Yemen's Alimi: Mahrah is No Longer Isolated

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)
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Yemen's Alimi: Mahrah is No Longer Isolated

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi, and the Governor of Al-Mahra in a meeting with the local authority (Saba)

Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad al-Alimi confirmed that the al-Mahrah governorate is no longer isolated and has become at the heart of the battle against the Houthi militias.

Alimi directed adopting the Mehri language and preserving it as one of the most critical aspects of the global heritage.

Speaking before the local authority, security, military leaders, and various figures in the governorate, Alimi praised the remarkable efforts of the local authority in the governorate and its security services in combating the smuggling of weapons, drugs, and organized crime.

Alimi, and the accompanying delegation, arrived in Mahrah on Wednesday on his first visit to the governorate bordering Oman since he assumed the presidential position in April last year.

According to the official Yemeni News Agency (Saba), Alimi will inaugurate during his visit and lay the foundation stone for several service and development projects.

The Chairman recalled the status of Mahrah in Yemeni history, the Mehri language throughout the ages, and its role in alleviating the humanitarian crisis, as it is an eastern gateway to Yemen.

He also described the governorate as a haven for tens of thousands of displaced people, pledging to make it a top priority and enable its people to manage their administrative affairs.

Alimi affirmed the commitment of the Leadership Council and the government to boosting the role of its local authorities, supporting its efforts to achieve security and stability, and improving essential services in its various directorates, as reported by Saba.

He called on the people of Mahrah to be vigilant in the face of the danger of terrorist organizations and groups.

- An invitation to invest

Alimi expressed happiness at visiting Mahrah and meeting with its local and community leaders to serve its citizens and alleviate their suffering exacerbated by the Houthi attacks on oil facilities and international shipping lines.

He acknowledged the difficult conditions that the governorate is going through, indicating that government interventions are required to alleviate the suffering of its citizens with the support of brotherly countries, namely Saudi Arabia and its humanitarian and development programs.

The President called on investors and businessmen to take advantage of the promising opportunities, noting the commitment of the Leadership Council and the government to boost the role of local authorities, support their efforts to achieve security and stability, and improve essential services.

He lauded the unique political, cultural, and social diversity in Mahrah, representing a living embodiment of coexistence and societal harmony.

Mahrah is strategically important, bordering Oman over 550 km with two border crossings, Sharifat and Shaheen, and Nishtun port, one of the essential Yemeni commercial ports.

Terrorist groups have used the governorate to smuggle weapons, drugs, and terrorist elements.

- Saudi support

Alimi sent a message of thanks and gratitude to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, for supporting the Yemeni people and their political leadership.

He expressed the gratitude and pride of Yemen, its leadership, government, and people for the Kingdom's fraternal stances in various stages and circumstances, leading to its urgent response to support the state's general budget.

He asserted that Saudi Arabia is committed to alleviating human suffering, developing Yemen, and defending the interests and identity of its people.

According to Saba, Alimi thanked the Saudi leadership for the royal directives to accelerate the new aid estimated at $1.2 billion and deposited the first batch.

He indicated that it sent a clear message that Yemen has loyal brothers, and that the Kingdom remains at the forefront of efforts to restore state institutions and achieve the just peace that the Yemeni people deserve.

Alimi also lauded the efforts of Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi team concerned with Yemeni-Saudi relations, and all development and humanitarian programs, namely the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief).



Hamas Official Says Miami Talks Must End Israel's Gaza Truce 'Violations'

12 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Khan Younis: Palestinians shop in a market in the middle of the destruction in Khan Younis, after the Israeli Forces withdrew as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
12 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Khan Younis: Palestinians shop in a market in the middle of the destruction in Khan Younis, after the Israeli Forces withdrew as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
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Hamas Official Says Miami Talks Must End Israel's Gaza Truce 'Violations'

12 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Khan Younis: Palestinians shop in a market in the middle of the destruction in Khan Younis, after the Israeli Forces withdrew as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
12 February 2025, Palestinian Territories, Khan Younis: Palestinians shop in a market in the middle of the destruction in Khan Younis, after the Israeli Forces withdrew as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa

A top Hamas official said that talks in Miami on Friday to advance the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire must aim to end Israeli truce "violations" in the Palestinian territory.

"Our people expect these talks to result in an agreement to put an end to ongoing Israeli lawlessness, halt all violations and compel the occupation to abide by the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement," Hamas political bureau member, Bassem Naim, told AFP.

The United States is hosting the discussions, with President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, expected to meet senior officials from mediator countries Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye in Florida to push for the second stage of the ceasefire deal.


Egypt Signals Possible Activation of Joint Defense Pact to Safeguard Sudan’s Unity

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the reception of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Presidency)
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the reception of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Presidency)
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Egypt Signals Possible Activation of Joint Defense Pact to Safeguard Sudan’s Unity

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the reception of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Presidency)
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the reception of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Cairo on Thursday (Egyptian Presidency)

Egypt has drawn explicit “red lines” regarding the conflict in Sudan, warning that any attempt to cross them would directly threaten Egyptian national security.

Cairo signaled it is prepared to take all measures permitted under the Joint Defense Agreement between the two countries, a position analysts describe as Cairo’s most forceful since the outbreak of war in Sudan in 2023.

The statement coincided with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi receiving on Thursday Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council.

El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s “full support for the Sudanese people in overcoming the current critical phase,” stressing Cairo’s unwavering commitment to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, security, and stability, according to presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy.

During the visit, Egypt also renewed its support for US President Donald Trump’s vision for achieving peace and stability in Sudan, aligning with Washington’s broader approach to de-escalation and conflict resolution.

