Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will use all options against Iran'

Turki al-Faisal addressing the conference on national and regional security in Manama, Bahrain, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221771.html

Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief says Riyadh will use “all available options” to defend itself against Iranian “threats” that might trigger “unwanted military confrontation.”

Addressing a conference on national and regional security in Manama, Bahrain, Turki al-Faisal said, “Any threat to our interests or security will force us to use all available options to defend our interests, and national and regional security.”

His remarks came after Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi urged Riyadh on Tuesday to reconsider plans to compensate for any shortfall in the market caused by West-backed sanctions against Iranian oil exports.

Iran's OPEC Governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi also warned the country's Persian Gulf neighbors last Sunday that they will be responsible for any consequences, should they agree to compensate for the Islamic Republic's oil exports in the event of Western sanctions against Tehran.

“The mounting escalation and persistent tensions might end up in an adventure with unpredictable consequences or in an unwanted military confrontation,” AFP quoted Faisal as saying.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington over the Strait of Hormuz have been escalating since the US and the European Union proposed sanctions against Iran's oil sector to deprive the country of its oil exports.

Iranian officials have warned that if Tehran is prevented from exporting crude oil through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, it may take measures, including closing the strategic Strait.

“Iran must not fuel this conflict and must not threaten us when we commit to international decisions,” Faisal added.

The former Saudi intelligence minister stated that Iran “must neutralize the security of the Strait of Hormuz and that of the world energy supply.”

“[Iran] has chosen a different policy that constantly undermines regional security and provokes foreign interventions, which it claims it is trying to get rid of,” the Saudi official accused.

Bahrain deploys tanks in Diraz

Bahraini protesters are calling for an end to the rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/177342.html

Saudi-backed Bahraini forces have deployed tanks and armored vehicles in Diraz, shortly after attacking a peaceful protest march in the western village of Karzakan.

Witnesses say regime forces fired live bullets and tear gas at anti-government protesters and that army helicopters have been flying over protesters in Karzakan on Friday. There were no immediate reports of casualties or arrests.

Also on Friday, the regime forces besieged the northwestern village of Diraz with tanks and heavy military vehicles.

Meanwhile, pro-regime thugs backed by police stormed Dair village.

Despite a martial law and the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in several Bahraini cities following the Friday Prayers, demanding an end to the rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty.

They also condemned the Manama regime's violent crackdown on demonstrators.

On Thursday, a military court in Bahrain sentenced four anti-government protesters to death and three years to life in prison for their alleged involvement in the killing of two police officers last month.

Bahrain's Center for Human Rights says the charges brought against the four protesters are politically motivated and rights activists have questioned the trial's legality.

The verdicts have also caused international outrage with the European Union and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah strongly condemning the death sentences, describing them as deplorable.

"Such a judgment is a continuation to the crime committed by the regime in Bahrain against its people," Hezbollah said in a statement.

"The reality of matters shows that these judgments are political and not judicial, the regime's attempt to [show] it is a judicial [matter] will not succeed in hiding the truth of what the Bahrain people are [suffering] from. They are being oppressed because they are demanding their legitimate rights," the statement added.

Dozens of protesters have been killed and scores of others have been injured since the uprising began in Bahrain in mid February.

Many journalists, bloggers, doctors, lawyers and opposition activists have also been arrested as part of a widespread crackdown on anti-regime protests.

Protesters are demanding an end to the 40-year rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty.

Protesters say they will continue their street demonstrations until their demands for freedom, constitutional monarchy as well as a proportional voice in the government are met.

Britain to use military force in Libya

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/167821.html

Amid the protestors shooting order by the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Britain and its allies are to impose military actions in the Libya's no-fly zone.

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons that British could be involved in the Libya's civil war.

"If Gaddafi uses military force against his own people, the world cannot stand by. That is why we should be looking at a no-fly zone," Cameron said, adding that his country can use fighter jets in Libya's no-fly zone.

There has been a growing concern over the mass murder in Libya. Some reports have also sparked worries that Gaddafi might even use chemical weapons to kill Libyans.

In response to Cameron's talks, Gaddafi, who has already lost control of much of the country, said, "They [his people] love me, all my people love me…They would die to protect me."

Being in Tripoli, Libya's capital and home to a third of Libyans, Gaddafi said he would not quit.

There have been talks between Britain and US over arming rebel forces in Libya. Cameron also said, "If helping the opposition would somehow bring that about, it is certainly something we should be considering."

The no-fly zone had been used over Iraq and Bosnia war to stop the former regimes from bombarding civilians. It is said that Britain would fly Tornados and Typhoons from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.

The Chief of the Defence Staff Gen Sir David Richards is to manage British military actions in Libya.

It is also announced that foreign nationals would be evacuated largely by Wednesday as the next phase against Gaddafi. After freezing Gaddafi's assets last week, the European Union is to impose sanctions on Libyan government this week.

Israeli armor moves into Gaza, digging trenches

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121858§ionid=351020202


Israeli forces have crossed into the Gaza Strip while tensions remain high following Tel Aviv's Friday incursion into the Hamas-run Palestinian coastal enclave.

Israeli soldiers moved around 500 meters (yards) inside Gaza on Sunday in several armored vehicles including bulldozers.

Witnesses said the troops were predominantly targeting olive groves and almond fields in the Abasan al-Jadida area east of Khan Yunis.

They dug large trenches and fired warning shots to keep farmers away, but there were no reports of casualties.

Sunday's incursion was close to the site where Israeli tanks, bulldozers and jeeps, backed by helicopters, carried out a strike late Friday damaging two houses and killing a Palestinian. Seven people were also wounded in the attack.

In an earlier skirmish, two Israeli soldiers were killed and two others wounded.

This is while Israel's Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz has threatened that Tel Aviv will "liquidate" Hamas sooner or later, adding that Israel may even launch a new offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Israel launched a 22-day war on the coastal strip in December 2008, killing over 1,400 Palestinians, most of them civilians.

The offensive also devastated a large portion of the impoverished territory's infrastructure and left thousands of Gazans homeless.

Latest Israeli offensive into Gaza kills 4

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121731§ionid=351020202


The number of Palestinians killed in the latest Israeli offensive into Gaza strip has reached to four.

Violence erupted again after Israeli forces supported by tanks invaded the southern town of Khan Younis on Friday.

Earlier reports said the incursion resulted in the death of two Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers.

Two Israeli soldiers, including a high-ranking officer, were killed by Gazan resistance fighters during the incursion.

Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam Brigades, has claimed responsibility for the Israeli fatalities.

"We take the responsibility for the killing of the Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza. What happened shows that the al-Qassam Brigades are fully prepared to confront an Israeli aggression," Press TV correspondent in Gaza quoted Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaidah as saying on Saturday.

"We also want to dedicate this operation to the soul of our late commander Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh who was assassinated by Israel's Mossad agents in Dubai," he added.

The violence added to the strain on Israel, which is already under pressure from the international community over the expansion of its settlements in occupied Palestinian land.

European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said she was "extremely concerned" by the latest violence and called on both sides to exercise restraint.

"Such actions undermine current efforts to facilitate a resumption of the peace process," AFP quoted Ashton as saying in Brussels.