(Gulf News-Dubai) Sami Moubayed - Iran presently controls the strategic Al Hodeida port of Yemen, via its proxy Al Houthi militia, posing a direct threat to Saudi Arabia. Last October, Turkey established a military base in Somalia, months after deploying nearly 5,000 troops in Qatar - which is being used by Iran to pressure Saudi Arabia. Last week, Ankara was given full rights to rehabilitate the port island/town of Suakin in northeastern Sudan, with a naval dock for both civilian and military vessels on the Red Sea. The former Ottoman port served as a transit point for pilgrims crossing the Red Sea to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are concerned that the Iranians will use the new Turkish base in Sudan to send more arms and equipment to the Houthis, while the Egyptians see it as a base for further Turkish meddling in the affairs of Egypt through the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, which remains firmly allied to Ankara.
2018-01-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive