West Asia News and Discussions (YEMEN, gulf)

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 12 Oct 2015 00:26

Of all the jobs in the world.. imagine that of the guys who were ordered to go restrain His Royal Majesty and take him to an asylum. If He ever returns..

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 12 Oct 2015 00:28

Jhujar wrote:
Falijee wrote:[url=http://www.debka.com/newsupdate/13073/S ... -suspected]Saudi king Salman hospitalized. Palace coup suspected
DEBKAfile October 11, 2015, 8:29 AM (IDT)King Salman Bin Abdelaziz, 79, was confined to the hospital in Riyadh in intensive care and restrained under heavy sedation. Court sources say he was removed after “going crazy” and attempting to injure himself. Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef has stepped in to administer the kingdom.
This below wa posted on 29sep . Last week Foreign Police etc started promoting Prince Nayaf as crusader against terrorism that he has neutralised 45+ terrorist cells.Basically present King played the similar sedation game with old King who wanted one of his son to become King by gone "unconscious" few hours before signing the declaration.

,
Saudi royal calls for regime change in Riyadh
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/s ... ing-salman
( This is the old family feud: Now one party want WEST to take side)

A senior Saudi prince has launched an unprecedented call for change in the country’s leadership, as it faces its biggest challenge in years in the form of war, plummeting oil prices and criticism of its management of Mecca, scene of last week’s hajj tragedy.The prince, one of the grandsons of the state’s founder, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, has told the Guardian that there is disquiet among the royal family – and among the wider public – at the leadership of King Salman, who acceded the throne in January.The prince, who is not named for security reasons, wrote two letters earlier this month calling for the king to be removed.“The king is not in a stable condition and in reality the son of the king [Mohammed bin Salman] is ruling the kingdom,” the prince said. “So four or possibly five of my uncles will meet soon to discuss the letters. They are making a plan with a lot of nephews and that will open the door. A lot of the second generation is very anxious.”“The public are also pushing this very hard, all kinds of people, tribal leaders,” the prince added. “They say you have to do this or the country will go to disaster.”

In the face of creeping Russo-Persian influence there is very little that the Gulf royals can do. The other side has a lot of diplomatic and intelligence experience and are battle hardened. Just look at how these Saudis have been getting ass whooped by the houthis. Their rolex flaunting officers think that parking expensive military hardware in Yemen and lobbing a few smart bombs here and there, can push back the Shias. Solely paying jihadi groups to fight your battles for you while basking in luxury can help so long as you are not facing off against a well funded and supplied proxy war which has strong ideological underpinnings. Eventually, you will run out of experienced fighters and you won't have anything left to rely on except yourself.
They are ripe for an internal power struggle. Some of the tribes are starting to see the writing on the wall early and will probably help the SCO and Iranians get a foot on the arab peninsula in a big way. We'll see how this plays out over the next few months.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 12 Oct 2015 01:40

Some of the tribes are starting to see the writing on the wall early and will probably help the SCO and Iranians get a foot on the arab peninsula in a big way

JOOC: Any reference/data to source(s) for this precious insight ?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 12 Oct 2015 02:32

Prediction. Not yet.

uddu · Post by **uddu** » 12 Oct 2015 08:49

Houthis are inside Saudi. Jizan demographically is a Shia place. All the Shia's of Saudi Arabia is in and around the border with Yemen.

Saudis using artillery in Jizan

Houthis in Jizan

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 12 Oct 2015 09:10

>>All the Shia's of Saudi Arabia is in and around the border with Yemen.

Nope, not just - they are also the majority in Al Ahsa governorate of the eastern province exactly where the biggest Saudi oilfield of Ghawar is located - along with what are said to be the best dates in the world, the fruit I mean, or to be more clear the brown sticky sweet thing with the irritating nut inside.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Oct 2015 10:06

Dhahran in middle of that eastern shia pocket is a massive US airbase going by ODS footage.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 12 Oct 2015 12:50

There was quote I came across recently,about politicians who have forgotten to map read. One classic case is none other than Richard Nixon,when during the '71 war with the Pakis howling for support from the US after getting Indian bayonets up their nether end,asked for a map showing Pakistan.He then famously exploded;"what the f*ck is India doing in the middile?

