Newsblog on the Near East War: Yemeni government troops attack the Houthis

Many details about the course of the war, such as casualty figures or details of battles, cannot be independently verified. For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates Yemen: Government forces attack Houthi positions in the Bab al-Mandab Strait Houthi militia reports attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia Renewed report on tanker attack Reports: Explosions in Yemen's capital Sanaa Trump expects further talks with Tehran next week Anna Schimpp Yemen: Government forces attack Houthi positions in the Bab al-Mandab Strait In Yemen, government forces attacked Houthi positions in the Dhubab district near the strategically important strait of Bab al-Mandab. Two military representatives reported this. The internationally recognized government, supported by its neighboring Saudi Arabia, launched an offensive on Sunday to recapture areas controlled by the Houthi militia allied with Iran. The Giants Brigades close to the government forces reported that the first units had advanced in the region around Bab al-Mandab. The Houthi militia had recently gained territorial gains and took control of Bab al-Mandab in September. The strait is the southern route to the Red Sea and thus a crucial route connecting the Mediterranean with Asia via the Suez Canal. It has also gained importance for oil exports from Saudi Arabia since the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. Carim Soliman Houthi militia reports attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia The Iran-supported Houthi militia in Yemen has again claimed attacks in Saudi Arabia. A Houthi spokesman reported on Telegram that the group attacked two locations of the Saudi oil company Aramco in Riyadh and in the Churais area with drones and ballistic missiles. Independent confirmation from the company regarding the hits is not yet available. The spokesman justified the shelling by previous attacks by Saudi Arabia on Sanaa and the provinces of Saada, Tais, and Amran. The attacks on the capital Sanaa on the night of Sunday were claimed by the Yemeni government's military supported by Saudi Arabia. The Houthi militia is again shelling targets in neighboring Saudi Arabia amid an escalation of the Yemen war. The Sunni kingdom is allied with the internationally recognized government in Yemen and repeatedly bombards targets of the Shia militia. Recently, Houthi attacks on oil facilities and an important Saudi pipeline have increasingly put pressure on the government in Riyadh. In addition, the Houthis want to prevent the passage of Saudi oil tankers through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to make exports to Asia more difficult for the oil-rich kingdom. Barbara Klimke Renewed report on tanker attack According to a report, an oil tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The ship was hit on the port side by an unknown projectile, reported the British Maritime and Transport Office (UKMTO) based on the captain. The crew of the ship is supposed to be safe. The incident occurred, according to the information, near the northern tip of Oman, where the enclave of Musandam extends into the strait. The ship was less than eight kilometers from the coast at the time, it is reported. The Strait of Hormuz has become a central point of dispute between Iran and the US in the Iran war. In this waterway, which is important for global energy trade, a ship was attacked just the day before. The incident occurred, according to the information, near the northern tip of Oman, where the enclave of Musandam extends into the strait. The ship was less than eight kilometers from the coast at the time, it is reported. The Strait of Hormuz has become a central point of dispute between Iran and the US in the Iran war. A ship was attacked just the day before in this waterway which is important for global energy trade. Luzia Geier Report: Ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz According to a report, a tanker was attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. As the British Maritime and Transport Office (UKMTO) reported, a fire broke out. The crew of the ship is supposed to be safe. No information was initially available about the exact extent of the damage and possible environmental consequences. The incident occurred, according to the information, on Thursday evening (local time). So far, no one has claimed the attack. In the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global trade in oil, gas, and fertilizers, there have been regular attacks on ships recently. With attacks on ships, Iran is largely blocking traffic through the strait in the conflict with the US. The US military had also attacked civilian Iranian ships. The incident occurred, according to the information, on Thursday evening (local time). So far, no one has claimed the attack. In the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global trade in oil, gas, and fertilizers, there have been regular attacks on ships recently. With attacks on ships, Iran is largely blocking traffic through the strait in the conflict with the US. The US military had also attacked civilian Iranian ships. Luzia Geier Reports: Explosions in Yemen's capital Sanaa There have been again fighting in Yemen. According to eyewitnesses, several heavy explosions were heard in the capital Sanaa. Smoke plumes were also seen near the presidential palace, it was reported. The Al-Masirah outlet close to the Houthis reported attacks by Saudi Arabia on Sanaa and the provinces of Saada, Tais, and Amran. The outlet did not provide details on the targets of the attacks or possible damage. A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia is fighting in Yemen alongside the government against the Houthi militia. In a joint statement of the alliance, it is stated that two ballistic missiles and four drones of the Houthis were intercepted over the cities of Chamis Muschait and Dschasan in southern Saudi Arabia. A ballistic missile was intercepted in the direction of Chamis Muschait at night. On the X platform, the spokesman for the military coalition, Turki al-Maliki, wrote that the measures to deter the Houthi militia are being continued. Earlier, al-Maliki had accused the Houthis of attacking a power distribution station in Medina in Saudi Arabia. The Prophet's Mosque, considered the second holiest site in Islam, is in the city. The Houthis denied the accusation. A military source described it as baseless and a "gross invention" according to the news agency Saba controlled by the rebels. The information from both sides could not be verified at first. Carim Soliman Iran welcomes withdrawal of US troops from Iraq Iran's Revolutionary Guards welcomed the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. It was described as "a great, meaningful historical event and a huge achievement for the Axis of Resistance," in a statement distributed by the powerful military organization through the news agency Tasnim. From the perspective of the Iranian armed forces, this marks the "expulsion of America" from the region and from the