Middle East Conflict: Iran Reportedly Pledges To Double Houthi Weapons Support, Including 'Submarines'

No Rafah operation until civilians moved out of combat zone: IDF spokesperson

No operation will be conducted in Rafah, an overcrowded city in southern Gaza, until "all preparations" to move civilians "out of the combat zone" are completed, IDF spokesperson for international media Col. (Res). Olivier Rafowicz told local media in an interview published Tuesday.

His remarks came amid increasing pressure on Israel to ensure civilian safety before launching a ground operation in the city known to be sheltering more than a million people.

Maersk warns of potential extended Red Sea crisis

Shipping giant Maersk on Tuesday warned that disruptions in the Red Sea could last longer, affecting commercial shipping activities further.

"Be prepared for the Red Sea situation to last into the second half of the year and build longer transit times into your supply chain planning," Charles van der Steene, head of Maersk's North America operations, said in a statement.

He also predicted that costs could be significantly affected. "Many customers factor a cost per unit into their budgeting, and if that fundamentally changes due to all of this volatility, it could have a big impact on overall costs."

US, UK sanction Iranian Quds Force deputy commander

The United States and United Kingdom are sanctioning the Deputy Commander of Iran's Quds Force and Houthi supporters," U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced Tuesday.

Washington is also sanctioning "shipping companies supporting Iran's Ministry of Defense," he added in a statement on X.

The Quds Force is a unit under the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The unit specializes in unconventional warfare and is responsible for providing training, weapons, funding and military advice to "armed groups in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, and elsewhere" as per think tank the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).

The sanctions came following a report that Iran pledged it will double weaponry support for Houthis, including submarines.

Hezbollah says it used Katyusha rocket launcher in attacks toward IDF base

Hezbollah on Friday afternoon claimed that it fired "dozens of Katyusha rockets and achieved direct hits" toward the IDF's 146th Division headquarters in northern Israel.

Katyusha rocket launchers were first used by the Soviet Union in World War II. They are said to deliver explosives faster than conventional artillery.

Houthi attacks damage Red Sea submarine communications cables: Report

Houthi attacks since November have damaged four submarine communications cables in the Red Sea between Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Djibouti in East Africa, Israeli outlet Globes reported.

The cables reportedly belong to TGN, EIG, AAE-1 and Seacom, as per the report. The damage has allegedly caused "serious disruption of Internet communications between Europe and Asia, with the main damage being felt in the Gulf countries and India."

Estimates reveal that repairs on such a massive network of underwater cables may take at least eight weeks. There is also concern that repair work may risk exposure to the Yemeni Houthi rebel militia, as per the report.

The Yemeni government has since denied media reports "on the allegations as to what have been caused to Red Sea submarine caboles."

In a statement published Tuesday, Yemen's Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MTIT) said the Yemeni government was "keen to keep all telecom submarine cables and its relevant services away from any possible risks."

However, cybersecurity monitoring firm NetBlocks reported Monday that there was a "disruption to network connectivity at the Djibouti Data Center which connects the country's landing stations."

African media also reported that SEACOM, Africa's main network service provider, said it encountered an outage that affected its subsea cable system starting Feb. 24.

Iran promised 'submarines' to Houthis: Report

Iran has promised to Yemeni rebel Houthis that it will "double" support for the terror group to include "submarines" following joint U.S.-UK strikes targeting Houthi paramilitary assets in the past weeks, Israeli outlet i24 News reported Tuesday, citing Yemeni sources.

The report came days after Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the militant group will add new "submarine weapons" to its arsenal in plans to expand attacks in the Red Sea. The rebel militia also said it can completely shut down the Bab El-Mandeb Strait but has not done so as it was "keen on international navigation."

'Concerning shift' in Israel-Lebanon fire exchanges: UNIFIL

UNIFIL, the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, on Tuesday warned of a "concerning shift in the exchanges of fire" in the Israeli-Lebanese border between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants who said they will continue firing toward Israel until the war in Gaza ends.

In a series of posts on X, the UNIFIL said fire exchanges have "jeopardized the life of tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the Blue Line," the UN-drawn demarcation line drawn when Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000.

The mission then urged "all parties involved" to halt the fighting to prevent further escalation and allow for political and diplomatic negotiations that should return stability for residents living near the border.

Hostages' loved ones remind Israel to 'choose the hostages'

Israeli cities are holding municipal elections Tuesday, and the families and supporters of hostages still in Hamas captivity are traveling around the country to remind Israel that the abductees' democratic rights to choose and vote have been denied as they remain in Gaza nearly five months into the war.

Onboard a bus that has a "Choose the Hostages" signage, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum hopes they can encourage Israeli voters to support their cause to free some 130 remaining hostages in Gaza.

The forum members also wore shirts and put up posters that read the same message.

