UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, arrived in Aden on Thursday following last week’s devastating attack on its airport as President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi warned against Iranian interference.
Attacks on the southern port city of Aden on December 30 killed at least 26 people as government officials arrived at the airport from Saudi Arabia.
“The Governor of Aden, Ahmed Lamlas, briefed Mr Griffiths and his accompanying delegation on last week's horrific attack in Aden international airport that resulted in dozens of civilian deaths and injuries,” Mr Griffith's office said in a statement.
Government officials said the attack involved three precision-guided missiles that were launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels that wounded more than 100 people.
The rebels denied responsibility.
The attacks occurred as Yemen's unity government arrived at the airport.
Mr Hadi inaugurated the Cabinet in December as part of a Saudi-brokered agreement to end a political rift between the government and the Southern Transitional Council, which advocates secession for southern Yemen.
The two sides are allies against the Houthis, who have controlled much of northern Yemen since 2015.
Mr Hadi warned of Iran’s “blatant” interference in the country and told the UN envoy that Tehran had assisted the rebels in conducting the deadly attack on the airport, as well attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
“They are undermining peace efforts,” he said, according to the state news agency.
Mr Hadi also referred to the fact that Iran sent an ambassador to the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa, which is a “violation of diplomatic and international laws and portrays Iran’s support towards the rebels.”
Meanwhile, Houthi rebels killed six civilians and injured seven others during several attacks on civilian houses in Taiz, state news agency said on Wednesday.
Out of those killed were four children and two women.
“We strongly condemn the brutal attack of Iran-backed Houthi militia against Al Haima in Al Taiziyah District of Taiz, and the bombing of citizens' homes and farms with heavy and medium weapons, left number of dead and wounded among women and children,” Yemen’s Minister of Information, Muammar Al Eryani said on Twitter.
Mr Griffiths stopped in Riyadh before landing in Yemen, to meet with the Yemeni President and other government officials to discuss a UN-brokered plan to push forward the peace process.
Mr Griffiths recently proposed an agreement between the government and rebels to resume political talks.
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E261hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400Nm%20at%201%2C750-4%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.5L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh129%2C999%20(VX%20Luxury)%3B%20from%20Dh149%2C999%20(VX%20Black%20Gold)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
