(…)
Archiv: Bahrain
Rally now in solidarity with the people of #Gaza in #Bahrain. Demanding the Rafah crossing to be opened. #OpenRafahBorderNow
US, UK forces carry out fresh airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen: Top updates
The airstrikes, carried out on Monday night, marked the eighth round of allied attacks in 12 days. They targeted an underground storage site and locations linked to the Houthis’ “missile and air surveillance capabilities,” the US and UK said in a statement along with partners Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands.
Bahrain recalls ambassador from Israel amid escalating assault on Gaza
(November 2, 2023)
The statement from the government in Manama made no mention of cutting economic relations, although it did say that flights between the two countries were temporarily suspended.
U.S. moves to put Marines on commercial ships to stop Iranian seizures
The effort has not yet received final approval, but it has buy-in from senior Biden administration officials and could commence as soon as this month, said one official, …
“We have a cohort on the ground,” the official said. He added that the “policy decision has pretty much been made.”
Weiterer USA-Israel-Gipfel mit vier arabischen Staaten
Israel und die USA wollen in diesem Jahr erneut ein Gipfeltreffen mit vier arabischen Staaten abhalten. Das Treffen sei in den kommenden Wochen in Marokko geplant, vermutlich im März, sagte ein Sprecher des israelischen Außenministeriums gestern in Abu Dhabi. Dort finden bis morgen erstmals Treffen von Arbeitsgruppen aus Israel, den USA, Ägypten, Bahrain, Marokko und den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten (VAE) statt.
Egypt & Saudi Arabia To Join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation As Dialogue Partners
(Sep 01, 2021)
Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia are about to become Dialogue Partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The SCO includes China, as well as three EAEU nations Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, the CIS nations of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in addition to Iran, India, and Pakistan. (…)
In addition to these countries, several others have applied for observer or dialogue status, including Bahrain, Bangladesh, East Timor, Israel, Iraq, Maldives, Syria, Qatar, and Ukraine.
Israel‘s national security adviser praises Iran protests
Israel‘s National Security Adviser Eyal Hulata on Sunday addressed the ongoing protests in Iran during a security conference in Bahrain‘s capital Manama.
Speaking directly to Iranian women in Farsi, he said that „women‘s lives are important.“
Would like to welcome new dialogue partners of SCO Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, the Maldives, UAE and Myanmar. – Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif at #SCOSummit2022
How to understand Israel and Saudi Arabia’s secretive relationship
(July 11, 2022)
U.S. President Joe Biden understands the limitations facing his Saudi hosts later this month. No major breakthrough is likely during his visit to Jeddah. He will meet with nine Arab leaders: the six Gulf monarchs plus Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. The Saudis are going to take more control of Tiran Island in the Gulf of Aqaba from Egypt, according to some accounts. It is home to an American military outpost that monitors the 1978 peace agreement between Egypt and Israel.
Warme Worte in der Wüste
Fast hat es ausgesehen wie eine gymnastische Übung: Sechs zumeist ältere Herren in einer Reihe, die sich mit verschränkten Armen an den Händen fassen. Doch diese Formation, die am Montag von sechs leibhaftigen Außenministern auf einem Podium in der israelischen Negev-Wüste gebildet wurde, war als politische Botschaft gedacht.
Summit to Become Regular Forum, Unity Will ‚Deter Iran,‘ Israel‘s Lapid Says
Decrying terror and envisioning peace, the foreign ministers of Israel, Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain, the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates seek to counter Iran through ‚new regional architecture‘
Bahrain King reviews bilateral relations with Russian President
(March 15, 2022)
A telephone call was held today between His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Both leaders reviewed historical bilateral relations and their steady developement in various fields.
Egypt to Join Summit With Blinken, FMs of UAE, Bahrain and Morocco in Israel
Egypt will be joining a historic summit of Middle Eastern foreign ministers in Israel next week, alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the senior diplomats of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
Blinken tries to calm allies ahead of Iran nuke deal
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday tried to soothe the fears of Israel and its Gulf Arab allies ahead of the possible renewal of global powers’ international nuclear deal with Iran.
Blinken made the comments shortly before joining his counterparts from Israel and four Arab countries at a special gathering where the Iranian nuclear deal was expected to top the agenda.
Erstmals israelischer Außenminister in Bahrain
Israels Außenminister Jair Lapid ist ein Jahr nach der Aufnahme diplomatischer Beziehungen beider Länder erstmals nach Bahrain gereist. Dabei eröffneten er und sein Amtskollege Abdullatif al-Sajani die israelische Botschaft im Land,
Treffen der Anti-IS-Koalition: Wie weiter gegen den IS?
