UAE rejects experts' report on Yemen

Agencies

March 31, 2019

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, has categorically rejected a report by the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen, and urged the Human Rights Council, HRC, to instead refocus on providing support to the Government of Yemen in building institutions to protect human rights in the country.

In a letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, the Minister explained that "the group's mistakes and missteps in judgement and methodology are too many and too serious to ignore", which is why the UAE, along with many other HRC members, decided not to support the renewal of the mandate of the group of experts last year.

Attached to the letter was a detailed assessment of the group of experts' report published in 2018. This assessment was prepared over the course of several months, and is based on a careful and comprehensive consideration of the report, its methodology, and relevant principles of international law. The assessment finds that the group in its report has both exceeded its mandate in a number of ways, while at the same time failing to fulfill important aspects of it. The group did not apply the context of the conflict in Yemen to its monitoring and reporting functions, and its methodological approach was flawed. The group also misinterpreted and misapplied international law, and presented incorrect claims against the UAE.

Looking ahead, Dr Gargash noted that "instead of commissioning yet another report that will not achieve our shared objective to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights in Yemen, the UAE firmly believes the people of Yemen would be better served if the HRC refocuses on providing the support, capacity building and technical assistance the Government of Yemen has consistently requested. This would be an important step in rebuilding institutions that will be essential in laying the groundwork for a more hopeful future for all Yemenis. "

The minister reiterated the UAE's support for the High Commissioner's mandate and her role in consistently working with member states and other stakeholders to address the human rights challenges around the world, including in Yemen.

Dr Gargash also emphasised that the conflict in Yemen and the humanitarian suffering in many parts of the country are the direct results of the illegal and violent overthrow in 2014 of the legitimate Government of Yemen by the Houthi militia, and that the UAE's actions as part of the coalition are undertaken at the request of the legitimate Government of Yemen, in full accordance with international law.

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Israel launches new aggression on residential neighbourhood in Lebanon’s capital, many killed

News Network

November 24,2025

Israel has launched a new act of aggression on a residential neighborhood in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, killing and injuring about two dozen civilians.

The Israeli regime's military said in a statement that its forces carried out a so-called precise strike in a residential apartment in Dahiyeh in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday.

The aggression targeted residential areas, killing at least five people and injuring more than 28 people, Lebanon's Health Ministry said.

Hezbollah announced the martyrdom of senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai and four resistance fighters.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun condemned the airstrike, calling it a clear demonstration of Tel Aviv’s disregard for repeated international calls to halt violations on Lebanese soil.

“Israel refuses to implement international resolutions and all efforts aimed at ending the escalation and restoring stability,” Aoun said, urging the international community to take action to prevent further aggression.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement also condemned the attack, holding the international community accountable.

“The international community bears responsibility and continues to provide cover for these attacks as long as it does not restrain the occupiers,” said Ali Abu Shahin, a member of the group’s political bureau.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the Israeli army carried out a strike “in the heart of Beirut."

Netanyahu reportedly approved the operation following recommendations from top Israeli security officials.

Two senior US officials commented on the Israeli strike.

The first official said that Israel did not notify Americans in advance about the attack. "We were informed immediately after the strike was carried out."

The second senior official said that the "US knew for several days that Israel was planning to escalate its strikes in Lebanon, but did not know in advance the timing, location, or target of the strike."

Speaking from the site of the Israeli strike, Lebanese MP Ali Ammar condemned the attack as part of a broader campaign of aggression that has targeted "all of Lebanon since the Washington-sponsored ceasefire."

He stated that "any attack on Lebanon is a violation of red lines; this aggression is part and parcel of the entity that targets Lebanon's dignity, sovereignty, and security of citizens."

Ammar went on to say the resistance is responding with "utmost wisdom, patience, and will confront the enemy at the appropriate time."

"Unfortunately, the enemy is emboldened to commit its aggression by voices within Lebanon that have turned themselves into tools that support its aggression," he added.

The Israeli attack on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital is the latest blatant violation of the ceasefire Israel signed with Hezbollah in November 2024, which was intended to end hostilities that had escalated into full-scale war.

An Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon late Tuesday killed at least 14 people. It wounded several others, including young students, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The military claimed the attack targeted “a Hamas training compound” used to plan and carry out attacks against the regime -- a claim that has frequently been made without evidence.

Hamas rejected the allegations as “a blatant lie aimed at justifying the massacre,” stating it had “no military installations in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon” and that the targeted site was merely “an open sports field.”

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli attacks have killed approximately 4,000 people and displaced more than 1.2 million residents across the country since October 2023.

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