IAEA Exits Iran, Army Chief Warns "Devastating Plan Ready, Even US Won't Be Able to Save Netanyahu"
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The Hindu
43 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Israel launches airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels; Houthis hit back with missiles
Israel's military launched airstrikes early on Monday (July 7, 2025) targeting ports and facilities held by Yemen's Houthi rebels, with the rebels responding with missile fire targeting Israel. The attacks came after an attack on Sunday targeting a Liberian-flagged ship in the Red Sea that caught fire and took on water, later forcing its crew to abandon the vessel. Suspicion for the attack on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas immediately fell on the Houthis, particularly as a security firm said bomb-carrying drone boats appeared to hit the ship after it was targeted by small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The rebels' media reported on the attack but did not claim it. It can take them hours or even days before they acknowledge an assault. A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in U.S. and Western forces to the area, particularly after President Donald Trump targeted the rebels in a major airstrike campaign. The ship attack comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East, as a possible ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war hangs in the balance and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear program following American airstrikes targeting its most-sensitive atomic sites during an Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also was travelling to Washington to meet with Mr. Trump. Israeli strikes target Houthi-held ports The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. 'These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies,' the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. 'Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,' the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, claimed its air defense forces 'effectively confronted' the Israelis without offering evidence. Israel has repeatedly atacked Houthi areas in Yemen, including a naval strike in June. Both Israel and the United States have struck ports in the area in the past — including an American attack that killed 74 people in April — but Israel is now acting alone in attacking the rebels as they continue to fire missiles at Israel. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes. 'What's true for Iran is true for Yemen,' Mr. Katz said in a statement. 'Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.' The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries. Sirens sounded in the West Bank and along the Dead Sea. Ship attack forces crew to abandon vessel The attack on the Magic Seas, a bulk carrier heading north to Egypt's Suez Canal, happened some 100 kilometres (60 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the Houthis. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre first said that an armed security team on the vessel had returned fire against an initial attack of gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades, though the vessel later was struck by projectiles. Ambrey, a private maritime security firm, issued an alert saying that a merchant ship had been 'attacked by eight skiffs while transiting northbound in the Red Sea.' Ambrey later said the ship also had been attacked by bomb-carrying drone boats, which could be a major escalation. It said two drone boats struck the ship, while another two had been destroyed by the armed guards on board. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said the ship was taking on water and its crew had abandoned the vessel. They were rescued by a passing ship, it added. The U.S. Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet referred questions to the military's Central Command, which said it was aware of the incident without elaborating. Moammar al-Eryani, the Information Minister for Yemen's exiled government opposing the Houthis, identified the vessel attacked as the Magic Seas and blamed the rebels for the attack. The ship had been broadcasting it had an armed security team on board in the vicinity the attack took place and had been heading north. 'The attack also proves once again that the Houthis are merely a front for an Iranian scheme using Yemen as a platform to undermine regional and global stability, at a time when Tehran continues to arm the militia and provide it with military technology, including missiles, aircraft, drones, and sea mines,' Mr. al-Eryani wrote on the social platform X. The Magic Seas' owners did not respond to a request for comment. Houthi attacks came over Israel-Hamas war The Houthi rebels have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The group's al-Masirah satellite news channel acknowledged the attack occurred, but offered no other comment on it as it aired a speech by its secretive leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi. However, Ambrey said the Magic Seas met 'the established Houthi target profile,' without elaborating. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. Their campaign has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually. Shipping through the Red Sea, while still lower than normal, has increased in recent weeks. The Houthis paused attacks until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel. On Sunday, the group claimed launching an earlier missile at Israel which the Israeli military said it intercepted.
