UK £2 www.thearabweekly.com Issue 167, Year 4 July 29, 2018 EU €2.50 ISIS’s bloody The role of the Sheikh resilience in Zayed Grand Mosque Syria and Iraq in Abu Dhabi Pages 10-11 Page 20 Saudi reaction to Bab el Mandeb attack draws attention to Iranian, Houthi threats ► Experts saw Saudi Arabia as cautioning the international community against the risks posed by Iran and its Houthi proxies, whether in Yemen or in the proximity of Saudi borders. Mohammed Alkhereiji Force commander Major-General Qassem Soleimani. “The Red Sea, which was secure, London is no longer secure with the Ameri- can presence,” Soleimani said the he pro-Iran Houthi militia day after the attacks on the tank- carried through with threats ers. “[US President Donald] Trump to disrupt maritime naviga- should know we are a nation of mar- T tion in the Red Sea with at- tyrdom and that we await him.” tacks on two very large Saudi crude The Houthis had threatened to carriers. The July 25 attack, in which hinder traffic through Bab el Man- one of the two vessels was slightly deb into the Red Sea. The Iranians damaged, seemed an attempt to warned they could block shipping increase tension in the region but in the Strait of Hormuz. only to a certain point. Despite the threats and provoca- The Iranians and their proxies tions, the Iranians admit the bluster know that more serious incidents does not mean they think they can could draw a stronger international afford a war with the United States. Strategic security. A general view of Perim Island in Bab el Mandeb. (Reuters) reaction than they could manage. “This is a war of words. Neither side The US Navy 5th Fleet has said in wants a military confrontation,” an the past it would prevent Iranian unidentified senior Iranian official $95 billion slush fund at the control regime at a time of unrest. Some experts said the Saudi-led attempts at disrupting traffic in the conceded to Reuters. of the Iranian supreme leader and The Saudi Bab el Mandeb deci- coalition could be trying to get the Red Sea. Although they seem to be taking the more than 60 bank accounts sion highlights the rejection by attention of international powers. Saudi Arabia suspended its ship- turns acknowledging Trump’s hos- supposedly held by a prominent Ira- Riyadh of Iran’s role in supplying “A spike in oil prices… may be ments through the Bab el Mandeb tile tweets, Iranian leaders are likely nian politician. He spoke of a former weapons the Houthis are using in short-lived, but the impact on Yem- Strait but crude supplies elsewhere to have taken notice of the United Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Yemen as well as the missiles fired en’s forgotten war is likely to put have not been in jeopardy. States’ apparent designs on regime commander nicknamed the “bil- at Saudi Arabia. the devastating conflict on the front “All [Saudi] oil shipments change in Tehran. lionaire general.” Anwar Gargash, UAE minister burner,” Middle East expert James through Bab el Mandeb Strait have Building on protests in Iran for Pompeo described Iran’s clerical of state for foreign affairs, said the Dorsey told Agence France-Presse. been suspended temporarily until… improved economic conditions, establishment as “hypocritical holy need to ensure freedom of naviga- “The Red Sea is a very impor- maritime transit through the area is Washington’s anti-Iranian narra- men” who “devised all kinds of tion in the Red Sea gives credence tant shipping lane. If there is a ma- safe,” Saudi Energy Minister Khalid tive included alleging corruption by crooked schemes to become some to the coalition’s battle for Hodei- jor disruption, European powers, al-Falih said. Iranian leaders, a tack likely to hit a of the wealthiest men on Earth.” dah port in Yemen. Egypt and the United States would Experts said Riyadh was trying nerve with Tehran’s rulers. “The level of corruption and “The only way forward is to get all have reason to intervene,” Ellen to send a strong message concern- “The Iranian economy is going wealth among Iranian leaders Hodeidah. What we are planning to Wald, author of “Saudi Inc.,” wrote ing the risks posed by Iran and its great but only if you’re a politically shows that Iran is run by something do is give diplomacy every possible in Forbes magazine. Houthi proxies in Yemen or near the connected member of the elite,” that resembles the mafia more than chance to secure that,” he said on Saudi border. declared US Secretary of State Mike a government,” he said. July 26. Mohammed Alkhereiji is the Gulf Freedom of navigation in the Red Pompeo on July 22 in a speech to Pompeo’s focus on alleged cor- He said the effect of the Houthis’ section editor of The Arab Weekly. Sea was at the core of threats to the Iranian-Americans in California. rupt practices of Iran’s leaders was attack on the Saudi tankers was United States by Iranian