mohamed vall, al jazeera riyadh. >> after reports airbus was targeted by both german and united states agents, now asking the german government to explain. dominic kane has the report from berlin. >> the suggestion that it may have been eves dropped upon by the bmd follows on from an article in the german nip der spiegel, suggesting that they have been monitoring and eavesdropping over large institutions in europe, and the purnl community wastheeuropean community was mentioned as well as others. the question was who authorized this piece of dropping if it did indeed occur and the foreign minister, has pen the subjects of some newspaper articles, printed an article with a picture of mr. de mezier, pinocchio, he denied it totally said i followed the rules there was no suggestion of impropriety by himself the chance legislator angela merkel would certainly not wish to see any kind of scandal attached oanybody for example that close to her. emphasizes the closeness of the two ministers and this scald if that's what it is perceived to be looked on very suspect by the government in germany.

. >> well, al jazeera's mohammed vall joins us from the saudi capital of riyadh. we've seen 100 airstrikes or so in the last 4 hours alone. does this suggest that the saudi operation is in some sort of new phase? >> it isn't a new phase that has been clearly announced yesterday by the spokesman of the coalition when he said that this phase will be even stronger than any previous phase that the houthis have in yemen. he promised that between now and the time of the truce on wednesday afternoon there would be an intensification of airstrikes and we've seen that happening more than 130 in the last 24 hours concentration of those airstrikes on houthi commanders and this is a new or so--a new development in the war strategy. they're now going clearly and specifically after houthi commanders and those who are loyal to former president ali abdullah saleh. urgedaccording to the words of their planning of attacks on saudi territory and their continuation of attacks on yemeni civilians for the saudis this war has become a war of wills. they want to show the houthis that now

the saudi foreign minister saying ceasefire 11:00 pm on the 12th of may, and as we go to mohamed vall my colleague in the saudi capitol riyadh who was listening to that and also the press conference being given by the saudi coalition spokesman, do you notice a major change in different directions one on the ceasefire, and another in terms of the intensity of the bombardment? >> reporter: yeah, quite so yeah. i noticed. at the same time in paris we listened to the two foreign ministers of the u.s. and saudi arabia reiterating that this is this window of opportunity, there is this ceasefire coming up on may 12th. there is a lot of ifs. the word if has been used several times there. and also on the other hand the brigadier general spokesman of the coalition has used very strong words that caught my attention during his presser. he said we are about to have a ceasefire, but the houthis should know the punishment will be tough in the next two days. so there will be a ceasefire, but between then and now, we're going to show the houthis we can be stronger tougher, and strike harder. probably

mohamed vall, thank you so much for being us. back here in the united states we're getting new images of the destruction of a series of tornadoes that struck the south. officials say that three people died in texas and eight people are missing just east of dallas in a town of van. that's the town that you're looking at right now. about a third that have community was severely damaged with some homes completely flattened. look at that. >> it's a terrible thing for the city to come out like it did and it's a great way the people have responded. we were here last night when it hit. we were here all night and we're still here and a bunch of them still are. we lost a lot of good properties but it's just something that you never expect. >> another two people died in arkansas. the threat of severe weather is not over. nicole mitchell has more. >> well, fortunately we're not looking at a repeat of yesterday which had a significant severe impact about 20% of our reports were tornadic. let's take a look. this is from last night. two areas

we'll go to mohamed vall this is all before a proposed truce. >> yes, the truce is only about 24 hours away from this time when we speak. there are doubts now whether it will happen. on both sides efforts are being increased to show that if any truce happens it will not be out of weakness, but because we want to have a truce. but still as i said there are doubts. the houthis have managed once again to strike inside saudi arabia overnight they have been shelling the city, killing one person and wounding four. and renewed that shelling this morning and also they struck at the province of to the southwest of the yemen and saudi arabia. killing one citizen and wounding four otherwise. we have seen during the last few days whenever there is such a strike in saudi arabia, saudis intensify their attacks particularly against the province of sadaa the stronghold of the houthies, destroying government buildings there and places they can see the army depots or targeting houthi commanders there. we have seen also for the first time outspoken of the house of ali abdullah saleh. man people are doubt

