Yemen Houthis Fire Missiles at UAE Again, US Forces In Security Bunkers At Al Dhafra Air Base
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Monday, January 24, 2022! Yemen’s Houthi rebels are on the attack again, firing missiles at the United Arab Emirates for the second straight week and threatening the U.S. at Al Dhafra Air Base.
Both the UAE and the U.S. said they repelled attacks, shooting down missiles, and there were no injuries reported, unlike the previous assault when two people were killed. The U.S. Air Force has a major presence at the air base outside Abu Dhabi, and the Houthis claimed they targeted the base. U.S. airmen were placed on a heightened alert and went to security bunkers.
U.S.-backed Kurdish forces raided a Syrian prison held by Islamic State forces and said they forced at least 300 militants to surrender. Fighting had continued for four days at a prison where IS forces invaded and claimed they freed more than 800 prisoners. Meanwhile, In Iraq, an entire army outpost was wiped out by the IS.
South Korea has paid the delinquent dues of Iran to the United Nations, and Iran now gets its suspended voting privileges restored. The money came from bank funds that had been frozen in South Korea.
Russia proposed that Iran accept an interim agreement on a nuclear deal, but Iran turned it down. The U.S. was reported to have been informed about the proposal.
News from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, and More.
The Houthis in Yemen fired missiles and drones again at Abu Dhabi and targeted nearby Al Dhafra Air Base where the U.S. stations more than 3,000 airmen. The UAE's Ministry of Defense said its forces intercepted and destroyed two missiles fired by the Houthis, and the U.S. Air Force said it had intervened to repel an attack. It was not immediately clear whether the two forces were responding to the same missile strike or separate ones. The Houthis claimed they targeted Al Dhafra, and U.S. forces there were placed on a heightened alert and spent about an hour in security bunkers. No injuries were reported, and scattered missile fragments were found around Abu Dhabi.
This was the second attack in a week.. The Houthis said they attacked Monday with both Zulfiqar ballistic missiles and drones. A Houthi spokesman warned that the UAE would continue to be a target "as long as attacks on the Yemeni people continue."
Houthi forces have regularly fired missiles at Saudi Arabia but only a few previously at the UAE. Now, Abu Dhabi has been targeted twice and more attacks promised, and the Emirati ministry says it is taking necessary protective measures against all attacks.
New York Times, U.S. intervenes to repel air attack on United Arab Emirates.
Bloomberg, UAE repels drone attack, while Iranian-backed rebels vow more.
Associated Press, UAE says it intercepted two ballistic missiles over Abu Dhabi in new aerial attack.
Reuters, UAE intercepts Houthi attack, Saudi Arabia reports two injured by fallen missile.
U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces regained control of part of a prison in northeast Syria that Islamic State fighters had invaded and held for four days. The prison houses about 3,000 suspected ISIS fighters, in addition to almost 700 boys. Hundreds of boys were still being held as hostages. The Kurdish forces said 300 of the IS fighters had surrendered, but a spokesman said "ISIS is threatening to kiill all the minors if we continue attacking them." About 25% of the prison was reported still under ISIS control. Earlier, the Islamic State attackers claimed they had freed more than 800 attackers.
New York Times, Syrian-Kurdish forces retake part of prison held by ISIS.
The Islamic State overran an army post in Iraq, wiping out the entire force. Eleven defenders including the post's commanding officer were reported killed, when a small group of IS fighters, about nine, took advantage of fog and attacked an army barracks in Diyala province. The province has been one of the most troublesome for Iraq, with a continuing Islamic State presence.
Al Monitor, Islamic State wipes out entire army outpost in Iraq's Diyala.
Al Monitor, Islamic State stages Syrian prison break, kills 11 soldiers in Iraq.
South Korea has paid Iran's delinquent dues to the United Nations. The UN had suspended Iran for non-payment of the minimum of $18 million, and Iran appealed to South Korea for help. The money had been frozen in South Korea and was the assets of Iranian banks. Iran's voting rights are now restored.
