Explosions heard near Homs military airbase in western Syria

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident 45 nautical miles south of Al Mukha, Yemen.

The attack involved "an RPG exploding in close proximity to the vessel," according to the UKMTO.

Despite the close encounter, the vessel and crew are safe and continuing their voyage.

Authorities are investigating the incident, according to UKMTO.

In an advisory, the UKMTO advised vessels “to transit with caution.”

Iran-aligned Houthi militants, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched attacks on commercial vessels since November 19, after Iran's Supreme Leader urged Muslim nations to blockade Israel.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a rare Arabic message to the people of Lebanon said that “Shiite Iran and its affiliates, led by Hezbollah, have taken Lebanon and its people hostage in the service of their narrow sectarian and sectarian interests.”

He warned them that if Iran-backed Hezbollah “continues its aggression, Israel will fight it in a very difficult war.”

In the Arabic message posted on X, he emphasized that Iran and its proxy group Hezbollah are “responsible for the ongoing crisis.”

The US Central Command announced that the US Air Force F-22 Raptors had arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility as of August 8. As part of the US force’s “posture changes in the region,” this deployment is aimed to address “threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups.”

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Retired Lieutenant General David Deptula told Bloomberg that the deployment of the F-22s sends a strong message to Iran as “they can operate with impunity in Iranian airspace without Iran being aware.”

“They can perform not just air-to-air operations but can surreptitiously conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations and have the capacity to deliver bombs as well,” Deptula added.

The leader of the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis stated on Thursday that their delayed response, along with that of Iran’s other regional allies, to Israel’s recent actions was “purely tactical.”

He emphasized that the goal is to deliver a “genuinely impactful response,” taking into account the preemptive defense measures implemented by Israel and the US.

“The decision to respond is made collectively, at the level of the entire axis [of resistance],” he noted. Axis of resistance refers to Tehran-backed proxy forces in the region, including Palestinian militant groups, the Syrian regime, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and other factions.

IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News reported that Pezeshkian’s proposal will be submitted to the Iranian Parliament for a vote of confidence.

Khatib, sanctioned by the US Treasury Department, was first designated on September 9, 2022 “for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly the MOIS [Ministry of Intelligence and Security].”

In another round of US sanctions on Khatib on September 22, 2022, Khatib, alongside Iran’s Morality Police and its senior leaders, was added to the US Treasury’s list of individuals for “being a person acting on behalf of the Government of Iran who is responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against persons in Iran or Iranian citizens or residents, or the family members of the foregoing, on or after June 12, 2009.”

Khatib has also threatened the London-based Iran International news network. In an interview published on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's website, he said: "England will pay for the measures it has taken to make Iran insecure and [the] Iran International network is recognized by Iran as a terrorist organization and its operatives and affiliates will be pursued."

Khatib's comments came in November 2022 at the peak of Iran's nationwide Woman Life Freedom protests, one year after he was nominated the position under the Ebrahim Raisi administration.

Sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in morality police custody for alleged hijab violation, Iranian state security forces killed over 500 protesters including teenagers and children with tens of thousands of arrests.

Last year, the offices of Iran International had to temporarily relocate to Washington as the UK's security authorities said they could not guarantee the staff's safety.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry has also been sanctioned by the US for “its support to multiple terrorist groups and for being responsible for, or complicit in, the commission of serious human rights abuses against the Iranian people.”