Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the "military approach" of the U.S., particularly recent attacks on Yemen, and relisting the Houthis as a terror group "complicated" the situation in Yemen. Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with U.N. special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg during the latter's visit to Tehran on Saturday. Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a statement the two sides discussed "latest developments" in the region, with a main focus on Yemen. Amir-Abdollahiansaid the U.S. "military approach" has made the situation in Yemen "more complicated" and the political solution to the crisis facing the country "difficult."
Italy will provide the admiral in command of a European Union Red Sea naval mission to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Friday. Many commercial shippers have diverted vessels following attacks by the Houthis, who control much of Yemen and say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the face of Israel's attack on Gaza. "The European Union today asked Italy to supply the Force Commander for the Aspides Operation in the Red Sea," Crosetto said. The E.U.'s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Wednesday he hoped the mission, to be named Aspides - meaning "protector" in ancient Greek - could be launched on Feb. 17.
Former Yemeni ambassador to the U.S., Ahmad Awad Bin Mubarak, blasted European Union and U.S. officials for ignoring the Yemeni government's warning about the threats the Houthi group was posing. Mubarak, who is currently Yemen's minister of foreign affairs, said the Houthishave the capability — with Iran's backing — to destabilize an entire region, the diplomat said in an interview with Politico Europe published Thursday. "We have been saying this a long time," Mubarak said while in Brussels. "I have been here three times before, and always we said if we didn't do this … the Houthis will never stop." "The Houthis have an ideology, have a project. Iran has a project in the region, and unfortunately, the others do not respond,"the diplomat said.
Israel pressed its assault in the Gaza Strip on Saturday as fears grew over a push into Rafah, the southern city teeming with civilians uprooted by the nearly four-month war. A barrage of air strikes and tank fire rocked Khan Yunis overnight and through the day. The health ministry in Gaza said more than 100 people were killed across the Palestinian territory overnight, mostly women and children. In October, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,238 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health officials in Gaza.