Looking at the map v.kindly posted above,one can clearly see the immense importance of the Yemen. It strides both the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea,can choke off access to the Suez Canal,also Jeddah (and the "two holy places",affecting the Haj) by sea,and influence events in the Arabian Sea affecting maritime traffic transiting the Persian Gulf. Aden was Britain's great strat. naval base during WW2 and has lost none of its importance. Whoever controls the Yemen also has the ability to squeeze the "two hairy places" of the Saudi monarch by curtailing his ability to ship his oil worldwide by sea!

member_28990 · Post by **member_28990** » 12 Oct 2015 13:08

the thing that stands out the most from the map for me is how sparsely populated the Saudi kingdom is - compare it to population density of Iran and you understand how important it is for the Saudi regime to maintain allegiance of the desert tribes

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 12 Oct 2015 17:37

And what a nice large sunny area for General Dostum to ship Pakis and Saudis and ISISis in AK-47-ventilated Containers!

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 12 Oct 2015 18:19

https://mobile.twitter.com/BaFana3/stat ... 7419282432

There is claim the rebels sunk a 20,000 ton Saudi navy oiler in bab el mandab last week.

Oilers are hard to sink due to watertight systems of tanks and high positive buoyancy..but a major fire could gut it

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 12 Oct 2015 20:01

Jhujar wrote:
Falijee wrote:[url=http://www.debka.com/newsupdate/13073/S ... -suspected]Saudi king Salman hospitalized. Palace coup suspected
DEBKAfile October 11, 2015, 8:29 AM (IDT)King Salman Bin Abdelaziz, 79, was confined to the hospital in Riyadh in intensive care and restrained under heavy sedation. Court sources say he was removed after “going crazy” and attempting to injure himself. Crown Prince Muhammad bin Nayef has stepped in to administer the kingdom.
This below wa posted on 29sep . Last week Foreign Police etc started promoting Prince Nayaf as crusader against terrorism that he has neutralised 45+ terrorist cells.Basically present King played the similar sedation game with old King who wanted one of his sons to become King before made "unconscious" few hours before signing the declaration.

,
Saudi royal calls for regime change in Riyadh
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/s ... ing-salman
( This is the old family feud: Now one party want WEST to take side)

A senior Saudi prince has launched an unprecedented call for change in the country’s leadership, as it faces its biggest challenge in years in the form of war, plummeting oil prices and criticism of its management of Mecca, scene of last week’s hajj tragedy.The prince, one of the grandsons of the state’s founder, Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, has told the Guardian that there is disquiet among the royal family – and among the wider public – at the leadership of King Salman, who acceded the throne in January.The prince, who is not named for security reasons, wrote two letters earlier this month calling for the king to be removed.“The king is not in a stable condition and in reality the son of the king [Mohammed bin Salman] is ruling the kingdom,” the prince said. “So four or possibly five of my uncles will meet soon to discuss the letters. They are making a plan with a lot of nephews and that will open the door. A lot of the second generation is very anxious.”“The public are also pushing this very hard, all kinds of people, tribal leaders,” the prince added. “They say you have to do this or the country will go to disaster.”

Its a very big news if true. It shows Ruskie are in for a big game. Vlad has more surprises. That is why he is playing hocky and other so called world leaders are tearing hairs in windowless rooms.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Oct 2015 06:31

CT: the Hajj stampede could have been deftly engineered to further discredit the ruling king among the royal elite circle and build consensus that he needed to be "eased out" . changes like this always need a final push over the cliff to convince fence sitters and risk averse elements to throw in their lot. the generals of the saudi national guard would ofcourse have to buy into the palace coup.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 13 Oct 2015 07:50

BTW, is this payback for the TOW deliveries?

Yemen’s army, backed by allied popular committees loyal to the Houthi Ansarullah movement, has destroyed a second Saudi warship in a missile attack in the southeast of the impoverished Arab country.

The Saudi warship was targeted and destroyed on Saturday in the southwestern coast of Yemen, in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is considered strategically important as it separates the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.

