Yemen's Giant Brigades Advance Into Key Marib Province Only Day After Taking Control of Shabwa
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Wednesday, January 12, 2022! The Giant Brigades, Yemen's largest force, are funded by the United Arab Emirates, which has maintained a low profile in the Yemen conflict but makes its presence felt. Now the brigades are coming off a strong victory in Yemen's oil-rich province of Shabwa, clearing out rebel Houthi forces, and moving almost overnight to grab large territories in another rich and even more critical province, Marib. In the province lies the key city of Marib, a longtime target of the Houthis which they haven't been able to reach. If the Giant Brigades keep up their string of victories, the Houthis may have to give up on Marib. Yet the Yemen war continues to swing back and forth on the ground, and no military victory is seen for any side.
China's foreign minister Wang Yi is saying kind words to visiting foreign ministers from four Gulf Arab states, but there's no hint of what they're really talking about. This will take a few days, at least.
India announces that seven of the 11 crew members on the UAE-flagged ship captured by Yemen's Houthis are Indian nationals and wants them released immediately.
Political analysts warn of new deadlock in Iraq's politics, although the new parliament managed to elect a speaker. Partisan fireworks are expected for the next steps: Parliament must elect a president of Iraq, the president will select a prime minister, and the prime minister will name a cabinet.
A young Qatari women's activist has resurfaced after fears about her health and safety, and a court in Saudi Arabia for the first time publicly named and shamed a man convicted of sexual harassment.
In Iran, only a dozen Asiatic cheetahs, nine males and three females, are known to exist, compared to 100 in 2010.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, the UAE, France, OPEC, Tunisia, the King of Morocco, More.
Yemen's Giant Brigades struck further into Marib province, seizing most of Hareb district less than a day after taking full control of oil-rich Shabwa province. The advance marked the latest success of pro-government forces in a drive that has gained strength since the first of the year. Coalition warplanes have intensified air strikes and military brigades have been redeployed. The Giants Brigade is the largest group of Yemen's fighters and is supported by the United Arab Emirates. Its successful move into Hareb district marked the first time in months that a key part of Marib has been taken from the rebel Houthi forces, who occupied the area last September.
Still, it's clear the Yemen war won't be ended militarily, and the Saudi-led coalition reiterated as much when it announced a new operation to clear all of Yemen from Houthi occupation. Brig. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, the coalition spokesman, said the plan is not a military operation but one of “development,” and called it "Freedom of Happy Yemen."
Arab News, Coalition announces operation to liberate Yemen on all fronts after winning battle for Shabwa.
Saudi Gazette, Arab coalition launches 'Freedom of Happy Yemen' operation.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Arab coalition announces launch of operation to liberate Yemen from Houthis.
Middle East Eye, Yemen: UAE-backed forces charge into Marib after taking Shabwah province.
The United Nations is demanding access to Yemen's ports of Hodeidah on the Red Sea after reports that the rebel Houthi militia is using the ports to wage war. The UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) said the ports are a critical lifeline for millions of Yemenis and urged that the civilian character of the ports be preserved.
Arab News, UN expresses 'great concern' over Houthis use of Hodeidah ports for warfare.
AFP, UN voices 'concern' over key Yemen port after military claim.
India's government urged Yemen's Houthis to free seven Indian crew members who were aboard the UAE-flagged vessel Rwabee when it was seized by the Houthis. India confirmed that it seven nationals are safe, and spokesman Arindam Bagchi said
"We are in touch with the company operating the ship and have been informed that out of the 11 crew members on board the ship, seven are from India. We also understand from the company and other sources that all Indian crew members are safe. We urge the Houthis to ensure the safety and well-being of the crew members and release them immediately."
International Business Times, Seven Indians on UAE-flagged ship seized by Houthis are safe; Govt working on early release (details).
NDTV, Efforts on to free Indians on board ship seized by Yemen rebels: centre.
Hindustan Times, 'Govt making all effort to secure release of Indian sailors on UAE ship seized by Houthis.'
China's foreign minister met with the Secretary-General of the GCC and expressed China's opposition to "interference in the internal affairs" of GCC countries under the “pretext of human rights." (Wang Yi did not name any country, but it was clear he meant the United States and other Western powers.) The Chinese minister met with Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajraf in Wuxi, in east China's Jiangsu Province.
Xinhua, Chinese FM meets with GCC secretary-general.
China's Wang Yi told visiting Saudi Arabian foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud that China is "a good friend, partner and brother, sharing mutual trust and reciprocity with Saudi Arabia." The Chinese foreign minister said China wants to push bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia to a "higher and deeper level." The Saudi minister and the foreign ministers of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman are in China this week for discussions about a free trade agreement and energy supplies.
Associated Press of Pakistan, Saudi Arabian FM visit reflects high-level China-Saudi strategic partnership: Wang Yi.
Bahrain and China support each other and treat each other as equals, setting an example of win-win cooperation, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told visiting Bahraini foreign minister Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani.
