U.S. Is Transferring 9/11 '20th Hijacker' From Guantanamo to Saudi Arabia
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The Al Qaeda militant was supposed to be instrumental in the 9/11 attacks on the United States. He was the "20th hijacker," but he missed his plane, the flight that crashed in Pennsylvania. Later arrested and confined for decades at the U.S. base at Guantanamo, Cuba, Mohammed al-Qahtani is described as severely mentally ill. Now the U.S. is transferring him to Saudi Arabia, while recognizing he could still present "some level of threat."
The United States special envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, says the Houthis cannot win the war after suffering defeats in Marib and Shabwa provinces. Russia's chief negotiator at the Iran nuclear talks in Vienna says agreement is on the finish line, with a document on the table, but he has a history of being more optimistic than others.
The U.S. CentCom commander wants a system that will help the United Arab Emirates destroy drones before they're fired, and calls it "Left of Launch." And the general nominated to succeed him said if sanctions are removed on Iran, they can spend more on terrorism. The head of Hezbollah says Kuwait's list of requests for Lebanon to help calm a dispute with Gulf countries amounts to "dictates," but he favors dialogue nevertheless. And Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, will visit Thailand following resumption of diplomatic ties between the countries.
News from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Qatar, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, and More.
The United States is transferring from Guantanamo to Saudi Arabia a suspected Al-Qaeda operative who had planned to be the "20th hijacker" in the 9/11 attacks. Mohammed al-Qahtani's lawyers said he is severely mentally ill, and a review board said he will be sent to Saudi Arabia for "comprehensive mental health care." The board said it "recognizes the detainee presents some level of threat" but that it believes "the threat the detainee presents can be adequately mitigated."
Al-Qahtani is described as a member of the Al Qaeda group that attacked the United States in 2001, but he failed to board United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed in rural Pennsylvania.
CNN, Guantanamo detainee to be transferred to mental health facility in Saudi Arabia.
The war in Yemen is now unwinnable for the rebel Houthis, U.S envoy Tim Lenderking said. The special envoy for Yemen said the Houthis should learn from new military losses in Marib and Shabwa provinces and rejoin the peace process. The military setbacks should remind the rebels that the war will end at the negotiating table, not on the battlefield, he said.
"Houthi recent losses in Yemen should indicate to them, and all the parties, again: there is no military solution," he told an online meeting of the U.S. Institute for Peace. "When we look at the Houthi offensive in Marib, including repeated attacks on civilian areas in that city, and attacks against internally displaced persons camps, we can see that the Houthi's Marib offensive over the past year has been the primary obstacle to peace."
The Iran-backed Houthis launched an assault a year ago to capture Marib, reaching the city's outskirts. The assault collapsed in January when pro-government Yemen forces pushed back and took significant amounts of territory around Marib city and in the province of Marib. As fighting intensified, the Houthis then started the recent cross-border missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The National, Houthis should learn from losses that Yemen war is unwinnable, US envoy says.
Thirty-two Houthi soldiers were killed and at least 100 wounded in three days of fighting in Haradh. Yemen pro-government forces have besieged the area, but still have not seized the city. One loyalist source said the number of Houthi casualties was larger, with at least 56 rebels killed in fighting and air strikes. The Houthis rarely report on their casualties.
AFP, Dozens killed as fighting rages around Yemen city.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen launched four air strikes on a Houthi military camp in the capital Sanaa. The air strikes hit the al-Hafa camp, which sits at the foot of Noqum mountain and overlooks the entire city of Sanaa.
ANI, Saudi-led coalition air strikes Houthi-controlled camp in Yemen's capital.
Saudi-led forces are deploying new units in Yemen's Marib after battles eased and the warring sides hold their positions. Earlier the battle for Marib, an energy-rich area, had become intense and marked the biggest escalation in the Yemen fighting in years. As the fighting abated, coalition forces deployed new units named the Happy Yemen Brigades in a restructuring of forces battling the Iran-backed Houthis.
Reuters, Fighting eases in Yemen's Marib as Saudi-led coalition revamps forces.
