The EU naval mission protecting ships crossing the Red Sea said that its frigate Psara had destroyed an unmanned aerial drone in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday. The Aspides mission began in February in response to drone and missile attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis on vessels in the region. The Houthis describe the attacks as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Israel's war in Gaza. They say their attacks will continue as long as the Israeli war on Gaza persists.
The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) has shown flexibility in response to a request from UN envoy Hans Grundberg to stop the Central Bank in Aden from taking action against Houthi-controlled banks and to start an economic dialogue. The Houthis, however, rejected the UN envoy's call for dialogue on economic issues, especially concerning banks whose licenses were revoked. Grundberg defended his request by highlighting the humanitarian impact and the fear of renewed conflict. Grundberg recently sent a letter to PLC head Rashad al-Alimi urgently requesting a halt or delay until the end of August on the Central Bank of Yemen's decision to revoke the licenses of six banks in Houthi-controlled areas and suspend their access to the SWIFT system.
US and British warplanes launched a fresh airstrike in Hajjah province in northwestern Yemen on Sunday, the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television reported. It did not provide details about casualties or damage. Since January 2024, a coalition led by the US has been conducting airstrikes that it said are targeting Houthi locations in parts of Yemen in response to attacks by the group in the Red Sea. The Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where nearly 38,600 people have been killed by the Israeli war since October last year.
A senior Hamas official said on Sunday that the Islamist group has not withdrawn from ceasefire talks with Israel after this weekend's deadly attacks in Gaza that Israel said had targeted the group's military leader Mohammed Deif. But Izzat El-Reshiq, a member of the political office of Hamas, accused Israel of trying to derail efforts by Arab mediators and the United States to reach a ceasefire deal by stepping up its attacks in the enclave. Saturday's strike in the Khan Younis area of Gaza, in which at least 90 Palestinians were killed according to local health authorities, has put the ceasefire talks in doubt. The Gaza health ministry said at least 38,584 Palestinians have been killed and 88,881 others injured in Israel's military offensive since Oct. 7.