83 Staaten bilden eine Koalition gegen die Terrormiliz IS. Heute treffen sich deren Vertreter in Rom – zum ersten Mal seit Beginn der Pandemie wieder persönlich. Auch Bundesaußenminister Maas und sein US-Kollege Blinken sind dabei.
Honored to participate in “Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh/ ISIS”, June 28, 2021, Rome.
Irakisch-syrisches Grenzgebiet: USA fliegen Luftangriff auf Milizen
Mit einem weiteren Militärschlag unter dem Befehl von Präsidenten Joe Biden haben die USA den Druck auf den Iran und dessen Verbündete erhöht. Das US-Militär flog in der irakisch-syrischen Grenzregion Luftangriffe auf mehrere Ziele, die von pro-iranischen Milizen genutzt worden seien, teilte ein Pentagon-Sprecher mit.
Four Iranian-backed Fighters Killed in U.S. Strikes in Iraq, Syria
The United States said on Sunday it carried out another round of air strikes against Iran-backed militia in Iraq and Syria, which killed four people according to Iran-backed militia groups.
The strikes, the U.S. said, were in response to drone attacks by the militia against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq.
Israeli Foreign Minister #YairLapid will meet his US and Bahraini counterparts in Rome, Lapid‘s office said, the first face-to-face diplomatic contacts for a senior member of the new Israeli government that was sworn in two weeks ago
Six-nation joint military exercise starts in Egypt
The military exercise, participated by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Sudan, will last till Thursday, said a statement released by the Egyptian forces.
Historic agreement signed to normalize relations in Israel, UAE and Bahrain
Hosted by President Trump at the White House Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain became the third and fourth Arab nations to move toward normalizing relations with Israel.
Israels Abkommen mit VAE und Bahrain: „Es wird Frieden im Nahen Osten geben“
Israel, die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate und Bahrain haben ein Abkommen unterzeichnet, das Frieden im Nahen Osten bringen soll. Vermittler Trump sprach von einer neuen Ära.
Netanyahu Lands in D.C for UAE, Bahrain Deal as Israel Braces for 3-week Lockdown
Netanyahu‘s main coalition partners, Defense Minister Benny and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, were shunned from the trip
Trump verkündet Abkommen: Auch Bahrain einigt sich mit Israel
Nach Angaben der US-Regierung will nun auch das Königreich Bahrain diplomatische Beziehungen zu Israel aufnehmen und damit den jüdischen Staat anerkennen. „Ein weiterer historischer Durchbruch“, schrieb US-Präsident Donald Trump auf Twitter. „Unsere beiden großartigen Freunde Israel und das Königreich Bahrain einigen sich auf ein Friedensabkommen.“
Israel and Bahrain agree to sign peace treaty, establishing diplomatic ties
The joint statement, which was presented by U.S. President Donald Trump on Twitter, said that leaders of the United States, Israel and Bahrain held a phone conversation earlier in the day and agreed to the “establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain.”
Pompeo Arrives in Israel, First Stop in Tour Promoting Deepening Gulf Ties
British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab is also expected to visit Israel this week, on Tuesday, and meet with his Israeli counterpart Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.
U.S. Pompeo to visit Sudan next week
U.S. diplomats told the AP that Pompeo will fly Sunday for Israel, Bahrain, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Sudan.
With Israel‘s Encouragement, NSO Sold Spyware to UAE and Other Gulf States
The Israeli company has signed contracts with Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Israel-UAE deal condemned by Palestinians, cheered by Egypt and Bahrain
Other Arab governments mostly stayed silent, as signs of anger from some of the region’s citizens trickled out.
The Persian Gulf Is About to Become Dangerously Crowded
(12.12.2019)
France and Qatar signed an agreement allowing France to deploy and station military forces within Qatar.
The Netherlands said on November 25 that it would join Denmark and France in the European naval mission, reported the NLTimes. The Netherlands said it would deploy a navy ship to the Persian Gulf for six months but said it would play an “observing” role. Belgium, Italy, Norway, Spain and Sweden are also expected to join the European coalition, the Tehran Times reported.
Milley Says Middle Eastern Nations Want U.S. Involved in Region
Army Gen. Mark A. Milley also discussed the need for deterrence regarding Iran. Milley spoke with military and civilian leaders in Israel, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq on this four-day trip.
France Postures to Confront Iran
On Sunday, leaders, foreign ministers and defense officials from around the world gathered in Bahrain to attend the Manama Dialogue organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies. At the meeting, French Defense Minister Florence Parly said France intends to fill the void created by a “deliberate, gradual U.S. disengagement” from the Middle East.
