truly significant,” noting that the corridor “will help enhance trade, secure energy resources, and improve digital connectivity.”

The announcement was also attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and other leaders from around the world.

According to information released, “Israel will participate in extending the railway tracks, infrastructure, and shipping lines, along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan.”

The White House did not however specify when the project would be completed, its cost, or how it would be financed.

Read more: New corridor for India-Russia trade via Iran nearly complete

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‘Israel’ eager to mediate ceasefire in Sudan: What are the reasons?

Apr 28 2023

Source: Al Mayadeen English

By Ahmad Karakira 

The Israeli occupation has several reasons to rush to mediate a ceasefire between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support forces, the most important of which is establishing its presence in yet another African country bordering the strategic Red Sea.

‘Israel’ eager to mediate ceasefire in Sudan: What are the reasons?

A few days ago, three Israeli occupation Foreign Ministry officials told Axios that “Israel” has offered to host both parties involved in the conflict in Sudan in an effort to reach a cease-fire agreement.

The proposal was handed to Army Chief General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) head General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, as Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and director general of the Israeli occupation’s Foreign Ministry Ronen Levy remained in direct contact with both Sudanese generals.

Axios reported that "Israel" has been in contact with generals of both the #Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), urging them to stop their fighting as the ongoing clashes put the normalization deal between #Sudan and the occupation at risk. pic.twitter.com/BFoLIcdo83

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 20, 2023

According to Cohen and Levy, both Sudanese generals gave the impression that they were considering the proposal in a positive light, adding that US President Joe Biden’s administration was consulted and informed. 

“Since the fighting started in Sudan, Israel has been working in different channels in order to reach a ceasefire. The progress we have made with the two parties is very encouraging. If there will be a way that Israel could help in stopping the war and the violence in Sudan we will be very happy to do it,” Cohen told Axios in a statement.

#Sudan is plunged into complete chaos one day after clashes broke out between the #Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). pic.twitter.com/C4zxUOWKEJ

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 16, 2023

Read more: No end to war until Al-Burhan surrenders: RSF advisor to Al Mayadeen

Normalization with ‘Israel’ jeopardized by Sudan fighting: Axios

Another report by Axios revealed that the Israeli occupation fears that the ongoing clashes will hinder the formation of a prospected Israeli-allied civilian government, which would jeopardize the normalization agreement between Sudan and the Israeli occupation. 

According to the report, “Israel” has built strong relationships with both Al-Burhan and Dagalo. Before clashes ensued, Israeli officials said they were actively following up on the process of appointing a civilian-led government in Sudan.

During his visit to Khartoum in February, Cohen urged Al-Burhan to proceed with restoring civilian rule, emphasizing that it will be challenging to secure a peace agreement without it, Axios mentioned.

The news website cited Israeli sources as saying that the Israeli occupation Foreign Ministry has been in contact with Al-Burhan over the normalization process, while Dagalo and Mossad have met and discussed “security” and “counterterrorism issues”.

Israeli officials were certain of an agreement to appoint a civilian government in the upcoming days, Axios indicated. However, what transpired was fierce fighting that spread over multiple cities in the country.

The White House has also pushed Israelis to mediate a ceasefire deal between the fighting generals, the report revealed.

But why is “Israel” in a rush to complete the normalization process with Sudan?

Flashback

It all started in 2016 when the Israeli occupation urged the US to allow it to infiltrate into Sudan after the North African country severed diplomatic ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following Saudi Arabia’s lead, Sudan cut diplomatic ties with Iran after the storming of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Tehran and the consulate building in the city of Mashhad.

In August 2017, then-Sudanese Minister for Investment, Mubarak Fadel Al-Mahdi, spoke for the first time about normalization with the Israeli occupation during an interview with the Sudania24 TV station.

And when General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan came to power after the resignation of Omar Al-Bashir, he met in February 2020 with Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda.

Consequently, Khartoum was removed from the US blacklist in December 2020 after 27 years of imposed sanctions.

In January 2021, Sudan formally agreed to normalize relations with “Israel” in a quid pro quo for the United States to remove it from its list of so-called “state sponsors of terrorism”, but ties were never formalized. In April of that year, the North African nation approved a bill abolishing a 1958 boycott of the Israeli occupation.