Associated Press, Seoul says it paid Iran 's delinquent UN dues to restore vote.
The Arab League wants the rebel Houthi force in Yemen to be classified as a terrorist organization. The Cairo-based league held an emergency meeting of delegates, acting on a request from the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi was hit by missiles in an attack claimed by the Houthis, and the Arab League adopted a resolution calling the attack a "flagrant violation of international law."
Anadolu Agency, Arab League calls for labeling Yemen rebels as 'terrorist' group.
The United Arab Emirates has grounded private drones for a month. The action came in the wake of a missile attack on Abu Dhabi. The UAE's interior ministry did not refer directly to the attack in imposing its ban, but said the decision came after finding misuse of permits.
Reuters, UAE grounds most private drones for a month after Houthi attack.
Russia made an offer to Iran for an interim nuclear deal, but Iran turned it down. The United States was aware of the Russian proposal, which would have included some removal of sanctions, but Biden administration officials distanced themselves from the Russian offer.
NBC News, Russia proposed interim nuclear deal to Iran, with US knowledge, sources say.
Yemen's rebel Houthis say a Saudi coalition airstrike on a prison killed 70 prisoners. The coalition spokesman, Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki, said the Houthis hadn't reported the site as needing protection from airstrikes to the United Nations or the International Red Cross, and that the Houthis' failure was their "usual deceptive approach" in the ongoing Yemen conflict.
Associated Press, Yemeni rebels say Saudi-led airstrike on prison killed 70.
Workers in war-wrecked Yemen recovered five more bodies from the rubble of a prison airstrike, and Doctors Without Borders, an international aid group, said the death toll rose to at least 87. The head of the aid mission said 200 people were wounded. Another airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition also knocked out the internet throughout most of Yemen..
Associated Press, Aid group says death toll from Yemen prison airstrike at 87.
Most of Yemen faced a third day without internet after airstrikes on the Red Sea city of Hodeidah. The city is the main landing point for Yemen's undersea web connection, and the bombing damaged the telecom infrastructure. The government's communications ministry said it was ready to reconnect territory through another undersea cable in Aden, where parts of the city still had internet service.
Reuters, Yemenis struggle without internet for third day after air strikes.
The United Nations condemned the airstrike on a Houthi prison in Yemen and called for an investigation. "The Secretary-General calls for prompt, effective and transparent investigations," a spokesman said.
Al Jazeera, UN chief calls for probe into Saudi-led air raids in Yemen.
Pakistan wants Iran to assist in capturing three men accused of killing a Saudi Arabian diplomat in Karachi in 2011. Hassan Al-Qahtani, a diplomat in the Saudi consulate in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi, was gunned down in his car, and Pakistan created a special team to investigate the murder. Now, more than a decade later, Pakistan has charged three men it says are in hiding in Iran. Pakistan has sent a message to Iran, asking for help over "involvement in target killing and terrorism activities in Pakistan."
Arab News, Saudi diplomat murder: Pakistan seeks Tehran assistance to arrest suspects from Iran.
The United States is in talks with Qatar to supply Europe with liquefied natural gas if Russia invades Ukraine. President Joe Biden has asked Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to visit the White House soon, perhaps later this month. The meeting between Biden and Sheikh Tamim has been in the works for some time, but now the U.S. is concerned that Russia might invade Ukraine. If the invasion happens, U.S. sanctions would disrupt the supply of LNG to Europe, which depends on Russia for one-third of its supplies.
Al Jazeera, US in talks with Qatar over supplying LNG to EU: Reports.
Saudi Arabia's SABIC, the petrochemicals giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp., said a joint venture with ExxonMobil in the United States has started operations at a new ethylene plant on the Gulf Coast. The facility, which has an annual capacity of 1.8 million tons, has started commercial operations at a site near Corpus Christi, Texas.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia's SABIC launches U.S. Gulf Coast project with ExxonMobil.
