Yemen strikes Ben Gurion Airport once again

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Friday the execution of a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and have warned they will continue enforcing an air and maritime blockade unless the siege on Gaza is lifted. The attack was conducted using a hypersonic ballistic missile, reports the Tehran Times.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, confirmed that the operation successfully achieved its objectives.

He said it forced “millions of occupying Zionists to flee into shelters and brought air traffic at the airport to a halt.”

Saree emphasized that the operation reaffirms the Yemeni Armed Forces’ ongoing religious, moral, and humanitarian duty toward the Palestinian people.

He stated that Yemen will persist in enforcing a blockade on Israeli air navigation to and from Ben Gurion Airport and will respond to any Israeli aggression against Yemen with further military support operations in solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people.

Israeli media had reported detecting a ballistic missile launched from Yemen, which led to the suspension of air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport. This coincided with air raid sirens sounding across wide areas.

Israeli police also reported receiving alerts about fragments from a missile falling in southern Jerusalem (occupied al-Quds) and a nearby settlement.

The government in Sanaa has vowed that the Israeli aggression will not deter Yemen from its ongoing military operations in support of Gaza.

The leader of the Ansarallah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, also declared that “Israeli aggression on Sanaa International Airport will not stop Yemeni operations in support of the Palestinian people.”

He added that the Yemeni Armed Forces are preparing to escalate their operations in the coming phase to increase their effectiveness and impact on the Israeli enemy.

On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, only about ten days after it had resumed operations following a previous Israeli attack.

This latest attack by the Yemeni Armed Forces is part of a series of military actions aimed at imposing an aerial blockade on the Israeli occupation regime. The repeated missile attacks have specifically targeted Ben Gurion Airport.

In recent weeks, these operations have led to repeated disruptions in air traffic and prompted several international airlines to suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv.

Yemen maintains that these attacks are being carried out in support of the Palestinians in Gaza and has pledged to continue launching strikes until the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza ends and the blockade on the coastal strip is lifted.

 

Israel: Ben Gurion Airport Attacked

Yemeni forces persist in striking the Israeli regime with hypersonic missiles in response to its genocidal war on Gaza. In a recent operation, the Yemeni Armed Forces launched a new strike on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, prompting millions of Israelis to seek shelter and leading to a suspension of airport operations.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that the Yemeni forces executed a “qualitative military operation” targeting Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv using a hypersonic ballistic missile. The attack successfully halted air traffic at the airport.

Saree confirmed that the operation achieved its intended goals, causing the suspension of air travel and sending millions of settlers into hiding. 

He warned, “Remaining silent about the daily massacres in Gaza will bring shame and disgrace upon this nation, leaving it more vulnerable to its enemies than ever, unless it acts to fulfill its religious, moral, and humanitarian obligations toward the oppressed Palestinian people.”

General Saree further stated that the Yemeni Armed Forces will continue and intensify their operations until the Israeli genocide in Gaza ends and the blockade is lifted.

Following the missile launch from Yemen, air raid sirens were activated in Tel Aviv and throughout large areas across Israel. The Israeli occupation army confirmed, “Air defenses are dealing with a ballistic missile launched from Yemen.”

Israeli media also reported the suspension of flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport as a result of the attack, highlighting the disruption caused to Israeli air traffic.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have issued warnings of an aerial blockade on the Israeli regime, marked by repeated strikes on Ben Gurion Airport.

“In light of the developments in Gaza and the enemy’s escalating crimes against our steadfast and oppressed people, the Yemeni Armed Forces are working to double their capabilities to expand support operations and intensify military action,” Saree stated. 

“This includes maintaining the ban on air traffic at Lod Airport (Ben Gurion), a maritime blockade at Haifa Port, and a restriction on Israeli navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas.”

A previous strike near the airport in early May, reportedly hitting a car park, also led to the suspension of air traffic and cancellation of several international flights.

Following these developments, international airlines began canceling flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport, causing a notable decline in passenger traffic.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that this was due to the Yemeni Armed Forces’ declaration of a comprehensive no-fly zone over Israeli airspace.

On May 06, the United States reached a ceasefire agreement with the Yemeni government. The near-daily strikes had failed to deter Yemeni retaliation.

Trump stated the ceasefire was “effective immediately” after the US acknowledged that its warships in the Red Sea had been subjected to repeated attacks.

Analysts believe that the US military campaign in Yemen, widely viewed as a measure to protect the Israeli regime, became too costly to sustain.

In less than six weeks, Yemeni forces shot down seven American MQ-9 Reaper drones over their airspace, causing losses totaling approximately US$200 million.

Additionally, the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has returned home after losing three fighter jets in the Red Sea.
 

 

Houthis announce blockade of Haifa port

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced on Monday what they called a "maritime blockade" on Israel's Haifa port in response to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza, reports Reuters

"All companies with ships present in or heading to this port are hereby notified that, as of the time of this announcement, the aforementioned port has been included in the list of targets," the group's spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised address.