On October 7, the Yemeni forces managed to destroy another Saudi vessel in the area with reports saying that the sunken ship had repeatedly fired rockets on residential areas in the southwestern province of Ta'izz.

Also on Saturday, tens of Saudi soldiers were killed and several Saudi military vehicles were destroyed in retaliatory attacks by Yemeni forces in the province of Ma’rib.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 13 Oct 2015 07:53

And.. they down a drone. Do u get the feeling that they suddenly have new weapons and training? Hope they can learn how to drive the Saudi tanks and other vehicles. Mecca is not that far away.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 13 Oct 2015 08:22

The head of the UN Human Rights whatever,the Saudis and look at their humanity!

Spare a thought Mr.Ca-Moron for the ritish grandfather when you sup with the Saudi shaitans,eagr to sell them your arms.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 91676.html

Karl Andree: Saudi Arabia to punish British grandfather and cancer survivor with 350 lashes
Mr Andree was allegedly found to have illegal alcohol

Kashmira Gander |
Andree has lived in the Middle East for 25 years Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

The family of a grandfather who has been sentenced to 350 lashes by the authorities in Saudi Arabia has urged the Government to intervene, amid fears the punishment would kill him.

Karl Andree, a 74-year-old cancer survivor, was jailed for 12 months after he was allegedly caught with alcohol, which is illegal in the highly conservative nation.

He was arrested in the port city of Jeddah in August 2014 after police allegedly discovered bottles of hooch, The Sun reported.

Saudi authorities plan to deliver the punishment after Mr Andree finishes his custodial term.
Mr Andree, who works in the oil industry, has lived in the Middle East for 25 years.

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Mr Andree's younger son Simon told The Sun that his father was previously happy working in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is widely regarded as having one of the worst human rights records in the world.

Recent figures published by human rights charity Amnesty International showed that Saudi Arabia executed at least 175 people between August 2014 and 2015.

Those put to death included children under the age of 18 at the time of the offence, and disabled people.

Since 1985, the state has executed at least 2,208 people, 48.5 per cent of whom were foreign nationals.and felt safe.

“He is 74 years of age, has had cancer three times and his wife is dying in a home in the UK,” he said.

"He now needs medical care for his cancer and asthma, and there is no doubt in our mind that 350 lashes will kill him.

A Foreign Office spokesman said that ministers and senior officials have raised Mr Andree's case with the Saudi government and are actively seeking his release "as soon as possible".

“Our embassy staff are continuing to assist Mr Andree, including regular visits to check on his welfare, and frequent contact with his lawyer and family, the spokesman said.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 13 Oct 2015 08:31

Other than Iranian TV and twitter I can't find any credible reports about the two Saudi vessels allegedly sunk off Yemen. Looks like more wishful thinking.

Even if the Russians could sneak the missiles and supporting hardware past the blockade, could the Houthis actually operate an anti-ship missile system? This isn't like handing out RPG's; these are complicated systems and require at the very least a specialized launching vehicle.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Oct 2015 09:43

the yemen national army pro-Saleh faction who launched the Tochka rockets in that devastating raid could definitely operate such weapons. one claim was that it was a silkworm derived missile of iranian ancestry.

so far I have also not seen photos of the Emirati led naval invasion of yemen, the shelling by warships that preceded it. seems to be no pics of the warships and LSTs involved in such ops.

---

this is probably a place where a Brahmos regiment would have a field day...bab el mandab is only 30km wide and rife with fat juicy
targets all day

habal · Post by **habal** » 13 Oct 2015 14:27

Y. Kanan wrote:Other than Iranian TV and twitter I can't find any credible reports about the two Saudi vessels allegedly sunk off Yemen. Looks like more wishful thinking.

from info I came across. A Saudi Navy boat was hit by a Yemeni missile close to the coast, it was a large French Durance class, Saudi designated Durance Class 902 Boraida Oil Supply Ship, 140+ on board, KSA had two of those vessels...one gone, wonder how KSA will keep up the Navy blockade much longer, this vessel was key for their intentions,
it is also reported that the other KSA Navy boats fled the scene after 902 was hit....no info on the fate of the 140+ crew members.

