Yemen’s Houthi militia threaten Israel-bound Red Sea ships

A boat carrying people sails near the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, seized by Yemen's Houthis last month, off the coast of Al-Salif, Yemen, December 5, 2023. (Reuters)
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Updated 10 December 2023
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Yemen’s Houthi militia threaten Israel-bound Red Sea ships

  • The Houthis have recently attacked ships they claim have direct links to Israel, but their latest threat expands the scope of their targets

SANAA: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened on Saturday to attack any vessels heading to Israeli ports unless food and medicine were allowed into the besieged Gaza Strip.
The latest warning comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea and surrounding waters following a series of maritime attacks by Houthi rebels since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
In a statement posted on social media, the Houthis said they “will prevent the passage of ships heading to the Zionist entity” if humanitarian aid is not allowed into Hamas-ruled Gaza.
The Houthis have recently attacked ships they claim have direct links to Israel, but their latest threat expands the scope of their targets.
Regardless of which flag ships sail under or the nationality of their owners or operators, Israel-bound vessels “will become a legitimate target for our armed forces,” the statement said.
Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said his country would not accept the “naval siege,” noting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked US President Joe Biden and European leaders to take measures to address the situation.
“If the world will not take care of it,” Hanegbi warned on Israel’s Channel 12 television, “we will take action to remove the naval siege.”
Last week, the Houthis attacked two ships off the Yemeni coast, including a Bahamas-flagged vessel, claiming they were Israeli-owned.
And last month, the rebel forces seized the Galaxy Leader, an Israeli-linked cargo vessel.
“We warn all ships and companies against dealing with Israeli ports,” the latest Houthi statement said.
It added that all “ships linked to Israel or that will transport goods to Israeli ports” are not welcome in the Red Sea, a vital channel for global trade linked to the Suez Canal.
Beyond maritime attacks, the Houthis have launched a series of drone and missile strikes targeting Israel since the deadly attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas triggered all-out war.
The militants poured over the border into Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping about 240 others, according to Israeli officials.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, and launched a military offensive in Gaza that has killed at least 17,700 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
The spike in maritime incidents prompted G7 foreign ministers at a meeting earlier this month to urge the rebels to cease threats to international shipping and to release the Galaxy Leader.


Lebanese Executives Council praises Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian support for Lebanon

Updated 6 sec ago
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Lebanese Executives Council praises Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian support for Lebanon

  • Rabih El-Amine thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts to assist the Lebanese people

LONDON/BEIRUT: The president of the Lebanese Executives Council thanked the government and people of Saudi Arabia for their “unwavering support” for his country amid Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah.

In a press briefing on Monday, Rabih El-Amine thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts to assist the Lebanese people and acknowledged the Kingdom’s continued solidarity and “steadfast allyship” with Lebanon.

A second Saudi relief plane, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, left from Riyadh on Monday, carrying food, medical supplies and shelter aid to Beirut International Airport.

El-Amine highlighted the immediate establishment of a humanitarian aid bridge as a testament to Saudi Arabia’s support, adding: “The Kingdom has yet again shown itself to be Lebanon’s big sister.”

He continued: “In addition to the generous support from Saudi Arabia, we are also receiving aid from the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, and many others. We are immensely grateful to these brotherly nations and are seeking their continued support in helping Lebanon achieve a ceasefire to preserve what remains of our beautiful country.”

El-Amine issued an urgent appeal for more humanitarian assistance to address the devastation affecting millions across the country wrought by the Israeli offensive, especially in large parts of Beirut, the south of the country and the Bekaa regions, which have been heavily impacted.

“Since last October, Lebanon has been thrust into a conflict that the country neither desired nor can sustain. Despite our solidarity with Gaza, the situation has escalated into devastation,” he said.

According to the LEC, the destruction has left many Lebanese citizens displaced, with homes reduced to rubble and temporary shelters springing up across streets, beaches and overcrowded displacement centers.

“The aid we anticipate from generous and concerned nations should be directed precisely where it’s most needed — toward the innocent Lebanese civilians who have been swept into this conflict against their will.

“Consequently, we earnestly urge the Lebanese government to rise to the occasion and effectively assist its people during these trying times, with the eyes of the world upon us, it is imperative that we act with integrity to acknowledge the suffering and losses endured by our citizens.

“In all fairness, we should commend the resilience and resourcefulness of the Lebanese people as they navigate these uncertain waters. The spontaneous solidarity among the citizens has played a vital role in welcoming and supporting the displaced, often stepping in where official institutions have faltered,” he added.

El-Amine acknowledged it would be difficult to ensure all of the aid went to the people who required it most.

