Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with a senior official from Yemen’s Houthi movement in Muscat, Oman, amid heightened regional tensions following Israel’s vow to retaliate for an Iranian missile attack. The meeting, part of a series of diplomatic efforts in the region, underscores the delicate balance between seeking peace and preparing for potential conflict.
Viktor Bout, the notorious Russian arms dealer freed in a prisoner swap with the U.S., is reportedly attempting to broker arms sales to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. This raises concerns about his re-entry into the global arms trafficking market, particularly given his connections to the Kremlin.
Israel’s military campaign in the Middle East has escalated, with airstrikes launched against Houthi targets in Yemen, expanding the conflict beyond Lebanon where the death toll has surpassed 100. The attacks raise concerns of a wider regional conflict, as Israel intensifies its campaign against Iran-backed groups.
Israel launched a series of air strikes in Lebanon and Yemen, killing dozens of people and injuring many more. The strikes come in response to attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi militants in Yemen. This escalation marks a significant development in the ongoing regional conflict, with both Hezbollah and the Houthis aligned with Iran.
The Israeli military successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, which triggered sirens in central Israel early Friday. This event marks another instance of escalating tensions between Israel and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
A damaged Greek oil tanker, the Sounion, is set to be towed by tugboats on Sunday after being ablaze in the Red Sea. The vessel, carrying 1 million barrels of crude oil and rigged with explosives, poses a significant environmental risk. Its salvage operation involves inspecting the ship’s condition and deciding whether it can be towed to a port or if its cargo needs to be transferred.
The US military destroyed an Iranian-backed Houthi land attack cruise missile (LACM) in Yemen after it posed a threat to US and coalition forces, as well as merchant vessels in the region. This incident comes amidst heightened tensions in the West Asia region following the deaths of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and a series of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen’s Al Hudaydah Port in retaliation for a drone attack on Tel Aviv that killed a civilian. The Houthi-controlled media reported casualties and damage to storage facilities, while health officials in Yemen confirmed deaths and injuries. The drone attack in Tel Aviv came hours after Israel confirmed the killing of a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region.
