Iran-US warfare newest: IDF claims missile launched at Israel from Yemen as Rubio says warfare ‘over in weeks’
Israel has claimed that it identified a missile launched from Yemen early on Saturday, marking what could be the first escalation from the country since the war in Iran began.
The Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group Houthis have not claimed responsibility of the missile launch but previously said their “fingers are on the trigger” for direct military intervention.
Experts have warned that if the Houthis enter the war, the rebel group may attempt to block the Bab al-Mandab strait south of Yemen, further disrupting shipping lanes around the Red Sea.
Israel’s claim comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s latest update on the war suggested the conflict would last “weeks, not months” and Iran had indicated a willingness to talk about “certain things”.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has closed the Strait of Hormuz,adding that any transit through the waterway will face “harsh measures”, according to state media.
Rubio raised concerns that Iran could operate the strait using a tolling system if their control over the waterway persisted.
He also said that he believed the US could achieve its goals in Iran without ground troops, despite reports from the Wall Street Journal that Donald Trump is considering sending another 10,000 troops to the Middle East.
Iran war could end in ‘weeks, not months’, Rubio says
The US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on Friday that the ongoing military operations against Iran could end within “weeks, not months”, adding that Washington could meet its objectives without deploying ground troops.
However, Rubio said the US was deploying ground troops to the region “to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust the contingencies, should they emerge.”
He told reporters after meeting G7 counterparts in France that Washington was “on or ahead of schedule in that operation, and expect to conclude it at the appropriate time here – a matter of weeks, not months.”
Trump threatens to cut Nato support as allies decline to join Iran war
American president Donald Trump cast doubt on US commitment to Nato after several countries part of the military alliance refused to join the ongoing war against Iran.
“Nato wasn’t there for us. We send billions of dollars to them every year to protect them,” Trump said at a business conference yesterday.
“We would have always been there for them. But based on their actions, I guess we don’t have to be, do we? Why would we be there for them if they’re not there for us?” the American president said.
Israel claims missile launched from Yemen for first time since Iran war
The Israeli military said it identified a launch of a missile from Yemen early on Saturday.
If confirmed, this could be the first time a missile has been launched from Yemen since the war erupted.
The report comes after the Iran-aligned rebel group Houthis said yesterday that they were prepared to act if there was any escalation against Iran and its “axis of resistance”.
“We confirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention”, Houthis said earlier.
Experts have warned that if the Houthis enter the war, it could raises the prospects of broader confrontation as the rebel group may attempt to block the Bab al-Mandab strait south of Yemen, further disrupt shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea.
Trump says military action against Cuba could be next: ‘Pretend I didn’t say that’
Speaking at an investment forum in Miami, the US president hinted that after operations in Venezuela and Iran, military action against Cuba could be next.
“I built this great military. You’ll never have to use it. But sometimes you have to use it. And Cuba is next by the way,” Trump said.
“But pretend I didn’t say that. Pretend I didn’t,” he said at the conference.
It isn’t clear how serious Trump was about his statement.
Earlier this month, he said Cuba may be subject to a “friendly takeover”, before adding that “it may not be a friendly takeover”.
Nearly 1,500 Iranians killed in US-Israel strikes
More than 1,440 civilians have been killed in dozens of US-Israel strikes across Iran that have hit schools, hospitals and other non military infrastructure, a consortium of human rights groups reported on Friday.
At least 217 of those killed were children, according to the report, which describes the figures on fatalities as “verified minimums”, The Washington Post first reported.
“Children are being killed at school. Men are dying at checkpoints as they try to move their families…Women are being killed while waiting in line for bread. Medics are being killed while responding to emergencies,” said Skylar Thompson, deputy director of Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), which co-authored the report.
Russia providing upgraded Iranian drones back to Tehran
Russia is sending drones to Iran, including upgraded versions of Tehran’s own drones that it provided Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine, US officials told the Associated Press.
While Iran has been firing its own Shahed drones at targets in Israel and its Gulf neighbours, the Russian supply includes upgraded versions of those supplied by Tehran during the war in Ukraine, officials say.
Some of these upgrades include better navigation capabilities.
However, White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said “nothing provided to Iran by any other country is affecting our operational success”.
UN creates fertiliser trade task force to prevent ‘massive humanitarian crisis’
The UN has announced the creation of a new task force to ensure ships carrying fertilisers and “related raw materials” cross the Strait of Hormuz in order to prevent “a massive humanitarian crisis”.
“The disruptions in maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz risk creating ripple effects impacting humanitarian needs and agricultural production in the coming months,” the task force head Jorge Moreira da Silva posted on X.
“Our focus is to facilitate the trade of commercial fertilisers and the movement of related raw materials. We are standing by to support this lifesaving operation,” da Silva said.
“It is urgent to prevent a massive humanitarian crisis in the Middle East and beyond including in Africa and Asia import-dependent on fertilisers,” he added.
UAE battling two fires near key economic zone
Abu Dhabi authorities said they were dealing with fires near the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi, or KEZAD, early this morning.
The fires were reportedly caused by debris falling from the interception of a ballistic missile.
No causality has so far been reported from the incident.
Three killed by Israeli forces in West Bank: report
Three people have been killed by the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank, the Associated Press reported, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Two men were killed when the Israeli forces raided the Qalandiya refugee camp area in two separate recent incidents, according to the health ministry. A 15-year-old boy was also recently killed during a raid on the Dheisheh refugee camp, the ministry said.
The Israeli military said in a statement shared by the AP that “violent disturbances” happened in two incidents in the Qalandiya area, and troops responded with live fire toward “key instigators.”
Explosions heard in Damascus as Israel intercepts Iranian missiles over Syria
Explosions were heard over the Syrian capital Damascus early on Saturday as Israeli air defence systems intercepted missiles from Iran over Syria, according to Syrian state television.
No casualties have been mentioned so far by Syrian officials.
Source: independent.co.uk
