Aden Introduces New Security Measures to Confront Threats, Terrorism

The governor of Aden chairs a security meeting on Sunday. (Saba)
The governor of Aden chairs a security meeting on Sunday. (Saba)
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Aden Introduces New Security Measures to Confront Threats, Terrorism

The governor of Aden chairs a security meeting on Sunday. (Saba)
The governor of Aden chairs a security meeting on Sunday. (Saba)

The supreme security committee in Yemen's interim capital Aden held on Sunday an emergency meeting and decided to take measures to confront possible acts of terror and sabotage.

At the meeting, chaired by Aden Governor Ahmed Lamlas, security measures were passed that include establishing an operations room and integrated electronic surveillance network in all districts and committing stores to install security camera systems.

They come amid increasing threats since the new government arrived in the city some two weeks ago. Upon its arrival at Aden International Airport, the war-torn country’s newly formed government was targeted by deadly blasts, but none of the ministers was harmed.

The government accused the Iran-backed Houthi militias of carrying out the attack, which received widespread local and international condemnation.

Sunday’s meeting approved more measures including restrictions on the movement of security patrols, including preventing the deployment of security patrols to parks and prohibiting non-state patrols.

Lamlas urged boosting the security to face acts of sabotage aimed at obstructing the return of foreign diplomatic missions and targeting international organizations.

“It is imperative to stand seriously in front of these acts, tracking down perpetrators, apprehending them and holding them accountable,” he stressed.

The governor also wished newly-appointed Aden police chief Maj. Gen. Mutahar Al-Shuaibi success in fulfilling his duties, and reaffirmed the local authority's full support for the entire security apparatus.

Highlighting the need for security units and police stations to assume their responsibilities, Lamlas called for activating the roles of investigation departments intelligence services in general.

He made a point that the “Aden security apparatus is not to blame for the cowardly terrorist attack that targeted the new government.”

The security committee approved a number of measures to enhance the security situation in the directorates of the interim capital.

It decided on limiting the movement of military personnel and vehicles outside official security tasks, and preventing their presence in parks and public venues.



Lebanon Parliament Speaker Accuses Israel of 'Flagrant Violation' of Truce

Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
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Lebanon Parliament Speaker Accuses Israel of 'Flagrant Violation' of Truce

Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)
Border fence between Lebanon and Israel (AFP)

Lebanon's parliament speaker accused Israel of violating a ceasefire, after authorities said two were killed in Israeli strikes on Monday, the sixth day of the truce.

"The aggressive actions carried out by Israeli occupation forces... represent a flagrant violation of the terms of the ceasefire agreement," Nabih Berri, who helped mediate the ceasefire on behalf of ally Hezbollah, said in a statement.

Also, France's foreign minister Monday told his Israeli counterpart that all sides should respect a ceasefire started last week between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the French foreign ministry said.

Jean-Noel Barrot stressed to Israeli minister Gideon Saar in a phone call "the need for all sides to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon", the ministry said, after several Israeli strikes hit Lebanon since the ceasefire started Wednesday.

At least two people were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said, as a ceasefire ending more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah appeared increasingly fragile.

The truce, which came into effect early on Nov. 27, stipulates that Israel will not carry out offensive military operations against civilian, military or other state targets in Lebanon, while Lebanon will prevent any armed groups, including Hezbollah, from carrying out operations against Israel.

Lebanon and Israel have already traded accusations of breaches, and on Monday Lebanon said the violations had turned deadly.

One person was killed in an Israeli air attack on the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, about 10 km (six miles) from the border with Israel, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Lebanon's state security said an Israeli drone strike had killed a member of its force while he was on duty in Nabatieh, 12 km from the border. State security called it a "flagrant violation" of the truce.

The Lebanese army said an Israeli drone hit an army bulldozer in northeast Lebanon near the border with Syria, wounding one soldier.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters about the incidents in Marjayoun and Nabatieh. It issued a statement saying it had attacked military vehicles operating near Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and military vehicles near the border with Syria.

The Israeli military acknowledged that a Lebanese soldier was wounded in one of its attacks and said the incident was under review.