Yemen's Houthis capture a Red Sea island in a threat to shipping, and other Mideast developments
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen seized a key island Friday after capturing a Red Sea port, moves that threatened to further disrupt international shipping in the region. Iran called on Saudi Arabia to end its blockade of Yemen and immediately resume talks.
Separately, the AI company Anthropic said it identified and blocked users in northern Yemen attempting to develop advanced missiles.
Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.
Yemen ’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured the island of Mayun at the entrance of the Red Sea, a key alternative for shipping Saudi oil and other exports since Iran has been targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The island's seizure was confirmed by a senior military official with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a Houthi official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists.
Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes against the airport in Yemen's port city of Mokha, which the Houthis captured on Thursday, a Houthi broadcaster said. There was no immediate report of damage or deaths.
About 12% of the world’s goods are typically shipped through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. It's especially important to Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally.
The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a statement Friday that “maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels.” But markets are nervous, and experts have described the Houthis as highly unpredictable.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen and an immediate return to negotiations with the Houthis, showing support for its ally.
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By Samy Magdy in Cairo
The AI company Anthropic said it blocked users in northern Yemen who were using its AI models to run weapons development programs, some using commercially available smartphones.
Anthropic said its models were being used to pursue sophisticated precision, long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The company said it identified the users during an internal investigation and banned their accounts.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control northern Yemen have been smuggling advanced weapons for years despite a blockade and U.N. arms embargo. Iran denies arming the rebels.
Anthropic said the accounts used Claude Code to develop software that “steers and stabilizes a flying vehicle” and were working to develop weapons including a guided rocket that allows mobile phone users to autonomously track targets.
There is no evidence the users in Yemen succeeded in fielding a weapon, the company said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Friday that a regional meeting is planned between Iran and other Persian Gulf countries, including Oman and Iraq.
Baghaei told reporters the meeting will take place on Monday in Oman and will include discussion on prior talks between Iran and Oman regarding shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Located on either side of the strait, Iran and Oman, have held talks over managing ship traffic through the critical waterway, which has been heavily disrupted by the Iran war.
About a fifth of the world’s traded oil passed through the strait before the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. Since then, the Islamic Republic retaliated by repeatedly attacking neighboring countries in the Gulf that host U.S. military forces.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that his country’s military has completed the destruction of tunnels in the strategic Ali Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, which he said were built by the militant group Hezbollah with Iranian funding.
The ridge has been the site of clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in recent weeks. Nearby residents heard loud explosions and felt the ground shaking Thursday. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued to demolish houses in villages under their control in southern Lebanon.
Residents displaced from the coastal village of Mansouri watched from a distance on Friday as Israeli drones carried boxes of explosives to be dropped on their homes. The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An Israeli strike on Friday killed a man walking in a street in southern Gaza and wounded several people, including children, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the body and the wounded.
The Israeli military said the strike in Khan Younis had targeted a Hamas member.
Meanwhile, mourners held funeral prayers for two of three men who were killed Thursday in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said one of the men, Mohammad Yazouri, was a Hamas commander.
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