ADEN, Yemen -- Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, announced from the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday the start of a large-scale military campaign to retake remaining Houthi-held areas, marking a major escalation in the country's conflict.
In a televised address broadcast by Yemen's state television from Riyadh, Al-Alimi, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said the government was moving "from the preparation phase to the action phase," formally launching a broader military campaign after weeks of mobilization. (Yemen-Houthis-Fighting)
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JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a comprehensive review of security arrangements for foreign civilian flights to Israel, his office said in a statement on Sunday, following last week's attack aboard a Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai aircraft.
Netanyahu instructed National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben-Ezra to appoint an examiner to assess all aspects of aviation security concerning foreign flights to Israel, the office said. (Israel-Flydubai Attack-Review)
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BAGHDAD -- Iraq's Najaf International Airport on Sunday received the first direct flight from Tehran, marking the official resumption of air travel between the two countries following a U.S. waiver, according to an airport statement.
The director of the airport welcomed passengers arriving aboard the flight operated by Iran's Caspian Airlines, the airport said in a post on its official Facebook page. (Iraq-Iran-Flights)
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TEHRAN -- A senior Iranian diplomat said Sunday that Iran is currently reviewing U.S. views on Tehran's recent proposal to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi made the remarks in Tehran, saying that the United States has submitted its views on Iran's proposal through mediators. (Iran-U.S. Views-Proposed Plan) ■
