Yemen fighters allied to exiled government claim seizure of tons of Iranian-supplied Houthi weapons
For years, the U.S. Navy and other Western naval forces have seized Iranian arms being sent to the Houthis, who have held Yemen's capital since 2014 and have been attacking ships in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war .
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Christian leaders make rare visit to Gaza following deadly Israeli church attack
Leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Church visited Gaza's only Catholic church on Friday, where a day earlier three people were killed in an Israeli strike. The visit is highly unusual given Israel's tight control over access in and out of the territory. Israel says it 'deeply regrets' the incident, blaming stray ammunition for the strike. An investigation is underway. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the enclave to show their support for Gaza's Catholics, according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The two expressed 'the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza,' a statement from the Patriarchate - which has jurisdiction for Roman Catholics in Gaza - said. They brought in food aid and medical supplies to the territory, which is facing a humanitarian crisis. The Patriarchate also said the leaders ensured those injured in the Israeli attack would be evacuated outside Gaza for treatment. The church in Gaza has become a shelter for the enclave's tiny Christian community and others and others during the conflict.
American Military News
an hour ago
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Video/Pics: Iran-backed Houthi weapons shipment interdicted by Yemeni forces
U.S. Central Command confirmed on Wednesday that the Yemeni National Resistance Forces recently interdicted a huge shipment of Iranian weapons that was being transported to the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist organization. In a Wednesday press release, U.S. Central Command said, 'Congratulations to the Yemeni National Resistance Forces (NRF), led by Gen. Tareq Saleh, for the largest seizure of Iranian advanced conventional weapons in their history.' U.S. Central Command explained that the Yemeni National Resistance Forces were able to intercept and seize more than 750 tons of 'munitions and hardware to include hundreds of advanced cruise, anti-ship, and anti-aircraft missiles, warheads and seekers, components as well as hundreds of drone engines, air defense equipment, radar systems, and communications equipment.' READ MORE: Iran 'much farther away' from nuclear weapon, top Trump official says According to the press release, the Yemeni National Resistance Forces claimed that the weapons shipment included manuals written in Farsi, which is the official language of Iran, and that many of the weapons systems were manufactured by a U.S.-sanctioned company linked to the Iranian Ministry of Defense. U.S. Central Command confirmed that the 'illegal shipment' of weapons was intended to provide weapons that would be used by the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist organization. 'We commend the legitimate government forces of Yemen who continue to interdict the flow of Iranian munitions bound for the Houthis,' Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, stated. 'The interdiction of this massive Iranian shipment shows that Iran remains the most destabilizing actor in the region. Limiting the free flow of Iranian support to the Houthis is critical to regional security, stability, and freedom of navigation.' A video and pictures shared Thursday on X, formerly Twitter, by U.S. Central Command show numerous weapon systems included in the shipment that was intercepted by the Yemeni National Resistance Forces. Yemeni Partners Successfully Interdict Massive Iranian Weapons Shipment Bound for the Houthis Congratulations to the Yemeni National Resistance Forces (NRF), led by Gen. Tareq Saleh, for the largest seizure of Iranian advanced conventional weapons in their history. The NRF… — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 16, 2025 In September, Reuters reported that Iran was helping broker discussions between Russia and the Houthis to transport Russian missiles to the Iran-backed organization. At the time, an intelligence source told Reuters, 'Russia is negotiating with the Houthis for the transfer of Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missiles.' The intelligence source added, 'The Iranians are brokering the talks but do not want to have their signature over it.'