The second naval ship hit doesn't belong to Saudi but it is egyptian ship as per fars.

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/653265797419282432

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durance-class_tanker

Apart from this 9 KSA apaches shot down this year

https://twitter.com/YemenFightsBack/sta ... 9822586880

US withdrawing A/C from Persian Gulf means KSA is left to mercy of Iran. This A/C was shield for GCC against Iran. And thus meeting of Saudi defence chief with Putin for security guarantee.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 13 Oct 2015 20:53

caught on tape - palestinian crashes car into pedestrians and slashes them with a aruvaal before being shot dead

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=372_1444745300

Falijee · Post by **Falijee** » 13 Oct 2015 21:21

Fun Seeking Gulf Royals Fly To Cooler Climes In Summer ; Object : To Taste ``Haram Fruit ` Forbidden By The Book
Inside the Secret World of Arab Playboys
The death of Sheikh Rashid, eldest son of Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed, has shone a light on the high-spending, party-mad lifestyles of Arab playboys like him.

Did Majed Abulaziz Al-Saud, a 28-year-old Saudi prince, sexually accost five women at a Beverly Hills compound, as police are now investigating, and which The Daily Beast reported Friday? This scandal broke following the end of another reportedly scandalous life. Monday in Dubai marked the end of the official grieving period for Sheikh Rashid, the fast-living eldest son of Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed.

Rashid died, age 33, of a heart attack on September 19, according to the official account.

In the UAE, the prince’s death has been greeted with hagiographic official obituaries.

In the West, however, the demise of Rashid has cast a rare beam of light on the secret world of the Arab playboys who flock every summer to escape the intense heat of the Middle East, and spend vast amounts of money on Western debaucheries.

Nothing new being said here, but the hypocrisy practiced on their home turf is astonishing !

The alleged behavior of some of these Arab princelings was highlighted again on Friday, after Majed Abdulaziz Al-Saud was reportedly accused of attempting to force an employee to give him oral sex, before more reports of him sexually accosting five women surfaced.

This came just weeks after Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani of Qatar’s ruling family fled the U.S. after being accused of drag racing his yellow Ferrari through LA while staying at the Beverly Wilshire hotel.

And if I am not mistaken, this country along with SA, and Kuwait are prime financial supporters of ISIS

The playboys, from oil-rich countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait, fly the prized vehicles to London for the season, at a cost of around $30,000.

ndeed, Qatar Airways gives over entire jets to the transport of cars to and from the Middle East in the summer.

“It is utterly bizarre,” says one London-based aristocrat. “You can still get a table for tea at Claridges in July, but it is absolutely full of Arabs. I am quite often the only English person there.”

“They are mostly actually very sheltered. They are not really paranoid, but they are private. They don’t want anyone to know who they are or what they are doing. They give a lot of one-word answers. They are happy for people to look at their cars, but they wouldn’t tell just anyone their name.”

The press recently reported a case where a Mid East princeling brazenly left his expensive car in a no park zone in London

Given his father’s vast wealth, and a personal fortune estimated by Forbes at $1.9 billion, it is perhaps unsurprising that even by the standards of his fellow Arab playboys, Rashid’s excess was notable, with allegations of wild, non-stop parties at central London hotels now doing the rounds.

While it is predominantly males who live the high life in the West, the royal womenfolk of the Middle East are not above a bit of high-rolling in Europe’s capitals.

Getting payment can, however, be an issue.(I would go further and say that this is an issue on a national level as well )

Take, for example Princess Maha bint Mohammed bin Ahmad al-Sudairi, sister-in-law of the late King Abdullah, who reportedly attempted to flee Paris’s five-star Shangri-La Hotel, where she and her retinue had occupied 41 rooms for five months—leaving behind a bill of more than $7 million.

The bill was reportedly settled within 48 hours by senior figures in the Saudi royal family, and Maha has now been “grounded” in Saudi Arabia in perpetuity.

Sheikh Rashid similarly fell into disfavor with his father, and was stripped of his order in the succession in 2008 in favor of his younger brother, Sheikh Hamden.