The Houthis have continued to fire missiles at Israel including on Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, although they have agreed to halt attacks on US ships.

The missiles launched by the group on Israel were mostly intercepted.

Israel has carried out strikes in response, including one on May 06 that damaged Yemen's main airport in Sanaa and killed several people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oman mediates US-Yemen ceasefire

In a statement late on Tuesday night, Oman announced it had conducted “recent discussions and contacts” with the United States and “relevant authorities” in the Ansarallah-controlled Yemen. The “efforts have resulted in a ceasefire agreement between the two sides,” it said, Al Jazeera reported.

“In the future neither will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and smooth flow of international commercial shipping,” the statement said.

US Present Donald said, “The Houthis have announced that they don’t want to fight any more.”

“They just don’t want to fight. And we will honor that, and we will – we will stop the bombings, and they have capitulated, but more importantly, we will take their word. They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore,” he said.

“We just found out about that. So I think that’s very, very positive. … I will accept their word, and we are going to stop the bombing of the booties, effective immediately,” he said.

Trump also said he’ll make a major announcement before his trip to the Middle East either on Thursday or Friday.

“It’ll be one of the most important announcements that have been made in many years about a certain subject, very important subject,” he said at the White House. He did not elaborate.

Trump is to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates starting on May 13.

 

Why should Saudi Arabia buy US arms?

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia within this month. Reportedly his biggest task will be to sell arms worth US$100 billion to the Kingdom. I suggest that Saudis should try to find reply to a basic question, does the Kingdom need arms?

The usual US manta is that Saudi Arabia should buys arm due to several strategic, security, and geopolitical reasons. The US says, it is not just about weapons—it’s about defense, deterrence, influence, and survival in a volatile region. Let us examine some of these points:

National Defense

Over the years United States have been brainwashing Saudis that the kingdom faces threats from its neighbors and across the gulf and the adversaries are Iran, Iraq and Yemen. The manta also include security of oil infrastructure, its cities and people and above all security of two holy cities.

Deterrence

Over the years, the United States has been say that a well-armed Saudi military acts as a deterrent against aggression from regional rivals, especially Iran. Over the years Saudis were told “Iran is a bigger threat as compared to Israel”. Historically, there is no evidence that Iran attacked Saudi Arabia.

Strategic Alliances

Saudis have been constantly told that buying arms—especially from the United States and its allies, Britain and France deepens strategic partnerships. Arms deals often come with training, maintenance, intelligence sharing, and political backing. These purchases help cement defense ties, especially with the US, which says Saudi Arabia is a key Gulf ally.

Proxy Conflicts and Regional Influence

It is said that Saudi Arabia is involved in regional conflicts that include Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan. A strong military gives Saudi Arabia leverage to project power and influence outcomes.

Internal Stability

Saudis are told that a strong military plays a key role in ensuring domestic security, protecting against Terrorism and Uprisings or internal unrest. The rulers are also told that well-equipped forces help ensure regime stability and protect key infrastructure.

Modernization and Prestige

The latest manta is that Saudi Vision 2030 aims at diversifying the economy and localizing arms production. Buying advanced systems helps transfer technology, train personnel, and develop domestic defense industries. And on top of all Military Might boosts national prestige and international status.

This narrative can be summed up in a few words, “Saudi Arabia should buy arms not just to fight wars, but to prevent them, influence allies and enemies, and secure its long-term stability in one of the world’s most dangerous regions”.

It is necessary to mention that over the years United States has been brainwashing Saudis saying “Iran is a bigger threat to Saudi Arabia as compared to Israel” and also fanning animosity between Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

Yemen issues warning to Britain

Lately, Britain bombarded Yemen, marking the first joint attack with the United States under the Trump administration. In response, the government in Sanaa warned, “British enemy must reckon with the consequences of its entanglement,” condemning the it’s involvement in the US-led campaign against Yemen.

According to an official statement from Sanaa, the attack is part of the ongoing efforts by the American and British enemies to support the Israeli enemy.

The aim, it underlined, is to suppress Yemen’s support for Palestine and allow the Zionist regime to intensify its massacres in Gaza.

The statement declared, “Sanaa would confront the evil trio, the US, Britain, and the Zionist regime, along with their allies, with all its might,” vowing that such attacks would not shake Yemen’s commitment to its core causes, particularly the Palestinians in Gaza.

The British military said it had joined the US Air Force in targeting what it claimed was “a military facility used by the Yemenis to manufacture drones used in attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.”

The recent airstrikes also come against the backdrop of Yemeni missiles targeting the US aircraft carrier Harry Truman. The carrier was forced to make a sharp evasive maneuver, causing an F-18 fighter jet to slip off the deck and sink into the Red Sea.

Yemeni forces ended a blockade on Israeli and Israeli-affiliated vessels transiting the Red Sea. They also stopped hypersonic ballistic missile attacks on “vital Israeli targets” as soon as a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza came into effect. 