mohamed vall joining us. it appears that they're not taking steps from that cease-fire. what are you hearing from saudi officials? >> there was the daily briefing by the saudi spokesman, and according to that briefing, and we're expecting one today the latest one in which he said that saudi is ready for a truce but it does not mean that it's not ready to fight as well. and they have been intense intensifying their air campaign, particularly in the north near sadaa. overnight think managed kill one person and wound four in the city and they have killed another this time a saudi citizen and four others wounded. every time the houthis do this, this means nor intensification of the airstrikes. as this happens as the houthis repeat those attacks on the saudi border, the saudis also increase those attacks. this is going to continue apparently until the truce comes. and there are now doubts about whether the truce will happen or not. >> yes and of course that truce comes also from pressure from the united states. mohamed. another development houthis say they have brought down a

adrian. >> mohamed vall many thanks.e from riyadh. ♪ >>> the rest of the day's news a leading human rights group says war crimes are being committed against civilians on a daily basis in syria. amnesty international is condemned the government's reliance on barrel bombs. it says they killed more than 3,000 people in aleppo last year alone. and they are accused of using improvised weapons such as mortars which killed at least 600 in 2014. all of this as talks begin in geneva. the u.n. envoy will meet government and rebel representatives as well as with regional players, including iran. >> we must redouble efforts in search of a political process. this view is shared by the wider international community. russia helpfully refocused the attention on the political track earlier this year through moscow one and two, and a useful meeting in cairo. and last week the security council fully expressed to me unanimously that another attempt to political try to resolve the conflict should be made even if -- even if odds of success ar

mohamed vall, al jazerra, on the saudi border with yemen. >>> to syria now where rebel fighters havee gains in idlib province towards the government-held city this week. the government retaliated with barrel bombs on districts filled with civilians. these pictures are from northwest idlib. a new alliance of rebel groupings, include al qaeda-linked al-nusra front have gained ground in the poff. >>> i think now, 12 armed ethnic groups in myanmar are meet to go discuss a draft ceasefire deal which they preached with the government in march. the ethnic groups often disagree with each other as bell as the government but for one day this year they put their differences aside to pitch for peace a florence lui reports. >> reporter: the people have been fighting the government for decades. more than 60 years of strike make this the longest running conflict in myanmar. more than 100,000 people displaced many living in thailand. there is little economic investment here because of instability. leaving the population poor and roads and facilities in shambles. a ceasefire group between the governm

. >> mohammed vall is live for us from riyadh. how difficult will it be to for houthis to join this cease-fire. >> the fighting has intensified across yemen today in several areas there and also in response to leaflets that were dropped today by coalition in the north of yemen particularly the area of sadaa the stronghold of the houthis. the coalition asked them to leave that area because it is now going to be intensely targeted by the airstrikes the response under houthi channel was that the civilians have refused to leave and instead of leaving or fleeing they said they would go, according again they say they will fight the saudis on their own soil. reports that the houthis have blocked roads and have refused and denied civilians with the possibility or access to leave the city. this--all of this is an indication of the houthis are not responding. they have not officially also commented since yesterday on the initial offer by saudi arabia to give that five-day truce nor did they comment on today's statements. the date of the tru

. >>> live from the saudi capitol, mohamed vall our correspondent there. question arising of how they are going to get the houthis to agree to this. and john kerry alluded to the fact that he would use his new-found influence with iran because he believes that they might be the only country that could tell the houthis it's in their interest to stop for at least a period of time. >> reporter: right. david, talking to iran by the americans is only one of a series of measures the saudis and their coalition allies are taking along with the americans to try to bring the houthis to comply with demands there of a ceasefire and also talks subsequently. we have seen saudi arabia on several occasions -- we have seen them announcing that end of a first phase and sending a message by that that this deescalation is intended by the houthis to pick up on it and accept it as a kind of goodwill gesture and stop their fight. but they haven't stopped, and in a few hours after the announcement of the end of the first phase saudis have struck again. now it's phase three, and i