Finally, Sudan and “Israel” said in February that they agreed to move towards normalizing relations during the first official visit of Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to Khartoum.

Sudan; a route to transfer arms to Palestinian Resistance

One of the several reasons that the Israeli occupation is racing against time to complete the normalization process with Sudan is to make sure that the North African country does not again become a route to transfer arms to the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip.

Before severing ties with Iran, Al-Bashir’s administration reportedly supported the Hamas movement politically and allowed it to open an office in Sudan. The Israeli occupation had previously accused Sudan of allowing the passage of arms from several countries to Gaza via its territory.

However, with the regime change in Egypt and the rise of General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as President, the latter ordered the destruction of tunnels between his country and Gaza, through which the Palestinian Resistance reportedly used to receive arms.

In March 2009, the Israeli occupation even targeted a 17-truck convoy in eastern Sudan that reportedly carried weapons to Gaza, and also targeted an arms factory in Khartoum in October 2012.

In March 2014, the Israeli occupation’s navy said it seized a ship loaded with weapons in the Red Sea between Sudan and Eritrea that was allegedly en route from Iran to Gaza.

To further dive into the reason for “Israel’s” eagerness to mediate a ceasefire in Sudan and consequently complete a peace agreement with the North African nation, one should tackle the history of relations between the two sides.

History of Sudanese-Israeli relations

In his book “Israel” And Relations With The Islamic World, Jihad Odeh said that “Israel’s” ties with Sudan began before the latter gained its independence from British occupation in 1956, when an Israeli trade mission comprising 50 people settled in Khartoum in 1951 to buy Sudanese products and goods and send them to “Israel” via Cape Town, South Africa, to avoid anti-smuggling measures taken by the Egyptian authorities in the Suez Port and Port Said.

The book mentioned that Israeli planes often landed at Khartoum airport to refuel and continue their flights, which prompted the Secretary-General of the Arab League at the time to send a memorandum to the British government in February 1951 to inquire about the matter.

Britain, which was ruling Sudan in partnership with Egypt, replied that Israeli planes had the right to use Khartoum Airport under the pretext that Britain and Sudan are not at war with “Israel.”

It was during the era of Abdullah Khalil’s government that the first Israeli intelligence envoy arrived in Sudan, with the consent of the Sudanese government, Odeh revealed in his book.

And as a result of contacts that began in 1954 between Sudanese politicians and “Israel”, a Sudanese figure accompanied by a Sudanese journalist met in a London hotel with a young diplomat working in the Israeli occupation’s embassy in Britain named Mordechai Gazit.

The author said that Sadiq Al-Mahdi, the head of the Umma Party, was in contact with Mossad in 1954, and met along with Mohammad Ahmad Omar, editor-in-Chief of the Nile Newspaper and spokesperson for the Umma Party, with Gazit. 

According to Odeh, the goal of Sudan at that time was to seek the help of “Israel” to win Jewish public opinion in the West to obtain independence, while Gazit wanted to establish commercial relations Between Sudan and “Israel” to reduce the intensity of Arab isolation.

Contacts and meetings between Israeli and Sudanese politicians continued after the latter’s independence in 1956, when then-Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir met with then-head of the Sudanese government Abdullah Khalil in the summer of 1957.

In those discussions between Meir and Khalil, it was agreed to send Israeli agricultural experts and civilian and military advisors to Sudan. It was also agreed that Sudan would allow EL AL planes to land and refuel on their way to South Africa, and that the Mossad would be allowed to build a station in the North African country.

Al Haya newspaper noted that the Mossad was able to establish its station again in Khartoum in 1983 during the era of then-Sudanese President Jaafar Nimeiry after the latter met with Menachem Begin’s Security Minister, Ariel Sharon.

Nimeiry revealed that he began his contacts with “Israel” in 1965 when he was an officer participating in a course on cooperation between Sudan and the US, where he established contacts with Israeli personalities who later visited Sudan in unannounced secret visits, Odeh mentioned in his book. However, when he took power in May 1969, Nimeiry followed Egypt’s footsteps against the Israeli occupation.

