Houthis Detain Yemeni Vice President’s Son

Yemen's late former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Reuters
Yemen's late former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Reuters
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Houthis Detain Yemeni Vice President’s Son

Yemen's late former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Reuters
Yemen's late former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Reuters

Houthi militia stormed on Friday the home of Yemeni Vice President General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and kidnapped his son Mohsen Ali Mohsen along with dozens of house guards, sources in Sana’a said.

Ahmar’s office and Houthis did not confirm or deny the news that were reported by Arabiya. Net.

On the other hand, Houthi militia released Saturday two prominent tribal leaders with a number of their followers, who were arrested on charges of participating in the uprising called for by former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on December 2, that ended up with Saleh’s death and his relatives’ injury along with hundreds of his supporters.

Observers said that Houthis might have taken this step to please “Hashid” tribe since the first leader was a communications minister in the unrecognized coup government and a leader in the Popular Congress Party; he was overthrown by Houthis after Saleh’s death and was held in one of their detention camps after being accused of supporting the uprising.

The other detainee was a tribal leader with a close relationship with the former president, and the militias blew up his house after looting it and arresting a number of his followers.

According to the Houthi version of Saba News Agency, Head of the coup Houthi Supreme Political Council Saleh al-Samad received Saturday in Amran Governorate’s elders and Hashid tribe’s sheikhs and praised their roles in standing with the group in the face of what he called “aggression.”

Samad ordered the release of Sheikh Glidan Mahmoud Glidan and Sheikh Mabkhouth al-Mashreqi.

Meanwhile, and after forty days of killing former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Houthi militia suppressed in Sana’a Saturday protests carried out by women to denounce the coup militia.

The protest, which reached to Tahrir Square in central Sana’a, called for "civil disobedience" in response to the Houthi violations.

The participants demanded that the Houthi militias hand over the corps of Saleh, of whom the houthis spread rumors that they have buried it in his hometown earlier this month.



Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
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Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.