Arabian Peninsula / Persian Gulf update 7/01/2017...Yemeni Army Hits Saudi Gathering Centers in Jizan

Why Saudi Arabia Wants Qatar to Shut Al Jazeera | The New York Times

Qatar to Saudi Arabia: Provide Evidence of your Allegations

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Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that he is not talking about demands because of crisis between Qatar on one hand and Saudi Arabia its allies on the other.

According to website “Alharra”, Qatari minister added that there are “allegations from these countries, which must be provided with evidence,” noting that “demands come after the allegations and prove to address whether there are mistakes.” Qatari minister pointed out that Doha will engage in constructive dialogue if other parties want to overcome this crisis, and they are ready for dialogue if there are allegations.”

In an indirect response to remarks by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who stressed that list of demands was “non-negotiable,” Qatari foreign minister said: “These are not bases of international relations to provide lists and not negotiate.”

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar on June 5 , expelled their nationals from their countries and besieged them sea, air and land. Issued a list of demands from 13 points and gave Doha 10 days to implement them in order to lift the measures taken against them. A Kuwaiti broker delivered Qatar’s claims.

Qatar Lobbying with UNSC Members to Lift Saudi-Led Bans

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Qatar has been lobbying with the non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) against a Saudi-led embargo of the country. Qatar’s Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with the representatives of the UNSC member states at the Qatari mission to the UN in New York on Friday, urging them to press the sanctioning countries to lift the blockade and to speak out publicly in support of his country, Al-Jazeera reported.

Earlier, Al Thani announced that Doha is prepared to work together with other [Persian] Gulf countries blockading it in order to reach a resolution to a major diplomatic crisis, stressing, however, that his country will not discuss any measures that impinge on its sovereignty. “The response of Qatar has been purposefully measured, yet unequivocal,” Qatar’s Foreign Minister said in Washington. “We are willing to negotiate any legitimate grievances with our neighbours, but we will not compromise our sovereignty,” he added, calling the “siege” on Qatar “a clear act of aggression” that violated international law. “These hostile actions were based on unsubstantiated claims and false assumptions. Evidence is yet to be presented,” Al Thani stressed.

Qatar had rejected a list of demands submitted by four Arab countries that have cut ties with it as unacceptable, saying that Doha agrees with the United States that they should push for a “rational” solution to a major [Persian] Gulf crisis.

Arab Daily: Internal Coup, Banishment of New Crown Prince Likely in S. Arabia

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Chances are high that a coup is staged in Saudi Arabia to bring down the new crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and send him to exile, a leading Arab daily said in an analysis written by an Israeli expert.

“The new crown prince has played an important role in distorting Saudi Arabia’s stability since 2015,” al-Rai al-Youm quoted Shaul Yanai as saying on Saturday.

Noting that the only power which can invalidate the Saudi king’s order to replace the crown prince is the Royal Council, he said the Council can incapacitate the king under the pretext of his poor health conditions and inability to make wise decisions.

“In such conditions, bin Salman will also be dethroned and he might even be sent to exile for a long period of time,” Yanai said.

Sniping unit of the Yemeni army targeted Saudi soldier at Alab mountain in Najran

Shooting 2 missiles Zelzal 2 on Saudi troops’ gatherings at the east of the Almaosem area in Jizan

Yemeni Army Hits Saudi Gathering Centers in Jizan

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The Yemeni army and popular forces pounded the gathering centers of the Saudi army in Jizan province, inflicting heavy losses on the Riyadh government forces.

“The Yemeni forces fired a Zalzal-2 missile at Saudi Arabia’s concentration centers in the village of al-Raheh in Jizan province,” the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen TV network quoted a military source as saying.

Meantime, another military source said that the Yemeni army and popular forces hit al-Khanjar military base belonging to the forces loyal to former fugitive President Mansour Hadi in the Northern part of al-Jawf province.

In a relevant development on Friday, the Yemeni army’s artillery units pounded the Saudi troops’ gathering centers in Midi region in Hajjah province.

In a relevant development on Sunday, Yemeni army snipers targeted military bases in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern regions, killing at least four Saudi troops.

The Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported on Sunday that the Yemeni sniper fire claimed the lives of three Saudi soldiers in the Asir region and one more at the al-Farizeh military base in Jizan region.

The al-Zaqilah base, also situated in Jizan, came under similar attacks that destroyed two armored vehicles and left an unspecified number of casualties.

Yemeni missile attacks further hit other Saudi bases in Jizan, resulting in the burning of a vehicle at the al-Mostahdes military base.

Additionally on Sunday, the Yemeni army’s artillery unit targeted a place, where Saudi mercenaries had gathered in Khabb & Sha’af district of the Northern Jawf Province.

Positions held by forces loyal to former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, were also struck in Jawf’s Ghayl neighborhood, leaving a number of them dead and injured.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a brutal military campaign against Yemen for more than two years to eliminate the Houthi movement and reinstall Riyadh-backed Hadi.

The Saudi aggression, however, has failed to achieve its goals and killed over 14,000 Yemenis.

The Ansarullah movement, backed by the army and popular forces, has been defending Yemen against the protracted Saudi war. The movement has also been running state affairs since 2014, when Hadi resigned and fled to Riyadh at a time the country was grappling with threats from al-Qaeda terrorists.