عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Vessel Awaits 23 Days to Unload Cargo in Hodeidah

Smoke rises in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters
Smoke rises in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters
TT
20
TT

Vessel Awaits 23 Days to Unload Cargo in Hodeidah

Smoke rises in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters
Smoke rises in Sanaa, Yemen. Reuters

The Saudi-led coalition announced Friday that Houthi militias have prevented Bahia Damas vessel, which has been waiting in Hodeidah port for 23 days, to unload its diesel cargo.

The coalition stressed that it has issued seven permits to ships heading to Yemeni ports carrying food and oil derivatives, pointing that four ships docked in the port of Hodeidah on Friday and five others were waiting to enter the port.

Meanwhile, Yemeni forces backed by the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen have made progress on various fronts in Saada at a time when coalition fighter jets eliminated four insurgent commanders east of Sanaa.

The joint forces in the West Coast also sent new military reinforcements to take part in the battle with the Houthi militias.

The Joint Yemeni Resistance Forces also combed all the farms and liberated areas in the vicinity of Tahita directorate and the remaining insurgent pockets south-west of the directorate.

Forces also advanced towards the historic Zabid directorate which the militias have turned into a military barracks.

Saudi-led coalition forces pushed ahead in the operation against the Houthis in their stronghold in Saada governorate and liberated new areas in Kitaf, north of the city, few hours after besieging militias in Baqam district, north of Saada.

Battles continued in the east and southwest fronts in Taiz, and four prominent Houthi leaders were killed in Nahm Front, the eastern gate of Sanaa.

Moreover, Saudi-led coalition jets raided a meeting of field militia commanders in Nahm front, east of Sanaa.

The Yemeni national army said in a statement that the air raid killed Yasser Abdullah Amer and three other Houthi leaders and their associates from Saada governorate, according to Al Arabiya.

The army statement confirmed that Amer is an influential militia figure in Nahm front whereas the other slain commanders have recently arrived from Saada to supervise over the front.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Hamas Comes Under Pressure in Lebanon

The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
TT
20
TT

Hamas Comes Under Pressure in Lebanon

The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)

Relations between Hamas and the Lebanese state have entered a critical phase not seen since the country’s civil war era. In a rare and direct move, Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council on Friday named Hamas in an official warning, cautioning the group against using Lebanese territories to conduct activities that threaten national security.

The warning follows rocket attacks in March, allegedly launched by Hamas operatives toward Israel from southern Lebanon, and signals a turning point in Beirut’s handling of the longstanding issue of Palestinian arms.

The issue is expected to dominate discussions during the upcoming visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Beirut on May 21. Lebanese authorities are reportedly preparing to demand that Hamas hand over individuals implicated in the rocket attacks.

Hamas officials in Lebanon declined to comment immediately, but sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that an official statement from the group is forthcoming.

Last month, the Lebanese army said it had identified those responsible for the March 22 and 28 rocket launches, revealing a cell composed of Lebanese and Palestinian nationals. Subsequent raids led to several arrests and the seizure of equipment used in the attacks. Security sources later confirmed the detention of three Hamas members - two Palestinians and one Lebanese.

Analysts and insiders believe Hamas now finds itself increasingly isolated in Lebanon. According to Palestinian political analyst Hisham Debassy, the group has little choice but to comply with Lebanese demands, including potentially disarming.

“The Defense Council’s position marks a serious and strategic shift,” said Debassy. “It sends a strong political message not just to Hamas but to any non-state actor operating militarily on Lebanese soil.”

Debassy described Hamas as being at a crossroads. “Either it cooperates with Lebanese authorities by handing over wanted individuals and signaling respect for state sovereignty, or it continues down a path of confrontation, an option that carries significant political and security costs.”

He noted that Hamas currently lacks the internal cohesion and public support to take a defiant stance. Internal divisions have grown between factions aligned with Iran and others favoring political reintegration within the broader Muslim Brotherhood framework.

Political analyst Dr. Qassem Qassir said Hamas’ leadership, based largely in Qatar, remains mindful of Lebanon’s fragile security. “Hamas doesn’t want to endanger Lebanon,” he said, adding that the group is likely to act cautiously given the broader regional context.

Meanwhile, Abbas’ visit is seen as an opportunity to reshape Palestinian-Lebanese relations and advance state authority in Palestinian camps. Lebanese officials are seeking a roadmap, backed by the Palestinian Authority, that could lead to the phased dismantling of weapons in refugee camps, following similar efforts targeting pro-Syrian Palestinian factions in the Bekaa and Naameh regions.

Hamas’ presence in Lebanon had traditionally been limited to social and political activities. But its military footprint began to emerge after a 2022 explosion in the Burj al-Shemali camp. Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, Hamas’s armed wing has become more active in southern Lebanon, coordinating with Hezbollah in launching attacks on Israel, further complicating its position with Lebanese authorities.