Israel’s air defence system failed to stop at least two Iranian missile strikes on southern Israel, in retaliation for an attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site. More than 100 Israelis have been injured in Arad and Dimona, with dozens of buildings destroyed. This is what we know.
The Yemeni armed group says all options are on the table.
As the US-Israeli war against Iran drags on, Yemen’s Ansar Allah, or the Houthis, have stayed out of the conflict.
But that could change. They have said they consider themselves directly concerned and could take a position alongside Iran.
The armed group has attacked Israel and shipping in the Red Sea in recent years. If a new front opens up, global trade could be further disrupted in another maritime gateway. Shipping is already largely halted in the Strait of Hormuz, causing significant losses worldwide.
So, will the Houthis join the war? And what difference could that make for this volatile region?
Presenter: James Bays
Guests:
Farea al-Muslimi – research fellow in the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House
Khaled Batarfi – political analyst who specialises in Saudi Arabian foreign policy
United States President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran’s power plants if freedom of navigation is not fully restored at the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, a dramatic escalation as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues for a fourth week.
The statement on Saturday came as Trump faces increasing pressure to secure the vital waterway that Iran has promised to keep closed to “enemy ships”, leading to soaring oil prices and plunging stock markets.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST,” Trump, who is in his Florida home for the weekend, wrote on Truth Social at 23:44 GMT.
He did not specify which plant he was referring to as the biggest.
Following Trump’s threat, the Iranian army said it would target all energy infrastructure belonging to the US in the region if Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure were attacked.
Trump’s escalatory comments came barely a day after he talked about “winding down” the war that he launched alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 28, when the US and Iran were engaged in nuclear negotiations.
In a social media post on Friday, Trump said the US was “getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East”.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes through during peacetime, has virtually ground to a halt since the early days of the war.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz is open to all except the US and its allies, with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi saying last week that he had been “approached by a number of countries” seeking safe passage for their vessels.
“This is up to our military to decide,” he told the US television network CBS, adding that a group of ships from “different countries” had been allowed to pass, without providing details.
The head of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, asserted on Saturday that Iran’s ability to attack vessels on the strait had been “degraded” after US fighter jets dropped 5,000-pound (about 2,300kg) bombs on an underground Iranian coastal facility storing antiship cruise missiles and mobile launchers earlier this week.
The strike also destroyed “intelligence support sites and missile radar relays” used to monitor ship movements, Cooper said.
Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Manuel Rapalo said there seemed to be a “gap between what the White House appears to want in the Strait of Hormuz and what the US military says they have already accomplished”.
Movsar Evloev put a huge dent in Lerone Murphy’s featherweight title dream as the Russian secured a majority decision victory at UFC London.
In a fight seen by many as a number one contender contest at the O2 Arena, Evloev ground his British opponent down as the fight wore on to win, with two judges scoring it 48-46 in the Russian’s favour and one deeming it a draw at 47-47.
Manchester’s Murphy had many good moments in a competitive contest but an injury to the 34-year-old’s hip in the third round left Evloev finishing the fight stronger.
The defeat ends Murphy’s 18-fight unbeaten streak, while Evloev, 32, extends his undefeated record to 20 fights and puts himself in prime position to face champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Murphy is ranked third in UFC’s featherweight rankings and is likely to need a landmark win over a high-ranked opponent to put himself back in the title picture.
“Sorry for not giving you a fight. Make sure Evloev gets a title shot. He deserves it,” said Murphy, who remained positive despite defeat.
“Yes, my hip popped in the third round, but no excuses. I’ll be back. I’ve got work to do, but i’ll be back.”
Despite some impressive wins from British fighters like Nathaniel Wood and Mason Jones, the atmosphere lacked the buzz of previous UFC shows in London.
Murphy came into the contest after missing out on a title fight against champion Alexander Volkanovski in January, with Diego Lopes being given the opportunity instead.
Murphy did not get the rousing reception from the home fans like Aspinall or Pimblett have in the past as he made a business-like walkout, but he was cheered as he stepped into the octagon.
Evloev was booed heavily but embraced his reception as he smiled and made a heart-shaped gesture with his fingers towards the crowd.
Encouraged by chants of “Oh Miracle Murphy”, some of the Mancunian’s best work was done with his back to the cage, as he landed a one-two uppercut combination and tried to keep Evloev at bay with leg kicks.
Evloev was predicted to grapple with Murphy but it was not until the third round, with the Briton gaining the upper hand in the striking, that he attempted his first takedown.
Murphy got to his feet quickly and drew roars from the crowd with a counter right hook, but Evloev would end the round on top as a flurry of strikes opened a cut above the Mancunian’s left eye.
The contest was delayed in the fourth round as Murphy took time to recover from an accidental groin strike in a move for which the Russian was docked a point.
But after telling his corner he had hurt his hip, Murphy struggled to defend takedowns like he had before and Evloev gained the upper hand in the closing stages.
Murphy was roared on by the crowd as he continued to get back to his feet, but Evloev’s nine takedowns by the end of the bout told a telling story.
“I told you I was a better striker than him – joking!” said Evloev.
Meanwhile, Michael ‘Venom’ Page earned his third straight UFC decision win in an underwhelming contest with fellow Briton Sam Patterson.
Page landed 27 strikes to Patterson’s 12 but the contest was heavily booed by fans who grew impatient at the fighters’ lack of volume.
In the co-main event, Liverpool’s Luke Riley remained undefeated as he beat Michael Aswell Jr by unanimous decision for the 13th win of his career.
Riley did not get the knockout which he predicted and the fans were anticipating, but it was a deserved win as he landed the more impactful strikes throughout.
There were impressive victories for Wales’ Mason Jones, who overwhelmed Axel Sola in a bruising back-and-forth encounter to win by a unanimous decision, and London’s Nathaniel Wood, who also won on points against Losene Keita.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter were both knocked out in the third round of the Miami Open, ending British hopes in the singles in Florida.
Norrie, 30, suffered a 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 defeat by 21-year-old Alex Michelsen of the United States in his first match of the tournament.
The 23rd seed, who replaced Jack Draper as British number one last week, lost a tight first set after Michelsen finally broke his serve with his sixth set point of the 12th game.
Norrie bounced back from a 3-0 deficit in the second set to force a tie-break which he won to force a deciding set.
However, a break in the third game of the third set proved pivotal for Michelsen as he served his way into the last 16 on home soil.
Muchova broke 29-year-old Boulter’s serve twice in the first set and only needed one more in the second set to go 6-5 ahead before she wrapped up the victory.
Elsewhere, British number four Fran Jones also exited the tournament, retiring in the second set of her match with American Jessica Pegula through illness.
Jones, 25, had knocked out Venus Williams in the first round despite feeling under the weather but struggled against Pegula.
Pegula had won the first set 6-1 and despite a medical timeout Jones, who was seen coughing several times during the match, decided at 3-0 down in the second set she was not well enough to continue.
“I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to play Venus, but it’s a whole different ball game playing Jess,” Jones said.
Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney insist Chelsea need to pivot away from their transfer strategy focused soley on purchasing younger players, believing their inexperienced squad may be the cause for their inconsistent form.
READ MORE: Outrun and in decline – are Rosenior’s Chelsea near crisis point?
