Airstrikes on Yemen war anniversary
Deadly Saudi air raids on Yemen continue unabated. Saudi Arabia has launched a series of attacks against the war-wracked country, targeting Yemen’s facilities in response to Friday’s missile strikes by the Yemeni army. At least eight people including women and children were killed after the Saudi warplanes carried out the attacks targeting residential areas in the capital Sana’a. Several others were also wounded. The warplanes also raided oil and electricity facilities in the port city of Hudaydah. Local sources say the raids caused massive damage to residential neighborhoods and civilian facilities. A number of areas in the province of Sa’ada were also targeted. The attacks happened after the Yemeni army targeted the Saudi state-run oil giant Aramco facility in Jeddah and other vital sites in the capital Riyadh with missiles. The army said the attacks were carried out on the eve of the seventh anniversary of the Saudi war on Yemen.
Zelensky urges more energy output
The month-long Russian military action on Ukraine has raised concerns over energy supplies all across Europe. Now, Ukraine is urging energy-producing countries to increase output to help the EU wean itself off Russian supplies. President Volodymyr Zelensky made the call in an address to the Doha Forum international conference. He said countries like Qatar could make a contribution to the stabilization of Europe. The Ukrainian leader said the future of Europe depends on the efforts of energy-producing countries. Zelensky said the world's markets have not yet overcome the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that no country is insured against shocks from disruptions to food supply due to Russia's attacks on his country. Ukraine is one of the world's largest grain producers.
Iran rights to Arash Gas Field
Iran has rejected as illegal a decision by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to produce gas at a Persian Gulf field shared by the three countries, saying it reserves the right for drilling in the Arash gas field. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh says that based on International regulations any decision to tap the Arash field has to be discussed with all parties including Tehran. He said the agreement is illegal and in contrast to previous negotiations. Khatibzadeh noted that the gas field is a joint field between Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, while parts of it are located in areas between Iran and Kuwait whose water boundaries have not been defined. Earlier, the two Arab countries signed a deal to ramp up the output of gas reserves, ignoring Iran’s right in the Persian Gulf area.