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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 5 July 2022
U.S. Navy offers cash for tips to seize Mideast drugs, weapons

DUBAI, United Arab Emir- with U.S. weaponry and in-
ates (AP) — The U.S. Navy’s telligence entered the war
Mideast-based 5th Fleet is on the side of Yemen’s ex-
starting to offer rewards for iled government in March
information that could help 2015. Years of inconclusive
sailors intercept weapons, fighting has pushed the
drugs and other illicit ship- Arab world’s poorest na-
ments across the region tion to the brink of famine.
amid tensions over Iran’s A truce that began around
nuclear program and Teh- the holy Muslim month of
ran’s arming of Yemen’s Ramadan appears for now
Houthi rebels. to still be holding.
While avoiding directly Despite a United Nations
mentioning Iran, the 5th Security Council arms em-
Fleet’s decision to offer bargo on Yemen, Iran
cash and other goods for long has been transferring
actionable intelligence in rifles, rocket-propelled gre-
the Persian Gulf and other nades, missiles and other
strategic waterways may weaponry to the Houthis.
increase pressure on the Though Iran denies arm-
flow of weapons to the ing the Houthis, indepen-
Houthis as a shaky cease- dent experts, Western na-
fire still holds in Yemen. tions and U.N. experts have
Already, the Houthis have Weapons that the U.S. Navy described as coming from a hidden arms shipment aboard a stateless traced components back
dhow are seen aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey, May 8, 2021.
threatened a new allied Associated Press to Iran.
task force organized by the Asked about whether new
5th Fleet in the Red Sea, Associated Press. “Definite- halted across the region, uptick in seizures represents seizures could increase ten-
though there’s been no at- ly we have seen in the last the 5th Fleet decided to try a return to shipping after sions with Iran, Hawkins list-
tack by the Iranian-backed year skyrocketing success to use the program as it pa- the coronavirus pandemic ed the weapons and drugs
forces on the Navy in the in seizing both illegal nar- trols the waterways of the or an increase overall in the the Navy hoped to inter-
time since. cotics and illicit weapons. Middle East. number of illicit shipments in cept under the program.
Meanwhile, the 5th Fleet This represents another step Hawkins said operators flu- the region. Traffickers typi- “That’s what we’re af-
says it and its partners in our effort to enhance re- ent in Arabic, English and cally use stateless dhows, ter,” the commander said.
seized $500 million in drugs gional maritime security.” Farsi would man a hotline, traditional wooden sailing “That’s not in the interest
alone in 2021 more than The 5th Fleet’s new initia- while the Navy also would craft common in the Mid- of regional stability and
the four prior years com- tive launches on Tuesday take tips additionally on- east, to transport drugs and security.” Iran’s mission to
bined. The 5th Fleet also in- through the Department of line, in Dari and Pashto. weapons. the United Nations did not
tercepted 9,000 weapons Defense Rewards Program, Payouts can be as high as One destination for weap- respond to a request for
in the same period, three which saw troops offer cash $100,000 or the equivalent ons appears to be Yemen. comment. The U.S. Navy
times the number seized in and goods for tips on the in vehicles, boats or food The Houthis seized Yemen’s and Iran continue to have
2020. battlefields in Afghanistan, for tips that also include capital, Sanaa, in Septem- tense encounters in the
“Any destabilizing activity Iraq and elsewhere after al- information on planned at- ber 2014 and forced the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow
has our attention,” Cmdr. Qaida launched the Sept. tacks targeting Americans, internationally recognized mouth of the Persian Gulf
Timothy Hawkins, a 5th 11, 2001, attacks. Since Hawkins said. government into exile. A through which a fifth of all
Fleet spokesman, told The ground fighting has largely It’s unclear if the 5th Fleet’s Saudi-led coalition armed oil traded passes.q

Tensions persist as Rwanda denies Congo rebel charges

By IGNATIUS SSUUNA Relations between Rwan- the FDLR.
Associated Press da and Congo have But Kagame charged Mon-
KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) — frayed in recent weeks af- day that Congo is actively
Rwandan President Paul ter the M23 rebel group last arming the FDLR, whose
Kagame on Monday ac- month took the Congolese fighters are accused of
cused Congo of supporting town of Bunagana at the killing dozens in a 2019 at-
rebels opposed to his gov- Uganda border and Con- tack in the northern Rwan-
ernment, escalating ten- golese authorities charged dan town of Kinigi, a tourist
sions with a neighbor who that Rwandan troops had area. “It’s on record and
in turn accuses Rwanda of invaded Congo. with facts. (Congo) is sup-
supporting violent rebels Rwanda has long denied porting FDLR, and unfortu-
who recently captured a supporting M23, disputing nately with the knowledge
town in eastern Congo. the accounts of conflict of MONUSCO,” he said, re-
Kagame said in a televised observers, U.N. experts and ferring to U.N. peacekeep-
address that his country others. M23 is made up ers on the ground.
is concerned by alleged mostly of ethnic Tutsi fight- It wasn’t immediately possi- Armed militiamen gather near Rutshuru, 70 kms (45 miles) north
Congolese support for the ers from Congo who say ble to get a comment from of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo,Wednesday June 22,
Democratic Forces for the their government hasn’t MONUSCO. 2022.
Liberation of Rwanda, or honored past commit- Kagame accused Congo Associated Press
FDLR, a Congo-based reb- ments to reintegrate them of trying to involve Rwanda provocation. He spoke of Congolese authorities have
el group that includes fight- into the national army. in “their internal issues,” and the rights of Congolese Kin- a obligation to address
ers accused of taking part Congolese authorities deny wondered how long his yarwanda speakers living the grievances of the M23
in the 1994 genocide. allegations they support government will resist such in eastern Congo, saying rebels.q