. >> mohammed vall in the capitol capital of riyadh. how are they going to get the houthis to participate in this cease-fire? >> as we have just heard the two ministers have reiterated. there is an offer on the table. they have decided the dates. but it is still conditioned by the the houthi approval. the saudis effected by the houthi's intensified attacks on the northern parts of sadaa. we've seen them drop leaflets on civilians ordering them to leave the city before sunset or be responsible for what will happen to them. the saudis decided to target the headquarters of the houthis there in sadaa. the leaders of the sadaa are under target, and for the first time they ask civilians to leave some areas. and today there were a number of airstrikes there. and we have this--we have on houthi tv announcing that they have refused the order by the saudis saying that they'll defy it and stay in their homes. and instead of fleeing they're going to march and fight the saudis on their own soil. these are indications that the houthis are far from be

. >> some analysis now from mohamed vall in riyadh. >> a five-day ceasefire is quite an achieve for secretaryf state john kerry. now they have given the offer to the yemeni particularly to the houthis and the loyalests to the former president saleh. and it is conditional to their favor reply. if they agree the five-day ceasefire could be extended. it is not going to happen until there are arrangements to be able to channel relief supplies to the victims in need. but there is an opportunity there for the houthis, if they accept it that it could turn into one month, two month, or even an open-ended ceasefire, and also saudi arabia showed flexibility there in saying that they want to hold a peace conference on the 17th of this month. but also after that they are acceptable after the talks take place anywhere else around the world. now everything hinges on the response of the houthis. >>> there has been heavy fighting in the port city of aden. more now from our correspondent. >> reporter: for thousands of people trapped in aden's district here the sea is their only way out. they have been caught

. >> mohamed vall explains what this proposed ceasefire could mean in terms of finding a long-term solution to yemen's conflict. >> a five-day ceasefire is quite an achievement for secretary of state john kerry in his visit to saudi arabia. now they have given this offer to the yemenese particularly to the houthis and the loyalists to former president saleh. if they agree, this five-day ceasefire could be extended. it's not going to happen until there are agreements by the u.n. and other relief agencies to be able to channel relief supplies to the yemenese in need. but once it starts it is renewable as john kerry said and that mean there is an opportunity there for the houthis, if they accept it that it could turn into one month, two months or even an open-ends ceasefire. and saudi arabia showed flexibility there in saying that they want to hold a peace conference on the 17th of this month, but also after that they are flexible if the sub see event talks take place anywhere else around the world. now everything hinges on the houthis. >> kerry says the u.s. is not discussing sending ground t

. >> mohammed vall is live for us in riyadh. we're talking about more than 100 airstrikes overnight. does this represent an escalation in the saudi campaign? are the saudis moving into a new phase now? >> exactly the saudis are betting on increasing pressure on the houthis. they think this is the only way to convince houthis that they need to comply with the truce offers. remember at the beginning of the airstrikes the saudis were saying we will not stop this until the houthis leave the city of aden. now that condition has been forgotten. now we're talking about just the houthis accepting the truce. atthat to me is a huge change in the conditions for the saudis at the moment. now they seem to believe that leaving aden for the houthis will be through negotiation not through airstrikes, but the houthies are not responding. they're not responding to the offers of truce, and they're not seeming to respond even to the war of pressure. the saudis have only one option it seems in the words of the spokesman of the coalition and that opt

mohammed vall, you'll be monitoring that for us. thank you. . >> after protracted negotiations israel's prime minister has formed a new government. benjamin netanyahu got the numbers to form a coalition with a series of right-wing parties. but he's going to have to make serious compromises along the way. >> it went to the wire. before agreeing to throw in his eight seats that gave the israeli prime minister the sport of the majority in parliament, a slim majority of one. the full extent of the concessions made will become apparent in days. but it's clear this will be a government of extreme right-wing since ability. jewish home has its roots in settlement and has called for more settlements not less. the inevitable increase in stated expenditure in turn put pressure on the finance minister who brought his breakaway party back into the likud fold. it could take the withdraw of support by a single member of one of the coalition parties to bring the government down. so in the end of weeks of negotiations bench benjamin netanyahu is lef