The United States is working to develop anti-drone solutions and thwart attacks on the United Arab Emirates with 'Left of Launch' -- "before they can be launched.."
The commander of U.S. Central Command, Marine General Kenneth F. McKenzie, said the U.S. is cooperating with the UAE and "with the industry back in the United States to develop solutions that would work against drones."
His system would be able to detect drone launches and disrupt their flight. "And if you can't do that, you will certainly be able to shoot them down as they reach their intended target," he said.
The UAE is armed with Thaad and Patriot missile defense systems, but drones remain a threat.
CNBC, U.S. will work with the UAE to thwart drone attacks, CentCom chief says.
Voice of America, US steps up military support to UAE after Yemen Houthi attacks.
Iran nuclear talks resumed quietly in Vienna after a 10-day break. Officials from Iran, the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain, and the European Union met in various formats, but it was not immediately clear how much progress was being made toward restoring the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Reuters, Talks to salvage Iran nuclear deal resume quietly in Vienna.
Russia's chief negotiator in Vienna says a nuclear accord is on the finish line with a final document already on the table. Mikhail Ulyanov's comments to a Russian newspaper reflected optimism by Russian and Iranian diplomats, but U.S. officials continue to say that significant gaps remain. Russia has often been more upbeat in assessing progress than U.S. and European negotiators.
Bloomberg, Russia says envoys may be on cusp of nuclear deal.
The U.S. general nominated to be the new leader of Central Command said relieving sanctions for Iran can lead to more terrorism in the region. Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla told a U.S. Senate committee: "There is a risk with sanctions relief that Iran would use some of that money to support its proxies and terrorism in the region. And if they did, it could increase risk to our forces."
Asked about the Houthis in Yemen, Kurilla said: "Iran funds the Houthis." Kurilla leads the 18th Airborne Corps. and is nominated to succeed Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie as head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military activities in a large part of the world including the Middle East.
Alarabiya, Biden's CentCom chief pick says sanctions relief for Iran risks support for terrorism.
The head of Hezbollah in Lebanon described as "dictates" a list of proposals from Kuwait to resolve Lebanon's dispute with Gulf Arab states. "Lebanon is a sovereign country and should not be sent dictates," Hassan Nasrallah said. Diplomatic sources have said the proposals include a request to step up security in Lebanon, prevent drug smuggling, and hold parliamentary elections scheduled for May on time.
Nasrallah said that nonetheless he supports a Lebanese-Gulf dialogue.
Reuters, Lebanon's Hezbollah chief describes Kuwaiti proposals to Lebanon as 'dictates.'
European courts are increasing pressure on the millionaire head of Lebanon's central bank. Riad Salameh is the target of investigations in Lebanon and abroad, and Germany now is the latest European country to ask for evidence on Salameh. Luxembourg and France earlier made similar requests, and Switzerland a year ago was the first European country to investigate Salameh for alleged money-laundering.
The National, Lebanon bank governor Riad Salameh under more pressure from Europe.
Libya's parliament will vote on a new prime minister this week. The head of the legislature said the vote for a new interim leader will take place on February 10, and the choice is effectively between a former interior minister, Fathi Bashagha, and Khaled Al-Bibass, a former official in the interior ministry.. Ahmed Al-Maitiq, who was deputy prime minister in an earlier government, withdrew from the contest. The current interim prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, said he will not hand over power.
Bloomberg, Libya parliament to vote on new premier on Feb. 10.
Libya's prime minister is taking a defiant stand and says he will not hand over power when the country's parliament is scheduled to name a new premier on Thursday.
Abdul Hamid Dbiebah said in a televised speech: "I will not allow a new transitional period. The Government of National Unity will continue until handing over power to an elected administration."
Dbiebah warned that naming a new prime minister will lead the country back into "division and chaos" after two years of relative calm.
Associated Press, Libya PM defiant as lawmakers set to name new leader.
Libya's parliament is interviewing candidates for a new prime minister. The legislators started the process by holding hearings to vet candidates, and two candidates, including the powerful former interior minister, Fathi Bashagha, will face a parliamentary vote on Thursday.
