Houthis Claim Third Missile Attack Against Israel
Houthi forces in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on southern Israel this morning, stating it was a joint operation with Iran and Hezbollah. In a statement, the Houthi movement said it carried out its third missile attack in the conflict “in conjunction with Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
The Tehran-backed group declared that the Houthis “carried out the third military operation... targeting sensitive Israeli enemy targets... with a barrage of ballistic missiles.” They warned of “further escalation” should Israel continue attacks on Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, the occupied West Bank, and Gaza.
This statement was issued approximately three hours after the Israeli military announced that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen towards southern Israel was intercepted. No injuries were reported.
According to Israeli media, an 11-year-old girl is in critical condition and a 13-year-old boy was seriously injured after a missile attack in Bnei Brak, central Israel, this morning. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service reported that 14 people were wounded in the attack.
Qatar’s defence ministry confirmed a missile attack on an oil tanker, stating that the 21 crew members were evacuated safely with no injuries. The ministry reported that Qatar was targeted by three cruise missiles from Iran. The Qatari armed forces intercepted two missiles, while the third struck an oil tanker leased to QatarEnergy.
“Procedures were taken and coordination with the relevant authorities to evacuate the oil tanker, which has a crew of (21) persons, without any human casualties,”the ministry said in a post on X.
QatarEnergy, the world’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), confirmed that one of its tankers was hit in a missile strike this morning.
“None of the crew members on board were injured, and there is no impact on the environment as a result of this incident,”the state-owned company stated.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker off the coast of Qatar was hit by two projectiles, one causing a fire that has since been extinguished and another remaining unexploded in the vessel’s engine room. The vessel was struck about 17 nautical miles (31 km) north of Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial hub.
Israel’s emergency medical service said an 11-year-old girl was seriously wounded by shrapnel in central Israel due to the missile attack, which the military attributed to Iran. Police reported damage at several sites, according to AFP.
The Israeli military stated it had “identified missiles launched from Yemen towards the territory of the State of Israel” for the first time in about 20 hours, with air raid sirens activated across central Israel. Another missile warning followed less than an hour later, prompting alerts across large parts of northern and central Israel, according to the military’s Home Front Command.
Spokesman Zaki Heller told Israeli TV that at least 12 others were also wounded, including a 13-year-old boy and a 33-year-old woman in moderate condition, all from the same impact site. Israeli media reported that cluster munitions, which explode mid-air and scatter bomblets over a wide area, were used in the attack. Both Iran and Israel have previously accused each other of using cluster bombs.
Macron Lauds Europe's 'Predictability' in Contrast to Trump
French President Emmanuel Macron praised Europe’s “predictability” during a visit to Japan on Wednesday, contrasting it with countries that “could hurt you without even informing you,” an apparent reference to Donald Trump, reports AFP.
Speaking to Japanese business leaders and investors in Tokyo, Macron said,
“I’m well aware that sometimes Europe can be seen as a continent that is slower than others. But predictability has value, and we have demonstrated that over all these past years and, dare I say, even these past weeks: we are where you know we will go.”
He criticised countries claiming to move “much faster” than their allies but whose positions might change unpredictably, saying,
“You don’t know whether the day after tomorrow they will still be in that position, and whether tomorrow they won’t make a decision that could hurt you without even informing you.”
This remark appeared to reference the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has led to effective closures of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for Japan’s energy imports. The US president criticised France on Tuesday, stating on social media that Paris had been “very unhelpful” during the war with Iran.
Israel Military Responds to Iran Missile Attack as Sirens Sound
The Israeli military reported that its air defences responded to a missile attack from Iran on Wednesday, with warning sirens activated across central Israel.
“A short while ago, the IDF (army) identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,”a military statement said.
One Fatality from Drone Debris in United Arab Emirates
State media in the United Arab Emirates reported that one person was killed after debris from an intercepted drone fell on a farm in Fujairah. The deceased was identified as a Bangladeshi national.