“Unfortunately, guaranteeing that aid reaches the right people is beyond our control, we can only hope and appeal to the government and its institutions to fulfill their responsibilities and ensure that assistance reaches those in most need,” he said.

“Thankfully, organizations like KSrelief are collaborating closely with trusted local partners to ensure the aid is effectively distributed to those who require it most, which gives us a sense of optimism,” he said.

Lebanon’s humanitarian crisis is further exacerbated by economic difficulties and the large refugee population, including 1.5 million Syrians and half a million Palestinians. El-Amine highlighted the significance of Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic role in addressing these challenges.

“Saudi Arabia’s role on the international stage, alongside other partners, is crucial in alleviating regional tensions,” he said.

The conflict has brought attention to Lebanon’s political impasse, as the country has been without a president for months. The council praised Saudi Arabia’s continued efforts to help resolve the political deadlock by urging the Lebanese parliament to elect a new president and form an effective government.

“This task has been challenging, largely due to Iran’s influence through Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Lebanese people, in general, do not desire war or to fight for Iran. While they sympathize with Gaza, they are not willing to sacrifice Lebanon in the process,” El-Amine said.

“They are calling for an immediate ceasefire, the election of a new president, and the formation of an effective government; our ultimate goal is to rebuild the country and foster national reconciliation while upholding the constitution, ensuring that only the Lebanese army has the authority to bear arms in defense of the nation.”


Iran says ‘no grounds’ for indirect talks with US

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi speaks during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad.
Updated 1 min 32 sec ago
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Iran says ‘no grounds’ for indirect talks with US

  • “Currently, we don’t see any grounds for these talks, until we can get past the current crisis,” Araghchi said in Muscat
  • The talks, he said, had been halted “due to the specific conditions of the region”

TEHRAN: Iran said Monday it currently sees “no grounds” for its indirect talks with the United States via intermediary Oman, citing the crisis in the Middle East.
In June, Tehran said it had engaged in indirect talks with Washington via Muscat, despite the two countries having no diplomatic relations.
US news website Axios reported at the time that officials from Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman “on how to avoid escalating regional attacks.”
On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited the Gulf sultanate as part of a regional tour in which he met allies and Middle East powers after Israel vowed to retaliate against Tehran’s recent missile attack.
“Currently, we don’t see any grounds for these talks, until we can get past the current crisis,” Araghchi told reporters in Muscat.
The talks, he said, had been halted “due to the specific conditions of the region.”
Iran fired 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 in what it said was retaliation for the killing of Tehran-aligned militant leaders in the region and a general in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Israel has vowed to respond
Oman has long mediated between Iran and the United States, which cut ties after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
In Muscat, Araghchi met Mohammed Abdel Salam, a senior official of the Tehran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
The Houthis, alongside Hezbollah, Hamas and others, are part of the so-called axis of resistance of Iran-backed, anti-Israel armed groups.
The United States is Israel’s close ally and by far its largest provider of military assistance.
Araghchi also held talks with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi over the developments in Lebanon and Gaza, and called for an “immediate end” to the conflict, said Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.
Oman’s foreign ministry said the two officials agreed on “harnessing diplomacy as an essential tool for resolving disputes and conflicts” in the region.
While in Oman, Araghchi spoke on the phone with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
Araghchi slammed what he called US obstruction of the United Nations Security Council in relation to the wars in Lebanon and Gaza as “a disaster” during the call.
China is a permanent member of the council.
Before arriving in Oman, Araghchi was in Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials.
Last week, he visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia where talks mainly revolved around establishing a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza as well as ways to contain the conflict.


UN experts alarmed by treatment of migrants in Tunisia

Updated 14 October 2024
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UN experts alarmed by treatment of migrants in Tunisia

  • They said human rights violations were taking place during rescue operations at sea
  • Reports have been received of arbitrary forcible transfers to Tunisia’s borders, with excessive use of force