Nevertheless, Israeli ties with Nimeiry’s regime re-resurfaced after the Camp David Accords, which he supported, leading Mossad to rebuild its mission in Sudan.

Why Africa and Sudan?

In his book, The Israeli Foreign Policy Toward Africa: The Sudan Case, Amer Khalil Ahmed Amer pointed out that “Israel” has adopted an approach that relies on closer relations with countries surrounding Arab states, and this is evident in the strong relations with these countries at all levels, especially in the field of military and security cooperation, hidden under the cover of trade and economic relations.

In parallel with the expertise that the Israeli occupation provides to these countries, Amer continued, it has gained a foothold in military bases that oversee Arab countries, which represents a clear threat to Arab national security in general.

The occupation can threaten Arab water security and navigation in the Red Sea, due to the advanced position that it gained from establishing strong relations with Eritrea, the author pointed out.

Amer noted that the attempt to control the Red Sea is one of the most important strategic goals of “Israel” in the African continent, adding that the occupation began to establish a presence on the Red Sea in order to use it to achieve its military, economic, and political interests.

To achieve this goal, “Israel” strengthened its relations with Ethiopia in the late sixties and Eritrea after its independence from Ethiopia in 1991; it also built bases in Ethiopia after Moshe Dayan’s visit in 1965.

In addition to its military bases on the Eritrean islands, especially near Bab Al-Mandab, “Israel” built two military bases in Ethiopia near the border between Eritrea and Sudan.

According to Amer, this expansion in the Red Sea region gave “Israel” a strategic depth in Bab Al-Mandab to monitor any Arab military activity in the region.

It is noteworthy that “Israel” has military and intelligence bases for espionage and monitoring on a number of Eritrean islands, including Dahlak, Haleb, and Marsa Fatma, which are located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, in addition to Zubair Island, which is only 22 km from Yemen, and houses a communications network and radar equipment.

The Israeli presence on these islands also includes special forces, paratrooper units, and airborne forces equipped with modern helicopters and Dolphin-class submarines. Through these bases, “Israel” threatens Yemen’s national security, where it can monitor it and spy on it smoothly, Amer argued.

During his visit to “Israel” in 1996, then-Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki signed an agreement to enhance security and military cooperation that included, in one of its clauses, an Israeli pledge to support Eritrea to confront any attempts by any force to control its strategic islands located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, and to allow a limited military presence in these islands.

Sudan; a power to the Arab world

According to Amer, Israeli estimates since the beginning of Sudan’s independence indicated that this country should not be allowed to become a force added to the power of the Arab world, because if invested in stable conditions, its resources will make it a threatening force.

During the 1967 War, Sudan became a base for training and sheltering the Egyptian Air Force and ground forces. It also sent its forces to the Canal region during the War of Attrition between 1968 and 1970, as well as during the 1973 October War.

It is noteworthy that following the 1967 Six Day War, Khartoum hosted the Arab League summit held from 29 August to 1 September 1967. There, Arab leaders declared the three no’s: “no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with Israel.”

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IOF Navy raises state of alert in Red Sea over Iran attack scare

19 Feb 2021

Source: Israeli Media

Israeli Navy sailors man the deck of the Israeli Navy Ship Atzmaut, in the Mediterranean Sea, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

By Al Mayadeen English 

Israeli media is talking about increasing worry in the Israeli occupation about Iranian attacks on Israeli ships, prompting an increased state of alert in the Red Sea.

The Israeli Navy has increased its state of alert against the Israeli occupation out of fears of an escalation in the Red Sea amid fears that Iran would conduct an attack on ships that belong to Israeli businessmen, Israeli Walla! news website reported on Sunday.

The Israeli website claimed that Iranians attacked last week a ship owned by Eyal Ofer, the chairman of Zodiac Maritime, an international ship management company, almost a month after the UAV attack that targeted the Iranian city of Isfahan.

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously addressed the incident, saying “Iran is behind an attack that an oil tanker was subjected to in Gulf waters last week,” Reuters news agency reported.

Israeli journalist and Walla! military affairs correspondent Amir Bohbot said that over the past year, “The Iranians have bolstered their presence in the Red Sea.”