Jerusalem Post Middle East analyst Seth Frantzman called Parly’s speech a “shot across the bow of U.S. policy” and a “signal” that France is seeking “a deeper role” in Middle East security.
A leading policy forum, the Manama Dialogue which is organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain, convened Friday November 22nd, to discuss the major political issues of the day, including the threats raised by Iran.
(23.11.2019)
Israel to attend U.S.-led maritime security meeting in Bahrain
Background: The Bahrain maritime security meeting is a follow-up to the U.S.-led anti-Iran conference held in Warsaw in February. Around 60 countries attended that conference and have participated in ongoing meetings since.
The state of play: According to the State Department, the Bahrain meeting on Oct. 21-22 will focus on maintaining maritime and aviation security in the Middle East and promote steps to interdict and prevent shipments of illicit weapons of mass destruction.
Gulf Arab states worry after US Syria pullout
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Mohammed even recently told CBS that the kingdom is “open to all initiatives for a political solution in Yemen.” That’s a long way from another CBS interview last year in which he compared Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
That pragmatism can be heard in how both Saudi Arabia and the UAE look at Syria. Since the start of the country’s war in 2011, it backed those trying to overthrow Assad.
Billions of pounds worth of weapons have been licensed by the UK to Saudi Arabia since start of Yemen war
Government figures show that export licences worth £6.2bn have been granted to members of the Saudi-led coalition in the four years since the conflict began in March 2015.
The figure includes £5.3bn to Saudi Arabia, £657m to United Arab Emirates, £85m to Egypt, £72m to Bahrain, £40m to Kuwait and £142m to Qatar before it withdrew from the coalition in 2017.
UK licensed £6.3bn worth of arms to Saudi-led forces in first four years of Yemen conflict
According to new government statistics, since March 2015 the UK has licensed £5.3bn worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, £657m to the United Arab Emirates, £85m to Egypt, £72m to Bahrain, and £40m worth to Kuwait.
Bahrain joins U.S.-led coalition safeguarding Persian Gulf shipping
The confirmation came after Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, chief of CENTCOM, and other top U.S. commanders met with Bahrain‘s king in the capital, Manama. Bahrain is the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet.
Schutz für Öltransporte: Strategische Manöver um Nadelöhr im Golf
Auch ein NATO-Einsatz wäre theoretisch möglich. Dagegen spricht aber ebenfalls, dass alle Mitgliedsstaaten zustimmen müssten. „Es gab bislang keine Anfrage für einen NATO-Einsatz im Golf“, so NATO-Generalsekretär Jens Stoltenberg am Mittwoch.
U.S. Navy kicking off „initial planning conference“ in Bahrain today with allied nations to discuss maritime security: statement. Monday, Secretary of State Pompeo admitted, „it will take more time“ to form coalition to protect ships in Strait of Hormuz from Iranian forces.
UK calls meeting with US and France to discuss Hormuz plan
The UK has invited military representatives of the US, France and other European countries to a meeting in Bahrain on Wednesday in an attempt to create an international mission to safeguard shipping through the strait of Hormuz.
Britain hopes it can act as bridge between the US – which has the largest military presence of a western nation in the region – and countries such as Germany, which is reluctant to getting involved in any mission led by Washington.
Inching away from Saudi-UAE axis, Jordan restores ties with Qatar
Jordan and Qatar announced the restoration of full diplomatic ties by naming their respective ambassadors, two years after Amman downgraded its relations with Doha due to pressure from a Saudi-led block.
In June 2017, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Qatar siding with the regional axis of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain, which imposed a land, sea, and air blockade of the gas-rich state.
Earlier this week, Qatar named Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, a member of the royal family, as its ambassador to Jordan, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.
Canada Gets Cozy with Repressive Middle East Monarchies
While Justin Trudeau’s government embraces repressive Middle East monarchies, they want us to believe their campaign to oust Venezuela’s government is motivated by support for democracy and human rights.
CEO of Israeli spyware-maker NSO on fighting terror, Khashoggi murder, and Saudi Arabia
(24.3.2019)
An Israeli company licenses software around the world that can crack just about any smartphone, but is its use always on the side of good?
Hacking Lawyers or Journalists Is Totally Fine, Says Notorious Cyberweapons Firm
(25.3.2019)
Hulio’s company, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, first made global headlines in 2016 when its tools were used by the authoritarian government of the UAE in order to spy on Ahmed Mansoor, an award-winning human rights activist. The company has never fully addressed the spying; Mansoor currently sits, untried and unable to regularly contact his family, in an unidentified prison somewhere in the UAE on charges of criticizing the UAE government.
