Major attack by the Houthi rebels in the Red Sea – the night update 62-year-old is allowed to collect sperm from her deceased husband – the next hurdle is already waiting

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have launched one of their biggest ever attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The responsible American regional command announced on Tuesday evening (local time) that eighteen drones and three missiles had been intercepted by American and British units. No injuries or damage were reported, the report said. Meanwhile, Israel has confirmed the killing of another Hezbollah militia commander in Lebanon.

The Houthis’ projectiles were fired from rebel-held Yemeni areas into the southern Red Sea toward international shipping lanes carrying dozens of merchant ships, the US regional command said. Since the outbreak of the Gaza war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked ships with alleged Israeli connections in the Red Sea. The rebels also repeatedly attack Israel directly with drones and missiles.

Hezbollah denies the commander’s death

There are concerns that the conflict in Gaza will spread to other countries in the region – especially Lebanon. In the border area with Israel, clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which is also supported by Iran, have increased significantly. Hezbollah is an ally of Hamas.

“Today we eliminated the Hezbollah commander of the flight unit in southern Lebanon, Ali Hussein Berdji, using an aircraft in the north,” Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday. A Hezbollah spokesman confirmed his death but denied he was the leader of their drone unit. The day before, a Hezbollah commander was killed in the south. According to the Israeli Foreign Minister, his country was also behind the attack.

Berdji was in a car on his way to the funeral of Hezbollah commander Wissam al-Tauil, who was killed in an Israeli attack in the southern Lebanon town of Kherbet Selem on Monday, when a rocket hit the vehicle, eyewitnesses told the German press. Desk. The Israeli military has released a video taken from an airplane showing a vehicle exploding.

Berji is said to have directed dozens of drone attacks on Israel. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Wissam al-Tauil was also responsible for several attacks on Israel. Given the tense situation in the region, Germany and the US are conducting intensive shuttle diplomacy.

Baerbock expected for talks in Lebanon

During a visit to Egypt in view of the Gaza war, German Foreign Minister Baerbock emphasized that civilians in the Gaza Strip must be better protected and cared for. “The Israeli military must do more to protect civilians in Gaza,” she said. Baerbock also called for a significantly less intensive, more targeted counter-terrorism operation in Gaza.

Baerbock’s American counterpart Antony Blinken also called on Tuesday for preventing further casualties among the civilian population of the Gaza Strip and for more humanitarian aid during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war cabinet in Tel Aviv. He also advocated a two-state solution. “All of the partners I met on this trip have expressed their willingness to support a lasting solution that ends the cycle of violence and ensures Israel’s security,” Blinken said Tuesday evening.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Baerbock wants to visit the UN monitoring mission Unifil in the Lebanese capital Beirut this Wednesday and inform himself about the current situation.

What will be important on Wednesday

While Foreign Minister Baerbock is conducting talks in Lebanon, her party colleague Robert Habeck is visiting Saudi Arabia. The Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs wants to hold talks in the capital Riyadh about the security situation in the region and energy issues. Saudi Arabia plays an important role in the Gaza war. Israel and the government in Riyadh had recently come closer to each other, a process that did not completely stop after the terrorist attack by Hamas and other extremist Palestinian groups in Israel on October 7. Saudi Arabia is also helping to intercept Houthis rocket fire on Israel.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Blinken also continues his trip to the Middle East. Previous stops have included Israel, Turkey, Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Blinken now plans to visit the West Bank and Egypt on Thursday. (sda/dpa)