Fox News
an hour ago
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Regional powers clash after Israel targets Syrian territory in defense of vulnerable Druze civilians
Israel's military strikes in Syria this week — launched in response to atrocities against the Druze minority — represent a strategic turning point in a deeper power struggle that now entangles Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the U.S., according to regional analysts. Just days ago, speculation swirled about a potential normalization agreement between Israel and Syria — a breakthrough quietly brokered by U.S. officials, but that fragile prospect has been swiftly overtaken by violence, as Israeli airstrikes this week struck near Damascus. A ceasefire agreement between Druze factions and the Syrian government, announced July 16, was meant to calm days of deadly clashes, but it remains tenuous and largely unenforced, with sporadic fighting continuing and tensions running high. "For the Druze in Israel, what's happening in southern Syria feels like October 7 all over again," said Avner Golov, vice president of the Israeli think tank Mind Israel. "Israel can no longer treat Syria as just a neighboring crisis. It's now a domestic one." In a rare scene, Israeli Druze citizens crossed the border into Syria to support their embattled relatives — prompting a stern warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "My Druze brothers, citizens of Israel... Do not cross the border," Netanyahu said. "You are putting your lives at risk — you could be killed, you could be kidnapped — and you are harming the IDF's efforts. Let the IDF do its job." In his first televised address since the Israeli strikes, Syrian transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa framed the Israeli intervention as a destabilizing act. "Government forces deployed to Suweida succeeded in restoring stability and expelling outlawed factions despite the Israeli interventions," he said, warning that the strikes led to "a significant complication of the situation" and "a large-scale escalation." He insisted that protecting the country's Druze minority was a top priority and declared that Syrians "are not afraid of war." Within Israel, the collapse of order in Syria has triggered sharp debate. Some policymakers argue for supporting Sharaa as an anti-Iranian strongman, while others advocate broader military action to create a buffer zone in southern Syria. Golov supports a middle course: conditional strikes paired with demands for Druze autonomy and accountability for war crimes. "If Sharaa shows he's willing to punish those responsible for the massacre and agree to Druze autonomy, then Israel can gradually work with him," Golov told Fox News Digital. He also called for a regional diplomatic effort to stabilize Syria. "We need a regional summit — the U.S., Saudi Arabia, even Turkey, and Israel" he said. "Bring positive forces into Syria and use Israeli military power not just tactically, but to gain diplomatic leverage." "There's a temptation to miss the victory lap," said Behnam Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). "Rather than see Syria through the prism of competition with Turkey, Israel should first see it through the prism of diminished competition with Iran. That in itself is a huge achievement." While Iran's position has weakened, Turkey has quietly expanded its footprint in Syria by backing the al-Sharaa government. Turkey's strategic interest in Syria, Sinan Ciddi, a senior fellow at FDD and director of the Turkey program, explained, is to fill the vacuum left by Iran with its own political and economic influence — using al-Sharaa regime as a conduit. "Turkey has a lot riding on al-Sharaa success," he said. "They'd like to see increased trade, the reconstruction of Syria through al-Sharaa. They want to use him as a means to influence the region politically." However, Israel's military response has triggered alarm in Ankara. "Turkey is not in a position to militarily challenge Israel — it would be a disaster," said Ciddi. "They're talking tough, but they're deeply concerned." Ciddi emphasized that Turkey's aging military hardware and lack of air defense leave it highly exposed. Yet, Turkey is deeply invested in al-Sharaa political survival, hoping to leverage him for influence and economic ties in post-war Syria. A direct clash between Turkey and Israel, Ciddi warned, would "result in a diplomatic fiasco... and require the United States and European countries to step in as mediator." Even as Israel dismantled key parts of Iran's military infrastructure in Syria, Tehran remains a long-term threat. Taleblu said Iran is now lying in wait — ready to exploit missteps by others. "This is a regime that capitalizes on the mistakes of others," he said. "They don't need to win outright — they just need everyone else to lose." Tehran is betting that the region's rival powers — Turkey, Israel, the U.S. and the Gulf — will overplay their hands, allowing Iran to reenter through proxies, sectarian militias, or diplomatic manipulation. Though President Trump recently said Syria's internal affairs are "not our war," his administration's tone has shifted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for de-escalation, and regional partners are urging a clearer U.S. role. "Real success will come from creating contingencies," Taleblu said. "What are the costs if Syria collapses? What if Turkey overreaches, or Israel overextends? What if Iran comes back? The states that prepare for these questions."
