US Sends F-22 Raptor Fighter Jets to United Arab Emirates
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Good morning from REEDNEWARABWORLD for Monday, February 14, 2022!
The United States Air Force has sent its 1st Fighter Wing to the United Arab Emirates, with F-22 Raptor fighter jets landing at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince is moving $80 billion from Saudi Aramco to the kingdom's sovereign fund. The Kurdish-led force in Syria that is backed by the United States warns that "We are surrounded by the Islamic State."
Iraq's Supreme Court refuses the candidacy for president of Hoshyar Zebari. In Yemen, five United Nations workers are kidnapped, and Houthi rebels recapture a city just taken by Yemen's government army. Libya's prime minister ordered a show of armed force in Tripoli after parliament in Tobruk named its own prime minister.
News from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, and More.
U.S. F-22 Raptor fighter jets arrived in the United Arab Emirates to defend against missile attacks on the UAE. The Raptors landed at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, which hosts 2,000 American troops. Patriot interceptor missiles are also at the base and were fired for the first time in combat last month in response to attacks by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
American officials declined to say how many F-22s were deployed, but a photograph showed six F-22s in line on a taxiway at Al-Dhafra.
The fighter planes are in the U.S. Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing and came from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. They are part of a response ordered by the Biden administration that included the guided missile destroyer, the USS Cole.
Associated Press, US F-22 fighter jets arrive in UAE after Houthi attacks.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince transferred $80 billion of Saudi Aramco to the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved 4% of Aramco shares to the Public Investment Fund (PIF) to further strengthen the fund's financial position and high credit ratings, he said in a statement. Saudi Arabia will remain the largest shareholder in Aramco, holding more than 94% of the company's shares.
CNBC, Saudi Arabia transfers Aramco shares worth $80 billion to state fund.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia trasnsfers 4% of Aramco shares to sovereign wealth fund - state news agency.
The U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces in Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), are "surrounded by the Islamic State." Mazloum Abdi, head of the SDF, said the threat remains after the recent attack on a Syrian prison that cost the lives of 121 Kurdish fighters. "We are surrounded by the Islamic State. We have said this many times. If we don't strive to fight IS now, they will spread again," Abdi warned.
Associated Press, US-allied Syria Kurdish commander warns of growing IS threat.
Five United Nations workers were kidnapped in southern Yemen and Al Qaeda is suspected. The workers were abducted in Abyan province and taken to an unknown location. The group included four Yemenis and one unidentified worker. Tribal leaders said they were negotiating for the workers' release, but that the abductors wanted ransom and the release of militants held by Yemen's government.
Associated Press, Five UN workers abducted by suspected Al Qaeda militants in Yemen.
Al Jazeera, Armed men kidnap five UN staff in southern Yemen.
Iraq's Supreme Court ruled out the presidential race of veteran politician Hoshyar Zebari, who protested against what he called "injustice." The candidacy of Zebari, a former foreign minister of Iraq, had been temporarily suspended, and the latest court action keeps him out of the race.. One of two front-runners for president, Zebari was the object of a complaint alleging corruption. He disputed the claim, saying his behavior and conduct were "cleaner and purer than the snow on Iraq's highest summit."
AFP, Iraq ex-foreign minister Zebari ruled out of presidential race.
Associated Press, Iraq court bars veteran Kurdish politician from presidency.
Iraq wants French Rafale fighter jets, drones, and Russian tanks as it strengthens its defense forces. France is reported prepared to sell Iraq 14 Rafale fighters and 20 drones, and Iraq wants additional T-90 tanks from Russia after an earlier purchase. Iran also is reported to be considering purchasing drones from Pakistan.
Defense News, Iraq seeks French drones and jets, additional Russian tanks.
The Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen bombed and destroyed a Houthi telecommunications system that controlled its drones. The bombing targeted a ground station for satellites in the Houthi rebel capital of Sanaa, and it was not immediately clear if there were casualties. "The Houthis are using the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology in Sanaa for hostile operations," a coalition statement said.
