ADEN: The leader of Yemen’s Houthis said on Tuesday his militia would make further attacks on Israel and they could target Israeli ships in the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait.
The Iran-aligned group made several missile and drone attacks against Israel this month, highlighting the risk of the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas spreading into the wider Middle East.
“Our eyes are open to constantly monitor and search for any Israeli ship in the Red Sea, especially in Bab Al-Mandab, and near Yemeni regional waters,” Abdulmalik Al-Houthi said in a broadcast speech.
Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups since Hamas fighters rampaged into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people.
Since then, Israel has escalated its assault on Gaza, where its forces have killed more than 11,000 people, according to Palestinian officials.
The Yemen war has settled into a stalemate as the fighting has largely stopped but both parties have failed to renew a United Nations-brokered truce that expired in October.
Leader of Houthis says militia will target Israeli ships in Red Sea
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Leader of Houthis says militia will target Israeli ships in Red Sea
- “Our eyes are open to constantly monitor and search for any Israeli ship in the Red Sea,” Abdulmalik Al-Houthi said
At least 12 killed overnight by Israeli strikes in Gaza
- The pre-dawn strikes hit three houses in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp
- Israel has carried out daily strikes on Gaza since ending its ceasefire with Hamas last month
At least 12 people including children were killed overnight in Gaza by Israeli strikes, hospital workers said Wednesday.
The pre-dawn strikes hit three houses in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, according to staff at the Al-Aqsa hospital, which received the bodies. Among the dead were three children, including two brothers whose bodies arrived in pieces, according to the hospital’s morgue.
Israel has carried out daily strikes on Gaza since ending its ceasefire with Hamas last month. It has cut off the territory’s 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, since the beginning of March in what it says is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages.
The strikes come after more than two dozen people were killed earlier this week in Gaza City and Beit Lahiya.
Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
UAE arrests cell smuggling weapons to ‘Sudanese army’
DUBAI: UAE security services have thwarted an attempt to illegally transfer weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces, state-run WAM News Agency reported.
“The country’s security services foiled an attempt to illegally smuggle weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces,” read a statement on WAM.
UAE's Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi said authorities have prevented the illegal transfer of “a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following the arrest of members of a cell involved in unauthorized mediation, brokering and illicit trafficking of military equipment, without obtaining the necessary licenses.”
The statement said the defendants were arrested during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft at one of the country’s airports.
Authorities have seized approximately five million rounds of 7.62 x 54 mm Goryunov-type ammunition that were found on the plane.
Al-Shamsi said the investigation revealed the involvement of some Sudanese military leaders, including former intelligence Chief Salah Gosh and a political figure close to General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. It also said several Sudanese businessmen were also implicated.
US official tells UN top court ‘serious concerns’ over UNRWA impartiality
THE HAGUE: A US official on Wednesday told the International Court of Justice there were “serious concerns” about the impartiality of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
ICJ judges are holding a week of hearings to help them formulate an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations toward UN agencies delivering aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
“There are serious concerns about UNRWA’s impartiality, including information that Hamas has used UNRWA facilities and that UNRWA staff participated in the October 7th terrorist attack against Israel,” said Josh Simmons from the US State Department legal team.
Syrian state media says 11 dead in new clashes near Damascus
- Clashes erupted overnight between security forces and “outlaw groups” near Damascus
DAMASCUS: Syria state media said Wednesday that 11 people had been killed in clashes that erupted overnight between security forces and “outlaw groups” near Damascus.
“The number of dead after outlaw groups targeted civilians and security forces” in the Sahnaya area “has risen to 11 dead and a number of wounded,” state news agency SANA said, citing a health ministry statement, without elaborating on the identity of those killed.
Iraq to host Arab Summit in Baghdad on May 17
- Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said invitations had been extended to most Arab leaders
DUBAI: Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein confirmed on Tuesday that the Arab Summit will be held in Baghdad as planned on May 17.
Hussein said that invitations had been extended to most Arab leaders, with many showing positive responses, state news agency INA reported.
The minister emphasized the strong interest among Arab states in participating, reflecting regional support for Iraq’s hosting of the summit.
