Posted on Aug 25, 2016
Kerry in Saudi Arabia for talks on Yemen, Syria conflicts | MilitaryTimes
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Title: Kerry in Saudi Arabia for talks on Yemen, Syria conflicts
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Saudi King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jiddah on Thursday ahead of wider talks mostly focusing on Yemen's 18-month-long war and the conflict in Syria.
The flurry of meetings come as U.N.-mediated peace talks to bring an end to the war in Yemen were suspended earlier this month. They also fall on the same day that the U.N. human rights chief called for an international investigation of rights abuses and violence in Yemen's civil war, which has killed more than 9,000 people, including nearly 3,800 civilians, and displaced 3 million.
On Thursday, Kerry announced nearly $189 million in additional humanitarian aid for Yemen, bringing the total amount of U.S. assistance to more than $327 million since October 2015. More than 80 percent of the country, or about 21 million people, are in need of aid and some 10 million are in need of emergency food assistance.
The war in Yemen pits a nine-country Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia against Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen's former president. The Houthis, who are allied with Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran, seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The United States has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support.
In recommendations issued Thursday, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights called on the international community to "to refrain from encouraging or arming parties to the conflict." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other rights groups have similarly urged the U.S., U.K. and France to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia until it curtails its airstrikes in Yemen. A number of U.S. lawmakers have also expressed concern about Washington's role in the conflict.
During a press conference in Jiddah, Kerry said stability in Yemen is important to blunting the expansion of extremist groups there like the Islamic State and al-Qaida. He expressed concern about missiles and rockets fired from inside Yemen toward Saudi Arabia's southern border. The strikes and armed attacks at the border have killed several civilians and dozens of Saudi border guards.
A senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said he was expected to raise U.S. concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen during his meetings in Saudi Arabia. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the meetings.
Kerry's meeting with King Salman lasted roughly half an hour. The two spoke briefly about the monarch's health and an operation he had in the U.S., apparently for back pain. It was not clear when the surgery was performed.
After his meeting with the Saudi monarch, Kerry wrote on Twitter that they discussed the "need to reach a political solution (and) address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen," as well as the war in Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states back rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces, and are members of the U.S.-led coalition bombing IS in Iraq and Syria.
Kerry also met Thursday with U.N. special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The two later met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, British Under Secretary at the Foreign Office Tobias Ellwood, and the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to exchange ideas about reaching a political solution in Yemen.
The night before, Kerry met for three hours with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's defense minister.
He was additionally set to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Alawi bin Abdullah before a meeting with other Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Oman is the only country of the six-nation GCC that is not part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch Kristine Beckerle told The Associated Press that by continuing to sell weapons to the kingdom, the U.S. "isn't just signaling support for Saudi Arabia, it is in fact supporting Saudi Arabia in Yemen." She said HRW found evidence that U.S.-supplied bombs killed 97 civilians, including 25 children, in airstrikes on a market in northwestern Yemen in March.
"It isn't just about casualties, but really about a devastating humanitarian crisis that is threatening people's access to food and health care," she said.
Kerry is scheduled to travel to Geneva next, where he will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday. A senior Emirati national security official is also expected to take part in the meetings in Geneva.
The State Department official said Kerry would be giving Gulf Arab states "an update on where things are going in Geneva" regarding proposals to share intelligence and coordinate militarily with Russia against the IS group and al-Qaida. Russia and Iran, however, are strong backers of the Syrian president and have been accused of targeting moderate opposition forces, some of whom are supported by Washington and Gulf Arab states.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Saudi King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jiddah on Thursday ahead of wider talks mostly focusing on Yemen's 18-month-long war and the conflict in Syria.
The flurry of meetings come as U.N.-mediated peace talks to bring an end to the war in Yemen were suspended earlier this month. They also fall on the same day that the U.N. human rights chief called for an international investigation of rights abuses and violence in Yemen's civil war, which has killed more than 9,000 people, including nearly 3,800 civilians, and displaced 3 million.
On Thursday, Kerry announced nearly $189 million in additional humanitarian aid for Yemen, bringing the total amount of U.S. assistance to more than $327 million since October 2015. More than 80 percent of the country, or about 21 million people, are in need of aid and some 10 million are in need of emergency food assistance.
The war in Yemen pits a nine-country Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia against Shiite Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen's former president. The Houthis, who are allied with Saudi Arabia's regional rival Iran, seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The United States has backed the coalition with multi-billion dollar arms sales and provided logistical and intelligence support.
In recommendations issued Thursday, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights called on the international community to "to refrain from encouraging or arming parties to the conflict." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other rights groups have similarly urged the U.S., U.K. and France to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia until it curtails its airstrikes in Yemen. A number of U.S. lawmakers have also expressed concern about Washington's role in the conflict.
During a press conference in Jiddah, Kerry said stability in Yemen is important to blunting the expansion of extremist groups there like the Islamic State and al-Qaida. He expressed concern about missiles and rockets fired from inside Yemen toward Saudi Arabia's southern border. The strikes and armed attacks at the border have killed several civilians and dozens of Saudi border guards.