geographical space of the Islamic community. According to the Pentagon on Wednesday, the last US soldiers have left Iraq. This ends a period of partly hotly contested US military operations in the neighboring country of Iran, in which the former ruler Saddam Hussein was overthrown and the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) was fought. In 2003, the US had invaded Iraq in the course of its "War on Terror" with allies. Tehran's view of the US military presence in Iraq has always been a thorn in its side. Under the influential General Ghassem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guards, in particular after the US invasion, built their relations with Shia militias in Iraq and tied them closer to the network of the "Axis of Resistance" supported by Tehran against the US and Israel. Tehran also sought and found allies in Iraqi politics. In 2020, Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack near Baghdad. Luzia Geier Afghan representative: Four killed in Pakistani air strikes Four people were killed in Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan, according to Afghan sources. Six others were injured, said a representative of the Helmand province. The attacks hit two houses in the Garmsir district. The victims were mainly women and children. A Pakistani statement is not yet available. Luzia Geier Iran: "Release of alleged terrorists" speaks volumes The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi rejected the British government's assessment that Tehran might have been involved in the incident near a US airbase in Great Britain. The British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was "off the mark" with his assessment, Araghtschi wrote on the X platform. After the arrest of five men suspected of terrorism, Burnham had indications of a possible link to Iran. "There are strong indications that Iran was involved in the events of the weekend at the RAF base Fairford," said the British Prime Minister to the BBC. However, this is still "an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation". Araghtschi wrote that Burnham should be convinced that Iran played a role in the incident. But: "I can confirm Iran's conviction that the release of alleged terrorists who work for foreign states speaks volumes." Anna Schimpp Authority: Tank ships near Iran under attack Several tanker ships are reported to have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. As the British Maritime and Transport Office (UKMTO) reported in separate reports, three ships were hit by unknown projectiles. The incidents reportedly occurred on Tuesday. Iran did not initially claim the attacks for itself. However, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday: "In the Strait of Hormuz, there are military confrontations within every 24-hour period, but America has not reacted for some time." In the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global energy trade, there have been regular attacks on ships recently. Iran is largely blocking traffic through the strait in the conflict with the US with threats and attacks on ships. The US military had also attacked civilian Iranian ships. Iran did not initially claim the attacks for itself. However, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards said on Wednesday: "In the Strait of Hormuz, there are military confrontations within every 24-hour period, but America has not reacted for some time." In the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global energy trade, there have been regular attacks on ships recently. Iran is largely blocking traffic through the strait in the conflict with the US with threats and attacks on ships. The US military had also attacked civilian Iranian ships. Anna Schimpp Iran again threatens attacks on energy infrastructure Iran has again threatened attacks on energy infrastructure. "In a region where we cannot sell oil, no one will sell oil," said parliamentary president Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf according to the state news agency Irna in a speech. And further: "If our security is not guaranteed, no infrastructure will be safe."Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf (Iranian parliamentary president) Ghalibaf referred to a speech by US President Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly last week. In it, Trump had again threatened with severe attacks. The US military has been imposing a naval blockade on ships that want to enter or leave Iranian ports since mid-July. This has brought Iranian oil trade to a near standstill. Lifting this blockade is considered a central demand by Tehran in negotiations with the US. According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, negotiations with the US on the Strait of Hormuz are continuing. Currently, the Gulf state Qatar is trying to find a solution, said Abbas Araghtschi according to his ministry in New York. "It is planned that they (Qatar) will bring this issue to the American side again and then the final answer from the American side will be transmitted to us via the Qatari mediator," Araghtschi added. An official answer is expected today Tuesday. Ulrike Putz Trump: Did not offer Iran sanctions relief US President Donald Trump denied offering Iran a relaxation of sanctions and the release of frozen funds as compensation for nuclear concessions from Tehran. "That is not true. I did not offer them anything," Trump wrote on Truth Social after Axios had previously reported that the President was willing to grant the relaxation in exchange for nuclear concessions. Trump expects further talks with Tehran next week US President Donald Trump expects further negotiations with Iran according to his own information. "They want to reach an agreement, but it is not the agreement I want to reach," he quoted from a phone call with the news portal Axios. It is what one might have agreed to a year ago. Iran has overstepped, Trump said regarding Iran's recent proposal, which the US President had already rejected. According to Axios, Trump expects the new talks for next week. Two regional sources confirmed these plans to the US media. They already expected another round of indirect talks between the US and Iran starting Monday, reported "Axios". Representatives of the warring parties, the US and Iran, met for the first time in months at the UN General Assembly in New York a few days ago. According to Trump's aide Steve Witkoff, who participated in the negotiations on behalf of the US, the talks took place through mediators. Shortly after, a new Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was announced, which Trump rejected on Saturday. The offer was not acceptable, said the US President. According to the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, Iran attached too many preconditions to the proposal from the US's point of view, such as the lifting of extensive sanctions. According to Axios, Trump expects the new talks for next week. Two regional sources confirmed these plans to the US media. They already expected another round of indirect talks between the US and Iran starting Monday, reported "Axios".