Aden Receives Seventh Batch of Saudi Oil Derivatives Grant

The seventh batch was received by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity Abdul Hakim Fadel, a number of Yemeni officials, and SDRPY representatives in Aden. (SPA)
The seventh batch was received by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity Abdul Hakim Fadel, a number of Yemeni officials, and SDRPY representatives in Aden. (SPA)
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Aden Receives Seventh Batch of Saudi Oil Derivatives Grant

The seventh batch was received by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity Abdul Hakim Fadel, a number of Yemeni officials, and SDRPY representatives in Aden. (SPA)
The seventh batch was received by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity Abdul Hakim Fadel, a number of Yemeni officials, and SDRPY representatives in Aden. (SPA)

The seventh batch of the Saudi oil derivatives grant arrived in Yemen's Aden on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia has dedicated the $422-million grant to ease the suffering of Yemeni people in liberated areas. The delivery of the shipments is supervised by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program from Yemen (SDRPY).

Yemeni official sources revealed that the 60,000 metric tons of diesel were delivered and up to 30,000 of fuel will arrive next within the seventh batch.

SDRPY Director in Aden Ahmed Madkhali said the grant has so far helped operate more than 65 power supply stations and improved electricity generating.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity Abdul Hakim Fadel said the grant had a positive impact on various vital sectors and boosted the national economy.

Mohammed Nasr Al-Shazly, the undersecretary of Aden, reiterated the importance of this grant in improving basic services, especially electricity. The Saba news agency quoted him as saying that everyone should join reform efforts to improve services.

Assistant Chairman of the Joint Steering Committee to supervise and follow up on the implementation of the oil derivatives grant, Engineer Walid Al-Abbasi said so far, the total quantity of diesel in all batches reached 452,000 metric tons, while fuel amounted to 232,000 metric tons.

The grant is set to provide 909,591 metric tons of diesel and 422,000 metric tons of fuel.



Lebanon PM Says Hopes for Ceasefire With Israel in 'Coming Hours or Days'

This handout picture provided by the Lebanese Prime Minister's press office shows Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati delivering a statement to the press in Beirut on October 11, 2024. (Photo by Lebanese Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the Lebanese Prime Minister's press office shows Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati delivering a statement to the press in Beirut on October 11, 2024. (Photo by Lebanese Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP)
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Lebanon PM Says Hopes for Ceasefire With Israel in 'Coming Hours or Days'

This handout picture provided by the Lebanese Prime Minister's press office shows Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati delivering a statement to the press in Beirut on October 11, 2024. (Photo by Lebanese Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the Lebanese Prime Minister's press office shows Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati delivering a statement to the press in Beirut on October 11, 2024. (Photo by Lebanese Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP)

Lebanon's prime minister said US envoy Amos Hochstein had signaled during a phone call Wednesday that a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war was possible before US elections are held on November 5.
"The call today with Hochstein suggested to me that perhaps we could reach a ceasefire in the coming days, before the fifth" of November, Najib Mikati said in a televised interview with Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed.
Hochstein was heading to Israel on Wednesday to discuss conditions for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
Hezbollah's new leader Naim Qassem on Wednesday said the group would agree to a ceasefire with Israel under acceptable terms, but added that a viable deal has yet to be presented, reported AFP.
"We are doing our best... to have a ceasefire within the coming hours or days," Mikati told Al-Jadeed, adding that he was "cautiously optimistic".
Mikati said Hezbollah is no longer linking a ceasefire in Lebanon to a truce in Gaza, but criticized the group over its "late" reversal.
Previously, Hezbollah had repeatedly declared it would stop its attacks on Israel only if a ceasefire was reached in Gaza.
However, Qassem on Wednesday said the group would accept a ceasefire under conditions deemed "appropriate and suitable", without any mention of the Palestinian territory.
Mikati said a ceasefire would be linked to the implementation of the United Nations resolution that ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Security Council Resolution 1701 states that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers should be deployed in southern Lebanon, while demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory.
"The Lebanese army is ready to strengthen its presence in southern Lebanon" and ensure that the only weapons and military infrastructure in the area are those controlled by the state, Mikati said.
He also said he would continue to try to shield Lebanon's only airport from attacks by Israel.
"I can guarantee that we will not give anyone an excuse to undermine our security or our air traffic," Mikati said.
Aid deliveries from Iran, Iraq and Algeria can "come by sea", he said, in order not to give Israel a pretext to launch strikes.
Mikati also said it was too dangerous to try to reopen Lebanon's main land border with Syria, which was put out of service by an Israeli strike this month.
"We sent a bulldozer to fill the crater at the crossing and it was bombed," Mikati said.
"We will not expose anyone to danger before we have full guarantees."