Wang said China appreciates Bahrain's "firm adherence to a winning policy toward China."
Public, Wang Yi holds talks with Bahraini foreign minister Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani.
France's foreign minister says nuclear negotiations on Iran are going "too slow" in Vienna. Jean-Yves Le Drian said Iran and world powers are still far away from striking an agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear deal despite making some progress in December. The indirect talks between Iran and the United States started again on January 3.
Reuters, France says still far away from reviving 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
World oil prices rose to about $84 a barrel after expectations were voiced that the Omicron variant won't derail a global recovery of demand. U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell triggered the support when he said the economic impact of Omicron is expected to be short-lived.
CNBC, Oil tops $83, as Omicron impact expected to be short-lived.
OPEC and its allies don't want oil prices as high as $100 a barrel, Oman's oil minister said. Mohammed Al Rumhi said "We want to make sure the market is not overheating. We don't want to see $100 a barrel. The world is not ready for that."
Bloomberg, OPEC targeting oil prices below $100, Oman's oil minister says.
Iraq elected a parliament speaker, but still faces a tough formation process for a new government. "Deadlock is still very much there, and it won't be very obvious as to who will become prime minister," Renad Mansour of London's Chatham House Iraq Initiative said. He said the process of electing a president and prime minister won't be as smooth as the choice of parliament speaker.
The National, Iraq may face deadlock over government formation, experts say.
Political analysts warn there are hard steps ahead before Iraq gets a new president and prime minister. One of the parliament's first tasks will be to elect a president of Iraq, who then will name a prime minister, and the prime minister will be tasked with forming a government.
AFP, Iraq Shiite divide makes forging government tough task.
Saudi Arabia is working to upgrade its military ties with Iraq. A military committee of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council wants to establish joint exercises, exchange training courses and strategic planning, and work closely with the international coalition to combat ISIS. The two countries' foreign ministers met to pursue the goals, and Saudi Arabia said it wants to strengthen "historic ties" with Iraq.
The National, Saudi Arabia enhances military ties wtth Iraq.
Lebanon's currency has fallen more than 15% since the first of the year, further pressuring a population that is two and one-half years into crisis. The Lebanese pound, which has lost more than 90% of its value since 2019, traded this week at a new low of 33,000 to the dollar.
Reuters, Lebanon's currency plummets again amid financial crisis and political deadlock.
France says the United Arab Emirates will join a French-Saudi fund to support the people of Lebanon. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian attributed the help of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to visits by French President Emmanuel Macron. No details were given on how the fund will work or how much money is being pledged.
Reuters, France says UAE to join French-Saudi fund to support Lebanon.
A Lebanese judge issued a travel ban for the country's Central Bank governor, Riad Salameh, who is being investigated abroad for potential money laundering. The decision was the first judicial action taken by authorities in Lebanon against Salameh after months of allegations. Salameh has been in his post for almost three decades, has strong political backing, and has denied accusations. It wasn't clear how or if the travel ban will be implemented.
Associated Press, Lebanese judge issues travel ban for central bank governor.
The United Nations human rights office is urging Tunisia either to release or charge the detained former justice minister, Noureddine Bhiri. Bhiri, a parliamentarian with the Ennahda party opposed to Tunisia's president Kais Saied, is under house arrest in a hospital in Bizerte. UN officers said Bhiri's lawyers have not been formally notified of any charges against him.
Public, Tunisia: UN rights office calls for release of former justice minister.
More than 600 prisoners have been pardoned in Morocco by King Mohammed VI. The Moroccan government's justice ministry said the pardons were to commemorate the date of Morocco's independence document, a manifesto to France on January 11, 1944, demanding full independence.
Yeni Safak, Over 600 prisoners granted royal pardon in Morocco.
A court in Saudi Arabia has issued a verdict that calls for naming and shaming a man convicted of sexual harassment. The sentence marked the first time such public disclosure has been made under a new law.. A criminal court sentenced Yasser Muslim Al-Awari to eight months in prison and fined him SR 5,000 for harassing a woman and using obscene remarks.
Saudi Gazette, In historic verdict, Saudi court orders to name and shame man convicted of sexual harassment.
A Qatari women's activist has resurfaced on social media four months after she disappeared from public view. Noof al-Maadeed posted videos from an unknown location and said: "I'm fine, I'm healthy, and I'm safe." Earlier, she had said she faced threats from her family and was seeking asylum in Britain.
France 24, Qatari activist resurfaces on social media after speculation about her safety.
MORE: Egyptian president voices support for Palestine in resuming Mideast peace talks, Xinhua... US military significantly reduced global airstrikes in 2021, Voice of America... UN extends Syria cross-border aid without challenge from Russia, Al Monitor... Tunisia's balance of trade deficit widens to 16.2 billion dinars in 2021, Reuters... WFP provides immediate food assistance to flood victims in Iraq, Public... Oman's Sultan Haitham allocates more than $500m for regional development, The National... Iran's cheetah population 'extremely critical,' AFP.
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