Riots and protests over power outage hit Yemen's Lahj
Several districts in Lahj province in South Yemen witnessed angry popular protests and riots, calling for an end to the power outage, local sources said on Saturday. The sources said protesters blocked the main street in Sabr city in Lahj province, denouncing the days-long electricity service interruption. The protesters set damaged tires on fire in front of the province's main office. Southern separatists have controlled several southern provinces since 2019 amidst the continued deterioration of many services.
Iran's army radar systems have recently detected and monitored several American F-35 fighters over the Persian Gulf, a senior Iranian military commander said on Friday. According to the source, several American F-35 stealth fighter jets were flying over the Persian Gulf. Iranian radars monitored them from the moment they took off during the past few days. These advanced aircraft have recently embarked on air missions as part of the US Central Command's objective to guarantee safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
UAE'S President Sheikh Mohamed Friday arrived in Ethiopia on an official visit. The visit aimed at bolstering ties between the countries. According to state-run Emirati media, Sheikh Mohamed and a high-level Emirati delegation held talks to explore opportunities in sectors such as agriculture, food security, energy, trade, investment, and technology. The UAE has invested $2.9 billion in various Ethiopian industries, including pharmaceuticals, aluminum, food and beverages, and chemicals. In 2022, non-oil trade between the allies reached $1.4 billion.
The Ansar Allah (Houthi) said that the Omani delegation's visit to Sana'a was intended to address pending urgent humanitarian issues. Ali Al-Qahoum, a member of the Houthi Political Office, said. He indicated that the Omani mediators aim to tackle several issues, including unpaid salaries, prisoners' release, airport/port opening, and war cessation. The positive progress at the humanitarian level will help pave the way for political solutions, according to Qahoum. On Thursday, an Omani delegation arrived in Sana'a to consult with Houthi leadership about resolving the Yemen crisis.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, has agreed to an invitation from Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian to visit Tehran. According to the Iranian media outlets, Abdollahian revealed that Prince Salman's visit to Tehran will come at a suitable time. Bin Salman received Abdollahian in Jeddah on Friday, marking the first significant improvement in the ties between the two countries.
