Israel Will ‘Finish Job’ in Gaza and Remove Palestinians, Says Defense Minister

Key Points:

• Yemen’s Interior Minister Ibrahim Haidan accused Iran of attempting to establish long-term military influence over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait by helping the Houthis militarize the area with missile, drone, and boat facilities, replicating tactics used in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Houthis recently captured key territories along Yemen’s western coast, including Mokha and Bab al-Mandeb, raising fears that Iran could leverage control of this strategic shipping lane to expand its influence into the Red Sea and connect with armed groups in the Horn of Africa.
• Haidan called for urgent international support to strengthen Yemen’s coastguard with advanced surveillance, patrol boats, and intelligence capabilities to combat smuggling networks that finance the Houthis and to secure the critical maritime corridor.
• The Yemeni government has increased security readiness in Aden, Lahj, and other areas behind the frontlines, coordinating defense and interior ministries through a joint operations room to prevent infiltration and maintain stability amid rising displacement.
• US officials warned the Houthis through security channels without engaging in negotiations, emphasizing support for Yemen’s legitimate government and calling on the Houthis to halt advances and withdraw from seized territories amid ongoing fierce battles.