Meanwhile, critics in the US have raised concerns about the high cost of the strikes on Yemen and questioned their effectiveness in weakening the country’s military capabilities.

 

British airstrikes on Yemen

Britain has launched air strikes against Yemen for the first time since Donald Trump re-entered the White House. Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets, working with the US military, hit a "cluster of buildings".  The US and Britain have been attacking Yemen in response to strikes carried out on shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023. Yemen warned, Britain should "anticipate the consequences of its aggression".

These are the first RAF air strikes on Yemeni targets approved by British government and the first direct participation in US-led strikes since President Donald Trump came to power.

Defence Secretary John Healy said the strikes were successful and carried out to protect British and international shipping.

"A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK," Healy said in a statement.

The MoD said the strikes were conducted after it identified a drone production facility located around 15 miles south of Yemeni capital Saana.

It said the attacks were carried out using "precision-guided bombs" after "very careful planning" to hit targets "with minimal risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure".

The strikes were carried out at night "when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced yet further", the MoD added.

The US military has been carrying out hundreds of attacks on Yemen in recent weeks - claiming to have killed thousands of fighters, as well as leaders of the group and commanders overseeing drone and missile production.

On Monday, Yemen reported at least 68 African migrants were killed in a US air strike in north-western Yemen.

Since November 2023, Houthis have targeted dozens of merchant vessels with missiles, drones and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They have sunk two vessels, seized a third, and killed four crew members.

The Houthis are acting in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and have claimed that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US and Britain.

The Houthis were not deterred by the deployment of Western warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect merchant vessels last year, or by multiple rounds of US strikes on military targets ordered by former President Joe Biden.

In response to the most recent strikes, the Houthi authorities said the UK-US attacks were in "support Israel's war and genocide in Gaza".

It added, "no matter the challenges" the group will resist the "trio of evil" — the US, Britain and Israel — and their allies.

In March, President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of the US bombing campaign last month in response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israel linked to the Gaza war.

The Trump administration says it is stepping up its attacks on the Houthis. The US now has two aircraft carriers in the region.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently criticized European countries' response to Houthi attacks.

In a recent leaked Signal chat with other senior officials, and giving details of planned US strikes, Hegseth referred to Europe as "freeloaders" and called their response "pathetic".

Drawing a parallel between US supplying arms to Israel and Iran supplying arms to Houthis

This morning I sat down to explore a parallel between US supplying arms to Israel and Iran supplying arms to Houthis. My gut feeling is, though the situations are complex and have key differences, the outcome depends on the analyst if he/ she is a friend of United States.

The Parallel:

Proxy Support:
The Western analysts, without any hesitation say both Iranian support for the Houthis and the US support for Israel involve supplying advanced weapons to allied groups or nations engaged in regional conflicts. Over the years Western analysis have been saying, Iran backs the Houthis to extend its influence against Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, while the US supports Israel as a key strategic ally in the Middle East.

Strategic Goals:
The mantra of Western analysts is, Iran aims to challenge Western-aligned powers (like Saudi Arabia and Israel), while the US supports Israel to maintain a balance of power favorable to its interests in the region.

Impact on Conflicts:
They also say, both arms supplies prolong conflicts. Iranian weapons bolster Houthi resilience in Yemen’s civil war, while US arms help Israel maintain its military edge in Gaza and against regional threats like Hezbollah.

Key Differences:

Legitimacy and International Recognition:
God Fathers of genocide in Gaza say, Israel is a recognized sovereign state, whereas the Houthis are a rebel group (though they control significant territory in Yemen). This affects how international law and diplomacy perceive the arms transfers.

Military Capabilities:
The reality is, the US arms to Israel include advanced fighter jets, missile defense systems, and intelligence support — a level of military aid far beyond the drones, missiles, and small arms Iran provides to the Houthis.

Transparency and Alliances:
The funniest argument is, the US military aid to Israel is largely public, subject to congressional oversight, and part of formal agreements. Iran’s support for the Houthis is clandestine, violating UN arms embargoes.

Global Perception:
The dishonest Western media go to the extent of saying, the US positions its support as aiding a democracy for self-defense, while Iran’s aid to the Houthis is widely seen as destabilizing and fueling a humanitarian crisis.

 

Iran to be held responsible for attacks by Houthis

US President Donald Trump said on Monday he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the Houthi group that it backs in Yemen, as his administration expanded the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since Trump returned to the White House, reports Reuters.

Responding to the Houthi movement's threats to international shipping, the US launched a new wave of airstrikes on Saturday. On Monday, the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and Al Jawf governorate north of the capital Sanaa were targeted, Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said.

"Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire!" Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

The White House said that Trump's message to Iran was to take the United States seriously.

The Pentagon said it had struck over 30 sites so far and would use overwhelming lethal force against the Houthis until the group stopped attacks. The Pentagon's chief spokesperson, Sean Parnell, said the goal was not regime change.