The spotlight did not dissuade the company. Instead, it served as an advertisement to other authoritarian governments about NSO Group’s exceptional ability …
An Israeli tech firm is selling spy software to dictators, betraying the country’s ideals
(5.12.2018)
Saudi dissident Omar Abdulaziz, who lives in Canada, has filed a lawsuit against an Israeli technology company called the NSO Group accusing it of providing the Saudi government with the surveillance software to spy on him and his friends — including Jamal Khashoggi. The program, known as Pegasus, not only allows the monitoring of all communications from a phone — all texts, all emails, all phone calls — but can also hijack a mobile phone’s microphone and camera to turn it into a surveillance device.
A New Age of Warfare: How Internet Mercenaries Do Battle for Authoritarian Governments
Before NSO helped the Saudi government track its adversaries outside the kingdom, and helped the Mexican government hunt drug kingpins, and earned hundreds of millions of dollars working for dozens of countries on six continents, the company consisted of two high school friends in northern Israel with one relatively mundane idea.
Using technology developed by graduates of Intelligence Unit 8200 — Israel’s equivalent of the N.S.A.— Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie started a company in 2008 that allowed cellphone firms to gain remote access to their customers’ devices to perform maintenance.
Word spread to Western spy services, whose operatives spotted an opportunity.
Qatar: Arms deal with Russia ‚none of Saudi business‘
„There is a discussion for procurement of various Russian equipment, but there is no understanding as of yet as to this particular equipment,“ he added, referring to Russia‘s S-400 missile defense system.
Lavrov also confirmed that talks on „bilateral“ military cooperation with gas-rich Qatar were under way.
Kneissl reist zu Iran-Konferenz in Warschau
Nach Angaben der polnischen Regierung haben rund 60 der mehr als 70 eingeladenen Delegationen aus aller Welt zugesagt.
Ihre Teilnahme bestätigten bisher der israelische Regierungschef Benjamin Netanyahu und der ungarische Außenminister Peter Szijjarto. Auf Ministerebene werden außerdem aus der Region Saudi-Arabien, Bahrain, der Jemen, Jordanien, Kuwait, der Oman, Marokko und die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate vertreten sein, wie die PAP meldete.
Safadi holds consultations on regional stability with Arab counterparts
Dead Sea talks bring together FMs of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Egypt
Pompeo’s Anti-Iran Tour Faces Obstacles of a Fractious Middle East
Mr. Pompeo has not yet proposed that Arab nations outside the war zones send troops to fight the militias, though he has left open the possibility of the United States helping piece together an Arab military coalition to move into northeastern Syria as the United States withdraws.
Anadolu Agency: Bahrain, Pakistan to hold joint counter-terror drill
A memorandum of understanding was signed on Wednesday between Bahrain’s National Guard and the Pakistani army to carry out the Badr 3 exercise.
Bahrain cabinet tends resignation as per post-election rules
Authorities in the Gulf Arab state, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, announced results of the Dec. 1 election runoffs earlier on Sunday. The cabinet resignation statement was later carried by the state Bahrain News Agency.
Kommandeur der 5. US-Flotte in Residenz in Bahrain verstorben
Nach nur einem halben Jahr auf dem neuen Posten wird der plötzliche, völlig unerwartete Tod des Chefs der 5. U.S.-Flotte bekanntgegeben. Am 1.12.2018 wurde der Tod des Kommandeurs der 5. U.S.-Flotte, des Vizeadmirals Scott A. Stearney, mitgeteilt.
Trump wiegelt Militär gegen Gerichte und politische Gegner auf
Zu den Angerufenen gehörten Oberst Stephanie Barton von der 101. Fallschirmjägerdivision in Afghanistan; Leutnant Oberst Sam Howie von den Marines auf dem Luftwaffenstützpunkt al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait; Kapitän Pat Hannifin von der Navy auf der USS Ronald Reagan; Brigadegeneral David Lyons von der Air Force in Afghanistan; und Leutnant Nicholas Hartmann von der US Coast Guard in Bahrain.
Senate Rejects Sen. Rand Paul’s Bid to Block Arms Sales to Bahrain
In a 21-77 vote on Thursday, the Senate rejected a bill from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) aiming to block a $300 million arms sale to Bahrain. The bill was heavily opposed by the White House.