Al Jazeera, Saudi-led coalition bombs Sanaa, says it hit drone-control site.
Houthi rebels recaptured the city of Harad in Yemen's northern Hajjah province in a defeat for government forces after a back-and-forth battle. Yemen's government army, backed by Saudi-led coalition forces, last week took control of the southern and western parts of the city, near the Saudi Arabian border. In the latest action, the Houthi rebels were reported to recapture the neighborhoods, with the Saudi coalition launching air strikes against the Houthi advance.
Xinhua, Yemen's Houthis seize strategic Harad city from gov't army: source.
The Gulf states get visitors: Israel's prime minister makes his first-ever trip to Bahrain, and Turkey's president visits the United Arab Emirates for the first time in a decade.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's visit to Bahrain follows a trip to Manama earlier this month by Israel's defense minister Benny Gantz. A source in Tel Aviv said Bennett's trip is "absolutely" about Iran, as Israel tries to demonstrate regional opposition to Iran's nuclear program.
In Abu Dhabi, Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan's trip was described as developing momentum for relations with the UAE. Erdogan said cooperation between the two countries is "of great importance for the peace and stability of our entire region." The UAE and Turkey competed for regional influence for years, but relations have recently warmed.
Al-Monitor, Israeli PM to make first-ever visit to Bahrain Monday.
Reuters, Turkey's Erdogan visits the UAE for the first time in a decade.
Armed forces in Libya's west rallied in Tripoli to support the interim prime minister, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, with a show of 300 armed vehicles. After the eastern-based parliament last week named its own prime minister, armed forces from Misrata, Khoma, and Zlitan converged on Tripoli's Martyrs Square in a show of support. The Joint Operations Force said in a statement that its move to Martyrs Square came after an order from Dbeibah "to secure the government headquarters and key sites in the capital."
Al Jazeera, Pro-Dbeibah forces rally in Libya as political crisis deepens.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for stability in Libya, now reflects a more neutral position in the crisis of two conflicting Libyan prime ministers. Earlier, a UN spokesman said the organization's position "remains unchanged" as the UN pushed a plan for elections by mid-year. When asked if the UN still recognized Abdulhamid Dbeibah as the interim prime minister, the spokesman said "yes." A day later, however, he gave a more nuanced statement, saying the secretary-general called on all parties "to continue to preserve stability in Libya as a top priority."
Associated Press, UN more neutral on PM appointed in Libya's east, urges vote.
Libya's prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah pledged to draft a new election law to end the country's political crisis. The pledge came after United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called on all parties to make Libya's stability a top priority. Dbeibah said legislation is in the works for a new vote for president and parliament, following postponement of a vote that had been scheduled for December 2021.
Al Jazeera, Libya's embattled PM promises new election law to resolve crisis.
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Fitch Ratings downgraded Turkey to "B+, Outlook Negative." The credit ratings agency cited "policy-driven financial stress" and "episodes of higher frequency and intensity." Fitch said it didn't expect Turkey's policy response to reduce inflation.
Fitch Ratings, Fitch downgrades Turkey to 'B+,' Outlook Negative.
Families of 9/11 victims, promised $3.5 billion from frozen Afghanistan assets, said the money should be distributed fairly and not by court decision. U..S. President Joe Biden announced last week that of $7 billion, half would be reallocated to humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and half to a fund for victims' families. A White House statement noted that the families are pursuing claims in court, and that the plaintiffs, the families, "will have a full opportunity to have their claims heard in court." But family leaders asked that the money be put directly into an existing fund instead of "leaving this matter to a court."
Boston Herald, Families of 9/11 victims demand equal compensation from Biden's executive order.