Lieutenant General Alex Grynkewich, director of operations at the Joint Staff, said the latest campaign against the Houthis was different to the one under former President Joe Biden because the range of targets was broader and included senior Houthi drone experts.

Grynkewich said dozens of Houthi members were killed in the strike. The Biden administration is not believed to have targeted senior Houthi leaders.

The Houthi-run health ministry said on Sunday that at least 53 people have been killed in the attacks. Five children and two women were among the victims and 98 have been hurt, it said. Reuters could not independently verify those casualty numbers.

One US official told Reuters the strikes might continue for weeks. Washington has also ramped up sanctions pressure on Iran while trying to bring it to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.

The Houthis say their attacks, which have forced companies to re-route ships to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa, are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on Sunday the militants would target US ships in the Red Sea as long as the US continues attacks on Yemen.

Under the direction of al-Houthi, who is in his 40s, the ragtag group has become an army of tens of thousands of fighters and acquired an arsenal of armed drones and ballistic missiles.

While Iran champions the Houthis, the Houthis deny being puppets of Tehran, and experts on Yemen say they are motivated primarily by a domestic agenda.

The Houthis' military spokesman, without providing evidence, said in a televised statement early on Monday that the group had launched a second attack against the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea.

 

Houthis ban US vessels from entering Red Sea

According the Seatrade Maritime News, Houthis have banned the entry of the US vessels from navigation of the southern Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf Aden, and that it will target US Navy ships in response to US airstrikes on Yemen.

US attacks on Yemen on March 15 have claimed 53 lives, according to the Houthis, as US President Trump increased military action to reopen the Red Sea to commercial shipping.

Posting on Truth Social, the US President said, “The Houthis have choked off shipping in one of the most important Waterways of the World, grinding vast swaths of Global Commerce to a halt, and attacking the core principle of Freedom of Navigation upon which International Trade and Commerce depends.”

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the US would continue to target the Houthis until their threats to shipping were withdrawn.

The White House posted an article listing Houthi attacks on international shipping and their impact on world trade, including the drop in Red Sea and Suez Canal transits.

Ships continue to avoid the southern Red Sea due to the risk of escalation at short notice in the region, although no Houthi attacks on merchant ships have been reported this year.

The announcement of the Houthis’ ‘ban’ on US vessels follows a statement issued by the group last week that it was resuming a ‘ban’ on Israeli vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas, Bab al-Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden until Israel allows aid to flow into Gaza.

In January this year, the Houthis lifted its ‘ban’ on international shipping transiting the Red Sea as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas progressed, but warned that aggression against its forces in Yemen by the US or Britain would make the nations’ vessels subject to attack once again.

A further signal of progress was seen in January when the crew of car carrier Galaxy Leader were released after 14 months in Houthis captivity.

The US strikes and Houthi response are in line with expectations when the Israel-Hamas ceasefire was announced - security experts said at the time that the region remained volatile, the ceasefire was fragile, escalation could happen quickly, and Israeli, US and UK ships were particularly at threat.

Since November 2023, there have been 112 incidents recorded in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including six serious incidents, 42 minor incidents, 46 attempted attacks, and four hijackings, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC).

Four mariners have been killed and two seriously injured in Houthi attacks on merchant ships.

 

US Attack on Yemen May Spark War With Iran

In a dramatic escalation of Middle Eastern tensions, US President Donald Trump has ordered decisive military strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. He declared that the United States would deploy overwhelming lethal force until its strategic objectives were achieved.

Trump justified the campaign by accusing the Houthis of engaging in piracy, violence, and terrorism against American and allied ships, aircraft, and drones in the region. He vowed that no terrorist group would be allowed to interfere with global shipping routes, asserting that American commercial and naval vessels must sail freely through international waterways without fear of attack.

Western media reports have extensively covered the Houthis’ ongoing attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea. It is alleged that the Houthis are backed by Iran. They claim their actions are a direct response to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. They argue that their attacks are acts of solidarity with Palestinians suffering under Israeli bombardment. The group previously stated they would halt hostilities in the Red Sea if Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas.

Trump’s rhetoric left no room for negotiation. "Support for the Houthi terrorists must end immediately," he declared. "Do not threaten the American people, their President, or worldwide shipping lanes. If you do, beware, because America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it."

His statements signaled a stark warning to regional powers, particularly Iran, which has long been accused of arming and financing the Houthis.

The strikes on Yemen are increasingly viewed not just as an attack on the Houthis, but as the opening of a larger, more dangerous proxy war between the United States and Iran.

While the Houthis themselves are a localized force, their ties to Tehran position them as a key player in the broader struggle for influence across the Middle East.

Iran insists its nuclear program remains peaceful, yet tensions with Washington and its regional ally, Israel, continue to escalate.