A senior State Department official traveling with Kerry said he was expected to raise U.S. concerns about civilian casualties in Yemen during his meetings in Saudi Arabia. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the meetings.
Kerry's meeting with King Salman lasted roughly half an hour. The two spoke briefly about the monarch's health and an operation he had in the U.S., apparently for back pain. It was not clear when the surgery was performed.
After his meeting with the Saudi monarch, Kerry wrote on Twitter that they discussed the "need to reach a political solution (and) address the humanitarian crisis in Yemen," as well as the war in Syria and the fight against the Islamic State group.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab states back rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces, and are members of the U.S.-led coalition bombing IS in Iraq and Syria.
Kerry also met Thursday with U.N. special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. The two later met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, British Under Secretary at the Foreign Office Tobias Ellwood, and the United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to exchange ideas about reaching a political solution in Yemen.
The night before, Kerry met for three hours with Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also Saudi Arabia's defense minister.
He was additionally set to meet with Omani Foreign Minister Alawi bin Abdullah before a meeting with other Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Oman is the only country of the six-nation GCC that is not part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Yemen researcher at Human Rights Watch Kristine Beckerle told The Associated Press that by continuing to sell weapons to the kingdom, the U.S. "isn't just signaling support for Saudi Arabia, it is in fact supporting Saudi Arabia in Yemen." She said HRW found evidence that U.S.-supplied bombs killed 97 civilians, including 25 children, in airstrikes on a market in northwestern Yemen in March.
"It isn't just about casualties, but really about a devastating humanitarian crisis that is threatening people's access to food and health care," she said.
Kerry is scheduled to travel to Geneva next, where he will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday. A senior Emirati national security official is also expected to take part in the meetings in Geneva.
The State Department official said Kerry would be giving Gulf Arab states "an update on where things are going in Geneva" regarding proposals to share intelligence and coordinate militarily with Russia against the IS group and al-Qaida. Russia and Iran, however, are strong backers of the Syrian president and have been accused of targeting moderate opposition forces, some of whom are supported by Washington and Gulf Arab states.
Kerry in Saudi Arabia for talks on Yemen, Syria conflicts | MilitaryTimes
Posted from militarytimes.comPosted in these groups: U.S. Department of State Yemen
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 4
Posted >1 y ago
I always liked John Kerry when he was a Senator, and I love what Secretary of State John Kerry is accomplishing now.
GOD bless you, Sir.
-Regards and Thank You, Joe SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
-Margaret
GOD bless you, Sir.
-Regards and Thank You, Joe SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
-Margaret
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CPT Jack Durish
>1 y
You really must explain this one. Not in my wildest imaginings (and I have a pretty wild imagination) can I think of anything that you might like about John Kerry. Please do not be upset with me. I am being completely candid. I prefer hearing from those with whom I disagree so that I can broaden my understanding (even challenge my own beliefs). Tell you what: I'll even give you a "thumbs up" for having the courage to post your opinion in a forum that is still reeling from the God-awful agreement that Kerry "negotiated" with Iran.
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SPC Margaret Higgins
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CPT Jack Durish, I appreciate your candor; and your desire to broaden your beliefs.
A couple of reasons why I support Secretary of State John Kerry are: (1) he is effecting Yemen; with his humanitarian efforts, (2) he is thwarting the expansion of groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaida, etc....
You may or may not agree, Sir, with my supporting our Secretary of State; and that's okay with me.
Hope this helps.
-With My Best Regards, Margaret
A couple of reasons why I support Secretary of State John Kerry are: (1) he is effecting Yemen; with his humanitarian efforts, (2) he is thwarting the expansion of groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaida, etc....
You may or may not agree, Sir, with my supporting our Secretary of State; and that's okay with me.
Hope this helps.
-With My Best Regards, Margaret
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CPT Jack Durish
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SPC Margaret Higgins - Those would be wonderful reasons to support Kerry if true. Sadly, I don't see the results you are seeing. Sadly, humanitarian efforts, especially in that part of the world dissipate like a drop of ink in the ocean. Improperly administered humanitarian aid disappears into the hands of those who will use them to support insurgencies. Do you remember CARE? Countless tons of supplies marked as gifts from the USA were repackaged or their labels covered, then distributed as gifts from our adversaries. Also, I'd love to see evidence of Kerry's efforts thwarting the expansion of groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaida. It seems these groups, once labelled as "JV" have received their Varsity letters and grown like cancers.
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SPC Margaret Higgins
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Thank you, Captain. CPT Jack Durish You know about the truth of these matters; whereas I evidently do not.
I take things very literally; and I am sure I trust too much.
Again, thank you Sir.
-Kindly, Margaret
I take things very literally; and I am sure I trust too much.
Again, thank you Sir.
-Kindly, Margaret
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Posted >1 y ago
I wish that Kerry played golf with the same frequency as President Obama. Maybe they should play golf together until the end of this Administration. The more the better. Everything they touch, everything they do will just have to be fixed or undone.
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