This issue “is prompting concerns in the Israeli security establishment, as well as other parties that perceive the Red Sea as strategically important.”

Israeli media claimed Friday that Iran was trying to stabilize the equation of response to the Israeli attacks, by attacking Israeli ships at sea.

Israeli Channel 12‘s news website considered that since the series of assassinations of senior Iranian scientists until the drone attack on the factory in Isfahan, Iran has been trying to avenge these operations.

But now, Tehran is trying to establish a response equation, but through a slightly different method, claiming that this is the fifth time that Iranian forces have attacked ships in connection with “Israel”.

In the past, according to Channel 12, Tehran tried to attack ships that it knew were Israeli in response to attacks on Iranian ships that the world attributed to “Israel”. However, the Iranians now decided to change the equation and attack Israeli ships in response to ground attacks.

This comes after Israeli media on Friday cited reports as saying that Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly targeted last week an oil tanker, Campo Square, operating on behalf of Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Maritime shipping company.

Israeli media quoted senior security sources as saying that the alleged attack is an Iranian attempt to retaliate against “Israel” for the activities attributed to it.

Israeli Channel 12‘s military affairs commentator claimed that the attack is part of the battle that the Iranians are leading against “Israel”, adding that the Iranians are trying to attack and retaliate against “Israel”, and this attack is an example of that.

In the same context, BBC Farsi cited a US military official and a high-ranking military source in the region as saying that several Iranian ships and drones were used in the attack on the tanker.

According to BBC Farsi, the Campo Square tanker sails under the flag of Liberia, but its associated shipping companies are based in the UK and Greece.

The report noted that the Campo Square attack is not the first of its kind, as the tanker is the third Ofer vessel to be reportedly attacked within the past two years.

Read more: Hormuz closure possible measure on Iran Parliament agenda

Iranian Navy Commander Confirms Seizure of Two US Unmanned Vessels

 October 22, 2022

By Staff, Agencies

Chief Commander of the Iranian Army Navy Force Rear Admiral Shahram Irani confirmed the seizure of two American unmanned vessels by Naval Forces of the Iran Army whose mission is to protect international waters.

A welcoming ceremony was held for the 84th Naval Fleet at the end of their mission to international waters.

With its powerful presence in the depths of the oceans, especially in the Red Sea, the 84th Fleet of Naval Forces of the Iran Army managed to carry out escort operations and establish maritime security at the highest possible level, Rear Admiral Irani said.

Where maritime safety was threatened by the unjustified forces in the region, Iran’s Army Naval Forces were able to seize two American unmanned vessels. The US should know it must comply with international laws if it is shipping somewhere, Admiral Irani said.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, with its powerful presence in the region, will deal decisively with any move that endangers the security and safety of shipping, the commander underlined.

Earlier on September 2, American officials had announced that Iran’s navy seized two American sea drones in the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia to Grant the Zionist Enemy Ultimate Freedom of Navigation

July 1, 2022

By Staff

The United States, “Israel”, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are reportedly close to clinching a deal over two strategic islands in the Red Sea, Tiran and Sanafir. That’s according to Barak Ravid, a political affairs commentator for “Israel’s” Walla! website.

Ravid quotes three senior “Israeli” officials who claim that the parties are inching towards finalizing a set of agreements, understandings, and guarantees ahead of an upcoming visit to the region by US President Joe Biden.

Ravid argues that the deal “will constitute an important achievement for the Biden administration in the Middle East.” He also thinks that it may pave the way for a gradual process of normalization between Saudi Arabia and “Israel.”

Ravid points out the obvious: “Israel” and the Saudis don’t have official diplomatic relations, and therefore, cannot directly sign a formal agreement regarding the two islands.

As such, the participating sides are trying to come up with creative legal and diplomatic solutions to close the agreement through indirect contacts. Ravid adds that in recent months, the Biden administration mediated quiet negotiations between Saudi Arabia, “Israel” and Egypt over a deal that would complete the transfer of the two islands from Egypt to Saudi Arabia.

According to Ravid, the question was raised at the heart of the negotiations about how to respond to Saudi Arabia’s request to remove international observers from the two islands while at the same time maintaining the security arrangements and political guarantees requested by “Israel.”

