U.S, UAE Crack Down On Financing Of Yemen Houthi Rebels; US Sanctions Network Run By Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps
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The United States and the United Arab Emirates are cracking down on companies and people who fund the Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, with the U.S. sanctioning a network tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. The moves are part of a continuing effort to protect the UAE, under missile and drone fire from the Houthis. Also being protected is the UAE's lone nuclear power plant, and the UAE orders planes from China to diversify its weapons suppliers.
Progress toward a settlement of nuclear talks in Vienna continues to be debated, Iran wants to "protect" its citizens from the internet by cutting off access, and did or did not Hezbollah fire a drone into Israel undetected for 20 kilometers?
King Tut's dagger, and fresh views from Foreign Affairs, F. Gregory Gause writing that "the Middle East is a mess" and Marc Lynch writing that the mental map of the Middle East is outdated, "The end of the Middle East."
News from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Israel, Tunisia, Syria, and More.
The United States and the United Arab Emirates acted in tandem to crack down and sanction people and companies funding the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The U.S. Treasury Department moved against an international network it said was run by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force with Houthi financier Said al-Jamal. The network has transferred "tens of millions of dollars" to Yemen in support of the Houthis, a statement said.
"Despite pleas to negotiate an end to this devastating conflict, Houthi leaders continue to launch missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks against Yemen's neighbors, killing innocent civilians, while millions of Yemeni civilians remain displaced and hungry." The new sanctions were aimed at rebel financial support and targeted front companies and ships.
The UAE acted against one individual and five entities, mostly exchange and remittance companies, for supporting terrorism. The state news agency WAM reported that the companies and individuals "have been linked to supporting the terrorist Houthi militia, which uses these funds to target civilian facilities and civilians."
Associated Press, US deepens sanctions on smuggling network for Yemen Houthis.
Alarabiya, US sanctions network funding Yemen's Houthis, IRGC-QF.
Reuters, UAE designates one individual and 5 entities linked to Yemen's Houthis as terrorists - news agency.
Alarabiya, UAE designates 1 individual, 5 entities as terrorists for supporting Yemen's Houthis.
The United Arab Emirates' only nuclear power plant is "well protected" following a series of unprecedented missile and drone attacks. The UAE overall has "robust security," Director General Christer Viktorsson of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation said. "The sensitive parts of the pwer plant are well protected for any event. The nuclear power plant is designed according to high security principles and we have issued regulations for physical and cyber security." Yemen's rebel Houthis once claimed they fired a cruise missile towards the Barakah plant, but the UAE denied the report. The Houthi forces have repeatedly threatened to target critical infrastructure in the UAE.
Reuters, UAE's lone nuclear plant 'well protected,' regulator says amid Houthi threats.
The United Arab Emirates plans to order 12 L-15 light attack planes from China, with an option to purchase another 36. The purchase is part of the UAE's efforts to diversify weapons suppliers, a defense ministry statement said. The UAE Air Force operates mainly U.S.-made F-16s and French-made Mirage fighters, ordering Rafale jets from France last year.
Reuters, UAE to order 12 L-15 planes from China as it diversifies suppliers - news agency.
Viewpoints conflict about finalizing any Iran nuclear agreement at talks in Vienna. One senior Biden administration official said "difficult issues" remain unresolved, although the United States and Iran are close to a deal. Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said Iran is "optimistic" and that negotiations had "reached a critical and important stage." Meanwhile, Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, was returning to Tehran for consultations before continuing negotiations.
Axios, Talk of imminent Iran deal is "very premature," U.S. official says.
AFP, Iran says nuclear talks at 'critical stage.'
Iran urged the United States to be "realistic" about nuclear talks as it recalled its top negotiator for consultations. "We wonder whether the Western side can adopt a realistic approach to go through the remaining points of the talks," Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said in Tehran. Top negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani was said to be returning to Tehran for a "short trip," also suggesting any agreement in Vienna was not impending.
Reuters, Iran urges West be realistic in nuclear talks, recalls negotiator for consultations.