Five Arab states join Egypt in military maneuvers
The US plans to hold a summit in January to launch a new Arab military alliance, similar to NATO, that will include nine countries led by the Gulf Cooperation Council states, in addition to Egypt, Jordan and the US.
Trump‘s Alliance Against Iran: Saudi Arabia and Partners Join Israel in Supporting U.S. as Others Turn Away
While President Donald Trump condemned Iran in his address Tuesday to the United Nations General Assembly, a small but influential group of countries gathered elsewhere in New York City in an attempt to rally support for an increasingly controversial cause among the international community.
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the ambassadors of Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to Washington and the director of Israel‘s Mossad spy agency were among those who spoke alongside two of President Donald Trump‘s most senior officials at the 2018 United Against Nuclear Iran summit.
Donald Trump to support plan for ‚Arab Nato‘
(22.9.2018) President Donald Trump has backed plans to offer a Middle East Security Alliance (MESA) to members of the GCC supportive of America’s stand on Iran, a proposal that is expected to be discussed behind the scenes at the UNGA meetings in New York.
Diplomats see the evolving position of Washington towards a new core group as a product of the Iran situation but also a plank of the Middle East peace process review undertaken by Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Trump hails Saudi achievements, criticizes Iran in UN speech
“Following my trip to Saudi Arabia, the Gulf countries opened a new center to target terrorist financing. They are enforcing new sanctions, working with us to identify and track terrorist networks and taking more responsibility for fighting terrorism and extremism in their own region,” Trump told the crowd of world leaders.
“The United States is working with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jordan, and Egypt to establish a strategic alliance so Middle Eastern nations can advance security and stability across their home region,” he added.
Oman says running out of patience with UAE violations
On Wednesday, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi unveiled a raft of economic deals, signing 20 memorandums of understanding for over 60 joint projects, including in the oil and gas, banking, nuclear energy, and defense.
The deals, approved at a meeting of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, did not involve the four other Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members — Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
HRW urges US to halt arms sale to Bahrain over ‘dismal rights record’
The New York-based organization made the plea in a Thursday statement concerning sales of attack helicopters and 3,000 bomb bodies worth around $1 billion in total.
“These two weapons sales make clear that the Trump administration intends nothing short of a free pass on human rights for Bahrain,” said the HRW’s Washington director, Sarah Margon.
Protesters demand pull-out of US naval forces from Bahrain
Thousands of people have staged demonstrations across Bahrain, demanding the immediate withdrawal of American marines from the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom and closure of the US naval base there.
The protesters took to the streets in the capital Manama on Friday evening, carrying placards reading “Leave Our Land” and shouting slogans in condemnation of Washington’s support for the ruling Al Khalifah regime.
‘Deterrent to regional threats’? US approves $45mn sale of 3,200 bombs & bunker busters to Bahrain
The order would consist of 1,500 Mark-82 general purpose bombs; 600 Mark-83 bombs; 600 Mark-84 bombs; and 500 BLU-109 “bunker busters,” bombs armed with special warheads designed to penetrate hardened targets, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on Friday.
A Spy in the Machine
(21.1.2015) He changed his password, alerted his friend, and stopped using Facebook Messenger — but the intrusions kept coming.
In another instance, Moosa noticed that someone posing as him solicited his female Facebook friends for sex — part of an effort, it seemed, to blackmail or perhaps defame him in Bahrain’s conservative media. Facebook was only the beginning. Unbeknownst to him, Moosa’s phone and computer had been infected with a highly sophisticated piece of spyware, built and sold in secret. The implant effectively commandeered his digital existence, collecting everything he did or said online.
Türkei: Einsatz deutscher Spionagesoftware gegen Oppositionelle
Ein gestern von Access Now veröffentlichter Bericht legt den großflächigen Einsatz von mobiler Spionagesoftware offen, die insbesondere in Folge des Gerechtigkeitsmarsches im Sommer 2017 gegen das türkische Regime auf die Mobiltelefone Oppositioneller losgelassen wurde. Beobachter von Menschenrechtsverletzungen aus den letzten zwei Jahren belegen, dass die Schadsoftware von einer deutschen Überwachungsfirma entwickelt und unter der Bezeichnung FinFisher vertrieben wird. Geheimdienste und Strafverfolgungsbehörden auf der ganzen Welt beliefert die in München angesiedelte Firma mit Werkzeugen wie FinFisher, offenbar ohne Rücksicht auf die politische Lage im Land.
Saudi Arabia, Gulf allies welcome Trump pullout from Iran deal
Riyadh, UAE and Bahrain, staunch rivals of Islamic Republic, join Israel in offering rare support for US decision to reimpose sanctions