Tanker Off Qatar Hit by Two Projectiles, UK Authorities Report
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated on Wednesday that a tanker off Qatar was struck by two projectiles, one causing a fire that has since been extinguished and another remaining unexploded in the vessel’s engine room. The vessel was hit about 17 nautical miles (31 km) north of Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial hub, sustaining damage above the waterline. The crew remained safe, and there was no environmental impact, AFP reported.
Israel’s military announced early Wednesday that it had conducted a “wide-scale wave of strikes” on Tehran. Separately, it reported that an Israeli military drone was downed by a surface-to-air missile during operational activity in southern Lebanon overnight Tuesday.
Australian Government Announces Support Measures Amid Rising Fuel Prices
Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers unveiled a series of Covid-era support measures for businesses affected by soaring fuel prices. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to address the nation, signaling government preparation for a potentially severe economic downturn resulting from the war.
“The war is having an extreme impact on the global economy. Australians and Australian small businesses are paying the price for that,”the treasurer told reporters on Wednesday.
The support package includes more generous Australian Taxation Office payment plans, elimination of penalties and interest on unpaid tax debts, and assistance to defer PAYG payments for businesses experiencing revenue losses due to fuel supply issues. The ATO will also suspend collection efforts on unpaid tax debts.
Anthony Albanese will deliver a national address on Wednesday night at 7pm AEDT, expected to urge Australians to contribute to easing the fuel crisis, including conserving fuel for regions in need.
Opening Summary
Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the Iran conflict and its broader repercussions across the Middle East and globally.
On Tuesday, Donald Trump stated that US forces would end operations in Iran “very soon.” He also indicated that the responsibility for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open would rest with the countries that rely on it, saying,
“That’s not for us … That’ll be for whoever’s using the strait.”
Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News that the US would need to reevaluate the NATO relationship after the conflict concludes, stating,
“I do think, unfortunately, we are going to have to re-examine whether or not this alliance that has served this country well for a while is still serving that purpose. If now we have reached a point where the NATO alliance means that we can’t use [US military bases in Europe]... then NATO is a one-way street.”
Here is a summary of the latest developments:
- Donald Trump will provide an update on the Iran war in an address to the nation at 9pm EST on Wednesday (0100 BST on Thursday), White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced.
- A /Ipsos poll found that two-thirds of Americans believe the US should work to end its involvement in the Iran war quickly, even if that means not achieving all the goals set out by the administration.
- Asian markets rose sharply early Wednesday following US stocks’ best day in nearly a year amid renewed hopes for a swift end to the war. South Korea’s Kospi surged 6.4%, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 rose 4%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was up 1.9%, and the Shanghai Composite index traded 1.4% higher.
- Thousands of additional US troops are deploying to the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush deployed on Tuesday, slated to travel to the region with three destroyers, according to two US officials. The carrier strike group includes over 6,000 personnel.
- The Israeli military reported identifying a missile launch from Yemen towards Israel, with defence systems intercepting the missile.
- Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported attacks in northern, eastern, and central Tehran on Wednesday morning. Explosions were heard in the capital’s north, east, and centre, with the broadcaster reporting “attacks on Tehran” without further details.
- A drone attack caused a large fire at Kuwait International Airport, according to state news agency reports, with no casualties reported. Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed two drones in recent hours. Bahrain reported working to extinguish a fire at a business facility resulting from an Iranian attack. A tanker was also attacked off Qatar’s coast, per the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre.
- Israeli strikes in southern Beirut and nearby areas have killed seven people, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
- An American journalist was abducted by a suspected Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, the US stated. The journalist was identified as Shelly Kittleson, a freelancer, by media advocacy groups and Al-Monitor, one of her employers.
- The Wall Street Journal reported that the United Arab Emirates is preparing to assist the US in forcibly opening the Strait of Hormuz. Citing Arab officials, the newspaper said the UAE is lobbying for a UN Security Council resolution authorizing such action.