. >> mohammed vall has this update from the saudi capital of riyadh. >> the fighting has intensified in aden, and several areas there, and also in response to the leaflets that were brought today by coalition in the north of. they have asked the civilians to leave that area because it is now going to be intensity targeted by the airstrikes. the response we got under houthi channel was that the civilians have refused to leave and instead of leaving or fleeing they said they would go according again to al jazeera. they would go to the saudi border to fight the saudis on their own soil. also reports there that the houthis have blocked roads and refused and denied the civilians the possibility of access to leave the city. all of this is an indication that the houthis are not responding. they have not officially commented since yesterday on the initial offer by saudi arabia to give the five-day truce. nor did they comment on today's statements, that the truce--the date of the truce has been decided. >> meanwhile thousands have taken to the streets of tehran to protest against the saudi-le

joining us on the phone line from riyadh is mohamed vall. many other issues of course have been discussed at this summit one of which is iran. what has been aid about iran both in private and in public? >> yes, iran has among other issues have dominated the talks in the summit because iran is one of the major concerns of the gcc countries, lead by saudi arabia of course. iran because of its nuclear program and the deal there that was signed between iran -- the preliminary deal with european powers and the united states is -- the countries here in the gulf are concerned that any final deal there should give guarantees that iran cannot pursue nuclear weapons, because they perceive that iran is the major enemy in the region. they see what they term out [ inaudible ] across the arab world from syria, iraq lebanon, and finally yemen and behind. and they think that iran has an agenda in the region and it's an agenda of destabilization, and they want to make sure that it is now allowed by the european and western powers to pursue any kind of progra

the latest now from mohamed vall in the saudi capitol riyadh. >> reporter: reports talk about death ofcivilians when they were trying to escape the fighting between houthis and the pro-hadi militia. they took a boat trying to reach a safer area but they were attacked on their way by the sea, and 40 were killed, ten were able to escape. in other parts of yemen air strikes continued. at least 30 air strikes, but they are concentrated in the north. and that came after the houthis were able for the first time to strike inside saudi arabia particularly in the civilian areas in the last 24 hours, three saudi civilians were killed when the houthis shelled the city. and also earlier today, reports talking about renewal of houthi shelling, they hit a school and military headquarters in the city. this escalation comes amid calls on the internation ool level particularly by the u.s. and by humanitarian relief agencies on the saudis to stop the air strikes so that humanitarian relief can be brought to yemen and distributed to the people in need the victims of the car. the u.s. secretary of state i

. >>> mohammed vall is live in riyadh. we talked about 100 strikes taking place in yemen. has there been a change or shift in the coalition's tactics? >> i think that it seems that there is a change in terms of intensification first. because we will have seen how they move from 50 strikes a day to 80 strikes a day, and now it is over 100 in one day. that is what a spokesman of the coalition promise said the houthis, saying these two or three days the beginning of the saudi air strike will be the harshest and the hardest. saudi arabia and its allies would like to as they said themselves to punish the houthis for crossing the two red lines, one was a refusal of the offered peace initiatives or truce initiatives, and two by attacking inside saudi arabia. and that is what they are doing. also now, they have announced, the saudis that they'll go specifically after certain individuals among the houthis and ali abdullah saleh loyalists. they stated on one occasion that they were not after individuals, but the organization. today they have struck at the house of a prominent leader