al-Quds Pompeo mentioned an alleged meant to make life difficult for Iran’s “much wider than the region.” Pages 2,4-8 Shadow of French, Italian divergences hangs over Libya Michel Cousins tional framework for elections in Among ordinary Libyans, there place by September 16 and elec- is as much mistrust of Italian in- tions December 10. tentions as there is of French. Tunis Italy’s new right-wing, anti-im- Franco-Italian rivalry in Libya, migration government has a very seen in a practical manner with Ita- even years on from Libya’s different take on Libya. Its prime ly offering more money for Libyan 2011 revolution, the coun- objective is to stanch the flow of health care while France report- try’s divisions remain as in- immigrants arriving on its shores. edly offered millions for the elec- S tractable as ever. Making that happen tops its do- tions, looks set to sharpen further. Officially, the international com- mestic agenda, seen in the fact The Italian government is cosying munity supports the plan driven that Trenta’s was not the first Ital- up to the United States and it was by the UN Support Mission in Lib- ian diplomatic offensive towards reported that Libya would be on ya headed by Ghassan Salame but Libya. the agenda at talks between Ital- some countries, including France There is much more to this than a ian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Italy, have been pursuing their different focus. and US President Donald Trump. own political plans for Libya. For the Italians, stability, secu- Ideologically the two are close: While Paris and Rome officially rity and reconciliation in Libya are Trump likewise sees immigration support Salame and the UN-bro- more immediate desires, not elec- as major issue. “The United States kered Government of National Ac- tions. Like many in the interna- and Italy will look to deepen coop- cord in Tripoli, headed by Fayez Looking south. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte (L) speaks tional community, they say polls by eration in addressing global con- al-Sarraj and the Presidency Coun- with French President Emmanuel Macron at EU headquarters in December 10 are recklessly overly flicts,” the White House said of the cil, there are sharp divergences Brussels, last June 24. (AFP) ambitious. Trenta told Sarraj that Washington meeting when it was between the two in their Libya elections should not be rushed. announced in June. policies. They have become barely ta, accompanied by Italian Chief the end of the year. That was the Privately, Italian officials go fur- The prospect of Italian-French disguised rivals for influence in the of Staff General Claudio Graziano, deal hammered out in Paris among ther. Unlike themselves, they say, rivalry over Libya with the Ameri- country. was in Libya. She met with Sar- French President Emmanuel Ma- the French, simply do not under- cans on the side of the Italians On July 23, French Foreign Min- raj in Tripoli, visited Misrata and cron, Sarraj, Haftar and the presi- stand Libya. How well Italy really looks like a distinct possibility. ister Jean-Yves Le Drian made a promised she would return soon dents of the House of Representa- understands Libya is another mat- Whether any of this helps Libyans lightning tour of the country, visit- for talks with Field-Marshal Khal- tives and the State Council. ter. “Italy is close to Libya and will to a better life is another matter. ing Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi and ifa Haftar. The aim of Le Drian’s visit was help it to resist foreign interfer- Tobruk. The following day, Italian The central pillar of French to pressure all four to stick to the ence,” Trenta said after returning Michel Cousins is a contributor to Defence Minister Elisabetta Tren- policy in Libya is elections before deal, including having a constitu- to Italy. The Arab Weekly on Libyan issues. 2 July 29, 2018 News & Analysis Gulf Rising regional tensions put spotlight on Gulf security concerns Mohammed Alkhereiji the strategic port city of Hodeidah. Since the start of the military drive to liberate the port and the London city, the Houthis have increased missile attacks targeting civilian ensions in the Gulf region areas in Saudi Arabia and allegedly have seen a significant also attempted a drone attack on spike with possible ramifi- the Abu Dhabi airport. The UAE T cations beyond the Middle government denied such an attack East. took place. The collapse of the international The Houthis also attacked two nuclear agreement and dealing Saudi tankers on July 25, lead- with demonstrations at home have ing Riyadh to suspend shipments led to heightened rhetoric from through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, Iranian officials, while their prox- a decision that caused a spike in oil ies, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, prices.