50 UAE, Bahrain Troops Killed in Yemen Clashes
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SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 THULQADA 21, 1436 AH No: 16631 MP calls to shut Drowned Syrian Asian football Iran embassy boys buried in fans cringe over after statement3 town they7 fled record48 scores 50 UAE, Bahrain troops killed in Yemen clashes Min 30º 150 Fils Black day for coalition • Amir sends condolences Max 42º ABU DHABI: The UAE said 45 of its troops were killed in Yemen and Bahrain said it lost five soldiers yesterday, the deadliest day for a Saudi-led coalition battling Yemeni Shiite rebels. The Yemeni government said an “accidental explosion” at an arms depot at a military base in the eastern province of Marib killed the Emiratis, but the Houthi rebels said their fighters launched a rocket attack that caused the blast. Coalition ally Bahrain said five of its soldiers were killed in southern Saudi Arabia where they had been posted to help defend the border with war- wracked Yemen, but it did not give a precise location. However, Yemen’s exiled presidency said the Bahrainis died in the same blast that killed the Emirati forces. Twenty three soldiers wounded in the incident died of their injuries, raising the toll from an initial 22, the Emirati state news agency WAM reported. The UAE armed forces did not dis- close the circumstances of what was its highest casualty toll of the six-month-old air war. But Anwar Gargash, UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, said on Twitter yesterday that “a rocket and an explosion at a weapons cache targeted the martyrs”. HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- Sabah yesterday sent a cable of condolences to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on the martyrdom of the UAE soldiers. Sheikh Sabah also sent a cable of condolences to Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on the martyrdom of the WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama meets King Salman of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office of the White Bahraini soldiers. The Amir praised Allah the Almighty to House yesterday. — AP bestow his blessings on the deceased. HH the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al- Sabah sent similar cables. Obama meets King Salman A thick plume of black smoke was still seen billowing from the base in Safer, 250 km from Sanaa, several hours later. The Houthis WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama welcomed a spin as possible on the meeting,” said Anthony said their forces had killed “dozens of officers and soldiers of the Saudi Arabia’s King Salman for a first and long-delayed Cordesman of the Center for Strategic and International mercenaries in the Saudi aggression” when they fired a Tochka White House summit yesterday, marked by warm public Studies. “Both nations are close strategic partners in spite ballistic missile at the Safer camp. An initial investigation found words amid clashing views on Middle Eastern crises. of their differences, and both states need each other.” that the blast was triggered by a surface-to-surface missile fired Obama made the rare move of greeting the monarch at Saudi Arabia began a bombing campaign in Yemen to by the rebels, a Yemeni military source said. — Agencies the doors of the White House, as he hailed the “longstand- oust Iranian-backed rebels soon after Salman and his son ing friendship” between the two countries. Salman’s inau- and defense minister, Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad, gural visit as king - originally scheduled for May and can- came to power. The United States has supported that celled by Riyadh - has been billed as a way of putting rela- effort, but has repeatedly warned about the impact the Kuwait won’t tions back on a more stable footing. fighting has had on civilians. Obama also said that the pair In the Oval Office, Obama was effusive, saying he want- “share concerns about the crisis in Syria and will have the deport Syrians ed to “once again reaffirm not only our personal friend- opportunity to discuss how we can arrive at a political tran- ship, but the deep and abiding friendship between our sition process within Syria that can... end the horrific con- ISTANBUL: In a major move, Kuwait has informed the United two people”. For his part Salman said his visit was a “sym- flict there.” Nations that it will allow all Syrians currently in the country to bol of the deep and strong relationship that we have with But Saudi Arabia’s backing for opposition groups like remain when their current visas expire, a UN official said yes- the United States.” But behind the warm public state- Jaysh al-Islam, an amalgam of factions that include hard- terday. There are an estimated 120,000 Syrians in Kuwait, ments, there are deep disagreements on Syria and Yemen line Islamists, has concerned the White House. Riyadh mostly on work visas. “For each one whose visa expires, they as well as lingering Saudi doubts about the nuclear deal views Sunni fighters as a counterbalance to the Iranian- will, by