Israel’s military announced on Friday the execution of new airstrikes in Yemen, targeting what it described as Houthi rebel installations. This development follows the Houthis’ launch of three drones aimed at Israel a day prior. According to military sources, Israeli fighter jets targeted sites along Yemen’s western coast and its interior. Earlier this week, U.S. military personnel had also conducted strikes in Yemen.
Reports from Houthi-controlled media indicated that these strikes resulted in one worker’s death and six injuries at Ras Isa port. The Houthi statement noted that the airstrikes coincided with demonstrations in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, where locals gathered to express solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
In the context of recent hostilities, discussions between Israel and Hamas have reportedly been inching toward a potential ceasefire and the release of hostages taken by Hamas during their attack. The Health Ministry in Gaza disclosed on Thursday that approximately 46,006 Palestinians have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict, with more than 109,378 injured. Among those fatalities, women and children accounted for more than half, though the ministry has not specified the number of fighters versus civilians among the dead.
Israeli military sources claim to have eliminated over 17,000 militants but have yet to provide corroborated evidence for these figures. Israel attributes civilian casualties primarily to Hamas’s tactics of operating within populated areas. Ongoing air and ground operations have forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into overcrowded tent camps along the coast, where access to food and basic necessities is severely limited.
The war ignited on October 7, 2023, when Hamas forces launched an incursion into southern Israel, resulting in around 1,200 casualties and approximately 250 abductions. Of the remaining hostages, it is believed that a third may no longer be alive.
In related news, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions with security officials to advance negotiations for a potential ceasefire in Gaza. An official acknowledged that updates from negotiators were received during this meeting, urging them to continue talks in Qatar, where indirect negotiations have faced repeated interruptions amid 15 months of conflict. Only one brief ceasefire has been achieved since hostilities escalated.
In a separate incident, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have reportedly killed at least two individuals and injured two others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israeli military comments regarding the attack in Tyre province remain pending, and local media reports suggest that a vehicular target may have been struck. Despite a fragile ceasefire, Israel maintains its right to respond to Hezbollah’s alleged violations, which has led to ongoing military operations that have, according to local health officials, resulted in 29 deaths and over 32 injuries since late November.
Returning to Yemen, the Israeli military’s recent airstrikes were explicitly aimed at Houthi structures including military facilities linked to the Hizaz power station and other areas along the western coastline. Houthi media indicated multiple casualties at Ras Isa port and reported extensive smoke plumes above Sanaa, where crowds were gathered to support Palestinian efforts in Gaza.
In the backdrop of these developments, recent attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have intensified against Israel, and their missiles have occasionally managed to breach Israel’s advanced aerial defense systems. Israel has been actively targeting Yemeni ports, oil infrastructures, and even Sanaa’s airport, a significant distance from the conflict’s epicenter.
The situation remains fluid as investigations continue regarding the fatalities from the October 7 attack on Kibbutz Nahal Oz, with the Israeli military revealing it is “highly likely” that Israeli soldiers caused the deaths of two residents during the intense exchanges of fire with Hamas militants during that day.
In diplomatic movements, President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus has marked a significant moment by visiting Lebanon’s new president, Joseph Aoun, responding to a protracted leadership vacuum in the Lebanese governance structure. During discussions, Cyprus expressed its commitment to assist Lebanon amidst ongoing regional challenges.
A tragic incident occurred outside the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, where a stampede left three women dead and five children injured following a food distribution event that attracted massive crowds after Friday prayers. The chaos led security personnel to lock gates and resort to dispersing the throng with warning shots.
Meanwhile, Italy’s foreign minister has suggested that suspending EU sanctions on Syria could facilitate the country’s transition post-conflict, following talks with local leaders. Italy aims to establish itself as a pivotal player in Syria’s recovery and has maintained active participation in the U.N. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.
Lastly, Turkey’s foreign minister asserted that Turkey has no concealed agendas within Syria, emphasizing collaboration as a priority while expressing discontent towards U.S. support for Kurdish forces in the region, which Turkey sees as a threat.
Amid global tensions, Cyprus’s president expressed readiness to support Lebanon while focusing on stimulating development in the Mediterranean region. The recovery this week of a body identified as that of hostage Hamzah AlZayadni from Gaza underscores the continuing plight of the families affected by the ongoing conflict, with intensified pressure for resolution looming over international diplomacy.
Furthermore, a salvaged oil tanker that posed a risk of a significant spill in the Red Sea has successfully been towed away and its remnants removed, reflecting ongoing maritime security concerns amid the regional conflict.
