Missile fired from Yemen intercepted over central Israel, military says

Demonstrators shout slogans and raise their assault rifles during a rally to denounce Israel and in solidarity with Palestinians in the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, on January 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 18 January 2025
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Missile fired from Yemen intercepted over central Israel, military says

Explosions were heard over Jerusalem after sirens blared across the city and central Israel on Saturday morning, AFP journalists reported, while the Israeli military said a projectile had been launched from Yemen.
The explosions and sirens came after Qatar, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, said that the ceasefire in the war in Gaza would take effect from 0630 GMT on Sunday.
Sirens and explosions were heard over Jerusalem at around 10:20 am (08:20 GMT) on Saturday, shortly after sirens sounded across central Israel in response to the projectile launched from Yemen, the military said in a statement.
Minutes later, the military said it had intercepted the projectile launched from Yemen.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks on Israel since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023.
On Friday, the Houthis warned that they would keep up their attacks if Israel did not respect the terms of its ceasefire with Hamas.


Iran says it did not request negotiations with US

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Iran says it did not request negotiations with US

DUBAI: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he had not been ​in contact with US special envoy Steve Witkoff in recent days or requesting negotiations, state media reported on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday another “armada” is floating ‌toward Iran and ‌that he ‌hopes ⁠Tehran ​would ‌make a deal with Washington.
The US deployed additional military assets in the Gulf following nationwide protests in Iran which led to the country’s bloodiest crackdown since the ⁠1979 Islamic Revolution.
“There was no ‌contact between me and ‍Witkoff in ‍recent days and no request ‍for negotiations was made from us,” Araqchi told state media, adding that various intermediaries were “holding consultations” and were ​in contact with Tehran.
“Our stance is clear, negotiations don’t ⁠go along with threats and talks can only take place when there are no longer menaces and excessive demands.”
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday that Tehran welcomes any process, within the framework ‌of international law, that prevents war.