For their part, the “Israelis” wants to ensure that Egyptian guarantees in the context of the so-called “peace” agreement bind the Saudis as well, especially with regard to an agreement allowing “Israeli” ships to freely sail through the Strait of Tiran to and from the port of Eilat.

Two senior “Israeli” officials told Walla! that Saudi Arabia agreed to take upon itself all Egyptian guarantees, including the obligation to preserve freedom of navigation.

“Israeli” officials said that the outgoing Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, the new Prime Minister Yair Lapid, and War Minister Benny Gantz were briefed in recent days about the details of the plan to complete the agreement and agreed on its principles.

According to the plan, Saudi Arabia will sign an agreement with Egypt regarding the two islands, and in return, it will send a memorandum to the United States detailing its commitment to freedom of navigation and security arrangements.

The Biden administration will then transfer to “Israel” a memorandum detailing the Saudi commitment to freedom of navigation and will provide American guarantees to monitor the level of compliance.

An “Israeli” official said that Gantz and relevant parties within the security establishment believe that the plan preserves “Israel’s” security interests in the Red Sea and support the move.

“Parallel to finalizing the agreement on the two islands, it is expected that Saudi Arabia will announce that it will allow planes belonging to “Israeli” shipping companies to use Saudi airspace on their way to the east, especially to India and China,” the source adds.

But Ravid clarifies that while the negotiating parties are close to inking a deal, the plan has not been finalized and the agreement and guarantees are still being worked out.

• Biden Says His Visit Is Meant to Integrate The ‘Israeli’ Entity In the Region

‘Israeli’ Military to Hold Drills near Gaza Border This Week

June 13 2022

By Staff, Agencies

The ‘Israeli’ occupation army will hold military exercises on Monday and Tuesday near the border with the Gaza Strip.

The Zionist military said explosions could be heard in communities in the area, stressing however that the movement of civilians will not be affected by the drills.

The ‘Israeli’ occupation military has conducted in recent weeks a vast military exercise involving combat planes over the Mediterranean and warships in the Red Sea, in order to prepare for different “scenarios” facing Iran.

It was to hold a scenario-based exercise in May 2021 of a conflict with the Palestinians that would extend to the northern border with Lebanon and Syria and even beyond, but it was postponed due to the war on Gaza.

After a year’s delay, the Zionist military launched the exercise to prepare for “near and far” combat, including a drill conducted by dozens of warplanes over the Mediterranean Sea that carried out “long distance,” “resupply” flights and “remote target strikes.”

According to the ‘Israeli’ press, the exercise simulated a large-scale attack against Iran, in particular against nuclear sites.

The military confirmed that it is “continuously preparing and training for multiple scenarios including threats from Iran.”

Part of the exercise took place off Cyprus, as well as in residential areas on the eastern Mediterranean island.

Also within the framework of these maneuvers, the ‘Israeli’ army conducted an exercise with two warships and a submarine in the Red Sea to “achieve maritime superiority” and “maintain freedom of action in the region.”

The Zionist military’s strategic plan for 2022 identifies Iran as the top threat, not only because of its nuclear program but also its developing armed drone and missile capabilities.

Ansarullah: US Prolonging Aggression, Siege on Yemen

April 16, 2022

By Staff, Agencies 

The spokesperson for Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, Mohammed Abdul Salam, confirmed that “The United States seeks to prolong the state of brutal siege and aggression against the impoverished Arab country.”

He was referring to the US latest move in the Red Sea that contravenes the terms of the recent truce agreement.

Earlier this week, the US Navy announced plans to establish a new multinational task force to patrol the Red Sea — a vital shipping lane for both cargo and the global energy supplies — after a series of attacks it blamed on the Yemeni resistance movement.

Washington claimed that the revolutionary movement had launched explosive-laden drone boats and mines into the waters of the strategic sea, which runs from Egypt’s Suez Canal in the north, down through the narrow Bab Al-Mandeb Strait in the south that separates Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

The US-led Combined Maritime Forces [CMF] Task Force 153 will patrol the waterway between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, through the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait to the waters off the Yemen-Oman border.

