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YEMEN CRISIS WATCH Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group (23 - 29 December 2019) KEY EVENTS 6

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YEMEN CRISIS WATCH Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group (23 - 29 December 2019) KEY EVENTS 6 © 2019 YEMEN CRISIS WATCH Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group (23 - 29 December 2019) www.behorizon.org KEY EVENTS 6. Houthis: Prepared to cause greater pain, hit 9 Saudi-Emirati targets 29 December 2019. Houthi military units have prepared targets including critical centers across the 1.UN relief chief condemns attacks against humanitarian premises in Yemen main Gulf states leading the Arab coalition in support of the Yemeni internationally-recognized 23 December 2019. Mark Lowcock issued a statement on Monday condemning the attacks on government, spokesman for the rebels said Sunday. "Our forces' target bank is divided into three 21-22 December against the premises of three international aid organizations in Al Dhale’e, located levels, by significance," Yahiya Sarie added at a press conference. "The first level includes 9 very in the south-west of the country. They were carried out by unknown individuals using critical targets; 6 in Saudi Arabia and 3 in the United Arab Emirates." Debriefer rocket-propelled grenades. “These events represent an alarming escalation in the risks faced by 7. Weapons looted from Yemeni army bases find a diversity of buyers in Aden humanitarian workers in Yemen. Twelve organizations have now been forced to suspend aid 29 December 2019. Arms dealers in Yemen’s interim capital Aden completed a number of sales of programmes in Al Dhale'e, which will affect 217,000 local residents. Several organizations are looted government weapons in recent days, brokers involved in the deals told Almasdar working with local staff to ensure the most essential activities can continue,” he said.UN News Online.Some of the weapons sold in recent days went to military commanders in the internationally 2. Houthi military spokesman: Our 2019' qualitative military operations hurt coalition” recognized government, while others went to leaders of STC-aligned forces, the arms dealer said. But 28 December 2019. The military spokesman of Houthi groupe (Ansar Allah), Yahya Saree, listed on a large portion of the weapons were sold to armed men whose political identities were unknown, he Sunday a detailed report on what he called "developments of the combat situation on the fronts added. The arms sales were carried out with the knowledge of STC leaders, the arms dealer said. and the outcome of the year 2019." Saree revealed that the coalition warplanes launched 6,534 raids Government Almasdaronline on 9 governorates during the year 2019, 50% of which targeted Saada governorate, in northeastern Houthis 8. Government forces surround Shabwa military camp housing Emirati troops Yemen, with 3,615 strikes, followed by Hajjah Governorate, west of Yemen, which was exposed to STC 29 December 2019. Army and security forces loyal to government have deployed around Al-Alam more than 1427 air raids, then the capital, Sana'a, with more than 424 air raids, and Al-Jawf with AQAP IS-Y military camp in Shabwa Governorate, where UAE forces are stationed, a local military official told 211 air raids, while the rest was distributed over the air raids in the other provinces. Almasdar Online. The deployed forces are searching all vehicles passing by the camp, according to Saree said that his group's forces succeeded in repelling more than 1,226 military operations for the the official, who said that Majid Lamrouk, commander of the UAE-backed Shabwani Elite’s 7th coalition forces, including 163 offensive operations, 656 marches, and 407 infiltration attempts. Brigade, is inside the camp under the protection of the Emiratis. Located in Jardan District to the He pointed out that the number of military operations carried out by their forces during the year east of Shabwa’s capital city of Ataq, Al-Alam Camp has the second largest footprint of UAE forces 2019 amounted to "1686 operations along the scene of combat operations and the extension of the in the governorate. The largest UAE presence is in Balhaf camp at the liquified natural gas facility on map of confrontations, including 607 offensive operations, 1044 raid operations and 35infiltration Political Humanitarian Ballistic Missile / Armed Yemen’s southern coast. Almasdaronline operations."According to military spokesman of Houthi group (Ansar Allah), his group's air Situation Situation Drone Use Conflict 9. Military source: UAE appoints Security Belt commander defense units were able to shoot down 96 coalition planes distributed between 7 combat planes, 9 26 December 2019. The recent departure of Abyan’s Security Belt commander, Abdul Latif low reconnaissance planes and 53 spy planes, while the group's snipers unit carried out 16,643 Al-Sayed, is likely final, according to a military official in the governorate, who said that a successor operations in which 228 Saudi and officer killed, 142 Sudanese, and 16050 Yemeni government