Iran-Israel War: The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has now completed a month, with no clear signs of de-escalation. Tehran-backed Houthi rebels, who had remained out of direct combat until now, officially entered the conflict on Saturday by launching two missile strikes on southern Israel.
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels escalated the month-old war in the Middle East on Saturday, claiming responsibility for the missile launches targeting Israel. Around 2,500 US Marines have arrived in the region, and Pakistan's government announced that regional powers plan to meet on Sunday to discuss how to end the fighting. The war has already threatened global oil and natural gas supplies, sparked fertiliser shortages, and disrupted air travel.
The Houthis' involvement could further disrupt global shipping, particularly if they target vessels once again in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which lies off the Red Sea. This strait is a critical passage for approximately 12 percent of the world’s trade.
According to Reuters, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the missile attacks on Israel. Brigadier General Yahya Sari, the group's military spokesperson, confirmed this in a statement aired on the group's Al-Masirah satellite channel on Saturday. Earlier, the Israeli military had stated that it intercepted one missile mid-air.
At the same time, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed its air defences had struck a US F-16 Fighting Falcon and an MQ-9 Reaper drone in the country's southern airspace.
Making the announcement in a statement on its official news outlet, Sepah News, the IRGC said the US fighter jet and drone were targeted during joint retaliatory missile and drone operations by its Navy and Aerospace Division against heavy industries belonging to the United States and Israel, Xinhua News Agency reported. It added that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) had acknowledged that its F-16 Fighting Falcon was hit.
On Saturday, Iran also claimed to have struck two US Army "hideouts" in Dubai as the conflict in the Middle East continues, Iranian state media Fars News Agency reported.
According to the news agency, a spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya claimed US Army personnel had moved to these hideouts after Iran's strikes on their bases in the region.
Iran stated that around 400 US soldiers were present at the first hideout, and approximately 100 were stationed at the second. Iran maintains that these soldiers were relocated to secret locations after their bases were targeted.