US Sends Warships to Block Delivery of Iranian Arms to Yemen
American warships are en route to the waters off the coast of Yemen reportedly to block shipments of arms from Iran that are believed to be on their way to Tehran’s proxy fighters in Yemen, the Houthis. The primary vessel in the group is the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which will join nine other US naval vessels already in the area. The boarding of a cargo ship by American sailors was reported on April 1, the first interdiction related to the Yemen crisis. Washington fears the insertion of a more lethal generation of weapons into the conflict, including missiles. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition of Arab countries conducting bombing raids against Houthi fighters in Yemen and it’s known that the US is providing intelligence for those operations. The Shiite Houthis have overrun much of the country and have forced President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to Riyadh.
Saudi Air Force Shakes Yemeni Capital as SCUD Base is Hit
Huge explosions racked Sana’a as the Saudi Air Force bombed a Scud missile base in the Yemeni capital on Monday. Officials say 25 people died and 400 were wounded in the primary blast according to the state-run agency now controlled by the Shiite Houthis. The operation was part of the Saudi-led effort to push the Houthis out of Sana’a. The area of Sana’a that was hit is where the presidential palace and many foreign embassies are located. Windows were blown out of buildings located miles from the target missile base. Saudi spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri said, “The next phase will focus on the movements of militias, protection of civilians, and support the evacuation and relief.”
Israel Transfers $450 Million in Frozen Funds to Palestinian Authority
Israel has finally transferred the $450 million it collected for the Palestinian Authority but refused to send to Ramallah in rebuke for the PA seeking membership in the International Criminal Court. According to the terms of the 1993 Oslo Accords, Israel collects certain tax and tariff revenue amounting to about $150 million per month for the PA. At times, the Israelis have suspended the transfer as a gesture of their displeasure at some action by the Palestinians. No money had been transferred since last December causing a severe cash shortage that caused the PA to pay only 60% of employees’ salaries. When the Israelis decided to make the transfer albeit minus money owed by the PA to Israeli utilities and hospitals, PA President Mahmoud Abbas refused to accept the funds. An agreement was finally reached whereby a committee was established to deal with the issue of Palestinian debts to Israeli companies. The Israelis said the transfer was made in the name of “regional stability.”
Alabama Women Recruited by Internet, Fled to Join ISIS
The 20-year old daughter of a Muslim family living in Birmingham, Alabama, has reportedly fled her home to join the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria. A spokesman for the family’s mosque said the woman, who has not been identified, was recruited off the Internet. According to the Associated Press, the family has been cooperating with law enforcement officials. The spokesman said the woman withdrew from the Alabama Muslim community a year before leaving because the community “is very vocal against groups like ISIS.” Members of the Birmingham Muslim community met on Monday night to discuss the problem and ways to protect young people from the influence of violent groups and to prevent young people from joining the ranks of ISIS and the like.