Morocco will survey abandoned and unauthorized wells to prevent another tragedy. After five-year-old Rayan Oram fell into a deep well and died, states across the Middle East are taking measures to close or make wells safe. Moroccan authorities said the survey will be followed by the wells being made safe at the expense of those who dug the wells and by possible legal action.
A Moroccan official said no precise figures were available on the number of wells, but that more than 1,000 people a year are fined for illegal drilling. Saudi Arabia had said it filled and fortified thousands of wells in the wake of the Moroccan tragedy.
AFP, Morocco to map makeshift wells after Rayan tragedy.
Africanews, Morocco to survey all wells after Rayan's death.
Tunisian President Kais Saied replaced the country's top judicial body, gave himself powers to sack judges, and now can ban them from going on strike. He issued a presidential decree that read: "It is forbidden for judges of all ranks to go on strike or hold any organized collective action that could disturb or delay the normal working of the courts."
Saied acted after saying he would dissolve the Supreme Judicial Council, which was followed by a judges strike.
The new decree establishes a 21-member "Temporary Supreme Judicial Council," with nine members appointed by the president. The decree also gives Saied powers to dismiss "any judge failing to do his professional duties."
The National, Kais Saied replaces Tunisia's top judicial body.
Demonstrators took to the streets in Tunisia's capital after President Kais Saied issued a decree giving him control over judges. More than 2,000 protested , waving flags and chanting slogans in support of an independent judiciary. "Freedom! Freedom! The police state is finished," some chanted.
France 24, Thousands protest against Tunisian president's new powers over judiciary.
Tunisian authorities are preparing for talks with the International Monetary Fund. The fund will hold a series of virtual meetings in Tunis with the government starting Monday. An IMF spokesman said a mission will work from February 14 to February 22. The negotiations are expected to include Tunisia's ministers of finance and economy, the governor of the central bank, and other ministries
Asharq Al-Awsat, Tunisia gears up for IMF talks.
Syria's military struck a rebel-held village in northwest Syria, killing six people from the same family including two children. Residents said the family was outside their house enjoying sunny weather and drinking tea when the shell struck. After the strike, low-flying reconnaissance aircraft circled the area of Maarat al-Naasan village in Iblib province. The two children were aged three and seven.
The opposition Syrian Civil Defense Group, known as the White Helmets, said a total of 65 children have been killed in a renewed bombing campaign by the Russian-backed Syrian government that targeted Idlib in the past six months.
Associated Press, Artillery in northwest Syria kills 6, including 2 children.
Sudan denounced Western criticism of arrests of officials opposed to military rule, saying it was "contrary to diplomatic norms and practices." Two anti-coup leaders had been arrested, and the United States, Britain, the European Union, Norway, Canada, and Switzerland condemned the arrests as "harassment and intimidation" by the Sudan military.
"This is blatant interference in internal Sudanese affairs , contrary to diplomatic norms and practices," Sudan's foreign ministry said in a statement. The two arrested officials had been part of the civilian government toppled by the military coup in October 2021.
Reuters, Sudan rejects Western criticism of arrests as 'blatant interference.'
Sudan's military leader dismissed United States threats of sanctions as "inconsequential." Sudanese General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan said threats are of "no use" and that the U.S. has received "misleading information" about his government. "Sanctions and threats are of no use and inconsequential," he said.
The National, Sudan's Al Burhan describes US threat of sanctions as 'inconsequential."
MORE: Saudi Arabia jails 11 people for money laundering, Asharq Al-Awsat... Tunisian judges hold emergency meeting to pressure government, Africanews... Morocco's unemployment rate up to 12.3% in 2021, Menafn... Abu Dhabi's ADNOC Drilling net profit rises 6.1% in 2021, Reuters... Turkey demands 11 years behind bars for senior journalist, Reuters... Qatar, UAE meet for third round of talks after Gulf diplomatic crisis, New Arab... 'We are scapegoats': Arab journalists fired by Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera... Egypt: Germany to link arms sales with human rights accord, Middle East Eye.
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