Airstrike kills at least 9 in Yemen’s Houthi-held Saada province, U.S. ambassador condemns settler attack on journalist

An airstrike has killed at least nine people in Yemen’s northern province of Saada, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry. The attack targeted a house in the Sahar district, wounding 19 others, including 11 children. Spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi blamed Saudi Arabia for the strike, though the Saudi government has not yet commented. The incident adds to the ongoing conflict between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces in the region.

Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, condemned a settler attack on an American journalist in the West Bank. The attack, which occurred during an olive harvest, left the Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine requiring surgery. Huckabee called the violence “a despicable act of terror” and urged for a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution of those involved.

Levine was seriously injured in the attack in the village of Abu Falah. Israeli police are also investigating another attack by Israeli settlers on European diplomats in a different West Bank village. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the incident, condemning “violence against anyone” but referring to the attack as “alleged” and noting that its circumstances remain unclear. Huckabee emphasized that Levine was clearly identified as a journalist.

A Saudi helicopter gunship crashed in southwestern Saudi Arabia, killing its two-member crew near the border with Yemen. The crash, attributed to a technical malfunction, occurred in an area of intense fighting between the Iran-backed Houthi militants and the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis claimed to have downed the helicopter hours before the crash, highlighting the escalating tensions in the region.

The Houthis, a Shiite religious and political movement based in northern Yemen, have been attacking Saudi Arabia due to its support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government. Despite the Saudis’ superior U.S.-supplied arms, they have struggled to counter the latest attacks. This conflict underscores the complex and volatile nature of the region’s military engagements.

Egypt’s National Defense Council has agreed to support Saudi Arabia in the current escalation of fighting between the kingdom and Iranian-backed forces. This decision reflects the broader regional dynamics and alliances shaping the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The situation continues to evolve, with significant implications for civilian populations and international relations.

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