Middle East Experience

Battles between the internationally-recognized Yemeni government forces and the Iran-backed Houthis are raging in the city of Marib and have resulted in significant losses for the militia, Al Arabiya sources said on Saturday.Clashes between the forces and the Houthis have intensified in Marib since early March. Marib is the last major northern stronghold for pro-government forces and is home to one of Yemen’s largest oil infrastructures.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.In related news, the coalition’s air forces targeted a tank and anti-aircraft weapons that belong to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen’s Hajjah, Al Arabiya cited sources as saying later on Saturday. Several Houthi fighters were killed, the sources said.Iran has backed the Houthis in their war against the Yemeni government, supplying the group with weapons, such as drones and missiles often used to target civilians.The offensive in Marib would put hundreds of gas and oil fields at risk of falling under the Iran-backed group’s control.The governorate has also been a refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people who, for years, have taken shelter there away from the war that was once brewing elsewhere in Yemen.Read more:Arab Coalition intercepts, destroys Houthi ballistic missiles targeting JazanArab Coalition destroys Houthi drone launched towards Khamis MushaitArab Coalition destroys explosive drone targeting Saudi Arabia’s Jazan
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Battles between Yemeni forces, Iran-backed Houthis rage in Marib

Iran imposed a 10-day lockdown across most of the country on Saturday to curb the spread of a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported.The lockdown affects 23 of the country’s 31 provinces, health ministry spokesman Alireza Raisi said. Businesses, schools, theatres and sports facilities have been forced to shut and gatherings are banned during the holy fasting month of Ramadan that begins on Wednesday.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Iran’s coronavirus cases have surpassed 2 million with a new daily average of over 20,000 infections over the past week, according to the health ministry. It has reported more than 64,000 fatalities.“Unfortunately, today we have entered a fourth wave,” President Hassan Rouhani said in televised remarks. He blamed the surge foremost on the variant that first emerged in the UK which spread to Iran earlier this year from neighboring Iraq.Other factors included widespread travel, weddings, and celebrations during the Iranian New Year holidays that began on March 20, he said.The UK variant is now predominant in the country, and 257 cities and towns are in red alert, Raisi said.Iran has been the epicenter of the pandemic in the Middle East. In February, it closed several crossing points with Iraq in an effort to stem the spread of the UK variant.The country’s vaccination drive has also been slow going. Tehran says it has received more than 400,000 of 2 million Sputnik V vaccines on order from Russia, and that it is awaiting delivery of 4.2 million AstraZeneca shots.It has also received 250,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine and part of an order of 500,000 doses of India’s COVAXIN.With a population of 83 million, Iran had hoped to secure over 2 million vaccines by March 20 to vaccinate mainly healthcare workers. It is developing at least four local vaccine candidates, one in cooperation with Cuba, which are expected to reach production in a few months. Read more:Iran’s COVID-19 infections shatter daily increase record amid holiday surgeOil prices dip on mixed supply and demand outlook due to pandemicIran’s COVID-19 cases surpass two million: Health ministry
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Iran demands ten-day shutdown amid fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic

Egypt has begun implementing the first phase of a project to develop the city of Saint Catherine in South Sinai and promote tourism in the area.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Ancient South Sinai city of Saint Catherine to get facelift

The United Arab Emirates named the next two astronauts in its space program Saturday, including the country’s first female astronaut. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai who also serves as the autocratically ruled country’s prime minister and vice president, named the two astronauts on Twitter. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.He identified Noura al-Matroushi as the UAE’s first female astronaut. The announcement gave no biographical information about her or her male counterpart, Mohammed al-Mulla. The two had been selected among more than 4,000 applicants in the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula that’s also home to Abu Dhabi. The two will undergo training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In 2019, Maj. Hazzaa al-Mansoori became the UAE’s first astronaut in space, spending an eight-day mission aboard the International Space Station. The Emirates has had other recent successes in its space program. This February, the UAE put its Amal, or Hope, satellite in orbit around Mars, a first for the Arab world. In 2024, the country hopes to put an unmanned spacecraft on the moon. The UAE also has set the ambitious goal of building a human colony on Mars by 2117.Read more:UAE Mars Hope Probe survives ‘scary’ maneuver to enter data-gathering orbitNASA: Rover lands on Mars to look for evidence of whether life once existed thereUK’s PM Johnson seeks a minor seat in the global space race
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE appoints two new astronauts, including woman

The visit of the highest ranked of member of the Biden administration….
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Pentagon chief to visit Israel amid Iran talks

Lebanon registers 38 COVID-19 deaths, 2,705 cases in 24 hours..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Lebanon registers 38 COVID-19 deaths, 2,705 cases in 24 hours

Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum identified Noura al-Matroushi as the UAE's first female astronaut, with her male counterpart as Mohammed al-Mulla..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: UAE names 2 new astronauts, including woman

Germany's far-right AfD is finalising its election manifesto amid internal division, links to radical Covid-19 deniers and accusations of ties to neo-Nazi fringe groups..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Germany's divided far-right AfD to launch election bid

Tehran and 250 other cities and towns have been declared..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Iran enforces 10-day lockdown amid fourth wave of Covid-19 pandemic

The story has taken a new turn and it leads to questions about why “intelligence” officials had accused MBS of buying a painting that may have been tainted by disputed authenticity.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Latest twist in ‘Salvator Mundi’ painting case again aims to target Saudi