Iran’s support for groups like the Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and various militias in Iraq and Syria are seen by Western powers as efforts to project power and undermine US and Israeli interests.

International condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza continues to grow, with many accusing the country of committing genocide against Palestinians.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has fueled anger across the Middle East, amplifying support for groups like the Houthis who present themselves as defenders of the Palestinian cause.

This complex web of conflicts — Israel’s actions in Gaza, Iran’s regional influence, and US intervention — is increasingly pulling global powers into a dangerous confrontation.

Trump’s military stance is not likely to secure shipping routes in the short term, but it risks inflaming an already volatile region.

With Iran’s deep-rooted influence in Yemen and beyond, the US may find itself drawn further into an extended, unpredictable conflict — one with consequences that could reverberate far beyond the Middle East.

Yemen vows to confront Trump's Gaza plan

The leader of Yemen’s Ansarallah, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has warned United States regarding the plan to displace the Palestinian people from their homeland. 

He threatened if the US attempts to implement this plan, Yemen “will intervene militarily to stop it and act within its holy war duty and will not remain idle.”

Al-Houthi described US President Donald Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians as a “confiscation of their rights.”

He added Trump is a “criminal accustomed to making ridiculous and absurd statements,” describing the plan as “a joke and naïve talk coming from a president of a country that presents itself as civilized with false titles.”

According to al-Houthi, Trump’s repeated promotion of the displacement plan “reflects his persistence in a criminal project that denies justice and truth.”

Al-Houthi emphasized that Trump’s plan is “illegitimate and unjust” and noted that the US president “seems serious about promoting it and pressuring some Arab states to accept it.”

He added, "We are not surprised by this plan from an American president whose policies reflect tyranny and a history of criminality. There are no limits to Trump’s ambitions, as he supports the aggressive Zionist project and seeks to implement it.”

He explained that Trump's first-term project under the so-called “Deal of the Century” has now evolved in his second term into what he described as the “Crime of the Century.” 

Trump’s plan, he said, aims to achieve what the Israeli invasion of Gaza could not: displacing Palestinians from their land.

Al-Houthi stated that when the US discusses displacing Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, it “seeks to completely liquidate the Palestinian cause.”

The Ansarallah leader highlighted that US deceit has been exposed in every stage of the peace process, and the Americans themselves “betrayed all agreements made between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli enemy regarding the two-state solution, which they supervised.”

Al-Houthi noted that the US “did not respect or consider the Arab states that betrayed Gaza during the aggression” and “supports Israeli expansion across Arab territories.”

Therefore, he stressed the importance of awareness about what comes before and after the displacement plan, as it is “part of the Zionist project aimed at expanding and targeting holy sites, foremost among them the al-Aqsa Mosque. Its success depends on Arab acceptance.”

He affirmed that "Trump’s plan can only succeed if the Arabs accept it, especially the neighboring Arab countries.”

“There is a significant responsibility on the part of the Arab countries that declared a clear stance rejecting Trump’s plan. This is crucial, but the most important thing is maintaining this stance,” he added.

Al-Houthi emphasized that “it is unacceptable for Arabs to accept Trump’s plan; doing so would mean complicity in a terrible crime of displacement.” 

He warned the U.S. is seeking to trap the Arabs, calling for unity in rejecting Trump’s plan and supporting the Palestinian people.

According to al-Houthi, any approval of Trump’s plan will have dangerous repercussions for the region.

Regarding Yemen’s position on threats to resume the war on Gaz, al-Houthi reiterated that Yemen “firmly and principally supports the Palestinian people and their fighters and will stand by them with all available means.”

Al-Houthi vowed that Yemen “will move militarily to target both Israeli and American enemies if they launch an aggression on Gaza.” 

He called on the Yemeni armed forces to maintain full readiness in anticipation of any US aggression.

He added, “We will not hesitate to target the Israeli and American enemies together, monitoring the implementation of the agreement. Our people, through their massive demonstration tomorrow (Friday), will send a warning message to Israel and the US not to break the agreement.”

Al-Houthi concluded his speech by affirming that Yemen “will maintain continuous coordination with the fighters in Palestine and the resistance axis,” addressing them: “You are not alone; we are with you and will remain with you until Palestine is liberated and these evil plans are defeated.”

 

Iran condemns British-US attacks on Yemen

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has issued a stern condemnation of the recent airstrikes conducted by Britain and the United States on Yemen's northern province of Saada.

In a statement released on Sunday, Spokesperson Esmail Baqaei denounced the attacks as flagrant violations of Yemen's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, pointing out that they contradict the principles of international law.

Baqaei highlighted the recurrent nature of these military violations, involving not only the US and Britain but also the Israeli regime, against Yemen.

"These acts of aggression will lead to increased insecurity and further instability in West Asia," Baqaei warned.

In the early days of the New Year, British and US forces launched multiple airstrikes targeting vital infrastructure in Saada.

These attacks have caused significant damage to power stations, communication networks, and other critical infrastructure.