The United States continues to ban any Iranian who served with the Revolutionary Guard Corps. Students who routinely served their required military service in Iran now find they can't get U.S. visas to attend universities, even as friends receive visas. "Losing my hopes and my dreams," one said after receiving college acceptance letters only to learn a visa was refused because of a random assignment to the Guard Corps five years earlier. He didn't want to serve, but couldn't afford to pay the required fee for deferment, $10,000 at the time. Instead, he spent a year and a half washing cars and serving food in a mess hall.
The U.S. State Department has designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization. When Donald Trump ordered the listing in 2019, "that made Iran the only country, according to the U.S. government, where you can be drafted into a terrorist organization and forced to serve," Ryan Costello, policyi director for the National Iranian American Council, said.
The World, US indefinitely bans Iranians drafted into Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
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Iran is pushing ahead with its plan to "protect" Iranians and cut most of them off from the internet. A parliamentary committee approved the general outline of legislation that would hand over the country's internet infrastructure to Iran's armed forces. Jalal Rashidi Koochi, the only member of the committee opposing the measure, started gathering signatures in opposition and said he had 150, more than half of Iran's 290 members of parliament.
Al-Monitor, Iran pushes ahead with internet 'protection' bill.
Al Jazeera, Iran's internet bill expected to progress despite overturned vote.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will oversee design and construction of a billion-dollar new Defense Ministry headquarters in Kuwait. The Biden administration announced approval of the $1 billion proposal and the Corps of Engineers will work with other U.S.-based contractors to construct the new building. The project, which is expected to take seven years to complete, needs approval by the U.S. Congress, which is expected.
Reuters, U.S. approves foreign military sale to Kuwait for $1 bln for defense HQ.
Al-Monitor, US approves plan to build Kuwait's new defense ministry HQ.
A U.S. defense contractor will set up a surveillance center for the United Arab Emirates' armed forces. As the UAE moves rapidly to defend itself against missile attacks from Yemen's Houthi forces, an Emirati government agency, the Tawazun Economic Council, signed an agreement with Florida-based L3Harris Technologies, and the two will administer a center featuring L3Harris' imaging systems. The systems conduct low-altitude surveillance by manned and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Al-Monitor, US defense contractor to set up surveillance center in UAE.
Lebanon thwarted attempts for three attacks in Beirut by the Islamic State. The interior ministry said the attacks would have inflicted a large number of civilian casualties. The would-be attackers were identified as Palestinians who were recruiting young men to carry out suicide attacks with explosive belts. The attacks were to take place in the predominately Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the militant Hezbollah group.
Associated Press, Lebanese authorities say they have foiled 3 militant attacks.
The European Union will send observers to Lebanon to monitor May 15 parliamentary polls. The visit will be the fourth time the EU has sent observers, following missions in 2018, 2009, and 2005. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the observer mission underlines Europe's support of Lebanese democracy. "The holding of elections is first and foremost a right and an expectation of the people of Lebanon, as well as a sovereign responsibility that the Lebanese government must follow through."
Alarabiya, EU to send observers to Lebanon for May legislative elections.
Egypt and Jordan are asking the United States for more assurance that shipping gas to Lebanon won't run afoul of Syria sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued a letter of clearance, but Egypt and Jordan are reported concerned that the letter is "not enough" reassurance, especially for private companies seeking legal protection. The countries have voiced concerns that the gas project would make them subject to U.S. sanctions on Syria under the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. There are also fears that Republicans in Washington view the project as furthering relations with the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.
The National, Arab states get cold feet over Egypt-to-Lebanon gas deal.
Israel fired missiles at Syria's border province of Quneitra and caused "material damage." Syrian state television said the missiles were fired from Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and struck areas around the town of Quneitra. The attack was Israel's third aerial strike on Syria this month. An Israeli miltary spokesman declined to comment.
Al Jazeera, Israel fires missiles on border positions inside Syria.
Hezbollah claimed it fired a drone 30 kilometers into Israel's air space before Israeli Defense Forces detected it, but the claim didn't appear to be true. Hezbollah sources said the drone bypassed monitoring and early warning systems, as well as Israel's Iron Dome air defense system. But Israel's military said alarms had been activated in the Upper Galilee and southern Golan Heights after an Iron Dome interceptor was fired.