Abbas accepts Shtayyeh's resignation

The PA's president has accepted Shtayyeh's resignation, multiple local outlets reported Tuesday after the Palestinian prime minister submitted his resignation amid mounting calls for a reform in the government.

Abbas has reportedly asked Shtayyeh to remain as a caretaker until the appointment of a permanent replacement. Shtayyeh and his cabinet resigned Monday, saying it was a move that should allow for the establishment of a government in consensus among Palestinians in a post-war Gaza.

US airman who set himself on fire outside Israeli embassy has died

Senior U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell, 25, who set himself ablaze outside the Israeli embassy in Washington Sunday in an apparent protest against the Gaza war, has died, as per military and police authorities.

Bushnell was reportedly protesting against the war in Gaza, declaring he will "not be complicit in genocide" and yelling "Free Palestine" multiple times before falling on the ground, on fire.

Read the full story here.

Hezbollah attacks IDF air control base

The Iranian-backed terror group on Tuesday said it attacked the Israeli army's "air control base" in Meron, a moshav in northern Israel. Hezbollah said it launched "a large missile salvo" toward the said strategic IDF site.

It said the missile barrage was carried out "in response" to the killing of two Hezbollah militants in Israeli airstrikes targeting the Bekaa Valley in southern Lebanon Monday.

Hezbollah operative leading Hajir region assassinated: IDF

The Israeli army said late Monday that it eliminated Salami, whom it said was responsible for the Lebanon-based terror group's operations in the Hajir region. Salami is accused of commanding recent Hezbollah activities, "including anti-tank missile launches."

He said to be part of Hezbollah's Nasser Unit, the militant group's armed Mediterranean that has a considerable weapons arsenal including short range rockets, anti-ship missiles and coastal surveillance equipment.

As reported Monday, an Israeli drone attack targeted a vehicle in the town of Al-Majadil, southern Lebanon. The town's mayor reportedly said a "prominent figure" was targeted in the drone strike.

The Israeli army has since confirmed that an IDF aircraft "killed" Salami.

US destroys USVs, missiles and drone in self-defense

U.S. forces on Monday destroyed three USVs, two mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) and a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "in self-defense," CENTCOM said Tuesday. "The USV and ASCM weapons were prepared to launch towards, and the UAV was over, the Red Sea," it added.

This comes a day after Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels attacked an American tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

'Irregular activity' reported off Saudi Arabia: UKMTO

"Irregular activity" by three small boats were reported around 90 nautical miles east of Saudi Arabia's Ras Al Misham Tuesday afternoon local time, the UKMTO reported.

Two persons were onboard the boats, "dark in color," the report noted. A commercial vessel reported that while no weapons or uniforms were visible, the boats "followed" the ship for one hour at a distance of less than one nautical mile.

The ship and crew are safe, but the UKMTO advised other merchant vessels to transit the area with caution.

There are still 'big gaps' in truce talks: Hamas official

Despite Biden's optimism over a possible halt in fighting in Gaza under a ceasefire agreement that could free the remaining hostages, a Hamas official said there were still "big gaps to be bridged" as the "primary and main issues of the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces are not clearly stated," Reuters reported.

The official noted that such unclear provisions in the draft ceasefire agreement was delaying the deal.

Biden hopes for Gaza ceasefire to begin next week

The U.S. leader on Monday said he was hoping for a ceasefire in Gaza to start next week. He also said Israel was prepared to halt military operations during the Muslim Ramadan month as part of a truce-for-hostages deal "in order to give us time to get all the hostages out."

"My national security advisor tells me that we're close, we're close, we're not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we'll have a ceasefire," he said.

Read the full story here.

Hamas reviewing draft truce proposal: Report

Hamas is currently studying a 40-day draft ceasefire proposal during the Ramadan period that was drawn up from truce talks in Paris, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing a senior close to the discussions.

The proposal reportedly includes the release of 40 hostages in exchange for 400 Palestinian prisoners during the first stage of the deal under an overall hostage-prisoner exchange ratio of one to 10.

It also includes the following details as per the report:

• Israel and Hamas will completely halt military operations
• Aerial reconnaissance operations over the Gaza Strip will stop for eight hours per day
• All remaining Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for a specific number of Palestinian detainees
• Displaced civilians will gradually be returned to the northern Gaza Strip, except men who reached military service age
• Israel will move its forces away from crowded Gaza towns after the first phase kicks off
• Israel will commit to allowing 500 humanitarian trucks into Gaza per day
• 200,000 tents and 60,000 caravans will be committed to Gazans
• Bakeries and hospital repairs will be allowed
• Israel will agree to entry of heavy machinery and equipment to begin rebuilding the enclave
• Hamas will pledge to not use the machines and equipment against Israel
• Arrangements agreed in the first stage of the deal will not apply to the second phase
• Separate negotiations will be conducted for the second phase

Israel and Hamas have yet to confirm the released details of the said draft proposal.