President Trump will attend the dignified transfer of the two soldiers who were killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan. The ceremony will take place tomorrow evening at Dover Air Force Base. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says “the President and the entire White House are praying for their families” in a post on X. The president, in a Truth Social post, says “Every time Iran kills an American soldier they will pay for that killing many times over, as the U.S. continues its military campaign in the Middle East.”
Explosions in Iran as US carries out ‘new round of strikes’
- Iranian media is reporting explosions in Bandar Abbas and Sirik as US CENTCOM says new round of strikes being carried out on Iran.
- In a social media post, US President Donald Trump says “every time Iran kills an American soldier they will pay for that killing many times over”.
- Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announce a maritime embargo of their foe Saudi Arabia after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.
Multiple explosions heard in Chahbahar
Fars news agency is reporting multiple explosions in Chahbahar in eastern Iran.
Yemen’s Houthis announce maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia
- Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announce a maritime embargo of their foe Saudi Arabia after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.
- A vessel is on fire in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile forcing the crew to abandon ship. They were later rescued by a tugboat.
- Hamas says Khalil al-Hayya has been chosen as head of its political bureau succeeding Yahya Sinwar who was killed by Israel in Gaza in 2024.
- A US service member has died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone, according to CENTCOM.
Houthis see Saudi maritime embargo as an ‘opportunity’
The Houthis appear to be using the announcement of a maritime embargo targeting Saudi Arabia to “redraw the rules” while regional powers are under pressure, an analyst says.
Zeidon Alkinani, founding director of the Arab Perspectives Institute, told Al Jazeera there is “very clear” messaging in the announcement.
There was “no mention of Iran” suggesting the Houthis are acting to exploit what they see as a window of opportunity while both Saudi Arabia and the United States are pre-occupied with Iran. “They’re taking it as an opportunity to redraw the rules imposed on them before,” he said.
Negotiations with the Houthis could be “easier” than talks involving either the US or Iran, which remain in direct confrontation. “From a Houthi perspective they are controlling Yemen, which is in the GCC orbit,” he said.
Alkinani said direct negotiations with the Houthis would now make sense.
Saudi Arabia condemns Houthi’s blockade
Saudi Arabia has condemned remarks by the Houthis accusing the kingdom of besieging Yemen and announcing that the group will prevent maritime navigation to Saudi ports.
In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry called the accusations “baseless”.