For the first time since the conflict began, Cairo publicly articulated non-negotiable red lines, stressing that Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity are inseparable from Egypt’s own national security. These red lines include preventing the partition of Sudan, protecting the country’s resources, and preserving its state institutions.

The Egyptian presidency underscored that safeguarding Sudan’s institutions is highly important and affirmed Egypt’s “full right to take all necessary measures under international law,” including the possible activation of the Joint Defense Agreement to prevent any violations.

Egypt and Sudan signed a military cooperation agreement in March 2021 covering training, border security, and countering shared threats, building on a Joint Defense Agreement concluded in 1976 to confront external dangers.

Maj. Gen. Yahya Kadwani, a member of Egypt’s parliamentary Committee on Defense and National Security, warned that efforts to divide Sudan necessitate firm red lines to protect Sudanese state assets and Egypt’s own security.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that invoking the joint defense pact signals strong coordination within international legitimacy and existing bilateral agreements.

The presidency said Egypt is deeply concerned by ongoing escalation in Sudan and the resulting “horrific massacres and flagrant violations of basic human rights,” particularly in El Fasher.

Cairo categorically rejected the creation or recognition of any parallel political or military entities, warning that such moves would undermine Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.

Ambassador Salah Halima, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, said Egyptian-Sudanese coordination aims to protect Egyptian, Sudanese, and Arab national security, noting that both countries are members of the Council of Red Sea Coastal States, which plays a strategic role in defense and development.

He added that Egypt’s stance aligns with the International Quartet initiative and a proposal advanced by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the United States.

The roadmap calls for a three-month humanitarian truce, integration of the Rapid Support Forces into the Sudanese Armed Forces, and preservation of military cohesion.

The Quartet, which includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, proposed last August a plan for a three-month humanitarian ceasefire, followed by a permanent cessation of hostilities and a political process leading to an independent civilian government within nine months.

Al-Burhan’s visit to Cairo followed talks in Saudi Arabia, where he affirmed Sudan’s readiness to work with Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US envoy Massad Boulos to end the war.

Amani Al-Tawil, Director of the Africa Program at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said Egypt’s position represents its strongest stance yet and aligns with Saudi and US calls to preserve Sudan’s unity, halt the war, reject parallel entities, and protect state institutions.


Israel Considers Special Military Court to Seek Death Penalty for Hamas Fighters

A fighter from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, affiliated with Hamas, oversees the search for the bodies of Israeli hostages, with the participation of Red Cross personnel, in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Dec. 1, 2025. (EPA) 
A fighter from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, affiliated with Hamas, oversees the search for the bodies of Israeli hostages, with the participation of Red Cross personnel, in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Dec. 1, 2025. (EPA) 
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Israel Considers Special Military Court to Seek Death Penalty for Hamas Fighters

A fighter from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, affiliated with Hamas, oversees the search for the bodies of Israeli hostages, with the participation of Red Cross personnel, in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Dec. 1, 2025. (EPA) 
A fighter from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, affiliated with Hamas, oversees the search for the bodies of Israeli hostages, with the participation of Red Cross personnel, in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Dec. 1, 2025. (EPA) 

Israel is weighing extraordinary legal measures that could result in the execution of up to 100 Hamas fighters accused of taking part in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

Defense Minister Israel Katz and Justice Minister Yariv Levin have discussed the creation of a dedicated military court to try hundreds of members of Hamas’ elite “Nukhba” unit, part of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, according to Israeli media reports.

Officials familiar with the deliberations said the proposed court would have the authority to impose the death penalty, with military prosecutors expected to seek capital punishment for about 100 defendants facing the gravest charges.

Senior figures from the Israeli army and the Justice Ministry attended the talks, including Itai Ofir, the chief military prosecutor, the Times of Israel reported. Katz said Israel was determined to punish those responsible for the attack “in a way that leaves no ambiguity,” adding that anyone who harms Israeli civilians “will be held fully accountable.”

The discussions come shortly after the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, released updated principles for controversial legislation that would mandate the death penalty for those involved in the October 7 assault.

The bill, which passed an initial Knesset vote in November and is now being debated in the National Security Committee, would allow military courts to impose capital punishment on Palestinians by a simple majority of judges.

Military sources said Israel is holding about 450 Palestinian prisoners classified as Hamas “elite” fighters, far fewer than the thousands initially cited at the start of the war.

According to Israeli officials, prosecutors intend to seek death sentences, most likely by firing squad, after the Israeli Medical Association reportedly declined to take part in executions by lethal injection.

Channel 14 said the detainees are being held at a special military facility under heavy guard, in conditions that have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations.

Officials have spent nearly two years debating how to prosecute the suspects in a way that would ensure execution.

The preferred option, according to the report, is to conduct trials outside the regular judicial system in highly public proceedings, likened to the trial of Nazi official Adolf Eichmann, who was abducted by the Mossad in Argentina in 1960, tried by a special tribunal in Jerusalem, and executed in 1962.

Critics warned that such high-profile trials could become a platform for putting Israel itself on trial over events preceding Oct. 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Israeli authorities said they have compiled extensive evidence, including documents seized in Gaza, interrogations of detainees, and video footage recorded by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters during the attack.

The move comes amid rising tensions in Israeli prisons. Prison Service Commissioner Kobi Yaakobi recently warned of a possible inmate uprising due to harsh conditions.

The Prison Service later said his comments were taken out of context, insisting its policies, which are overseen by Ben-Gvir, are effective and that it is prepared for “any scenario.”

More than 9,500 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including 3,360 in administrative detention without charge or trial. Palestinian prisoner groups say at least 110 detainees have died in custody since the war began, including 50 from Gaza.