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Yemen Urges Int’l Community to Pressure Houthis to Release Detained Journalists

Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani. Reuters file photo
Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani. Reuters file photo
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Yemen Urges Int’l Community to Pressure Houthis to Release Detained Journalists

Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani. Reuters file photo
Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani. Reuters file photo

The Yemeni government on Tuesday renewed its calls for the international community to place real pressure on Iran-backed Houthi militias to unconditionally release all detained and abducted journalists.

Dozens of journalists have been held in Houthi prisons since the conflict erupted in 2014.

Speaking on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Yemen's Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani asserted that all Houthi leaders and militants behind abuses and violations against journalists will not escape punishment.

“The day will come when they (Houthis) will be held accountable,” Eryani promised.

“On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, we remember the thousands of crimes and violations by the Iran-backed Houthi militias against journalists, including killing, abduction, arrest, enforced disappearance, torture, forced exile, displacement and looting of property,” Eryani said.

“We remember with deep pain our fellow journalists in Houthis prisons, who face execution orders for their political opinions,” Eryani added.

The crimes against journalists reveal the Houthis’ “ugly side,” he said.

“We call on the international community and organizations concerned with protecting journalists to review the tragic conditions experienced by journalists in areas controlled by Houthi militias and condemn the crimes and violations against them,” Eryani said.

The minister also pressed the international community to pressure Houthis into releasing journalists and social media activists without any conditions.

Last month, the insurgents released five journalists who had been detained for years as part of a prisoner swap deal they sealed with the legitimate government.

Even though they released five journalists, Houthis are still holding many others captive.

In Houthi prisons, journalists face the threat of baseless death sentences issued by militant authorities that charge them with treason and other crimes.

Since 2014, Houthis have embarked on raiding all government and private media outlets, arresting hundreds of journalists and media workers and subjecting them to torture.

Yemeni government officials have slammed Houthis for refusing to release remaining journalists as part of the recent prisoner exchange deal that took place in October under UN mediation.

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Israel Seeks to Maintain Areas of Control and Influence in Syrian Territory

Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
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Israel Seeks to Maintain Areas of Control and Influence in Syrian Territory

Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)

Israel plans to maintain areas of “control” (occupation) and “influence” (intelligence) in Syrian territory, according to a new operational concept that security officials developed for the new reality in Syria that emerged following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Senior officials in Israel said that the country would need to maintain a 15 km operational perimeter within Syrian territory, where the Israeli army would maintain a presence to ensure that allies of the new regime couldn’t launch missiles toward the Golan Heights, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
They also noted the necessity of a “sphere of influence” extending 60 km into Syria, under Israeli intelligence control, to monitor and prevent potential threats from developing.
The new operational concept came a few days after Israeli officials confirmed that their forces will not withdraw from the border buffer zone and the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Last week, the Kan public broadcaster said in an unsourced report that the new Syrian leadership has asked the US to pressure Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone.
Israeli officials told Kan that they have received no official request on the matter, adding that the Israeli army’s presence at and across the border is necessary to protect its security.
Last month, just hours after factions of the Syrian opposition swept president Bashar al-Assad from power, Israel captured the buffer zone, which was created following the Yom Kippur War of 1967. They also seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
During a visit to Mount Hermon last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his troops would remain stationed inside Syria “until another arrangement can be found that guarantees Israel’s security.”
Also, Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks across Syria, saying the strikes were aimed at keeping military weapons away from extremists.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli official said that while Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's de facto leader, had sent messages to Israel claiming that his forces weren’t seeking conflict, Israel remained skeptical. “This might hold true for a year, two years, maybe even 10 or 20”, he said.
“But no one can guarantee that eventually, they won’t turn against us – and these are highly dangerous people. (Ahmed) Al-Sharaa’s current goal is to lift sanctions on Syria to bring in foreign funds. But in the long run, Israel must maintain a control zone and a sphere of influence in Syria,” the official said.
He also expressed hope that Israel would receive full backing against threats from Syria and Lebanon after the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
“In the meantime, we’ll have to remain there, ensuring a 15-km missile-free zone under our control, as well as a 60-km sphere of influence, to prevent threats from developing. We’re building an operational concept for this new reality,” he said.
Israel was also concerned about the potential entrenchment of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Syria, seemingly ignored by al-Sharaa, according to the newspaper.
“We won’t allow their establishment in Syria just as we prevented Iran’s foothold there,” the official said.
“We estimate that al-Sharaa prefers to keep them there so they can act against Israel, giving him plausible deniability,” he added.
These remarks came while Israeli officials were reportedly astounded by what they described as the West's “blindness” toward the regime of Ahmad al-Sharaa, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.