3 of 8 GPC Ministers Absent from Coup Cabinet Meeting in Sanaa

People load belongings on a van as they evacuate their house located on a street where Houthis have recently clashed with forces loyal to slain Yemeni former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sana'a, Yemen December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
People load belongings on a van as they evacuate their house located on a street where Houthis have recently clashed with forces loyal to slain Yemeni former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sana'a, Yemen December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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3 of 8 GPC Ministers Absent from Coup Cabinet Meeting in Sanaa

People load belongings on a van as they evacuate their house located on a street where Houthis have recently clashed with forces loyal to slain Yemeni former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sana'a, Yemen December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
People load belongings on a van as they evacuate their house located on a street where Houthis have recently clashed with forces loyal to slain Yemeni former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sana'a, Yemen December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

Coup government ministers in Sana’a have surrendered to the Houthi's will in turning a blind eye to the “bloody scenario” that has ended the life of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh and a number of his followers.

Prime Minister of the internationally unrecognized government Abdul-Aziz bin Habtour and ministers loyal to the General People’s Congress (GPC) resumed on Sunday their daily activity at their headquarters.

Also, the Houthi edition of SABA agency announced that bin Habtour held an expanded meeting with the ministers to normalize the security situation.

Among attendees from the GPC were: Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Major General Jalal Ali al-Rowaishan, Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf, Health Minister Mohammed Salem bin Hafeez, Minister of Local Administration Ali al-Qaisi and Minister of State for Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Ali Abdullah Abu Hulaykah.

Among GPC representatives who didn’t attend the cabinet session were Minister of Telecoms & Information Technology Mahmoud Julaidan, Minister of Higher Education Hussein Hazeb and Minister of Defense Mohamed al-Atefi.

They are most probably still under house arrest, amid leaked information that Houthi militias have no confidence in them and accuse them of backing the uprising launched by Saleh.

In the same context, Saleh Al-Samad, head of the Supreme Political Council, met tribal sheikhs in Al Mahwit and Sana’a. Reliable Sources informed Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Samad urged attendees to mobilize fighters and capture anyone who attempts to rebel against Houthis in Mahrit and Sana’a.

So far, it remains unknown whether coup ministers loyal to the GPC have willingly struck a deal with Houthis to maintain the alliance with them or were intimidated to preserve their positions.

Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister Foreign Minister Abdulmalik al-Mekhlafi stated that the assassination of Saleh will cause a political and militarily change in the Yemeni scene. Politically, the cover-up that GPC used to provide for Houthis is now gone, and military decision-making is now Houthi-centered.

Houthis continue to arrest 41 media personnel and employees from Yemen Today, whose headquarters was raided by armed men last week. 



Israel Expands Drone Use in Southern Lebanon to Intercept Civilians

An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)
An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)
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Israel Expands Drone Use in Southern Lebanon to Intercept Civilians

An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)
An armed Israeli drone flies over villages in southern Lebanon in July (Hezbollah Media)

Israeli drones are now being used for more than just tracking and targeting fighters in southern Lebanon. They’re also setting fires to forests, intimidating residents, and stopping cars at night to broadcast messages through loudspeakers.

Recent reports and social media videos show these new uses. In one troubling incident, an Israeli drone blocked a civilian in his car in the border town of Khallwat in the Hasbaya district, holding him for several minutes.

Local TV channel Al-Jadeed reported that an Israeli drone briefly held a civilian in his car and shone bright lights on him. The man was able to leave safely.

Other reports say the drone stopped the man early in the morning on his way home, using strong green lights that caused him pain.

The type of light used by the Israeli drone is not clear, but experts believe it’s not a laser.

Instead, it was likely a spotlight used to help the drone’s camera scan the driver’s face and collect information. This process involves a camera that captures the image and sends it to a computer where AI can identify the person quickly.

Experts tell Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel’s advanced technology means the bright light could be used for intimidation, to confirm the person’s identity, or to analyze body shape data.

They agree that the situation is concerning.

In another incident, a new video showed an Israeli drone dropping burning materials on forests near borders in Lebanon’s town of Adaisseh. The footage shows the drone releasing the substance, which started a fire.

Israeli drones with loudspeakers have been also flying over border villages, warning residents and broadcasting messages. Locals say the drones not only relay army statements but also insult Hezbollah and incite against the group.

This has been happening in multiple villages over the past month.

Moreover, Israeli warplanes have been striking the outskirts of Zibkin, Naqoura, and Wadi Hamoul, causing severe damage to property, crops, and forests.

The Israeli military also shelled the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab and hit areas around Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab with artillery fire.