Rashid’s involvement in a homicide was said to be behind the change in succession, as revealed in a confidential memo sent from the U.S. consulate in Dubai back to Washington published by Wikileaks.

Acting consul general David Williams wrote: “It is alleged that Rashid killed an assistant in the Ruler’s office, thereby forfeiting his opportunity to be heir.”

The astonishing claim was never proved.

Secrecy is always the hall-mark of these Gulf Royals

Meanwhile, the merry-go-round of money, bling, parties, and fast cars continues for his jet-setting compadres.

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 13 Oct 2015 23:24

habal wrote:
from info I came across. A Saudi Navy boat was hit by a Yemeni missile close to the coast, it was a large French Durance class, Saudi designated Durance Class 902 Boraida Oil Supply Ship, 140+ on board, KSA had two of those vessels...one gone, wonder how KSA will keep up the Navy blockade much longer, this vessel was key for their intentions,
it is also reported that the other KSA Navy boats fled the scene after 902 was hit....no info on the fate of the 140+ crew members.

Is this $11.4 billion deals to replenish the losses.. Does not seem to mention all the items being bought, so raising the suspicion.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir ... s-34446691

habal · Post by **habal** » 14 Oct 2015 07:38

Report: 70 UAE Soldiers, Officers Killed in Yemen

Picture of bodies enclosed with link:

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.as ... 0720001211

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 15 Oct 2015 06:46

India-Africa Summit: In diplomatic coup, NDA gets Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Delhi
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 368238.cms

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi's neighbourhood outreach may be under scrutiny but he continues to spring surprises from lands far and wide. In a huge boost for the 3rd India-Africa Summit Forum, which will be held here later this month, Egypt's powerful and controversial President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has confirmed his attendance for the summit. The confirmation follows a meeting between Modi and Sisi in New York last month which the PM used to reiterate India's invite to the former chief of Egypt's armed forces who captured power in 2013 riding a wave of popular protests against elected President Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.With the kind of influence Egypt has not just in northern Africa but also the Arab world, India was keen that the country be represented by none other than Sisi himself. Straddling the Suez Canal, Egypt is also the most populous Arab country. It is significant for India that under Sisi, Egypt's relations with Israel too have improved greatly. Sisi was earlier unsure about coming himself and had agreed to send a representative but seems to have changed his mind after his meeting with Modi. Sisi's presence in India will be remarable also because he will be here days after the end of long overdue parliamentary elections in Egypt on October 23. The Africa Summit will take place October 26-29. Sisi's support to anti-Islamic State coalitions in Syria and Libya have brought him closer to the West despite the fact that, ruling by decree, he has pulverized all opposition to his presidency within the country. Despite his preoccupation with Bihar elections, Modi will find time not just for the summit meet but also bilateral meetings with all heads of state and government who have confirmed their participation. The number of leaders attending is now over 50, the largest number of foreign leaders to assemble on Indian soil after the NAM meet in 1983. India had invited all 54 African countries for the summit. Months before he was ousted in a coup by Sisi, Islamist Morsi too had visited India in 2013. Morsi was keen that India help Egypt become a member of BRICS, saying the grouping could then be known as e-BRICS. Morsi has now been sentenced to death in a move some see as politically motivated.

V_Raman · Post by **V_Raman** » 15 Oct 2015 21:41

This is the next phase of operation RMAP - Ralph Peters Map Action Plan - where Mecca becomes a city state...

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 15 Oct 2015 22:13

Months before he was ousted in a coup by Sisi, Islamist Morsi too had visited India in 2013. Morsi was keen that India help Egypt become a member of BRICS, saying the grouping could then be known as e-BRICS.

I assume this Musharraf-e-Byramid is coming in an A-380? How else can he bring all potential coup leaders for a whole week?

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 15 Oct 2015 23:13

UlanBatori wrote:
Months before he was ousted in a coup by Sisi, Islamist Morsi too had visited India in 2013. Morsi was keen that India help Egypt become a member of BRICS, saying the grouping could then be known as e-BRICS.
I assume this Musharraf-e-Byramid is coming in an A-380? How else can he bring all potential coup leaders for a whole week?

