Saudi Crown Prince Shouted at US National Security Adviser Over Khashoggi Killing: 'I Never Want To Discuss the Matter Again'
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Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Wednesday, April 20, 2022!
It happened last year but just now reported: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shouted that he didn't want to hear again about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the crown prince shouted at Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser, when the two men met for the first time. The crown prince had wanted a relaxed tone for the meeting, but "ended up shouting at Mr. Sullivan after he raised the 2018 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi," the newspaper reported. "The prince told Mr. Sullivan he never wanted to discuss the matter again," and that the United States "could forget about its request to boost oil production."
The ousted president of Yemen , Mansour Hadi, was threatened with exposure of corruption and handed a decree by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, so not just a resignation. Now Hadi is reported effectively under house arrest in Riyadh, unable to communicate. Meanwhile, the new eight-man Presidential Leadership Council replacing Hadi is inaugurated in Aden in southern Yemen.
Yemen's Houthi rebels signed an agreement with the United Nations to stop using child soldiers, U.S. officials are calling the Middle East and asking that escalation be avoided after fighting between Palestinians and Israel's security forces inside Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, and Turkey invaded Iraq's northern Kurdistan region, with commandos entering by land and air.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, and More.
As U.S.-Saudi Arabia relations continue to deteriorate, the news that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shouted at the U.S. national security adviser adds to the growing division between the two countries. This is only the latest revelation of the crown prince's sensitivity about being accused of directing the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Earlier, in an interview with the Atlantic, he claimed he had paid no attention to Khashoggi's critical writings. The Wall Street Journal reported that a meeting between the crown prince and U.S. adviser Jake Sullivan devolved into shouting by MBS and a warning that the United States could no longer expect Saudi help on increasing world oil supplies.
Insider, Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman started 'shouting' at Biden's national security advisor when he brought up Jamal Khashoggi's brutal killing, report says.
Yemen's former president Mansour Hadi was pushed out of office by Saudi Arabia, as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman handed him a written decree delegating his powers. Hadi was also threatened with exposure of alleged corruption. His removal came after a conference led by Saudi Arabia that was designed to find a way to stop the war in Yemen and plan for the country's future. Hadi, whose ouster was first described as a resignation, had headed the Yemeni government from exile in Saudi Arabia, and now is reported confined to his house in Riyadh and denied access to communicating.
(Editor's note: From REEDNEWSARABWORLD for April 8, 2022, "The ouster of Mansour Hadi was just that, a removal.")
AFP, Saudi Arabia pushed Yemen's president to step down, report says.
Mansour Hadi, the ousted former president of Yemen, is "effectively under house arrest." Hadi was forced to hand over power to a new leadership council on April 7 as a fragile ceasefire with the rebel Houthis started in Yemen. "Hadi is effectively under house arrest at his residence in Riyadh without access to phones," a Saudi official said.
The New Arab, Saudi Arabia 'removed Yemeni President Hadi' and 'placed him under house arrest.'
AFP, Saudi Arabia threatened corruption exposure to push out Yemen's president: report.
Yemen's new government was sworn in before a parliament that was elected in 2003. The head of the newly-formed Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, was sworn in along with other members of the eight-person council in a ceremony in Yemen's port city of Aden. Attendees included the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and Arab and European ambassadors. The event was not announced in advance for security reasons.
Al Jazeera, Yemen inaugurates new presidential council.
Al Arabiya, Yemen's new leadership council takes office as hope glimmers for war-torn country.
The United Nations says Yemen's Houthi rebels have agreed to rid their ranks of child soldiers. Children have fought by the thousands in Yemen's seven years of civil war, and UN spokesperson Stephanie Dujarric said the Houthis now have committed to identifying children in their ranks and releasing them within six months. The Houthis' deputy foreign minister, Hussein al-Azey, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Sanaa.
Virginia Gamba, the top UN official looking out for children in war zones, said "The most difficult part of the journey starts now. The action plan must be fully implemented and lead to tangible actions for the improvement of the protection of children in Yemen."
Associated Press, Yemen's Houthi rebels agree to stop using child soldiers: UN.
The United States is engaging with Israel and others in an effort to cool tensions in Jerusalem, where 152 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli riot police. The fighting took place inside the Al-Aqsa mosque and was the latest outbreak in an upsurge of violence. U.S. officials phoned Israeli, Palestinian, and Arab representatives in the region urging that tensions not be escalated.
Reuters, U.S. officials engaged with Israelis, Palestinians, Arab countries over tensions in Jerusalem.
