Sanaa: Yemens Houthi rebels declared their involvement in the ongoing Middle East war by launching a ballistic missile aimed at Israel, as the conflict marked its second month with significant economic repercussions.
According to France24.com, the entry of the Houthis, aligned with Iran, into the conflict involving Israel and the United States raises concerns about potential disruptions to Red Sea shipping routes. Trade through the Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz has already been severely affected, forcing many shipments to reroute via the Omani port of Salalah. However, operations at Salalah have been temporarily halted following a drone attack that injured a worker and damaged infrastructure, as confirmed by Maersk.
Pakistan is set to host a crucial meeting in Islamabad with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to discuss the escalating crisis. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude towards Pakistan for its mediation efforts, while Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul anticipated a direct meeting between the US and Iran in Pakistan soon.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, conveyed optimism about potential talks between Iran and the US, suggesting that negotiations could resolve the conflict.
The conflict initially erupted following US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, resulting in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This escalation has severely impacted global markets, driving up oil and gas prices.
Despite the US President’s confidence in having weakened Iran’s military capabilities, the Houthis announced their missile launch targeting Israeli bases. The Israeli military confirmed the missile’s launch from Yemen but reported no casualties or damage as the missile was intercepted.
Previously, the Houthis had targeted shipping routes during the Israel-Gaza conflict, expressing solidarity with Palestinians. However, they had refrained from participating in the current conflict until this recent development.
Saudi Arabia, seeking to bypass the compromised Strait of Hormuz, has redirected a significant portion of its oil exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Iran claims to have closed the Strait to hostile nations.
Iranian military forces targeted a US logistics vessel near Salalah, and a drone attack on the port resulted in injuries. Air travel disruptions were also reported, with facilities in Kuwait and Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, sustaining damage.
In the UAE, Iranian missile and drone strikes ignited fires in the Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi, injuring several individuals and causing substantial damage to Emirates Global Aluminium facilities.
In Iran, a key steel plant in the southwest halted production following US-Israeli strikes, as reported by the Khuzestan Steel Company via the Shargh newspaper. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have threatened retaliatory strikes on industrial sites across the region in response to economic damages.
The Guards claimed to have dismantled over 120 unexploded cluster bombs, allegedly from US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s southern province of Fars. Meanwhile, Israel continued its assaults on Tehran, with reports of intense explosions and smoke.
Pezeshkian cautioned regional countries against allowing adversaries to use their territories for warfare, emphasizing the importance of development and security.
An Iranian attack on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base injured American soldiers, according to reports by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed officials.