Iran-backed Houthis target Greek and British cargo ships in Red Sea

Houthis lauch fresh attack in Red Sea after joint airstrikes by the US and the UK in Yemen

Related: US launches missiles towards Houthi targets in Yemen from warship

Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen fired six ballistic missiles at two ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with one ship reporting minor damage.

A Greek-owned bulked carrier was struck by three of the projectiles fired by the Houthis on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the militants struck a British-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea.

The USS Laboon operating near the Greek ship “intercepted and shot down a third anti-ship ballistic missile fired” by the Houthis, the US Central Command said.

The Greek-owned Star Nasia was damaged by an explosion at 11.15am GMT, a Greek shipping ministry official said.

The fresh attacks come just two days after the US and the UK conducted joint airstrikes targeting Houthi bases in Yemen.

Meanwhile, the US has walked back its previous claims that it informed the Iraqi government it would be conducting airstrikes, saying that information was relayed incorrectly.

Vedant Patel, the state department spokesperson, clarified there “was not a pre-notification” but that they notified the Iraqi government “immediately after the strikes occurred”.

The US conducted retaliatory strikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday, resulting in at least 39 casualties.

Following the strikes, the White House refused to rule out US action inside Iran.

On Sunday, president Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told US news networks that further military action was likely, and would not rule out the possibility of strikes inside Iran’s borders.

“I’m not going to get into what’s on the table and off the table when it comes to the American response,” he told CBS.

Mr Sullivan called the airstrikes “the beginning, not the end of our response”. However, the US has insisted that it does not want a wider conflict across the Middle East.

Key Points

• Houthis strike British and Greek cargo ships
• Saudi Arabia says no relations with Israel without Palestinian state
• Israeli strikes killed civilians in Syria, says military

[6 February 2024 18:30 · Ariana Baio]

Blinken discussing potential hostage release and humanitarian aid

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Qatar today to discuss a potential pause in the fighting in Gaza to release hostages held by Hamas with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

“Secretary Blinken and the Amir agreed to continue close coordination to increase humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and to urge the protection of civilians consistent with humanitarian law,” State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said.

“The Secretary reiterated the US rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and underscored the US commitment to establishing durable peace in the Middle East, including the establishment of a Palestinian state that ensures security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

[6 February 2024 19:00 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: US launches missiles towards Houthi targets in Yemen from warship

[6 February 2024 20:00 · Ariana Baio]

US vows more strikes against Iran-backed rebels in Middle East

The US has vowed to take more retaliatory action targeting Iran-backed militants in the Middle East following the death of three US troops in Jordan.

The US military launched its offensive in Iraq and Syria over the weekend in retaliation against the attacks on its bases. It separately targeted the Houthis in Yemen amid the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea.

“Part of the purpose of these strikes is to take away capabilities from the Iranian-backed militants in Iraq and Syria that are attacking our forces,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told ABC News.

The strikes had a “good effect” in degrading the capabilities of the militias and the Houthis, he said.

“There will be more steps. Some of those actions will be seen, some may not be seen.

“There will be more action taken to respond to the tragic death of the three brave US service members.”

[6 February 2024 21:00 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Children’s clothing stretching 5km laid out on beach in Gaza war protest

[6 February 2024 21:45 · Ariana Baio]

US struck Houthi explosive uncrewed surface vehicles

The US Central Command said they struck a Houthi explosive uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) that “presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region” on Monday.

[6 February 2024 22:20 · Ariana Baio]

Iran continuing to back proxies, report says

Iran is continuing to provide weapons and intelligence to its proxies, a Middle Eastern official, US official and congressional aide with knowledge of the matter told NBC News.

According to the new report, Iran is continuing to back militants and rebels across the Middle East, even as the US conducts airstrikes in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

This assistance allegedly includes providing intelligence to Houthi forces in Yemen to continue attacking military and commercial ships in the Red Sea. It also includes sending weapons to other proxy forces.

The US launched strikes against Houthi militants in parts of Yemen for the continued attack of vessels in the Red Sea.

Additionally, the US conducted airstrikes in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for the killing of three American soldiers in Jordan.

[6 February 2024 22:50 · Ariana Baio]

31 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza are dead, Israeli military says

Israel’s military says 31 of the hostages in Gaza are dead – a fifth of the 136 people still being held captive by Hamas.

It comes after a document compiled by Israeli intelligence officers reported by the New York Times, suggested 32 have died since the Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October and the Israeli bombardment of Gaza in response.

Four military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel was also assessing unconfirmed intelligence indicating that at least 20 other hostages may have also been killed, the paper reported.

Matt Mathers reports:

[6 February 2024 23:35 · Ariana Baio]

Watch: Patrick Ryder says ‘We are not there to seek confrontation or war with Iran'

[7 February 2024 00:50 · Ariana Baio, PA]

ICYMI: Import prices affected by Red Sea disruption

Overall input costs rose last month for the first time since September, the latest S&P Global / CIPS construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) said on Monday.

Some firms flagged higher costs for imported building materials, mainly from Asia, due to attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have attacked commercial and military ships in what they say is an act of solidarity with the people of Palestine since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

Now retailers are warning consumers of stock delays and higher costs as ships are forced to re-route away from the Red Sea.

PA contributed to this report

[7 February 2024 01:20 · John Bowden]

White House refuses to rule out US strikes inside Iran after retaliatory attacks across Middle East

The White House has refused to rule out US action inside Iran following a wave of retaliatory airstrikes across the Middle East.

This weekend saw the US hit dozens of Iran-backed militia sites in Iraq, Syria and Yemen in response to a deadly attack at a military base in Jordan which left three US service members dead last month.

On Sunday, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told US news networks that further military action was likely, and would not rule out the possibility of strikes inside Iran’s borders.

“I’m not going to get into what’s on the table and off the table when it comes to the American response,” he told CBS.

Mr Sullivan called the airstrikes “the beginning, not the end of our response”. However, the US has insisted that it does not want a wider conflict across the Middle East.