Times of Israel, Drone flew 30 km into Israel before IDF detected it, Hezbollah sources claim.
Tunisians are suffering salary delays and shortages of grain, medicines, and sugar. Economists say the shortages are signs of a public finance crisis that is becoming increasingly hard to divert. Any big hit to the standard of living in Tunisia, where the government imports and subsidizes many basic goods, can greatly aggravate an ongoing political crisis where President Kais Saied has cemented one-man rule.
Alarabiya, Tunisia shortages bite as fiscal crisis looms.
The International Monetary Fund said it had made "good progress" in talks with Tunisia for a rescue package designed to avert a looming public finance crisis.
The IMF completed a week-long series of online meetings with Tunisian officials. "We made good progress and will continue our discussions in the weeks ahead, to consider the prospect for possible financial support from the IMF," a statement said.
Asharq Al-Awsat, IMF reports 'good progress' in Tunisia talks.
Sudan's military leader, Gen. Mohamed Dagalo, is flying to Moscow for meetings with senior Russian officials. The trip comes as Russia is being punished by Western countries for aggression against Ukraine, but a Sudan foreign ministry spokesman said the trip is unrelated to the Ukraine conflict. "This visit comes in the context of two friendly countries to strengthen their friendship in all fields and aspects." Dagalo is deputy head of Sudan's ruling Sovereign Council.
Voice of America, Sudan's leader visits Moscow as West isolates Russia over Ukraine.
Sudan's exports plunged 85% after anti-government protests blocked the main trade route into neighboring Egypt. The drop in exports is the latest sign of strain in Sudan's economy, four months after a military coup. The Sudanese pound has weakened 16% against the U.S.dollar on the parallel market on the streets of Khartoum.
Bloomberg, Sudan exports plunge after protesters block main trade artery.
New evidence shows that King Tut's dagger likely wasn't from Egypt but was made from a meteorite that may have landed in what is now Syria. The dagger was first viewed when archaeologists opened King Tut's tomb in the early 1900s. Researchers believe it was given to King Tut's grandfather by the king of Mitanni, suggesting the meteorite had landed in Syria.
PhysOrg, 3,400-year-old tablets suggest King Tut's ancient dagger was not from Egypt.
A 9,000-year-old shrine has been uncovered at a remote site in Jordan's eastern desert. Archaeologists from France and Jordan discovered what they said was a "unique site" because of its preservation state. The shrine contains two carved standing stones bearing figures, as well as an altar, hearth, marine shells, and a miniature model of a gazelle trap. "It's 9,000 years old and everything was almost intact," said Wael Abu Azziza, the Jordanian archaeologist who is co-director of the project.
Associated Press, Archaeologists find 9,000-year-old shrine in Jordan desert.
MORE: Egypt named most populous Arab country, Egypt Independent... Libya's NOC says bad weather conditions disrupting country's oil exports, Reuters... Tunisia: only 3% voted so far in online consultations, ANSA... Egypt reacts as Ethiopia switches on first Nile dam turbine, Al-Monitor... Saudi Aramco closes $15.5 BN BlackRock-led gas pipeline deal, Al Jazeera... Bahrain launches new initiatives to ease visa process, Trade Arabia... Kuwait owes public entities 2.35 billion dinars, finance ministry says, Reuters.
News You Missed
F. Gregory Gause writes that "the Middle East is a mess" and that the choice isn't between good governance and bad but "between harsh governance and no governance." The irony, he says, is that in the last three decades of the 20th century, the regimes in power were becoming more stable and better able to govern their societies.
Foreign Affairs, The Price of Order. Settling for less in the Middle East.
Marc Lynch writes that the United States mental map of the Middle East is increasingly outdated. Powers operate outside the traditional Middle East much as they operate inside, and regional rivalries play out beyond the borders. "The Pentagon knows this," with the region covered by the U.S. Central Command directly at odds with the State Department's Middle East.
Foreign Affairs, The End of the Middle East.
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