Aden declared victorious city

After all the violence and chaos caused due to sectarianism and aggression, a time has come for victory; a time when the legitimate owners regain the flag of victory and power after severe losses and painful blows.

The (Yemeni) popular resistance forces in Aden province in cooperation with the Arab coalition forces achieved the first victory of the Yemeni people on the land of Yemen using a calculated land and military tactic, which has weakened and defeated the Houthi militia.

The “Golden Arrow” operation, we believe, is just the beginning of a series of victories to eliminate the remnants of (Houthi) militia who occupied the land of Yemen and spread havoc. This has become possible following cut off of supply lines to the Houthis from deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh who spoiled everything good in Yemen and turned it into a “hell” which claimed the lives of innocent Yemeni people.

The (Yemeni) popular resistance forces sent a clear and direct message by defeating Houthis who shed blood and violated the sanctity under the illusion that the leadership of the deposed president would be able to sustain the battle. They forgot that Saleh’s days were numbered and that Yemenis would celebrate his death very soon.

The victory of Aden will, no doubt, bring happiness to the oppressed people following massacres committed by the Houthi militia who spread havoc in Aden. The happiness was evident on the faces of people of Aden as chants of “Allah Akbar” heard in all Aden mosques and fireworks covered the skies of Aden with joy and jubilation.

— Salim Makhashin

Stability of Saudi foreign policy

Observers monitoring developments in the Arab world will see that there were big challenges facing the Arab community. It started in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iraq, and, finally, Yemen. These developments warrant that wise people should have a fair say based on reality and sound judgment.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has done a wise thing by keeping itself aloof from these crises. This saved its citizens from being victimized. The Kingdom’s wise leadership has taken measures that kept the country safe and strong.

We have seen the crown prince and deputy crown prince visiting the east and west and their sincere attempts to strengthen relations with capitals that have influence on countries in conflict zones. Such endeavors have succeeded in exposing the tricks and foul plays of Iran. We have seen that Iran has failed to solve its domestic problems, so how can we believe it will have influence on others?

The Kingdom’s foreign policy has led to success and stability. Its leaders are doing their best to yield greater benefits in military and commercial areas and enter into economic partnerships that may bring prosperity to the country.

We have to tell the international community that the Kingdom is committed to the principles of the international security and justice while upholding its national interests and doing everything for the well-being to its citizens.

—Sulaiman Al-Idi

Iran-West deal ... loss or gain?

After nearly nine years of sanctions imposed on Iran by the Security Council in a bid to prevent it from developing its nuclear program, and after skipping several opportunities to remove these sanctions which had damaged its economy, Iran finally bowed to a joint work plan with the western countries (5+1). The deal obliged Iran to implement a peaceful nuclear program, which it had violated earlier by resorting to uranium enrichment aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons.

In November 2011, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provided a lengthy analysis on possible arms activities carried out by Iran in the framework of a “systematic” program before 2003 and, therefore, the deal concluded (with the West) last Tuesday was meant to stop Iran from realizing its nuclear dream that spanned nearly six decades since the founding of Tehran Nuclear Research Center in 1957.

In fact, the Iranian regime wasted a lot of time at the expense of its people and missed several opportunities to reach a deal that would have guaranteed its peaceful nuclear project. However, Iran had to wait for 12 years to sign the deal compelled by extrememly poor economic conditions. It recorded in 2012 the highest inflation rate in the world at more than 30 percent based on data released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

On the other hand, official statistics released by the Iranian government in the current year said more than 15 million Iranians, or 20 percent of population, are living under the poverty line whereas the number of unemployed exceeded 10 million. Last November, the Iranian labor minister said 12 million Iranians are living under extreme poverty conditions though the figures remain skeptical for Iranian and global organizations, which say the situation was possibly worse than that.