“The American move in the Red Sea in light of a humanitarian and military truce in Yemen contradicts Washington’s claim that it supports the truce, rather it only seeks to perpetuate the state of aggression and siege on Yemen,” Abdul Salam tweeted.

The ceasefire agreement between the Saudi Arabia-led aggression and Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance was mediated by the United Nations on April 2.

Assad, Syria and China’s new Silk Road

Count on Syria becoming an important West Asian hub in China’s Belt and Road Initiative

December 07 2021

By Matthew Ehret

Photo Credit: The Cradle

Ever since Russia and China began challenging the Anglo-American scorched Earth doctrine in 2011 with their first vetoes against US intervention into Syria, the Gordian knots that have tied up the Arab world in chaos, division and ignorance for decades have finally begun to unravel.

Where just one decade ago the unipolar vision of the ‘new American century’ reigned unchallenged, by 2013 the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) had sprung into life, and the largest purges of China’s deep state on record were launched under Xi Jinping’s watch. This latter crackdown even earned the ire of the American intelligence community, with war hawk John Bolton complaining that Xi’s authoritarianism has made the CIA job of maintaining its spies inside China nearly impossible.

This new operating system, tied closely to Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, has grown in leaps and bounds. Today, a new multipolar future has emerged; one which plans to actually deliver long-term development for all those who choose to play by its rules.

One of these adherents will be Syria, which is re-emerging onto the world’s stage after having miraculously defended itself from a ten-year military onslaught launched by the old unipolar players.

Of course, the pain and destruction of the war is still deeply felt; illegal US sanctions continue to plague the hungry masses, prevent the reconstruction of basic infrastructure and access to potable water, and cripple schools, hospitals, businesses, and livelihoods.

The BRI and Syria’s new future

On 5 November, China’s President Xi Jinping spoke with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, saying “we welcome the Syrian side’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and Global Development Initiative” and calling for reconstruction, development, and the defense of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The discussion came in the wake of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s whirlwind tour across West Asia and North Africa in July 2021, during which he met the Arab League’s chief to discuss Syria return to the fold.

By the end of this tour – which coincided with Assad’s re-election – China had signed a four-point proposal for solving Syria’s multifaceted crisis with a focus on large scale reconstruction, ending illegal sanctions and respecting Syria’s sovereignty.

Syria, in turn, re-affirmed its support for China’s territorial integrity in the face of western-sponsored separatist movements in Xinjiang, Tibet, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

China’s interest in West Asian development was first made known in 2017 when Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stated:

“Too many people in the Middle East are suffering at the brutal hands of terrorists. We support regional countries in forming synergy, consolidating the momentum of anti-terrorism and striving to restore regional stability and order. We support countries in the region in exploring a development path suited to their national conditions and are ready to share governance experience and jointly build the Belt and Road and promote peace and stability through common development.”

In 2018, China offered $28 billion in development aid to Syria while simultaneously coordinating the integration of Iraq into the BRI, made official in September 2019 when then-Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi unveiled the China-Iraq oil for reconstruction program and Iraq’s broader integration into the BRI framework.

Events coordinated by foreign interests did not permit this momentum for long. Mass protests soon toppled Abdul Mahdi’s government and, with it, the oil-for-reconstruction initiative. While recent months have seen a revival of this initiative from Iraq in piecemeal form, progress has been slow.

Instead, the 25 year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement struck between China and Iran in March 2021 has become the main gateway for extending Beijing’s infrastructure and connectivity projects into West Asia.

The construction of the Iran–Iraq Shalamcheh-Basra rail line is now underway, bringing the two neighboring states into an equal cooperative footing and opening prospects for greater rail and energy corridors extending from Iran through Iraq and into Syria, as a southern branch of the BRI.

In April 2019, Syria was invited to attend the first official BRI summit in Beijing, where President Assad stated:

“We have proposed around six projects to the Chinese government in line with the Belt and Road methodology and we are waiting to hear which project, or projects, will be in line with their thinking … I think when this infrastructure is developed, with time, the Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative) passing through Syria becomes a foregone conclusion, because it is not a road you only draw on a map.”

So what, specifically, are those projects?

China and Syria are keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to details for the moment. But it is not impossible to make some educated guesses about Assad’s wish-list by revisiting his earlier strategic vision for Syria.

