US foils Houthi Red Sea drone boat, missile strikes

The US Central Command said on Sunday that its forces had destroyed two explosive-laden Houthi boats and three anti-ship cruise missiles in Hodeidah. (File/@CENTCOM)
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Updated 11 February 2024
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US foils Houthi Red Sea drone boat, missile strikes

AL-MUKALLA: The US Central Command said on Sunday that its forces had destroyed two remotely controlled explosive-laden boats of the Houthis and their three anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen’s western province of Hodeidah.

This came as the Yemeni militia greatly reduced its Red Sea strikes during the previous 96 hours. 

The US military launched strikes on Saturday afternoon, hitting two bomb boats, also known as unmanned surface vessels, and three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles north of Hodeidah, thwarting Houthi assaults on ships in the Red Sea, according to a CENTCOM post on X.

“CENTCOM identified these USVs and missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” it said. 

The Houthis said on Saturday that the US and UK conducted three attacks in the Al-Salif region, northwest of Hodeidah.

On Saturday, CENTCOM said that it had destroyed two explosive-laden Houthi drone boats as well as five cruise missiles that had been prepped for fire against US and international commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea on Friday. 

The latest barrage of US strikes on Houthi-controlled Hodeidah came as the Iran-backed militia has yet to claim responsibility for new attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden, despite their leaders’ threats to launch missile and drone attacks on Israel, US, and UK-linked ships until Israel ends its siege of Gaza and the US and UK cease their strikes on their territory.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, which documents ship assaults, has issued no fresh maritime security alerts since Tuesday.

Since November, the Houthis have launched remotely controlled drone boats, explosive-laden drones, and ballistic missiles at commercial and navy ships in the Red Sea and other international waters off Yemen in what the Yemeni militia claims are actions in support of Palestine and to force Israel to lift its siege on Gaza. 


Palestinian health ministry says 4 killed in Israeli West Bank strike

Updated 52 min 57 sec ago
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Palestinian health ministry says 4 killed in Israeli West Bank strike

RAMALLAH: The Palestinian health ministry said Thursday that an Israeli air strike on a car killed four Palestinians and wounded three near the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarem.
The ministry announced that the Palestinians were killed “as a result of the (Israeli) bombing of a vehicle in Tulkarem camp,” which the Israeli army did not immediately confirm to AFP.


Turkiye, Iran leaders at Muslim summit in Cairo

Updated 19 December 2024
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Turkiye, Iran leaders at Muslim summit in Cairo

  • Relations between Egypt and Iran have been strained for decades, but diplomatic contacts have intensified since Cairo became a mediator in the war in Gaza

CAIRO: The leaders of Turkiye and Iran were in Egypt on Thursday for a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries, meeting for the first time since the ouster of Syria’s president Bashar Assad.
Turkiye historically backed the opposition to Assad, while Iran supported his rule.
The gathering of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the Developing-8, was being held against a backdrop of regional turmoil including the conflict in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon and unrest in Syria.
In a speech to the summit, Turkiye’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for unity and reconciliation in Syria, urging “the restoration of Syria’s territorial integrity and unity.”
He also voiced hope for “the establishment of a Syria free of terrorism,” where “all religious sects and ethnic groups live side by side in peace.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian urged action to address the crises in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, saying that it is a “religious, legal and human duty to prevent further harm” to those suffering in these conflict zones.
Pezeshkian, who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday, is the first Iranian president to visit Egypt since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who visited in 2013.
Relations between Egypt and Iran have been strained for decades, but diplomatic contacts have intensified since Cairo became a mediator in the war in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi visited Egypt in October, while his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty traveled to Tehran in July to attend Pezeshkian’s inauguration.
Ahead of the summit, the Iranian top diplomat said he hoped it would “send a strong message to the world that the Israeli aggressions and violations in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria” would end “immediately.”
Erdogan was in Egypt earlier this year, and discussed with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi economic cooperation as well as regional conflicts.
Established in 1997, the D-8 aims to foster cooperation among member states, spanning regions from Southeast Asia to Africa.
The organization includes Egypt, Turkiye, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia as member states.


Iraq begins repatriating Syrian soldiers amid border security assurances

Updated 19 December 2024
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Iraq begins repatriating Syrian soldiers amid border security assurances

DUBAI: Iraq has begun the process of returning Syrian soldiers to their home country, according to state media reports on Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Qais Al-Muhammadawi, deputy commander of joint operations, emphasized the robust security measures in place along Iraq’s borders with Syria.

“Our borders are fortified and completely secure,” he said, declaring that no unauthorized crossings would be permitted.

Muhammadawi said that all border crossings with Syria are under tight control, stating: “We will not allow a terrorist to enter our territory.”


Turkiye won’t halt Syria military activity until Kurd fighters ‘disarm’

Updated 19 December 2024
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Turkiye won’t halt Syria military activity until Kurd fighters ‘disarm’

ISTANBUL: Turkiye will push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters “disarm,” a defense ministry source said Thursday as the nation faces an ongoing threat along its border with northern Syria.
“Until the PKK/YPG terrorist organization disarms and its foreign fighters leave Syria, our preparations and measures will continue within the scope of the fight against terrorism,” the source said.


Hamas says Israeli strikes in Yemen ‘dangerous development’

Updated 19 December 2024
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Hamas says Israeli strikes in Yemen ‘dangerous development’

GAZA: Palestinian militant group Hamas said Thursday that Israel’s strikes in Yemen after the Houthi rebels fired a missile at the country were a “dangerous development.”
“We regard this escalation as a dangerous development and an extension of the aggression against our Palestinian people, Syria and the Arab region,” Hamas said in a statement as Israel struck ports and energy infrastructure in Yemen after intercepting a missile attack by the Houthis.