The US announced the sale of over USD 5 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the same day that the UN announced the extension of the truce in Yemen for two more months
The strike held on Tuesday was the second such strike by food delivery workers in the UAE, a rare occurrence in the tightly-run Gulf state
In a strongly worded statement, the UNSC labelled the Houthis as a ‘terrorist’ group despite human rights groups warning against such a move due to its adverse humanitarian and diplomatic consequences for the civilian population in Yemen
A year ago, the Joe Biden administration had announced the end of US’ role in the Saudi Arabia and UAE-led war in Yemen which has killed hundreds of thousands and caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis
UAE, a partner in the Saudi coalition waging a war in Yemen, has demanded the US to redesignate the Houthis as a terrorist orgnization
The arms deal included the sale of 50 F-35 fighter jets, 18 armed reaper drones, air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions and other advanced weaponry by the US to the UAE
The court also ordered the government body responsible for implementing the country’s National Conventional Arms Control Act to publicly disclose the names of all South African companies that have obtained permits to export weapons to the two Arab countries
The Joe Biden administration had earlier suspended its predecessor’s decision, pending review, to sell USD 23 billion worth of arms including 50 advanced F-35 fighter jets and 18 MQ 9-B unmanned Aerial Systems to the UAE
According to the UN official, three human rights activists have been subject to conditions inside the UAE prisons amounting to torture
According to Canada-based Citizen Lab, the UAE and Saudi Arabia hacked the Al-Jazeera journalists’ iPhones using Israel-based NSO group’s Pegasus spyware
Two different letters signed by various international organizations were issued on November 30. The signatories ask the US to end all military cooperation with the UAE and also to end its support to the war in Yemen
Sale of F-35 fighter aircraft and advanced drones to the UAE is expected to increase the arms race in the Middle East region. Activists have especially flagged the potential use of these weapons in Yemen
- Sudan and Israel announce plans for a peace deal
- Massive workers’ rallies across UK defend the right to strike
- Iran blames Israel for last week’s attack on Isfahan military site
- Massive rally in Brussels demands refinancing and more staff in health and non-profit sectors
- Five social media influencers arrested in Egypt for making a satirical video
