ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

This map provides a general look at the military situation in Yemen after  the recent advances of Saudi-led forces against the Houthis and their allies in the western part of the country. Click to see the full-size map

Click to see the full-size image During the Qatari National Day parade on December 18, the Qatari Army revealed its newly acquired Chinese-made SY-400 missile systems. The Qatari-Chinese deal was not announced beofre and its unknown when exactly Qatar received the advanced missile system. Photos from the Qatari National Day parade showed that each of the Qatari SY-400 systems was armed with two BP-12A solid-fueled short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), that have the range of 300-400km, and 480 high explosive warheads. The BP-12A SRBM is guided by an Internal Navigation System (INS) that’s aided by a satellite navigation system. Click to see the full-size image The SY-400 can be also armed with up to eight SY-400 missiles, that have the range of 180km. The SY-400 is also guided by INS and a satellite navigation system. The SY-400 can also carry up to twelve PH-03 heavy rockets that have the range of 90km. However, it’s unknown if Qatar bought these rockets too, or only BP...

Major General Ali Alqahtani Major General Ali Alqahtani, who was detained in November as part of the Saudi ‘anti-corruption crackdown’, has reportedly died under torture, the London-based newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported. According to the report, Major General Alqahtani was a member of the royal guard forces and the manager of the private office of Prince Turki Bin Abdullah, the son of former king Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. He and many other high profile persons were held at the Ritz Carlton. Alqahtani allegedly died on 12 December after being tortured with electric shocks. Furthermore, the newspaper said that his family struggled to recognise him after receiving his body. In November, reports appeared that Saudi princes and billionaire businessmen arrested in the crackdown were tortured by by US private security contractors hired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  MORE DETAILS ON THE ISSUE HERE