ASSESSMENT has already been appointed behind the scenes. The official did not obtain the family name of forces. Debriefer ❏ This week Houthis restarted targeting Saudi soil after a long pause due to ongoing Al-Sayed’s successor, but said that his nickname is “Al-Yafai” and that he is "known amongst the 3. Blast hits military parade in Yemen negotiations between the sides. In order to distance regional actors from the local leadership" of the UAE-backed forces in Abyan. Almasdaronline 29 December 2019. A blast hit a military graduation parade in Yemen’s southern town of conflict in Yemen, Houthis further made show of force by threatening to hit Saudi and 10. The Government and STC Agree on Names of Candidates for the Posts of Governor of Al-Dhalea, Yemen’s Security Belt forces said in a tweet on Sunday. No claim of responsibility had Aden and Director of Security yet been made. Witnesses told Reuters that a blast near a guest platform went off during theparade. Emirati high value targets. They also signed a military cooperation deal with Iran, a 29 December 2019. The newly formed Joint Political Committee from the government and STC to Six people died and between 15 and 25 were injured, according to local health authority figures first of its kind. implement the Riyadh Agreement reached a preliminary agreement on the names of candidates for quoted by the local forces’ spokesman. Reuters ❏ The dynamics effective in break-out of the war in Yemen were local and after regional the position of governor of Aden and the director of security. Both sides proposed 5 names for each 4. Houthis launch ballistic missile at Saudi city of Najran intervention, local dynamics kick in again towards the end of the conflict. As KSA and of the posts. Alomanaa.net 28 December 2019. On Friday, spokesman of the Houthis, Mohamed Abdul-Salam, posted on UAE has less incentive and appetite in continuing a devastating war in Yemen, local 11. How a Handf ul of Elites are Plundering the Oil Wealth of the Nation Twitter: “A ballistic missile was launched at the leadership camp of Brigade 19 of the border guards 24 December 2019. According to a report published by Reuters in July, Yemen’s internationally in the city of Najran.” He added: “The attack resulted in tens of death and injuries among the actors will have to find solution to end the war. recognized government has called on oil companies to restart production and exploration in the Saudi troops, including senior officers.” This was the first attack since the Houthis had announced ❏ The yardstick to measure prospects of success for local actors will likely be how much they country. a one-sided truce in September. Middle East Monitor are committed to the peace in Yemen. There are positive steps in the implementation of Foreign companies have headed the call, and multiple meetings have taken place in Cairo Egypt, 5. Yemen Houthis, Iran sign first military cooperation deal the Riyadh Agreement like nomination of names to govern Aden. However, news about between foreign oil companies and the Yemeni oil and gas ministry. However, crippling corruption is 23 December 2019. An Ambassador appointed by Yemen’s Houthis to Tehran Ibrahim Dailami has internal strifes between government and STC forces and political efforts to use turning investment opportunities for the nation into ‘looting opportunity’ for the oil minister and a signed a military cooperation deal with Iran, in the first such formal deal between the two parties. handful of predatory elites, selling oil blocks and contracts to who pays the top commission to them, The announcement is the first official recognition by the Yemeni group of cooperating militarily national wealth for corruption shows it will not be easy to move in the direction of peace. rather than to which company will generate more income for the nation. Medium.com with Iran. Middle East Monitor © 2019 YEMEN CRISIS WATCH Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group (16 - 22 December 2019) www.behorizon.org KEY EVENTS 7. US investigation claims 'high likelihood' Saudi Aramco oil facility attacked from Iran 1.U.N. hosts renewed talks on contested Yemeni port city 20 December 2019. A US probe into a missile strike on Saudi Arabia's key oil facility in September has 18 December 2019. Yemen’s warring parties have renewed talks on how to implement a year-old truce in unearthed new evidence that the raid originated north of the kingdom, contradicting claims of the contested port city of Hodeida. responsibility by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The US report assesses that one of the drones used in the attack The two days of meetings are taking place on a boat off the coast of the city, according to a statement by was recorded approximately 200 kilometres northwest of the attack site before hitting its target, which the United Nations mission tasked with supporting the agreement. Previous negotiations between the "indicates with high likelihood that the attack originated north of Abqaiq." The findings also identified Houthi rebels and Saudi-led coalition have repeatedly collapsed.
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