Iran said a nuclear agreement still isn't in sight and blamed the United States. "More than one issue is still pending between Iran and the United States," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said. Washington is sending messages through the European Union and they are "far from providing solutions that could lead to an accord."
AFP, Iran says nuclear agreement not in sight, blames US for delays.
The United States appears to be dismissing an Iranian demand that a terrorist label be removed from its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A State Department spokesman indicated that Iran's demands for removal of sanctions and other requirements go beyond the talks about returning to the 2015 nuclear agreement, and that unless Iran wants to "use these talks to resolve other bilateral issues," an understanding on the nuclear deal can be reached quickly.
AFP, US firm on nuclear accord as Iran casts blame.
Turkey launched a new offensive against Kurdish militants in northern Iraq. Turkish jets and artillery struck targets, and commandos supported by helicopters and drones crossed the Turkey-Iraq border by land and air. Turkey's defense minister, Hulusi Akar, said the jets "successfully" struck shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots and headquarters belonging to the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party. Turkey has conducted numerous cross-border attacks into Iraq, and this latest offensive centered on northern Iraq's Metina, Zap, and Avashin-Basyan regions.
Associated Press, Turkey launches new ground, air offensive in northern Iraq.
Iraq summoned Turkey's ambassador and protested continuous "violations" by Turkey's army. The Iraqi foreign affairs ministry summoned Turkish ambassador Ali Riza Guney and handed him a "strongly worded" letter of protest over the latest military operation by Turkey in border areas of Iraq's Kurdistan region. "The ministry handed the Turkish ambassador a strongly worded protest note calling for an end to such provocative acts and the unacceptable violations," an Iraqi statement said.
BasNews, Iraq summons Turkish ambassador over latest cross-border operation.
King Abdullah II returned home to Jordan from Germany after a successful operation for a slipped disc. He was flown to Frankfurt ten days ago after suffering severe back pain that doctors said required urgent surgery, blamed on old military duties including parachute jumps. The surgery was to treat a herniated disc and the king underwent a period of rest before returning home.
Reuters, King Abdullah returns to Jordan after surgery in Germany - state media.
Royal Central, King Abdullah returns to Jordan after successful surgery.
Lebanon is close to a deal with the World Bank for a $150 million loan for food security and stabilizing bread prices. The government was reported not having immediate plans to remove bread subsidies. The country is in the grip of an economic crisis and, as an importer of wheat, faces shortages caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and increased prices. There have been concerns about lifting bread subsidies, which would sharply increase the price of bread.
Associated Press, Lebanon expects deal with World Bank on food security.
Tunisian navy divers confirmed that leaked oil seen on the water's surface was from the engines of a sunken oil tanker, not from the 750-plus tons of fuel it carried. Tunisia's presidency said the divers found that the leaked oil was in a limited quantity and, after a complete inspection of the hull, determined that the fuel shipment is still sealed. Meanwhile, there were reports that the ship, sailing under an Equatorial Guinea flag, had forged documents and no shipping certificate.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Tunisia's navy leads operations to avoid environmental disaster off Gabes.
Rival Libyan officals wrapped up weeklong talks but couldn't agree on arrangements for elections. Twelve lawmakers from Libya's east-based parliament and 12 from the High Council of State in Tripoli took part in the talks that were brokered by the United Nations. The officials agreed to reconvene next month.
Associated Press, Libya's rival officials conclude election talks without deal.
Libya's National Oil Corp. said a second export terminal has been closed because of armed groups attacking oil fields. Operations at Brega terminal, which can export 60,000 barrels a day of oil, were suspended, following closure of Zueitina port and other sites in the "oil crescent" region of eastern Libya.
AFP, Shutdown of Libya oil sites spreads to second terminal.
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Iran has cultivated Yemen's rebel Houthis for years and armed them with missiles and drones. Now Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are endangered, as the Houthis wield a vast arsenal that includes cruise and ballistic missiles and kamikaze boats.
New York Times, Yemen's Houthis went from ragtag militia to force threatening Gulf powers.
Gulf Cooperation Council countries have come to the rescue of Egypt. Foreign creditors are receiving the message that Egypt has rich friends who are willing to pitch in in the hour of need. Russia's invasion of Ukraine was the latest in pressures on the Egyptian pound, but then three GCC countries pledged $22 billion to Egypt, arriving at a critical moment for Egypt's economy.
Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Egypt's renewed dependency on GCC states' largesse.