default, get a long-term visa,” Mohammed Abu with Iran. Saudi Arabia publicly voiced tepid support for backed Shiite militias helping prop up Bashar Al-Assad. Asaker, a spokesman for the UN agency for refugees (UNHCR), the Iran deal, but privately expressed grave misgivings that “The kingdom sees the conflict against the Iranian-sup- told the dpa news agency by telephone from Abu Dhabi. the nuclear agreement may legitimize their arch-foe Iran. ported Assad regime as an extension of the wider Persian- None of the six Gulf monarchies that make up the Gulf Obama acknowledged only that the two sides would Arab rivalry” said Simon Henderson of the Washington Cooperation Council (GCC) - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, have much to discuss. “This is obviously a challenging time Institute for Near East Policy. Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - are signatories to in world affairs, particularly in the Middle East,” Obama Ahead of the meeting senior Obama foreign policy aide the 1951 UN convention on refugees. However, Abu Asaker said, saying the pair would discuss a “wide range of issues”. Ben Rhodes said the White House wants to make sure both noted that the UN has not recorded any cases of a GCC nation Obama said the two sides “share concerns” about the need countries “have a common view” on which Syrian opposi- kicking out Syrians and deporting them to their war-torn to restore a functioning government in Yemen and relieve tion groups get support. “We are looking to isolate more homeland. Criticism of the GCC for not doing more to help an urgent humanitarian crisis. These meetings normally extremist elements of the opposition, that’s been an ongo- refugees has been growing as Europe faces a migrant crisis, end in “some kind of public statement that puts as positive ing conversation with Saudi Arabia,” he said. — AFP with the number of people, especially Syrians, seeking refuge on the continent increasingly rapidly. — Agencies LOCAL SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah meets former US ambassador to Kuwait Matthew KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah meets Ministry of Interior’s Tueller. Undersecretary Lt Gen Sulaiman Al-Fahad. — KUNA Jarallah discusses GCC-US summit with MoI official KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah met of the Camp David Summit between Gulf Cooperation Council Matthew Tueller, who is currently US Ambassador to Yemen. Ministry of Interior’s Undersecretary Lieutenant General states and the United States. Assistant Deputy Minister for Tueller, who is currently on a private visit to Kuwait, discussed Sulaiman Al-Fahad to discuss assessment of the second GCC- Follow-up and Coordination Naser Al-Subaih attended the the region’s developments with Jarallah. Deputy Assistant US working group. The group stems from the senior officials meeting. Foreign Minister for the Americas Fadhel Al-Hassan attended committee in charge of following up on the implementation Separately, Jarallah met former US ambassador to Kuwait the meeting. — KUNA Kuwaiti diplomat, Mexican official meet in Mexico City MEXICO CITY: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Mexico Sameeh Johar Hayat held a meeting with head of the Government of the Federal District and Mayor of MANAMA: Kuwaiti Ambassador Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah meets Mexico City Miguel Angel Mancera, dis- Nabeel Al-Hamar, media advisor to Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al- cussing with him a number of issues Khalifa. — KUNA connected with bilateral relations, said Kuwait Embassy in Mexico. Ambassador Bahraini official lauds Hayat touched on the twin agreement between both Kuwait and Mexico cities, relations with Kuwait signed some three years ago, the embassy said on yesterday. MANAMA: Media advisor to Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Nabeel Al- The ambassador called for means to Hamar lauded yesterday the strong deep relations connecting Kuwait and Bahrain. revitalize the agreement to meet the During a reception of Kuwaiti Ambassador Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah, expectations of citizens in both coun- Hamar lauded the senior Kuwaiti diplomat for his efforts in bolstering ties, said a tries, said the statement, adding that MEXICO CITY: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Mexico Sameeh statement by the embassy. Sheikh Azzam thanked the Bahraini official for his sin- the meeting also touched on the Johar Hayat is pictured with head of the Government of cere sentiments, affirming that he will continue on his mission to boost Kuwaiti- expected visit by Mancera to Kuwait the Federal District and Mayor of Mexico City Miguel Bahraini relations. — KUNA later this year. — KUNA Angel Mancera. — KUNA Interior Minister lauds embassy’s efforts in boosting ties with Italy ROME: Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah lauded yester- day the strong relations with Italy, highlighting in this regard the role played by the Kuwaiti diplomatic mission in Rome in promot- ing ties.