Specifically, that would be the Five Seas Strategy that Assad had championed from 2004 to 2011, which disappeared from view once Syria was targeted for destruction.

The Five Seas strategy, in brief

The Five Seas strategy involves the construction of rail, roads and energy grids connecting the water systems of the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, Black Sea, Red Sea and Caspian Sea with Syria. The project serves as a logical node uniting the diverse nations of Mackinder’s world island behind a program of harmonization, integration and win-win industrial cooperation.

In a 2009 interview, President Assad described this project passionately:

“Once the economic space between Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran becomes integrated, we would link the Mediterranean, Caspian, Black Sea, and the [Persian] Gulf . . . we aren’t just important in the Middle East . . . Once we link these four seas, we become the unavoidable intersection of the whole world in investment, transport, and more.”

These weren’t empty words. By 2011, Assad had led delegations and signed agreements with Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon to begin the Five Seas projects. This was done at a time when Libya’s President Qaddafi was well underway in building the Great Man-Made River, the largest water project in history alongside a coalition of nations that included Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt.

The true reasons for Qaddafi’s killing, the carving up of Sudan in 2009, and the current efforts at US-sponsored regime change in Ethiopia cannot be comprehended without an understanding of this potent, game-changing strategic paradigm that he and others were spearheading.

The need for secrecy

The secrecy of Chinese-West Asian diplomacy in the emerging post-regime change world now emerging should therefore be understood as an obvious necessity.

For the past decade, every time a West Asian or African nation makes a public announcement of a BRI-compatible program, that same nation has been promptly dragged through different degrees of foreign sabotage. Neither Assad nor the Chinese have any intention to replay that trend at this pivotal moment.

Soon after the heads of Syrian and Turkish intelligence agencies met in Baghdad in early September, Assad reportedly told a Lebanese delegation that “many Arab and non-Arab states are communicating with us, but asking us to keep this a secret.”

The nature of this secret diplomacy soon became clear, when the Arab League made its 23 November announcement of Syria’s re-admission into the fold.

Former sworn enemies of Bashar Assad, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have demonstrated their willingness to accept their humiliation, recognize Assad’s legitimacy and adapt to the new powers China and Russia. Unlike decades of Anglo-American promises which treat Arab participants like disposable temporary interests, the China-Russia alliance contains tangible, measurable benefits, like security and development for all participants.

Multipolarity vs the ‘rules-based international order’

While the US wasted the past decade imposing sanctions and punishments on nations, institutions and individuals unaccepting of its global hegemony, China was patiently recruiting West Asian and African states to the BRI: a whopping 17 Arab nations and 46 African nations are taking part today.

NATO member Turkey has also been on the receiving end of Washington’s punishments, and has begun to view China as a potential means to a more independent future – one that comes with the financial resources to mitigate the country’s current economic woes and currency fluctuations.

Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia had once provided vast support for ISIS and Al Qaeda operations across Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, primarily through the purchase of ISIS-controlled oil and the supply of extremist fighters, clandestine funding and arms transfers. Such support has increasingly dried up, leaving ISIS with very little to work outside of what the CIA provides.

Despite US President Joe Biden re-affirming military support in October for the Kurdish-led Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) occupying north-east Syria, the Kurdish hand has also been overplayed. Many are finally recognizing that the Kurds have been duped into serving as a counter-gang to ISIS, and that promises for a Kurdish state have proved to be as illusory as the dream of Assad’s overthrow.

Erdogan may have tried to walk both worlds for some time, but it has increasingly become clear that Turkey’s only chance for survival rests with Russian military cooperation and China’s BRI (which crosses Turkey in the form of the Middle Corridor), both which demand a defense of Syria’s sovereignty.

As this new reality dawns on West Asia, and as the old unipolar order continues to veer towards a systemic collapse of historic proportions, there is good reason to believe that the region, or an important chunk of it, is already locked in and counting on the development and connectivity boom coming its way.

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

Four Nightmares Yemen Is Causing “Israel” to Have

17 Nov 2021

Source: Al Mayadeen Net

Mohammad Faraj

This is not poetry nor mere exaggerations with the hope of spreading false hope. It is the reality of the Yemeni geographic revenge against the occupation.