Egypt will soon regain its leadership role in Alam-E SunniSatania coming up in Middle Beast. It will be very interesting to watch Modi's upcoming visit to Saudia. Zafar Sareshwala is Sharia certified Muslim of Arabic descent and has PM Modi's ears. India needs investment and Arabs will need India to ward off evil Persian causing Pain in their biggest sitting Muscle in the Middle.

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 16 Oct 2015 06:47

habal wrote:
Y. Kanan wrote:Other than Iranian TV and twitter I can't find any credible reports about the two Saudi vessels allegedly sunk off Yemen. Looks like more wishful thinking.
from info I came across. A Saudi Navy boat was hit by a Yemeni missile close to the coast, it was a large French Durance class, Saudi designated Durance Class 902 Boraida Oil Supply Ship, 140+ on board, KSA had two of those vessels...one gone, wonder how KSA will keep up the Navy blockade much longer, this vessel was key for their intentions,
it is also reported that the other KSA Navy boats fled the scene after 902 was hit....no info on the fate of the 140+ crew members.

The second naval ship hit doesn't belong to Saudi but it is egyptian ship as per fars.

Still looking for some actual proof... twitter doesn't count. Have there been any corroborating reports from other sources? Without a single shred of evidence (video, pics, details of the ship crews, anything)... I'm afraid these reports both fall into the category of "wishful thinking".

In any case, it does make you imagine what sort of mayhem might ensue if Russia actually did supply the Houthi with advanced weapons. Which I can only assume they'll do, once Saudi-supplied SAM's start downing Russian aircraft in Syria.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 16 Oct 2015 07:17

Kanan On NPR today some reporter was confirming the US airdrop of weapons and ammo to Kurds.

Give it time all rumors become fact onlee.

Also nowdin twitter is only media. Regular media even in US is same as in India.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 16 Oct 2015 08:10

the days of indics tuning in on SW Radio to BBC to get the "truth" over sarkari AIR are long over

the western media outlets have been exposed to be even more sarkari controlled than pravda of old and Noko news agency

that being said, I do not think a 20,000t tanker will be sunk with a Silkworm missile. it has too much buoyancy and structural strength. and sometimes they just open the hatches and let the fuel in that tank burn off, while removing fuel in parallel from adjacent tanks...tankers have heavy duty pumping and fire fighting systems.

its possible it took a hit and retreated tail between legs to jeddah. there is no free media in KSA to report anything about military.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 16 Oct 2015 14:42

War in Yemen rages on.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/o ... -war[quote]
Yemen
Saudis strike in response to Houthi Scud attack as forgotten war rages on

Airstrikes target launchers after missile struck close to Saudi airbase, as UN says there is ‘desperate need’ to end to conflict that has killed 5,300 Yemenis
Ian Black Middle East editor

Thursday 15 October 2015 19.55 BST

Saudi warplanes bombed targets in the Yemeni capital Sana’a on Thursday after Houthi rebels fired a Scud missile at an airbase across the border in a sudden escalation of a war that is taking a mounting toll on civilians.

Reports from Sana’a said airstrikes targeted missile launchers after a Scud impacted near Khamis Mushayt, close to a major Saudi air force base. The UN deputy secretary general, Jan Eliasson, said there was a “desperate need” to end the conflict and hoped peace talks could resume by the end of the month.

Seven months of strikes by the Saudi-led coalition and fighting on the ground have killed 5,300 Yemenis including at least 2,400 civilians, according to the WHO. The coalition is fighting the Iran-backed Houthis to drive them from Sana’a and other areas they captured last year, and to restore the internationally recognised president, Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Iranian media reported that the Houthis had also shot down a Saudi F16 fighter and captured its pilot, but there was no confirmation from Riyadh. The crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pledged that the nine-member coalition, which includes the UAE, “will stand together until Yemen regains its Arab identity and is liberated from aggressors”.

