DUBAI: The increase in the number of Houthi operations in Yemen and across the border in Saudi Arabia are proof the militia is a proxy for Iran’s ‘expansive agenda’, a senior Yemeni official said.
Yemen’s minister of information, culture and tourism, Muamar Al-Eryani, said in a statement that the “Houthi’s recent escalation of attacks confirms that it does not make decisions on war and peace, but rather only follows Iran’s expansive agenda.”
The Houthis work under Tehran’s envoy to Yemen, Hassan Eyrlou, to harm Saudi Arabia and threaten security of international energy and international maritime navigation, Al-Eryani said.
And he said the Biden administration’s removal of the Houthis from the terrorism list sent the wrong signals to the militia, who opted to resume military operations instead of taking a path to diplomacy.
The Arab coalition on Saturday intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone launched towards Khamis Mushait in Saudi Arabia, the latest in a series of attacks aimed at destroying vital facilities in the Kingdom.
“The increased attacks and violence… confirm that they do not believe in peace and their faith is based on killing and unable to play a role in realizing peace,” Al-Eryani said.
Houthi escalation of attacks proof of Iran’s ‘expansive agenda’ says Yemeni official
https://arab.news/gh5eg
Houthi escalation of attacks proof of Iran’s ‘expansive agenda’ says Yemeni official
Israel’s hostage forum releases AI-generated video of last Gaza captive
- The Gaza ceasefire, which came into effect in October, remains fragile with both sides alleging violations, and mediators fearing that Israel and Hamas alike are stalling
JERUSALEM: An Israeli group representing the families of Gaza hostages released on Tuesday an AI-generated video of Ran Gvili, the last captive whose body is still being held in the Palestinian territory.
The one-minute clip, created whole cloth using artificial intelligence, purports to depict Gvili as he sits in a Gaza tunnel and appeals to US President Donald Trump to help bring his body back to Israel.
“Mr President, I’m asking you to see this through: Please bring me home. My family deserves this. I deserve the right to be buried with honor in the land I fought for,” says the AI-generated image of Gvili.
Gvili was 24 at the time of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
He was an officer in Israel’s Yasam elite police unit and was on medical leave when he learnt of the attack.
He decided to leave his home and brought his gun to counter the Hamas militants.
He was shot in the fighting at the Alumim kibbutz before he was taken to Gaza.
Israeli authorities told Gvili’s parents in January 2024 that he had not survived his injuries.
The AI clip was released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the main group representing those taken captive to Gaza.
The Forum said it was published with the approval of Gvili’s family.
“Seeing and hearing Rani speak in his own voice is both moving and heartbreaking. I would give anything to hear, see and hold him again,” Gvili’s mother Talik said, quoted by the Forum.
“But all I can do now is plead that they don’t move to the next phase of the agreement before bringing Rani home — because we don’t leave heroes behind.”
The Gaza ceasefire, which came into effect in October, remains fragile with both sides alleging violations, and mediators fearing that Israel and Hamas alike are stalling.
In the first stage, Palestinian militants were expected to return all of the remaining 48 living and dead hostages held in Gaza.
Since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, militants have released 47 hostages.
In the next stages of the truce, Israel is supposed to withdraw from its positions in Gaza, an interim authority is to govern the Palestinian territory instead of Hamas, and an international stabilization force is to be deployed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump in Florida later this month to discuss the second phase of the deal.