and quite lengthy meeting in front of the press in paris, we're going to go to our correspondent mohamed vall live for us in the saudi capitol. let's run through one or two things there. a ceasefire, a date and a time but conditions too. so run us through that if you can, mohammed. >> reporter: exactly the two ministers have reiterated that this is a ceasefire, but now the timing of it has been decided. it is on tuesday may 12th at 11:00 pm but they left there between the lines an understanding that if the houthis will not comply and if they continue their activities this ceasefire doesn't mean anything. it is a ceasefire. they have decided on it but the houthis have to comply to it. and these two days from here to tuesday are given in order to allow the houthis to spread these message to their rank and file troops and explain to them that they really have to not move any troops not move any heavy equipment, and not to open fire at the beginning -- from the beginning of the ceasefire until the end of those five days, and they say if it holds, and if they comply this is going to allow the dist

mohamed vall, al jazerra, saudi arabia. >>> still to come on al jazerra.rra travel to his a remote district in nepal to assess the damage eight days after that massive earthquake devastated the area. plus fears of human rights abuse ahead of elections in belarus. >> part of our month long look at working in america. "hard ea >> on al jazeera america >> technology...it's a vital part of who we are... >>they had some dynamic fire behavior... >> and what we do... don't try this at home! >> tech know where technology meets humanity... only on al jazeera america ♪ >>> welcome back. the top stories now on al jazerra. hundreds of migrants rescued by european coast guards have arrived in the italian port. 877 people who were trying to reach europe by bola received shortly after midnight. more than 5,000 people rescued from the med mediterranean sea over just the past 48 hours. thousands of african israelis have protested in tel aviv against raceism and police brutality. tensions rows which footage of a jewish ethiopian soldier being beaten by police emerged last w

. >> let's go to saudi arabia mohamed vall our man in riyadh.there any way of finding out whether these people -- and we're talking thousands and thousands of people -- whether they have heeded the warnings in these leaf lets and moved themselves to safety? and anyway where is safety? >> reporter: well according to the statement by the coalition today and that statement was dropped in leaflets as hashem ahelbarra has just said in his package -- according to that statement, at least the area of sa'dah and its surroundings is far less safe than any other part of yemen. that's the area the coalition would like to concentrate on now that the houthis have not complied to the truce offer just 24 hours a day, and they continue with their military activity across yemen. two elements that you haven't seen during the last six weeks one of them -- this is the first time the coalition declares that it is going to go after the houthi commanders and also it is the first time they dropped these kind of leaflets to an entire city or location asking the whole po

mohamed vall, al jazerra, on the saudi border with yemen. >>> saudi arabia's supreme economic council agreed to restructure the state oil company. it will include separating it from the oil ministry. this decision comes days after a major reshuffle of the kingdom's government. saudi a-ram co is the world's largest company and the biggest employ ployer in saudi arabia generating $1 billion a day in ref knee. >>> these picture are from syria in northwest idlib. a new alliance of rebel groups including the al qaeda-linked al-nusra front have gained ground in that province. >>> at least 13 people injured during demonstrations in jerusalem. israeli jews of ethiopian or jenna excused of police of brutality and discriminating against black people in israel a video emerged of a policeman beating a black soldier. >> reporter: they came out in their hundreds. mostly israeli jews of ethiopian origin. angry at what they say was police brutality against a black israeli soldier. medics say more than a dozen people were hurt when scuffles broke out with the police. >> we are demonstrate against the

mohamed vall, al jazerra, on the saudi border with yemen. >> saudi arabia's supreme economic council has agreed to restructure the state oil company aramco separating it from the oil ship city this comes days after a reshuffle of the kingdom's government it's the world's largest energy company. and generates over bun billion dollars$1 billion aday in revenue. why now? what do you make of the timing of this decision? >> it's very crucial. the generational shift that we saw two days ago basically we have two relatively young crown prince and deputy crown prince taking over decision and transformation in saudi arabia is going to be swift. and sometimes dramatic. particularly now when it comes to the reshuffle of the aramco. it is the biggest company in the world. >> so they don't really have to care ma people think do they? >> basically. in the past i remember going to saudi arabia and students saying the system is aging and it has do change because the world is changing now i think they are saying to the world we are heeding those calls and we are changing. aramco will be led by none b

