In the Israeli-American war against Iran, which is about to turn a month old, messages of détente are compounded by new attacks that suggest a widening of the conflict. On the one hand, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tries to pour water on the fire, on the other hand comes the news of a first intervention in the war by the Houthis, supported by Iran.
Rubio: It's still a matter of weeks, not months.
The war should end within a few weeks, not months. The U.S. Secretary of State said so. Marco Rubio during the G7 foreign ministers summit in France, as reported by Reuters. Also Rubio he excluded, at least for now and contrary to what the WSJ revealed, the use of ground troops.
“We are on track or even ahead of schedule for the operation in Iran and expect to conclude it at the appropriate time, within a few weeks, not months,” Rubio said at the meeting with his G7 colleagues at the Abbey of Vaux-de-Cernay, on the outskirts of Paris.
Rubio also said that not having asked to the representatives of the other members (in addition to the United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, together with the European Union) to contribute immediately with the presence of ships to clear the Strait of Hormuz, but rather would have asked them to prepare for a significant role once the conflict is over.
G7 calls for immediate cessation of attacks against civilians
Still within the framework of the meeting, the G7 foreign ministers they asked immediate cessation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the war in Iran. This is what emerged in a joint declaration In the meeting, the ministers involved emphasized the importance of minimizing the impact of the conflict on regional partners, civilian populations, and critical infrastructure. "We focused on the value of diverse partnerships, coordination, and support for initiatives, including to mitigate global economic shocks such as disruptions to economic, energy, fertilizer, and trade supply chains, which directly impact our citizens," the statement stated. The ministers also reiterated the need to restore freedom of navigation safe and toll-free right in the Strait of Hormuz.
Over two dozen U.S. soldiers injured in attacks on Saudi air base. Trump: 3.554 more targets to hit in Iran.
Meanwhile sources consulted by Associated Press they reported that more than two dozen U.S. soldiers they remained injuries in Iranian attacks against a Saudi air base in recent days. Iran launched six ballistic missiles and 29 drones at the Saudi Prince Sultan air base in an attack on Friday that injured at least 15 soldiers, five of them seriously, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. US officials had initially reported that at least 10 soldiers had been injured, two of them seriously. The base had already been attacked twice earlier in the week, including an incident that injured 14 US soldiers, according to informed sources. Located about 96 miles from the Saudi capital Riyadh, the base is operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force but is also used by US troops.
Donald Trump he stated that the US military There are still 3.554 targets left to hit in Iran to complete the military operation against the Islamic Republic. "We still have 3.554 targets to hit, and this will be done very cleanly," Trump said during a forum in Miami, without providing further details. The US Central Command, Centcom, previously stated that Washington had struck more than 10.000 targets in Iran since the start of the military operation against the Islamic Republic, including 92 percent of the Iranian Navy's key naval units.
Houthis join the war, first missile attack on Israel
Un missile It was launched this morning from Yemen to Israeli territory, scoring the first attack of this type by the Houthis, supported by Iran, since the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion a month ago, as confirmed by the Israel Defense Forces, increasing the risk of a widening of the warIsraeli air defense systems were activated to intercept the threat, the army said, as sirens sounded in Beersheba and surrounding Negev communities. No casualties have been reported so far.
The news comes just hours after the Yemeni rebels They warned that they were ready to intervene militarily if other countries joined the conflict or if the Red Sea was used for operations against their allies. Houthi They have previously demonstrated the ability to strike long-range targets, which may include oil facilities and strategic infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as interfering with sea lanes around the Arabian Peninsula. Their entry into the conflict could therefore spell further complications for the energy markets.
Furthermore, according to some analysts, the Houthis' entry into the field would directly concern the mission Aspides A European Union naval mission launched in 2024 to ensure the safety of shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waters in response to Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. EU member states participate on a voluntary basis, and Italy plays a key role alongside France and Greece.
