Houthi drones have attacked a ship and an oil terminal in southern Yemen.
Monday's attack hit Al Dabba oil terminal, near the port city of Mukalla in Hadhramaut governorate. The terminal was the target of another assault by the Houthis last month and, on November 9, the rebels struck an oil tanker at Qena port in the Shabwah governorate.
The latest attack was carried out with drones, Yemen's internationally recognised government said, without specifying the extent of damage.
The Houthis said they struck “an oil ship”, without clarifying whether an oil tanker had been hit, or some other vessel carrying fuel.
Houthi fighters have been supplied with thousands of long-range “kamikaze drones” supplied by Iran, as well as short-range ballistic missiles that have enabled the group to strike targets within Yemen and in neighbouring countries.
The rebels have frequently used drones to hit oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, although they claim the devices are domestically made and deny getting help from Iran.
Drones have also been used to attack commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis appeared to acknowledge Monday's strike, with the group's military spokesman, Yahia Sarea, saying that "the armed forces succeeded in forcing an oil ship — that had come close to the Al Dabba port in the south of the country — to leave".
Yemen's government said the ship was a "commercial vessel".
The country's warring parties failed last month to renew a months-long truce that had spurred hopes for a longer peace.
War has raged since 2014 between the Houthi rebels and pro-government forces backed by a coalition of Gulf Arab states.
The Iran-backed insurgents swept down from the mountains in 2014, occupied northern Yemen and the country’s capital, forcing the government to flee to Saudi Arabia.
Since then, more than 150,000 people have been killed in the violence and three million have been displaced. Two thirds of the population receives food assistance.
The initial, two-month truce agreed to on April 2 was extended twice, until October 2. Since then, both the US and the UN have blamed the Houthis for a breakdown in efforts to extend the ceasefire yet again.
One of the main obstacles to a truce is the use of Yemen’s resources. The Houthis insist that oil produced in Yemen should not be exported by the cash-strapped government.
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The five pillars of Islam
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The Way It Was: My Life with Frank Sinatra by Eliot Weisman and Jennifer Valoppi
Hachette Books