Israeli technology is one of the most important sources of input for the Neom project, which heavily relies on stability that cannot be attained without securing the Red Sea itself.

For the UAE, Bahrain, “Israel,” and the United States to launch maritime military exercises is no show of force; it is a reflection of deep concern and misgiving, primarily that of “Israel.”

“Israel” is dealing with four nightmares in the Red Sea, and Yemen seems to be their common thread.

The first nightmare: “We will strike critical targets.” That is how Ansar Allah responded last year to “Israel’s” comment on the situation in Yemen. Ansar Allah’s words were not just mere lip service, for Yemeni drones and Sanaa’s missile capabilities pose a genuine threat to the occupation on the Red Sea front, which has been confirmed by various Israeli military research centers.

Throughout the entirety of the Yemeni Army and Popular Committee-controlled Yemen, threatening “Eilat” is not any harder than threatening Saudi Aramco – that is Ari Heistein’s approach, a researcher in the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies. Though Heistein underrates the Yemeni threat, he acknowledges that Ansar Allah is able to use long-range missiles to hit targets from very far ranges. He sums up the whole situation with a single phrase: “It is realistic; however, it is limited.”

The precarious aspect of “limitation” stems from one basic angle: long-range missiles would grant the Israeli defense systems a certain margin of time to respond. This study was written two weeks ahead of the battle of Seif al-Quds, which proved that the issues in the Israeli defense systems do not solely rely on preparation, for what merits preparation more than a war?

The second nightmare: during the 1967 war, “Israel” experienced firsthand the repercussions of the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran being closed, so what could be the adverse effects of a farther passage – Bab-el-Mandeb Strait – being closed?

Closing Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the face of Israeli vessels could seriously harm Israeli trade, both in terms of imports and exports. India is the largest Israeli arms importer in the world, importing 43% of “Israel’s” arms exports between 2016 and 2020, while Vietnam is the third-largest in the world, importing 12% of “Israel’s” arms exports.

Arms exports are a vital part of the Israeli economy, as “Israel” ranks eighth in the world in terms of arms exports, exporting 3% of the world’s arms. Therefore, closing Bab-el-Mandeb in the face of Israeli ships, one of the main pillars of the Israeli economy, heavily impacts the lives of Israeli settlers, whom the Israeli authorities need many temptations to keep in place.

The Israeli economy heavily relies on imported goods, which cross through the Indian Ocean through Bab-el-Mandeb. “Israel” might experience a situation that is opposite to the one it went through during the October 1973 war, which saw “Israel” suffering because of Bab-el-Mandeb being closed in the face of Iranian tankers transporting oil to “Israel” back when Iran was under the Shah. Today, “Israel” is extremely worried about the same strait standing in solidarity with revolutionary Iran.

The third nightmare: “Israel” dreams about having coastal tourist-attractive cities, and they are part of its plans for the future, firstly due to profits they would generate, and secondly due to the doors they could open for normalization.

Carnegie Center calls this project “The diplomacy of the Saudi Neom.” Neom city is at the heart of this project, and Israeli technology is one of the most important sources of input for this project, which requires high levels of stability that cannot be attained without stability in the Red Sea. Losing the opportunity of having military stability in the Red Sea means “Israel” would lose its economic opportunities in these “smart cities.”

The fourth nightmare: China aims to ensure the finest conditions for stability in the regions and straits through which the Belt and Road Initiative goes. By taking a look at a map of the initiative, one sees that Bab-el-Mandeb is a pivotal intermediate link for its success. The same initiative deems the Haifa port as less of a priority in terms of pathways into the Mediterranean sea, especially because it has many alternatives.

“Israel,” who is acting very cautiously in fear of the US aims to please China, hopes to reap the utmost benefits from the project. However, Bab-el-Mandeb could seriously harm “Israel” if China was put in a zero-sum game. “Israel” would lose a railway that connects “Eilat” and “Ashdod” and huge gas pipelines that would transmit energy through the occupied territories and supply them with energy as well.

This is the Yemeni geographic revenge from the occupation, as the four Yemeni nightmares are enough to shake “Isreal” to the core in terms of the occupation’s security and economy.