Iran provoked and challenged the international community during the past few years by not heeding the call of IAEA. It remained defiant despite all sanctions imposed on. It was because of recovery of oil market before falling to its lowest levels in the last quarter of 2014. Before this Iran depended on smuggling of oil to evade sanctions on its oil sales. The above developments experienced by Iran have compelled it to agree to the joint work plan with the Western countries (5+1) and return to the first quarter and correct the course of its nuclear project. Therefore, Iran has offered big concessions, notably determination of (uranium) enrichment ratio at 3.68 percent, disposal of 98 percent of the Iran’s enriched uranium, cutting down the number of centrifuges by two third to 5,060, abstention from exporting atomic fuel and building reactors working with heavy water, weapons import ban for five years and ballistic missiles for eight years, and allowing IAEA inspectors enter Iran’s suspected sites, including military locations, but after consultation with the Tehran authorities.

Iran has lost a lot as a result of foul play by its regime which wanted to play a role similar to that played by the first (developed) world countries but, acted like the third (developing) world countries.

—Khalid Tashkandi

Good news from Yemen

Good news came from Yemen that the Yemeni legitimate government and popular resistance forces have achieved consecutieve victories in many provinces and regions of Yemen, notably in Aden, Taiz and Lahj. The battle to liberate Aden was the most important one because military observers see it as the beginning of the collapse of the Houthis and the forces of the deposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The liberation operation of Aden began last Tuesday. The operation, dubbed the “Golden Arrow,” was launched with 40 4-WD camouflaged vehicles obtained by the Yemeni popular resistance forces from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The armored vehicles were moved to the center of the city, or the area of Khor Mukassar, which had been controlled by the resistance forces and the forces of the legitimate government led by President Abed Raboo Mansour Hadi.

Prior to the liberation of Khor Mukassar, officers and soldiers loyal to the legitimate president reached the Aden International Airport and managed to control the runway of the airport. The control of the Aden airport and Khor Mukassar area is considered the control of the whole city and, accordingly, the government and resistance forces redeployed themselves and proceeded to Krater, Mualaa and Tawahi areas where they started operations to clear them from the Houthis and forces loyal to deposed President Saleh.

The entry of the legitimate government and resistance forces into the city of Aden, the liberation of the most important parts of the city in addition to the control of the Aden International Airport will, according to military observers, speed up the (total) liberation of the Yemeni economic capital. Additionally, media reports say the liberation will take place during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays and, thus, bring good news to Yemenis and pave way for the return of the legitimate president, his deputy and government to the Yemeni territories. It will strengthen confidence of the Yemeni people to defeat the Houthis and coup plotters.

The victories achieved in Aden have positively reflected in battles fought by the government and resistance forces in Taiz, Lahj, Ma’arab, and Omran provinces. The resistance forces managed to control many districts in Taiz, Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the road leading to it, in addition to advancing to Lahj Province and part of Omran Province, which is considered the gateway for control over the capital of Sanaa.

—Jasir Al-Jasir

Eid: Time to cement family relations

Eid brings joy, delight, good news and bounties. It is a festive occasion when Muslims mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan after having offered good deeds and, therefore, deserve to rejoice and ask Allah Almighty, to accept their deeds.

Eid is the day of peace, happiness, tolerance, love and compassion. It’s a day when people put aside their differences and meet in different locations to communicate and increase love. Even some people mark this day to document their most important works to be undertaken throughout the year. Eid is not only enjoyed by children in the form of financial and kind gifts but goes beyond that to include adults who celebrate with one another in the form of breakfast or lunch invitations or exchanges of gifts. In brief, Eid is a festival for all family members.

Eid is an annual event which should be fully exploited and enjoyed. We should not lose the essence of this day by just sleeping, staying in front of TV channels or letting children engross in electronic games but, rather, we have to make use of Eid in strengthening bonds of relations between family members. We should go out with family particularly with our children and spend as much time as possible with them so that they can see the occasion as an annual and important event. Eid is not an occasion to share greetings by mobile phones or PC-based calls but to communicate with each other and increase the bonds of love and intimacy. This will only be attained through visits or, at least, through communications. Eid is an annual event which we should make full use of, forgive those who harmed us, and give who deprived us… and if we do not do that during Eid, when shall we do it?

—Ibrahim Badawood