Analysts believe these repeated airstrikes aim to undermine Yemen's ability to support Gaza and are part of a broader strategy to destabilize the region.

Baqaei also criticized the ongoing support provided by Britain and the US to the Israeli regime, describing it as "direct involvement in committing heinous international crimes against the people of Gaza."

He praised the Yemeni people's solidarity with Palestinians and urged the international community, particularly Islamic countries, to take more decisive action to halt the violence in occupied Palestine.

"The international community must take swift and decisive measures to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and ensure their protection," Baqaei asserted.

 

Saudi Arabia extends US$500 million for Yemen

Saudi Arabia has announced a US$500 million economic aid package to support Yemen, aimed at stabilizing the Yemeni economy, strengthening the Central Bank of Yemen, and fostering development and growth for the Yemeni people, reports Saudi Gazette.

A testament to Saudi Arabia’s long-term vision for fostering sustainable development and stability in Yemen

This initiative highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to addressing Yemen’s economic challenges and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

The package includes a US$300 million deposit to the Central Bank of Yemen, designed to enhance financial and monetary stability, and an additional US$200 million to address the country’s US$1.2 billion budget deficit.

The funds will be allocated through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) and will prioritize food security, salary support, operational expenses, and implementing economic reforms to build a stronger financial foundation for Yemen.

Saudi Arabia's efforts aim to stabilize the Yemeni economy and bolster public financial management, while fostering governance and transparency in government institutions.

The aid package is expected to empower Yemen’s private sector to drive sustainable economic growth, create job opportunities, and steer the national economy toward a more sustainable trajectory.

Previous Saudi assistance has yielded significant improvements in Yemen’s economic landscape. Deposits in the Central Bank of Yemen have bolstered foreign reserves, stabilized the local currency, and lowered exchange rate volatility.

This stability has reduced the prices of essential goods, including wheat, rice, milk, cooking oil, and sugar, while easing the costs of fuel and diesel. These measures have not only addressed immediate economic concerns but have also enhanced Yemen's food security and overall quality of life.

Saudi aid has also contributed to key sectors such as healthcare, by covering medication for chronic illnesses and cancer treatments, and education, among others.

Support for electricity generation has been another vital component, with Saudi Arabia supplying oil derivatives to 80 power plants across Yemen.

These initiatives have improved essential services and revitalized Yemen’s critical infrastructure.

Additionally, the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen has implemented 263 development projects and initiatives across Yemen, focusing on sectors including education, health, water, energy, transportation, agriculture, fisheries, and government capacity building.

 

Yemeni missile lands in Tel Aviv

According to Reuters, the Israeli military admitted it failed to intercept a missile from Yemen early on Saturday that fell in the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area, and the ambulance service said 14 people received mild injuries.

A spokesperson for Houthis said they had hit a "military target" in the Jaffa area with a ballistic missile.

Paramedics were treating 14 people with minor shrapnel injuries and some were taken to hospital, the ambulance service said in a statement.

The Israeli police reported receiving reports of a fallen missile in a town in the Tel Aviv area.

Houthis have repeatedly fired drones and missiles towards Israel in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

On Thursday, Israel launched strikes against ports and energy infrastructure in Houthi-held parts of Yemen and threatened more attacks against the Yemeni group.

 

US hegemony being challenged by Yemen

Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has seriously challenged the US hegemony in West Asia, particularly in light of Washington’s unwavering support for the Israeli regime’s warmongering and military adventurism in the region.

Nearly two weeks after Israel launched its US-backed genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the Yemeni army began firing missiles and drones at Israel in support of Palestinians in the besieged enclave. 

Yemen’s armed forces have also been targeting Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November last year.

The Yemeni army later broadened the scope of its attacks targeting American and British warships. These attacks have been in response to airstrikes carried out by these countries against Yemen with the aim of compelling it to cease anti-Israel operations. 

On Tuesday, the Yemeni army struck a significant blow to the US Navy through the execution of two “specific military operations” off the country’s coast.

“The first operation targeted the American aircraft carrier (Abraham) located in the Arabian Sea with a number of cruise missiles and drones,” the spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces said. 

Yahya Sarea added, “The other operation targeted two American destroyers in the Red Sea with a number of ballistic missiles and drones.” 

He noted that the operation had “successfully achieved its objectives”.

The US Defense Department admitted that US warships were targeted but did not acknowledge the attack against the Abraham Lincoln vessel.

Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters following the attacks that two US-guided missile destroyers – the USS Stockdale and USS Spruance – were hit by at least eight one-way attack drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and three anti-ship cruise missiles.

He claimed that the United States military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) forces “successfully repelled” the Yemeni army’s attacks during a transit of the Bab al-Mandeb strait”, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

Since January this year, the US and the UK have conducted multiple airstrikes in Yemen, claiming to target Ansarullah’s positions, with the most recent operations taking place over the weekend.