mohammed vall. thank you for that. the appeal comes after 120 people most of them civilians were reportedly killed in heavy fighting across yemen. at least 40 civilians died after shells fired houthi rebels hit a fishing boat that they were using to leave the port city of aden. >> these people are flee forgive their lives. they were attempting to leave the potter. speaking from the saudi capital they blamed the houthis for the attack. >> they will never violate ored any law. this is to cleanse the city. the rebels loyal to former president saleh are carrying out attacks against those who are defense am and unarmed. >> the houthi's latest attack seem to to be not far from aden 's port. this is important for control over the coast. but forces are putting up a fight. in the north of aden there is also battle in the city of taiz, yemen's most populated province. over the last weeks fighting has destroyed many parts of the city. those defending the city accused houthis are carrying out random shelling. fighters in the city

. >> well, mohamed vall joins us from riyadh. we're just hours away from the start that have cease-fire. yet the strikes seem to be continuing from both sides. >> what we are seeing are signs of escalation. theythey have killed people on one person wounded several others and they have also struck out areas where they have killed one saudi citizen and wounded four others. for the saudis this is the red line they've been talking about. they've been saying whenever there is a houthi attack there will be a severe punishment, and this punishment is probably coming very close to the time of truce, the saudis are intensifying their airstrikes not only on sanaa and under houthi positions in aden, but more importantly on sadaa, the strong hold of the houthies. the houthies, according to their own allegations to shoot down coalition. for the first time talking outspokenningly about their alliance and defiance on their batter with regards to its allies, and this is of much concern of people around the world who are expecting a truce which w

. >> more now from mohamed vall from riyadh. >> reporter: what we heard today from the beginning of thet until now is saudi arabia wants to ensure its leadership in the region, also the gulf countries would like to be on board in that respect. they want to show the u.s. and france and any other allies in the west that they can lead and they can have weight just like iran has weight. and all of this is framed in the context of iran being the most important issue on the table in the next meeting between the gcc leaders, and u.s. president barack obama later this month. this summit is a preparatory meeting for that and even the meeting with the french president, francois hollande and the deals in qatar and saudi arabia are all factors for the success of the meeting with barack obama. gulf countries would like to tell the americans they have reliable allies in the region and also in europe. and they want the u.s. tous be very clear about its support for the area. the united states has shown some -- has shown some readiness to be closer to iran. that has been a source of discomfort here in t

mohamed vall has the latest. >> reporter: all indications point to escalation and not to deescalationow that the truce is only about 24 hours away from this time when we speak. there are doubts now whether it will happen because on both sides, efforts are being increased to show that you know, if any truce happens it will not be out of weakness on our side it is not be because we're defeated but because we want to have a truce, but still as i said there are doubts. the houthis have managed to strike inside of saudi arabia. they have been shelling one city and killed one person and wounded four, also they renewed that shelling this morning and struck the province to the southwest, killing one saudi citizen and wounding four others. for saudi arabia this is a dangerous escalation. and we have seen whenever there is such a strike by the houthis inside saudi arabia saudis intensify their attacks particularly towards the province of sa'dah the strong hold of the houthis, destroying many government buildings there, and places they can see the army depots, or targeting houthi commanders ther

. >>> al jazeera mohammed vall has followed the latest from the saudi capital. >> reporter: the saudis look at this as a war of wills between them and the houthis and they have given them two choices. they have either to choose war or peace. if they accept a truce, they will see a deescalation and probably talks can begin. but if they refuse the truce until next tuesday, then they will sees a new classification for the sow sows. the houthis will pay a higher price choosing war than choosing peace. however, on the other hand for the houthis, this has become a war of attrition. they think that time is on their side. they see the sawedees are, as time goes by change the conditions for a cease-fire and for talks at the beginning of the saudises said, there is going to be no end of this until the houthis withdraw from adden and many other cities in yemen. now, they are no longer talking about that. so, the houthis are looking at this as an opportunity and they think the saudis are losing patience and might, by any means, end the war and they also bet that as the number of civilians killed i