Yemen’s suffering is overshadowed by the larger and more familiar conflict in Syria and complicated by the way it is seen as a proxy war between the Saudis and Iran, whose long-standing strategic rivalry is overlain by a Sunni-Shia sectarian division. “Denying that Iran is backing the Houthis in Yemen is like denying that the sun rises in the east,” Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, commented this week.

The Saudis are supported by their allies the US and Britain, which provide military equipment and intelligence support. But there is growing disquiet in both the Foreign Office and US State Department about Riyadh’s strategy and civilian casualties, diplomats admit privately.

Yemen, with a population of 23 million people, was the poorest country in the Arab world long before the removal of its veteran president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, after popular protests in 2011. Now it is experiencing what Oxfam calls the world’s largest “forgotten emergency”.

Aid agencies say a key issue is the Saudi blockade of all major ports and airports, which means food imports struggle to get through and famine looms, with 13 million people already defined as “food insecure” and 21 million people in need of assistance.

In Taiz in the Yemeni highlands, Houthi and allied forces loyal to Saleh are preventing the passage of food, fuel and water, in addition to the Saudi-led naval blockade. Drinking water is not available and is being sold on the black market, prompting outbreaks of dengue fever, according to the charity Saferworld.

A US navy report said this week that coalition warships off the Red Sea port of Hodeida have warned commercial vessels to stay clear of operational areas but a coalition spokesman said inspections were needed to stop attempts to smuggle weapons to Houthi forces.

The Saudis say they need a stable neighbour to their south and reject accusations that they are committing war crimes. “As the coalition seeks to restore the legitimate Yemeni government and free the Yemeni people from a rebel scourge, it will do everything in its power to avoid injuring civilians,” insisted its ambassador in London.
A boy waits for his turn to fill containers from a public tap on the outskirts of Sana’a
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A boy waits for his turn to fill containers from a public tap amid an acute shortage of water on the outskirts of Sana’a. Photograph: Hani Mohammed/AP

“The coalition’s goal is to simply bring peace and order to Yemen. Any accusation that civilians are being intentionally targeted by the coalition is simply propaganda being disseminated by those who are using Yemen as a staging ground for their violent, revolutionary agenda.”

But Yemenis have watched in despair as the war has raged on with horrific consequences before and after UN talks in June. Recent efforts in the Omani capital, Muscat, produced a seven-point plan which it is hoped will allow a new round to go ahead after the Houthis signalled their agreement.

“Hadi refuses to talk even though the Houthis have had enough and want a face-saving solution,” a former Yemeni minister told the Guardian. “The destruction we are seeing is unimaginable. How long will this war go on?”

Eliasson called for both the Houthis and Hadi to attend the talks without pre-conditions but warned of “the deep mistrust that exists between key actors, not least Saudi and UAE on one side and Iran on the other”.
Female Yemeni fighters loyal to Hadi attend a rally on Wednesday marking the anniversary of revolt against British rule
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Female Yemeni fighters loyal to Hadi attend a rally on Wednesday marking the anniversary of revolt against British rule. Photograph: Ahmad al-Basha/AFP/Getty Images

Peter Salisbury, an associate fellow with Chatham House, said agreement to talk was only the beginning. “When that has been made there a number of very difficult hurdles to cross, including the location and the basic parameters for the negotiations,” he said. “Things could fall apart before they get down to business.”
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The basis for talks is UN security council resolution 2216, which demands the Houthis withdraw from all areas they have captured, relinquish arms seized from state military and security bodies and cease all actions falling within the authority of the legitimate government.

Saudi officials say implementation of the resolution would end the war. Critics counter that its demands for disarmament and withdrawal will need to be interpreted flexibly if a deal is to be done. “The difficulty is that the resolution was far too favourable to the Saudis,” said Ibrahim Fraihat of the Brookings Doha Centre. “It was a a big victory for them but it makes it very hard for the international community to back off.”