The US has so far failed to force the Yemeni army to stop its attacks against Israel and the regime’s ships. 

The Ansarullah movement has stressed that it will halt the strikes only if Israel ends its war of genocide on Gaza, which has so far claimed the lives of more than 43,700 Palestinians. 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that US strikes against Yemen aim to “further degrade” Ansarullah’s military capability to “protect and defend US forces and personnel in one of the world's most critical waterways”.

For now, the targeting of US warships, including the Abraham Lincoln vessel, clearly indicates that American strikes against Yemen have backfired. 

The Yemeni army has also shot down nearly a dozen US drones over the country’s airspace in the wake of the Gaza war. 

The Yemeni army has significantly upgraded its capabilities, enabling it to effectively target sophisticated US naval vessels and aircraft.

 

US Deploys B2 Stealth Bombers to Attack Yemen without Congressional Approval

The Biden administration on Wednesday deployed B-2 stealth bombers to launch multiple airstrikes on Yemen, attacks that underscored the United States' deep involvement in a deadly regional war that is threatening to engulf the entire Middle East.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that the strikes targeted "numerous Iran-backed Houthi weapons storage facilities within Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that contained various advanced conventional weapons used to target US and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden."

CENTCOM said its assessment of the damage inflicted by the strikes is ongoing and does not thus far "indicate civilian casualties." The US military has routinely refused to investigate, acknowledge, or apologize for killing civilians in Yemen and elsewhere in the world.

The Houthis have repeatedly attacked vessels in the Red Sea this year in what they say is an effort to stop Israel's decimation of the Gaza Strip. The Biden administration has, in turn, bombed Yemen multiple times this year, strikes that progressive US lawmakers have denounced as dangerous as well as illegal given that the White House did not seek congressional authorization, as required by the Constitution.

"Why is the US bombing Yemen—with a B-2 bomber no less—with zero congressional authorization?" asked Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), following Wednesday's strikes. "Are these members of Congress literally asleep or drugged?"

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that "at the direction" of President Joe Biden, he "authorized these targeted strikes to further degrade the Houthis' capability to continue their destabilizing behavior and to protect and defend US forces and personnel in one of the world's most critical waterways."

The strikes on one of the poorest nations in the world, Austin said, were "a unique demonstration of the United States' ability to target facilities that our adversaries seek to keep out of reach, no matter how deeply buried underground, hardened, or fortified"—a message that observers interpreted as a warning to Iran.

"The employment of US Air Force B-2 Spirit long-range stealth bombers demonstrate US global strike capabilities to take action against these targets when necessary, anytime, anywhere," Austin added.

Wednesday's airstrikes reportedly marked the United States' first use of the stealth bombers against Yemen, a country that has been devastated by years of relentless attacks by a US-backed, Saudi-led coalition.

The strikes came days after the Pentagon announced the deployment of American troops and an advanced antimissile system to Israel ahead of the Israeli military's expected attack on Iran.

A coalition of progressive lawmakers warned in response to the troop deployment that "military force will not solve the challenge posed by Iran."

"We need meaningful de-escalation and diplomacy—not a wider war," the lawmakers said. "Addressing the root causes is the only route to achieving long-term security and stability in the region. Nothing in current law authorizes the United States to conduct offensive military action against Iran. We risk becoming entangled in another catastrophic war that will inevitably harm innocent civilians and may cost billions of US taxpayer dollars."

 

United States has become a proxy of Israel

Historically, the United States has used many countries as its proxy, but lately, the super power has become a proxy of Israel. Many of our readers may raise eyebrows on our expression, but they are advised to read today’s post dispassionately.

According to pentagon, the US military struck more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, attacking the bases and weapons systems.

US Central Command (Centcom) forces conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets around 5.00pm local time. The targets included “Houthi offensive military capabilities,” according to a statement from the command, which is responsible for protecting US interests in the Middle East.

“These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels,” the statement adds.

US officials earlier told The Associated Press that US military aircraft and warships bombed Houthi strongholds at roughly five locations.

Houthi media said the strikes hit Yemen’s capital Sanaa, the airport in Hodeida, the south of Dhamar city and the southeast of al-Bayda province — the latter of which has several Houthi military outposts.

The Houthi media also blamed the strikes on US and British forces, but the United Kingdom said it was not involved.

Houthi rebels have launched steady attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea near Yemen since last November. The air and sea attacks, which they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel’s war with Hamas, have been met with US retaliatory strikes.

The Houthis earlier this week claimed to have shot down another American-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen, with the US military acknowledging it had lost a drone.

The militia group also claimed responsibility for an attack aimed at three US ships in the Red Sea. US officials say Navy destroyers intercepted the two Houthi drones and more than half a dozen missiles and that there was no damage to its vessels, according to the AP.

The American strikes in Yemen also come amid the backdrop of a growing regional escalation after Iran’s major missile attack on Israel this week in response to a ramped-up Israeli airstrike campaign in Lebanon against the Tehran-backed Hezbollah.

