DAILY SCOPE: UNSC ‘Legitimizes’ Yemen War

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

UNSC Does Not Stop War on Yemen, Opens Window to ‘Iranian' Settlement

AL-AKHBAR:

UNSC ‘Legitimizes' Aggression
 
AN-NAHAR:

‘Diplomatic Win' to Gulf Countries in UNSC

AL-BINAA:

Yemen on UNSC Cross-Roads: Long War, Cheering Prize, or Major Deal?

THE DAILY STAR:

UN Arms Embargo Targets Yemen's Houthis

Wednesday morning, the world wakes up to news headlines on major international and regional developments, with the war on Yemen ‘legitimized' by the UN Security Council with Russia solely vetoing the decision. Moreover, at the time the Congress has been given permission to vote on the Iranian nuclear deal, a report uncovers more classified information on German support to "Israel" in manufacturing its nuclear warheads.

UN Security Council Legitimizes War on Yemen --- Al-Akhbar

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution targeting the Houthi Ansarullah movement in Yemen, amid ongoing deadly airstrikes on the nation by Saudi Arabia, with Russia being the only abstaining in the Council.

The council's imposed sanctions include an arms embargo, asset freezes and travel ban against Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the movement, Yemen's former dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and his son Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh. The resolution also calls for an immediate ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid to the airstrike victims and ensuring the safety of civilians.

Sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that Prime Minister of the ousted government, Khaled al-Bahhah is determined to return to Sanaa to deal with the crisis from inside the country after he was assigned as President-depute by resigned president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi a few days ago.

The new development came as Yemen's Popular Committees, consisting of Ansarullah fighters and army forces, have made more gains in its fight against al-Qaeda-linked militants in Yemen, despite the ongoing Saudi attacks. Saudi Arabia started its deadly attacks on Yemen on March 26, without a UN mandate, in a bid to restore power to the fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.

Britain Sucked into Yemen Conflict --- THE GUARDIAN 

Saudi pilots flying British Typhoon jets have been bombing Houthi rebels in Yemen - the first time the British-made warplanes have been used in anger by a foreign air force, the Guardian reported.

"Unfortunately it is no surprise that UK jets are being used (in Yemen). Successive governments have given an almost uncritical backing and support to the Saudi regime; regardless of the abuses it has carried ou", says Andrew Smith of Campaign against Arms Trade.

He adds: "It is civilians who are paying the price, and we have already seen large numbers killed and wounded by the assault on Yemen."

Asked during his recent visit to Washington what practical support Britain could provide to Saudi Arabia, Philip Hammond, the UK foreign secretary replied: "Political support, of course, logistical and technical support".

Hammond said "The UK has a strong relationship with the Saudi Air Force. We train the Saudi Air Force, a large part of which is equipped with British aircraft; Tornadoes and Typhoons and UK munitions," adding "We'll support the Saudis in every practical way short of engaging in combat."

Saudi Arabia is Britain's biggest single arms market - the government has licensed £3.9bn of weapons to the Kingdom.

Secret Help, Funding to "Israeli" Nuclear Weapons --- New York Times

West Germany secretly helped and funded "Israel" with its development of nuclear weapons in the 1960s, the NY Times quoted a report published in the German daily Die Welt on Tuesday.

The government of former German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer clandestinely channeled hundreds of millions of dollars into "Israel's" nuclear program, said the report, adding that the informal deal was made when former "Israeli" President Shimon Peres was in charge of the regime's nuclear weapons project.

On May 14, 1960, Adenauer met with the then-"Israeli" PM, David Ben-Gurion, in New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel, where it was agreed that a total of 500 million dollars be given to Israel under the guise of a 10-year loan for the development of the Dimona nuclear facility in the Negev desert.

The "Israeli" regime, widely believed to possess between 200 to 400 nuclear warheads in its arsenals, refuses to either allow inspections of its nuclear facilities or join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Obama to Allow US Congress to Vote on Iran N-Deal --- LA TIMES 

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Tuesday that Obama was not "particularly thrilled" by a new proposal put together by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, consisting of Republican and Democrat members, Los Angeles Times reported.

"What we have made clear to Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is that the president would be willing to sign the proposed compromise that is working its way through the committee today," Earnest told reporters.

According to the new proposal, reached between the committee's Republican chairman, Senator Bob Corker and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, a democrat, the review period for a nuclear deal with Tehran would be shortened to 52 days from the original 60. The revised version also eases some other objections the Obama administration had raised.

The Obama administration has been engaged in efforts to prevent the Republican-weighted Congress from measures against a deal with Tehran. Iran and the P5+1 group - the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany - reached a landmark understanding over Tehran's nuclear program in Switzerland on April 2, with both sides working now to draft a final accord by the end of June.

Source: al-Ahed news