He added: “There is no shortage of diplomatic activity. The problem is that there is a stalemate on the ground. The Saudis are not making serious progress and they are stuck in Marib and Taiz. The Houthis and Saleh are not able to change the status quo. Neither side is willing to move. The Saudis are unlikely to make serious concessions on Yemen because their concern is about Iranian influence – though that is an exaggerated fear.”
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habal · Post by **habal** » 16 Oct 2015 15:19

this war increasingly seems to me to be a diversion to keep Eyeran occupied on two fronts. The main focus of the war conducted by western proxies is going to be Syria. If they can make an independent Kurdistan from Iraq and Syrian territory then very quickly Turkey, and Kurd may be integrated into EU.

Will the qatar pipeline to Turkey still work with an independent Kurdistan ?

Shanu · Post by **Shanu** » 17 Oct 2015 09:59

Well, diversion or not, this war is going to continue for a long time.. The Houthis just recaptured Bayda from the Saudi forces and is keeping their siege of Ta'iz intact despite Saudi bombing. If after burning $100+ billion in forex, Saudis managed to secure just Aden, you can be pretty sure they are running out of options, except probably a partnership with Russia on Russian terms.

Relevant link
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articl ... n-province

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Oct 2015 15:57

bayda is between marib(where the emiratis have pushed their armour/mech force) and abyan province(aden).

this might put pressure on the logistical lines to marib.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 17 Oct 2015 15:59

does anyone know how many sorties the saudis and uae fly over yemen per day ? even with american tanker support, the f16/f15/tornado fleet has been at war for over 6 months now...and despite lavish support by western contractors the airframes would take a lot of use if they are operating at a high tempo.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 17 Oct 2015 16:19

Five killed at a Shia ceremony in Saudi - BBC Ticker

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 17 Oct 2015 20:37

Singhaji, u think the Houthis have received TOWs?

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 18 Oct 2015 07:07

‘Hit the wrong target’: Saudi air raid kills at least 30 Yemeni pro-govt fighters - Oct17, 2015

Saudi-led air force bombing has “mistakenly” led to the deaths of at least 30 Yemeni pro-government fighters loyal to ousted president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, local officials said, adding that the coalition reportedly “hit the wrong target.”
The strike on the military camp in Yemen’s Waziya, located between the southeastern provinces of Taiz and Lahj, left at least another 40 wounded. One official from the Hadi administration told Reuters that "the coalition raid hit the wrong target.”

Over 500 Yemeni children killed during 6 months of Saudi airstrikes – UNICEF

With UNICEF projecting that some 1.2 million children under five in Yemen will have suffered from “moderate” acute malnutrition across 2015, a further 530,000 children are at risk of “severe” malnutrition – a five time increase compared to data from before the conflict.

The dire situation is caused by the fighting disrupting imports to Yemen, which only produces 10 percent of the food required by the population. In total around 10 million children, composing 80 percent of the country’s under-18 population, are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, the agency said on Friday.

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 18 Oct 2015 17:00

SAji: Your second link should be titled: "Saudi Air Force Hits The Intended Targets".

UlanBatori · Post by **UlanBatori** » 20 Oct 2015 06:21

A crush near Mecca last month killed nearly three times as many people as Saudi Arabia has admitted, according to a tally by the Associated Press (AP).
AP said on Monday that at least 2,110 people died in the tragedy at the annual Hajj pilgrimage - far more than the official Saudi death toll of 769.
The new figure comes from media reports and statements from 30 countries who lost citizens, AP said.
The crush was the deadliest incident to strike the Hajj in 25 years.
Saudi officials have not updated their death toll - or the number of injured, which stands at 934 - since 25 September.
Iran says it lost 465 of its citizens, making it the worst affected nation. Many of the dead also came from Africa: Nigeria said it lost 199 people, while Mali lost 198, and Egypt 192, according to the AP count.
The AP tally comes after Saudi officials said they held a meeting about the disaster late on Sunday night.
According to the country's state press agency, SPA, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, who is also the kingdom's interior minister, oversaw the meeting.
An investigation into the incident ordered by King Salman in ongoing.
"The crown prince was reassured on the progress of the investigations," the SPA report said.
Previously, the deadliest incident at the Hajj was a 1990 stampede that killed 1,426 people.

BTW, that's nearly as many as those who died on 9/11/20001.

What kind of 'stampede' can kill TWO THOUSAND people?