 

Israel getting desperate to attack Iran

Since October 07, 2023 Israeli citizens have been holding their collective breath, knowing that the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and incessant fire exchanges on the northern border could escalate into a full-scale regional war at any moment.

The mysterious attack in Lebanon on Tuesday, in which thousands of pagers in the use of Hezbollah operatives exploded, apparently killing at least 11 and wounding thousands more, has made that possibility more likely than ever.

A war with the Iranian-backed militia to Israel’s north could quickly expand into war with Iran, which has yet to avenge the assassination of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July, despite Islamic Republic leaders vowing a response.

Israel, in turn, stated it would exact a heavy price from the Iranian regime were it to carry out a significant attack against the Jewish state.

Maj-Gen. (res.) Itzhak Brik is adamant that war with Iran now would lead to Israel’s destruction.

Security expert Yair Ansbacher is convinced that war with Iran at this point is a must – to avoid Israel’s destruction.

This is the fork in the road that Israel faces today, 11 months after Hamas initiated the horrific October 07 attack, in which 1,200 Israelis and other nationals were murdered and 250 more were taken hostage.

Additional factors such as the apparent exhaustion of negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire agreement, and the Israeli government’s decision earlier in the week to make the return of displaced northern residents an official war goal, have increased the likelihood of a regional war.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post on the phone earlier in the week, Brik warned that Israel is not prepared for a multi-front war.

“Iran and its proxies have 250,000 missiles, rockets, and drones encircling Israel. Which means about 4,000 munitions hitting the Israeli home front on a daily basis, population centers, Haifa Bay, water and electricity facilities, gas fields [in the Mediterranean Sea], IDF bases, and strategic civilian infrastructure. A regional war can ruin the State of Israel,” he stressed.

Brik further warned that Israel would enter this all-out war alone, without the aid of the United States.

“Iran is backed by Russia, China, and North Korea, who don’t want to lose their [Iranian] asset,” he said, explaining that the US will avoid getting involved in a war that could develop into a world war.

What Israel should do, he advised, is build a strategic alliance with Western and moderate Arab nations that will form a “deterrence balance” against Iran and its partners. Trying to thwart the Islamic Republic’s nuclear capacity is futile, he added, which “is a development that can’t be stopped.”

Ansbacher views the situation differently. He is certain that now is the right time to strike Iran, before it makes its final nuclear breakthrough.

“If today the West has little success in taming the ayatollahs, it will have zero success when they obtain nuclear weapons,” he said via Zoom with the Post last week.

“Iran will provide a nuclear umbrella to terrorists across the globe. Imagine Hezbollah kidnaps [IDF] soldiers on [Israel’s] northern border, and before Israel launches a rescue operation, Hezbollah sends a message that this could result in a nonconventional missile attack. This is a scenario that we cannot accept,” Ansbacher stipulated.

In addition, the possibility of a hostile US administration come the November election, along with the inferior position Iran found itself in after the October 07 attack – exposing its plan to annihilate Israel – means that Jerusalem must now use this narrow opportunity to strike Iran, he noted.

“Tehran’s original plan was to attack Israel simultaneously [on all fronts], and that would have brought us to the brink of extinction. But their plan was disrupted when [Hamas head] Yahya Sinwar jumped the gun. This puts Iran in a weakened position. If the plan had fully worked, Israel would have been caught unawares, with all arms of the octopus around its neck. Then it’s checkmate. But the plan’s disadvantage was its extended period of implementation where many things could go wrong,” Ansbacher said.

Attacking Iran now is Israel’s last chance before it faces an existential threat of a nuclear Islamic Republic, he stressed. If Israel hits Iran in its two centers of power, Tehran and Qom, he added, the Iranian regime, largely unsupported by the nonreligious population, will very likely fall.

Missile fired at Israel

A surface-to-surface missile was fired at central Israel from Yemen on Sunday, hitting an unpopulated area and causing no injuries, reports Reuters.

Air raid sirens had sounded in Tel Aviv and across central Israel moments before the missile landed at around 0335 GMT, sending residents running for shelter.

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in central Israel, a surface-to-surface missile was identified crossing into central Israel from the east and fell in an open area. No injuries were reported," the military said.

Loud booms were also heard in the region, which the military said came from missile interceptors that had been launched. It added that its protective guidelines to Israel's residents were unchanged.

Smoke could be seen billowing in an open field in central Israel, according to Reuters, though it was unclear if the fire was started by the missile or debris of an interceptor.

In July, Houthis fired a long-range drone at Tel Aviv, killing one man and wounding four others. The attack prompted Israel to carry out a major air strike on Houthi military targets near Yemen's Hodeidah port, killing at least three people and wounding 87.

The Israeli military also said that 40 projectiles were fired towards Israel from Lebanon on Sunday and were either intercepted or landed in open areas.

"No injuries were reported," the military said.