JIAT Exonerates Arab Coalition of Targeting Civilian Areas

A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
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JIAT Exonerates Arab Coalition of Targeting Civilian Areas

A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
A Yemeni soldier mans a machine gun mounted on a military truck near the Red Sea coast city of al-Mokha, Yemen January 23, 2017. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman

The Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) on Yemen revealed the results of investigations into four civilian sites that the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen had allegedly targeted in air operations in Yemen.

Legal adviser Mansour al-Mansour, the spokesman of JIAT, said on Wednesday that after investigations and looking into the documents, JIAT realized that the coalition forces didn’t carry out any air mission in the four sites.

In case 150, the media revealed that the coalition conducted an air operation in Dahr el-Souane (in Sanaa) in April 2018, leading to the death of 13 children and the injury of more than 100.

However, the spokesman said that the coalition didn’t carry out any mission in the alleged zone.

In case 151, the media mentioned that the coalition warplanes targeted a house at Bani Saad District in Mahwit Governorate and a number of nearby houses on Oct. 26, 2016, leading to the destruction of houses and the death of one and injury of 10.

Mansour stated that JIAT didn’t conduct any operations in Mahwit.

In case 152, media reports said coalition forces bombarded a house in Dhala, Shabwah, on May 4, 2015, killing one and wounding three others. The spokesman denied coalition forces conducting any missions in Shabwa on the claimed date.

Human Rights Watch had also claimed in case 153 that on Jan. 10, 2017, coalition airstrikes targeted a gas station at Bani Misar village in Nihm District, killing three civilians and wounding five others.

JIAT reported that on that date upon air support request from the Yemeni National Army from the battlefield clashes in Nihm, the coalition forces conducted an air mission in Nihm using three bombs directed at military sites.

The joint team affirmed the right calculations made by the coalition in dealing with legitimate military targets in Nihm, in line with international humanitarian law.



Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
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Sisi: Electricity Interconnection Projects with Saudi Arabia a Model for Regional Cooperation

Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)
Sisi met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy. (Egyptian Presidency)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirmed that the electrical interconnection project with Saudi Arabia represents a model of regional energy cooperation and a benchmark for future similar ventures in electrical connectivity, directing close monitoring of all project details.
Sisi made these remarks during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawy.
According to a statement by the Egyptian presidency on Sunday, the discussion reviewed the status of electrical interconnection projects between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing their importance in enhancing grid efficiency and stability while optimizing the use of generation capacity during peak demand periods.
Cairo and Riyadh signed an agreement in 2012 to establish the electrical interconnection project at a cost of $1.8 billion, with Egypt contributing $600 million (1 USD = 49.65 EGP in local banks). In a government meeting in mid-October, Madbouly announced that the interconnection line is expected to become operational in May or June of next year, with an initial capacity of 1,500 megawatts.
This initiative is the first of its kind to enable high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power exchange in the Middle East and North Africa region. It connects Badr City in Egypt to Medina via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. Late last month, Madbouly highlighted that the project, set to produce 3,000 megawatts in two phases, is a landmark achievement for Egypt’s energy sector.
Presidential spokesperson Mohamed al-Shenawy stated that the meeting also highlighted the progress on the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The project is seen as vital to Egypt’s comprehensive development strategy, which aims to diversify energy sources through renewable and alternative means, improving service delivery to citizens.
Located in northern Egypt, the Dabaa plant will consist of four nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts (1,200 megawatts per reactor). The first reactor is expected to be operational by 2028, with the others coming online sequentially. The Egyptian government has pledged to fulfill its commitments to ensure the project meets its scheduled timeline.
The president also directed the government to intensify efforts to attract investments in the energy sector, develop the management of the national gas grid, and ensure stable energy supplies for both electricity and industrial sectors. Furthermore, he urged rapid progress on renewable energy projects to diversify energy sources, expand grid capacity, and modernize the network using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce losses.