GENEVA: Migrants, refugees and human trafficking victims face alarming treatment in Tunisia, United Nations experts warned Monday.
They said human rights violations were taking place during rescue operations at sea, as people try to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, and in transfers to border areas with neighboring Algeria and Libya.
“We have received shocking reports detailing dangerous maneuvers when intercepting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers at sea; physical violence, including beatings, threats of use of firearms; removal of engines and fuel; and capsizing of boats,” the experts said in a statement.
The experts said that between January and July, 189 people were reported to have lost their lives during attempted Mediterranean crossings and 265 during interception operations at sea; a further 95 are reported missing.
“For those who are ‘rescued’ by the coast guards, including victims of trafficking, their situation reportedly only worsens on disembarkation at ports,” the experts said.
They said they had received reports of arbitrary forcible transfers to Tunisia’s borders, with excessive use of force and no access to humanitarian assistance.
“Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, including children and pregnant women, are allegedly brought to the desert areas bordering with Algeria and Libya, and fired at by border guards if they attempt to return,” the experts said.
The signatories included the special rapporteurs on human trafficking, contemporary racism, migrants’ rights and human rights defenders.
UN special rapporteurs are independent experts mandated by the Human Rights Council, but do not speak for the United Nations itself.
Tunisia and Libya have become key departure points for migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan African countries, seeking better lives in Europe by risking perilous Mediterranean crossings, often in makeshift boats.
Each year, tens of thousands of people attempt to make the crossing from Tunisia, with Italy — whose island of Lampedusa is only 150 kilometers (90 miles) away — often their first port of call.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration has said more than 30,309 migrants have died in the Mediterranean in the past decade, including more than 3,000 last year.
The UN experts voiced concern at a reported increase of criminal gangs involved in human trafficking, and at reports of sexual abuse, violence and exploitation, including the rape of girls as young as 10.
Tunisia’s immigration management is partly financed by European funds under a July 2023 agreement.
“We are concerned that, despite these serious allegations, Tunisia continues to be considered a place of safety following search and rescue at sea,” the experts said.


Lebanese Red Cross says 18 killed in strike in north

Paramedics with the Lebanese Red Cross transport a body unearthed from the rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike.
Updated 38 min 49 sec ago
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Lebanese Red Cross says 18 killed in strike in north

  • “Eighteen dead and four wounded in the strike on Aito,” the Red Cross said, referring to a village in the Christian-majority Zgharta district

BEIRUT: The Lebanese Red Cross said 18 people died in a strike on north Lebanon on Monday, with the health ministry and official media reporting an Israeli raid on the Christian-majority area far from Hezbollah strongholds.
“Eighteen dead and four wounded in the strike on Aito,” the Red Cross said, referring to a village in the Christian-majority Zgharta district.
The health ministry earlier said an Israeli strike there killed nine people, with the official National News Agency also saying Israel targeted a “residential apartment” in the village.
So far, Israeli strikes have mainly been concentrated in predominantly Shia areas, where Hezbollah built its power base in a state wracked by sectarianism.
An AFP photographer at the site of the strike said it had levelled a residential building at the entrance to the village.
Body parts were scattered in the rubble, with Red Cross volunteers searching for survivors in the wreckage while ambulances evacuated wounded people.
The Lebanese army imposed a security cordon in the area, where the strike had also sparked a fire, he said.
On Saturday, the health ministry reported two dead and four wounded in an Israeli strike on Deir Billa, some 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the town of Batroun on Lebanon’s north coast.
DNA tests were being carried out to determine the identity of the remains, the statement added.
After almost a year of cross-border fire over the Gaza war, Israel on September 23 launched an intense air campaign mainly targeting Hezbollah’s south and east Lebanon strongholds, as well as Beirut’s southern suburbs.
The escalation has killed more than 1,300 people, according to an AFP tally of official figures.


Lebanon aid convoy driver injured after Israeli strike

Updated 14 October 2024
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Lebanon aid convoy driver injured after Israeli strike

  • Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh told AFP that the convoy was carrying “humanitarian aid from the Lebanese government

Beirut: An Israeli strike hit an east Lebanon town as an aid convoy drove through it Tuesday, injuring one of its drivers, a governor and the state news agency said.
The governor of Baalbek, Bachir Khodr, on X reported “an Israeli strike very close to an aid convoy as it drove through the town of Ain” on its way to Ras Baalbek.
He posted a picture from the back window of the car he was in, showing a huge column of smoke billowing up into the sky dozens of meters (yards) behind it.
“The driver of the truck driving directly behind us was injured,” he added.
Israeli strikes hit Ain during “the passage of a convoy consisting of three trucks” heading toward the town of Ras Baalbek, said the National News Agency (NNA).
“One of the aid trucks heading to Ras Baalbek was damaged as a result of the blowback of the strike in Ain, which led to the injury of the truck driver.”
Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamieh told AFP that the convoy was carrying “humanitarian aid from the Lebanese government.”
It “was traveling to the area accompanied by the Lebanese Red Cross with agreement from the United Nations,” he said.
The convoy was made up of five trucks, and carried aid from several countries including the United Arab Emirates and Turkiye.
Two had previously unloaded goods in Baalbek, NNA said.
Almost a year of cross-border fire, Israel on September 23 increased its strikes against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in south and east Lebanon, as well as the capital’s southern suburbs.
The escalation has killed more than 1,300 people, according to an AFP tally of official figures.