Iran-backed Houthi rebels have vowed to retaliate against joint U.S.-British airstrikes, labeling the attacks as a response to their support for the Palestinian people in Gaza. The airstrikes targeted 36 rebel sites in Yemen following similar strikes on 85 locations associated with Iran-backed groups in Syria and Iraq. The U.S. Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, stated that the strikes aimed to degrade Houthi capabilities responsible for unlawful attacks on U.S. bases.
In a related development, the Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to 27,365, with the majority being women and children, according to the Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, Iran warned the U.S. against targeting two cargo ships suspected of serving as an operating base for Iranian commandos. The vessels, Behshad and Saviz, are registered as commercial ships with a Tehran-based company sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for aiding Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
Amid these events, Israel conducted a raid in southern Gaza, targeting the Khan Yunes Brigade’s headquarters. The outpost, known as Alqadsia, included the office of Mohammed Sinwar, brother of Hamas political leader Yahya Sinwar. The outpost was allegedly used to train militants involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israeli border communities, resulting in casualties and hostages.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on recent attacks, stating that if he were in office, the lethal drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan would not have occurred. Trump recalled an incident during his presidency when Iran notified him of a planned missile strike, demonstrating a level of respect that he attributes to his administration’s strength against Iran.
On the diplomatic front, there are indications of a proposed framework for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. However, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan stated that no deal has been reached yet, emphasizing the organization’s demands, including the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza, lifting the blockade, and a prisoner-for-hostage agreement.
Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, criticized the Biden administration for allegedly hindering Israel’s war effort and suggested that Trump would provide more support. Ben-Gvir accused Biden of diverting attention to humanitarian aid for Gaza instead of fully backing Israel’s military actions.
Iran condemned the U.S.-British airstrikes, labeling them as a breach of Yemen’s territorial integrity and international law. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani called for global accountability for the involved nations, characterizing the military strikes as part of the U.S. and Britain’s wrong approach in the region.
The situation remains complex, with ongoing military actions, diplomatic efforts, and divergent perspectives on the international stage. The dynamics involve multiple countries, each with its interests and alliances, contributing to the broader and evolving regional conflict.