Saudi Arabia was China's top oil supplier in 2021, sending the equivalent of 1.75 milion barrels of oil a day. The amount was a 3.1 % increase over 2020. Saudi Arabia now accounts for 17% of China's total imports.
Arab News, Saudi Arabia is top oil supplier to China in 2021.
Iran has resumed its gas flow to Turkey after a shutdown. The stoppage came after a gas leak on the Turkish side, and Turkey ordered its gas-fueled power plants to cut use by 40%. Then a pressure- boosting station in Turkey had to make adjustments to receive the gas after a fall in pressure. Turkey is almost fully dependent on imported gas from Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan.
Reuters, Iran says gas flows to Turkey resume after being cut on Thursday.
Kuwait's foreign minister visited Lebanon in an effort to help restore relations with Gulf Arab states. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other states had recalled their ambassadors from Beirut after a Lebanese information minister criticized Saudi policies in Yemen. The ambassador resigned, but the damage had been done, and Lebanon's Hezbollah then got into a separate dispute with Saudi Arabia.
Kuwaiti minister Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah said ties with Lebanon had not been severed and that relations are now in a phase of confidence-building.
Reuters, Kuwaiti minister visits Beirut in first Gulf Arab trip since rift.
Kuwait's proposals sent to Lebanon to end a diplomatic rift with Gulf states focused on implementing United Nations resolutions and holding timely elections. Diplomatic sources said a visit to Lebanon by Kuwait's foreign minister also called on Lebanon to remain committed to the 1989 Taif agreement that ended Lebanon's civil war.
Reuters, Kuwait proposals to Lebanon include election commitment, diplomatic sources say.
The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced it was cancelling a contract with Qatar Airways for 50 A321 passenger planes. The action came after Qatar Airways had claimed $600 million in compensation from Airbus for a separate contract involving larger A350 jet planes. Qatar had criticized the A350s as flawed, and the Airbus cancellation has raised the stakes in the ongoing dispute.
A London court has set a procedural hearing for April 26.
Reuters, Airbus says it revokes Qatar order for 50 A321 jets as rift widens.
Saudi Arabia will convert historic palaces into luxury hotels. Prince Mohammed bin Salman, crown prince of Saudi Arabia, has started a hotel program called Boutique Group which will initially include conversion of three palaces into hotels. They are Al Hamra, Tuwaiq, and Red palaces. Al Hamra is in Jeddah, Tuwaiq is in the capital of Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, and the Red palace is also in Riyadh.
Latte, Saudi Arabia to convert palaces into ultra-luxury hotels.
Iran says it is in talks with Russia to build nuclear power units. "Negotiations are underway between Tehran and Moscow to construct the second and third units of the Bushehr power plant," a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said. Russia built the Bushehr plant in 2013 after years of delay.
AFP, Iran says in talks with Russia to build nuclear power units.
A French tourist goes on trial in Iran, accused of espionage for flying a drone. Benjamin Briere, 36, has been held in Iran since 2020 after his arrest near the Iran- Turkmenistan border. Briere's lawyers say Iran authorities may be considering including him in a prisoner exchange. Briere has been on a hunger strike and is very weak, the lawyers said.
BBC, French tourist Benjamin Briere goes on trial in Iran for espionage.
MORE: UAE official Gargash meets US special envoy to Yemen, Al Arabiya.... US Navy stops ship carrying 'explosive precursor' from Iran on Yemen route, Al Arabiya… Iran nuclear agreement unlikely without release of US prisoners: Malley, Al Arabiya... Iran urges people to dress warmly to cut gas use, Asharq Al-Awsat... Morocco's GDP expands 7.2 pct in 2021: official report, Xinhua... Kuwait's budget deficit 682 milion dinars in 9 months, Arab News... Libyan central bank to begin unification process, Al Monitor.
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