China Sends ‘Night Tigers’ to Syria

Syrian residents are seen reacting after shelling in Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria November 17, 2017. (Reuters)
Syrian residents are seen reacting after shelling in Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria November 17, 2017. (Reuters)
TT

China Sends ‘Night Tigers’ to Syria

Syrian residents are seen reacting after shelling in Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria November 17, 2017. (Reuters)
Syrian residents are seen reacting after shelling in Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria November 17, 2017. (Reuters)

Chinese Special Forces will soon head to Syria to participate in countering terrorism of the Islamic East Turkestan Movement in the Damascus countryside, said the Hmeimim Russian Military Base, west Syria.

The base posted on its Facebook page that the Chinese Ministry of Defense intends to send two units, known as the “Tigers of Siberia” and the “Night Tigers” from the Special Operations Forces, to aid Syrian regime troops against the Islamic East Turkestan Movement that was sighted aiding terrorist groups in Syria.

There are an estimated 2,500 Islamic East Turkestan Movement militants operating in Syria.

Meanwhile, shelling and bombardment became less frequent on Eastern Ghouta near Damascus on Tuesday afternoon. This allowed humanitarian aid to enter besieged cities and towns as the United Nations announced the Syrian regime had accepted a ceasefire in the area.

UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura said the regime had agreed to a Russian proposal for a ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta.

He told reporters that the regime had accepted a truce proposal put forward by Moscow ahead of the latest round of peace talks in Geneva, which began on Tuesday. He stated however that the deal was not yet implemented, adding: “We have to see if it happens."

"Now we need to see whether this takes place but it's not coincidental that this has actually been proposed and agreed upon just at the beginning of this session," he remarked.

Earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that relief teams with food and health supplies had entered Eastern Ghouta through al-Wafideen crossing.

The humanitarian aid comes after shelling on Hamuriyyah on Tuesday that killed 18 people and injured at least one.

The Observatory reported that several explosions were heard in Eastern Ghouta resulting from six airstrikes that targeted Hamurriyah that is held by the al-Rahman Corps.

The observatory documented that three citizens died, including two children, and at least 15 were injured, some of whom are still in serious conditions.

In light of recent events, Doctors without Borders (MSF) called on Tuesday for urgent medical supplies and respect for International Humanitarian Law on protecting medical facilities.

"Hundreds of people have been wounded in intense bombing and shelling in the besieged East Ghouta enclave near Damascus, Syria, in the last two weeks, creating a disaster for patients in need of medical treatment," stated the organization in its report.

The report added that from November 14 to 26, five MSF-supported field hospitals in East Ghouta treated 576 wounded patients and recorded 69 deaths.

MSF warned that 25 percent of the wounded and the dead are women or children under 15 years old.



Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
TT

Houthis in Yemen Strip their Head of Govt of his Powers

The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)
The Houthis prevented Ahmed al-Rahwi from naming the head of his office. (Houthi media)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have prevented their so-called prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahwi, from naming the head of his office.

The Houthis have instead forced him to appoint a person of their choosing against his wishes, revealed informed sources in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

The Houthis are attempting to strip al-Rahwi, who was named as head of the militias’ new government, of his powers, making his appointment simply a cover for imposing their agenda and favoring Houthis who are descended of the line of their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The sources revealed that al-Rahwi had headed to the government headquarters with Rabih al-Mehdi, the director of the office of his predecessor. Mehdi hails from the Abyan province that is held by the legitimate government.

Al-Rahwi was seeking to keep al-Mehdi in his post. However, a leading Houthi member, Mohammed Qassem al-Kabisi, who used to occupy the position of government secretary, barred him from making the appointment.

Kabisi even prevented al-Mehdi from entering his office, resulting in an argument with al-Rahwi.

Kabisi informed al-Rahwi that he had no authority in naming the head of his office, saying that he does instead.

Al-Rahwi turned to the Houthis’ so-called ruling high political council to resolve the dispute and was informed that he should accept Kabisi as head of his office despite his objection.

A decree was issued days later naming Kabisi to the post.

He will effectively hold absolute power in government, while al-Rahwi will simply play a figurative role and only be needed to approve decisions and procedures taken by the Houthi leadership, joining other ministers who have no real duties.

The Houthis have formed a new government that will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor in keeping actual power to the militias themselves.

The new lineup includes a pro-Houthi figure, with no diplomatic background or experience, who was named foreign minister, replacing leading General People's Congress member Hisham Sharaf.

The appointment only fueled claims that the Houthis were seeking to eliminate their partners from rule. Al-Rahwi himself had no say in the lineup.

The Houthis announced the formation of their government on August 12. It met on August 17 to discuss its program, referred it to parliament the same day and by the next morning, an announcement was made that it was approved with no amendments or objections.

The incident with al-Rahwi has fueled speculation that the coming period will witness more struggles for power among the Houthis and their partners, whom they are trying to keep out of rule.

Observers noted that Kabisi is the son of a top Houthi leader. Qassem al-Kabisi is one of the founders of the group and is close to their leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi.

The senior Houthi officials believe they have the right to represent the Houthis in rule since they are its founders and oldest members.