The National, Libya's parliament interviews replacement prime ministers.
Tunisia's judges called a strike, a two-day suspension of work in all courts, to protest the Tunisian president's move to dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council. The Judges Association also called for a protest in front of the council offices this week. President Kais Saied said he was dissolving the Judicial Council, and its members continued to work until security forces locked their offices.
AfricaNews, Tunisia judges to strike over presidential power grab.
The United Nations' top human rights official urged Tunisia's president to reverse his decision to disband the country's Supreme Judicial Council. Michelle Bachelet, UN high commissioner for human rights, said dissolution of the council would seriously "undermine the rule of law, the separation of powers, and independence of the judiciary."
Since Tunisian president Kais Saied suspended parliament in July 2021, "there have been increasing attempts to stifle dissent, including through harassment of civil society actors," she said.
Arab News, UN's rights chief: Scrapping of Tunisia's Judicial Council 'a big step in the wrong direction.'
Saudi Arabia is filling in and fortifying thousands of wells following the death of a five-year-old boy who fell into a deep well in Morocco. The Saudi ministry for environment, water, and agriculture said it had ordered filling in on 1,450 abandoned wells throughout the kingdom.
Middle East Eye, Saudi Arabia secures thousands of wells following boy’s death in Morocco.
Saudi Arabia has six gold mines and a strategy to double gold production 10 times. Khaled Al-Mudaifer, vice minister for mining, said the six mines are under construction, and the largest is Mansourah-Masaraf on the road from Riyadh to Taif. Al-Mudaifer said the mine contains minerals exceeding SAR 3 to 4 million. An estimated 50,000 job opportunities will be offered to nationals under the gold mining strategy, he said, with 20,000 in mines and 30,000 in metal factories.
Argaam, Saudi Arabia aims to double gold production 10 times, offers 50,000 job opportunities for nationals: official.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia accepted an invitation to visit Thailand. The Thai foreign minister, Don Pramudwinai, made the announcement in Thailand, following a visit to Saudi Arabia by Thailand's prime minister, Prayut Chan-ocha, and resumption of relations between the two countries. No date has been given for the trip.
Asia News Network, Saudi Crown Prince accepts invitation to visit Thailand.
Iraq has stepped up monitoring of its prisons after an Islamic State attack on a prison in Syria. A spokesman said the country's counterterrorism services are engaged in a "major campaign to inspect" prisons in Baghdad, Nasiriyah, Basra, and Taji, in addition to prisons in Bahil and Nineveh provinces. Iran holds tens of thousands of prisoners who were convicted or accused of involvement with the Islamic State.
Al Monitor, Iran keeps wary eye on prison security after Islamic State jailbreak in Syria.
Women held in a Syrian prison holding families of Islamic State militants attacked and tried to kidnap their female Kurdish guards, and one child was killed and other people wounded in the fight. Seven women and children were reported injured. The al-Hol camp holds tens of thousands of women and children, mostly wives, widows and children of IS members. The sprawling camp is fenced off, with families crammed together in tents. Medical facilities are minimal and clean water and sanitation limited.
Associated Press, IS women in Syria camp clash with police, 1 child killed.
Airbus cancelled an order for Qatar Airways of two A350 wide-body jets. The move came after Airbus revoked orders from the Qatari carrier for 50 A321 jets, following a contractual dispute between the companies over surface flaws on the larger A350.
Reuters, Airbus revokes order for two A350-1000 jets in Qatar dispute.
MORE: U.S. State Dept. OKs possible missile sale to Jordan - Pentagon, Reuters... Two potential successors to Palestinian president named to top posts, Reuters... Qatar, Iraq discuss possible Qatari gas supply to Iraq - Iraqi news agency, Reuters... Qatar and NATO discuss joint defense cooperation, Doha News... Israeli, Palestinian figures propose 2-state confederation, Associated Press... Sisi hands over Nile islands to Egyptian military, raising controversy, Al-Monitor.
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