The National Committee for Investigating Allegations of Human Rights Violations confirmed on Tuesday that 945 civilians, including women and children, were killed or injured in 782 incidents committed by all warring parties in Yemen during 11 months. In a recent report, the Commission documented cases of forced displacement, arbitrary arrest, and enforced disappearance. The Commission called on the parties to the conflict to stop acts of violence against civilians in Yemen. It has been nine years since the war broke out in Yemen.
Japan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will meet on September 7 to discuss a free trade agreement, cooperation on renewable energy, and possibly Iran's nuclear program, Saudi media outlets reported on Tuesday. The meeting will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the 157th Gulf Ministerial Council. The meeting comes after Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio toured the Gulf region in July and stressed the importance of Japan's "strategic" partnership with Saudi Arabia. The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
About $6 billion in Iranian funds frozen in South Korea could soon be released, Seoul's Foreign Minister Park Jin said on Monday, after reaching a deal on US citizens held in Iran. The funds were frozen in 2018 under stringent US trade sanctions. Park told Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian by phone on Monday that the countries involved were in close communication to resolve the issue, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Yemeni government began coordinating with the UN to discuss the executive plans of the second operation of removing crude oil from the rusting FSO Safer tanker, anchored off the coast of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, Yemei state-run media said. The transfer of about 1.1 million barrels to an alternative tanker was completed days ago. The next phase will focus on mobilizing the necessary funding for cleaning Safer oil ship, and disposing of the crude oil in the replacement vessel. The UN says additional funding, estimated at $20 million, is needed to complete the second phase of the Safer process.
On Tuesday, the head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi called on the UN to review its programs in Houthi-controlled areas to ensure that aid reaches the intended recipients. He also called on the UN to reconsider its support for mine clearance activities by the Houthis and pressure the group to stop planting landmines. The Houthis have been accused of diverting aid intended for civilians to their own military and political purposes.
