Yemen's Houthis have seized the key Red Sea port of Mokha, according to numerous reports, as well as the strategic island of Perim.
uncertain
Houthis → seize → Perim
They also seized the last two islands that were not under their control in the , a military official in the Yemeni government said.
asserted
official → seize → government
The moves make it easier for the Iran-backed rebels to target ships transiting the crucial strait for Saudi Arabian oil exports.
asserted
rebels → make → exports
- Saudi Arabia said Friday it had shut down a major oil pipeline following attacks the day before.
asserted
it → say → attacks
The pipeline has played a key role in the country's oil exports since the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, with the flow more than doubling since the start of the war, according to the International Energy Agency.
uncertain
flow → play → Agency
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has personally pressed President Trump to as forces have advanced rapidly along Yemen's Red Sea coast, two sources familiar with the matter told CBS News, adding Mr. Trump and the crown prince have spoken multiple times in recent days about the escalating situation.
asserted
Trump → press → situation
Iraq closes 3 Iran crossings after drone strike hit Saudi oil pipeline:
asserted
strike → close → pipeline
Iraq closed three border crossings with Iran on Saturday, officials told AFP, after a drone attack on a Saudi Arabian pipeline that both Riyadh and Baghdad said was launched from Iraq.
asserted
Riyadh → close → Iraq
Soon after the attack, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi dismissed the military commander in Missan province, bordering Iran, after authorities determined the drones had been launched from there.
asserted
drones → dismiss → Iran
No group has claimed responsibility, and an alliance of powerful Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups said they hadn't struck the pipeline, but the Saudis have previously accused these groups of targeting its oil infrastructure.
asserted
Saudis → claim → infrastructure
An Iraqi security source and a government official told AFP that authorities ordered the closing of three border crossings with Iran.
asserted
authorities → tell → Iran
The security source said the decision is "part of an intelligence effort to track down the perpetrators and prevent their escape ... and to hinder the smuggling of drones through these crossings."
China, Russia, Iran leaders gather in India as BRICS nations seek common ground
Chinese President Xi Jinping joined the leaders of Russia, Iran, India and other BRICS nations in New Delhi on Saturday, seeking common ground on the Middle East war as deep divisions test the 11-member bloc.
asserted
divisions → say → bloc
Xi told the summit the Middle East war "does not serve the common interests of the international community," according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
uncertain
war → tell → Xinhua
Foreign ministers of the BRICS grouping failed to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates divided over the war that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.
uncertain
that → fail → Feb.
However, Indian diplomatic sources said leaders were working toward a joint position on some issues as the bloc seeks to bolster its global influence and address conflict, trade turbulence and energy security.
asserted
bloc → say → conflict
BRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers.
asserted
BRICS → create → powers
Iran's Pezeshkian attended the summit shortly after warning the Middle East does not need the United States to be a "regional policeman," with the two countries at war and tensions threatening the vital Strait of Hormuz.
asserted
States → attend → Hormuz
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is also at the summit in New Delhi, as is Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is expected to join later on Saturday.
asserted
Farhan → expect → Saturday
BRICS nations call for "restraint" amid Middle East conflict
asserted
nations → call → conflict
Members of the 11-nation BRICS group including China, Russia, Iran and India called for calm in the Middle East, in a joint statement issued Saturday at a summit in New Delhi.
asserted
Members → include → Delhi
"We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia and, recalling our respective national positions, call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation," said the statement.
uncertain
statement → express → situation
The statement also condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
asserted
statement → condemn → infrastructure
"We express serious concern over deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under full safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the IAEA," it said.
asserted
it → express → IAEA
"Nuclear safeguards, safety, and security must always be upheld, including in armed conflicts, to protect people and the environment from harm."
asserted
safeguards → uphold → harm
Trump says war with Iran will end "very soon"
asserted
war → say → Iran
President Trump told reporters the war with Iran would end "very soon."
"I think it'll be probably right after the trip," President Trump told reporters during a bilateral meeting in Dublin with the Taoiseach of Ireland.
asserted
Trump → tell → Ireland
"They're trying to hold out as long as they can to complicate the election, but I think people are wise to it because Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
asserted
Iran → try → weapon
It's very simple," Mr. Trump added.
asserted
Trump → add → ?
The president also said Iran was "probably" responsible for the attacks on Saudi Arabia that led to the shutdown of one of the country's main oil pipelines.
asserted
that → say → pipelines
Houthis "don't want to fight" U.S., Trump says
President Trump said Saturday that Yemen's Iran-allied Houthi fighters, who have taken control of a vital shipping corridor linking Europe and Asia, have asked Washington not to intervene.
asserted
who → want → Washington
"The Houthis called us and they don't want to fight with us," Trump told reporters on a visit to Dublin, Ireland.
asserted
Trump → call → Dublin
"They don't want us to go after them," he added.
asserted
he → want → them
Lebanon's president makes rare visit to country's south
Lebanon's president made a rare visit to a southern city Saturday, close to where Israel captured a strategic hill.
asserted
Israel → make → hill
President Joseph Aoun's visit to Nabatiyeh came after Israel seized parts of Ali Taher ridge earlier this month, where Israeli officials said they had blown up Hezbollah tunnel networks, despite a June 20, U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.
asserted
they → come → Israel
The ceasefire largely halted active fighting, which began on March 2.
asserted
which → halt → March
However, Israel has continued attacks and airstrikes on areas in southern Lebanon.
asserted
Israel → continue → Lebanon
Hezbollah has also fired explosive drones without claiming responsibility.
asserted
Hezbollah → fire → responsibility
Heads of the crisis-hit nation's security agencies accompanied Aoun, the state-run National News Agency reported.
asserted
Agency → hit → Aoun
Some residents of Nabatiyeh have been calling on the army to boost its presence in the city in order to avoid a possible Israeli ground offensive.
asserted
residents → call → offensive
Lebanon and Israel have held several rounds of direct talks in Washington and Rome.
asserted
Lebanon → hold → Washington
…and 163 more, not listed.