New Indian Express
43 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Israel launches airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, and Houthis launch missile at Israel
Israeli strikes target Houthi-held ports The Israeli military said it struck Houthi-held ports at Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, as well as the Ras Kanatib power plant. 'These ports are used by the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are employed to carry out terrorist operations against the state of Israel and its allies,' the Israeli military said. The Israeli military also said it struck the Galaxy Leader, a vehicle-carrying vessel that the Houthis seized back in November 2023 when they began their attacks in the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war. 'Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,' the Israeli military said. The Bahamas-flagged Galaxy Leader was affiliated with an Israeli billionaire. It said no Israelis were on board. The ship had been operated by a Japanese firm NYK Line. The Houthis acknowledged the strikes, but offered no damage assessment from the attack. Their military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, claimed its air defense forces 'effectively confronted' the Israelis without offering evidence. Israel has repeatedly atacked Houthi areas in Yemen, including a naval strike in June. Both Israel and the United States have struck ports in the area in the past — including an American attack that killed 74 people in April — but Israel is now acting alone in attacking the rebels as they continue to fire missiles at Israel. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened further strikes. 'What's true for Iran is true for Yemen,' Katz said in a statement. 'Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off. The Houthis will continue to pay a heavy price for their actions.' The Houthis then responded with an apparent missile attack on Israel. The Israeli military said it attempted to intercept the missile, but it appeared to make impact, though there were no immediate reports of injuries. Sirens sounded in the West Bank and along the Dead Sea.
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Gaza awaits peace: First round of ceasefire talks end in Qatar; Israel, Hamas stay divided
The first round of Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar ends with no breakthrough as Israel and Hamas remain steadfast on their stances. The world will now look at the Trump-Netanyahu meeting in Washington, DC. read more This picture taken from the grounds of the Ahli Arab Hospital, also known as the Maamadani (Baptist) Hospital, shows a cloud of smoke erupting following Israeli bombardment on a building in the Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City on May 31, 2025. (AFP) The latest round of Gaza ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas resumed and shortly ended without a breakthrough, a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiation confirmed. The official told the BBC that the session lasted for nearly three and a half hours and took place at two separate buildings in Doha. Both the Israeli and Hamas side shared their message and clarifications through Qatari and Egyptian mediators. However, no progress was achieved during the negotiation phase. It is pertinent to note that talks were held at a time when Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Washington, DC to meet US President Donald Trump. The Gaza ceasefire is most likely to be a topic of discussion between the two leaders. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, the Palestinian official noted that the second round of talks is expected to resume on Monday as mediators plan to hold separate meetings with each delegation to overcome obstacles and narrow the gaps between the two sides. The prologue to the talks On Sunday, Israel dispatched a negotiating team to Qatar for indirect talks with Hamas focused on a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Hamas, in turn, proposed three key amendments to the US- and Israel-backed ceasefire framework. This included: Continuation of talks until a permanent ceasefire is reached. Full presumption of humanitarian aid via UN-backed agencies. Israel's withdrawal to the pre-March ceasefire position. In response to this, Israel's Prime Minister's Office declared these Hamas demands 'unacceptable' but proceeded with the delegation's departure. The current US and Israel-backed ceasefire proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire, staged release of hostages (10 live and 18 deceased), and increased humanitarian aid. Israel has been adamant about a phased approach without guarantees of a permanent truce, wary of Hamas maintaining control over Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel's PM is also facing domestic pressure from his far-right allies as he heads to the US. Several Israeli far-right politicians have been opposing the ceasefire, something they did before as well. How the recent talks went down While speaking to Reuters, two other Palestinian officials noted that the Israeli delegation was not 'sufficiently authorised' to reach an agreement with Hamas because it had 'no real powers'. Netanyahu, on the other hand, thinks his meeting with Trump should help progress efforts to reach a deal for the release of more hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. The Qatari and Egyptian officials noted that for now, Hamas still seems to be holding out for essentially the same conditions it has previously insisted on - including a guarantee of an end to all hostilities at the end of any truce and the withdrawal of Israeli troops. However, the Israeli delegation outrightly rejected the amendments during the talks. While speaking to the reporters before heading to the US, Netanyahu made his stance on the matter extremely clear. 'The release and return of all the hostages, the living and the fallen; the destruction of Hamas's capabilities - to kick it out of there, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer constitute a threat to Israel,' the Israeli premier averred. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Things became more complicated as Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas with great intensity. They imposed an eleven-week blockade on aid entering Gaza, which was partially lifted several weeks ago. Just in the past 24 hours, the Israeli military said that it has struck 130 Hamas targets and killed several militants. The Israeli government argued that these measures are aimed at further weakening Hamas and forcing it to negotiate and free the hostages. Overall, the question now is not only whether the talks in Qatar can achieve their goals, but also whether Trump can persuade Netanyahu that the war must come to an end at their meeting on Monday.
