Ship attacked with gunfire, grenades in Red Sea off Yemen: UK agency
"Authorities are investigating," it said.Yemen's Houthi rebels have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees USD 1 trillion of goods move through it annually.The Houthis paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the US launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. That ended weeks later and the Houthis haven't attacked a vessel, though they have continued occasional missile attacks targeting Israel.Meanwhile, a wider, decade-long war in Yemen between the Houthis and the country's exiled government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, remains in a stalemate.Pirates from Somalia have also operated in the region, though typically they've sought to capture vessels either to rob or ransom their crews.- EndsMust Watch
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran orders millions of Afghans to leave country or face arrest as deadline ends
Iran has ordered millions of Afghan refugees and migrants to leave the country or risk being arrested as a government-imposed deadline expires, as reported by Al Jazeera. Iran currently hosts around 4 million Afghans, many of whom have lived there for years.(Representational/REUTERS) Tehran set the deadline date for July 6 for the Afghans who were in the country and left Afghanistan to escape the war, poverty, or Taliban rule after the organisation came back to power in 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. As per Al Jazeera, the enforcement comes amid heightened tensions and security fears following a 12-day war with Israel, during which the US also targeted Iran's nuclear sites on June 21-22 under "Operation Midnight Hammer". Humanitarian groups have raised concerns, warning that mass deportations could further destabilise Afghanistan, already one of the poorest nations in the world. Iran currently hosts around 4 million Afghans, many of whom have lived there for years. In 2023, the Iranian government began a crackdown on undocumented foreigners. In March 2025, authorities gave Afghans without legal residency until early July to leave voluntarily or face expulsion, as reported by Al Jazeera. Since then, over 700,000 Afghans have left, including more than 230,000 in June alone, Al Jazeera reported, citing the United Nations' International Organisation for Migration. Hundreds of thousands more remain at risk of being deported. As per Al Jazeera, citing UNHCR, Iran ramped up deportations during the conflict with Israel, sending back more than 30,000 Afghans per day--up sharply from the previous daily average of 2,000. Iranian officials insist they are not singling out Afghans and say the actions are based on national security concerns. "We have always striven to be good hosts, but national security is a priority, and naturally, illegal nationals must return," Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday, as quoted by Al Jazeera. By late June, more than half of the 1.2 million Afghans who had returned to the country in 2025 had come from Iran. UNHCR official in Afghanistan, Arafat Jamal, described chaotic scenes at the border, with Afghan families arriving in buses, confused, exhausted, and hungry. "They are coming in buses, and sometimes, five buses arrive at one time with families and others, and the people are let out of the bus, and they are simply bewildered, disoriented and tired and hungry as well," Jamal said as quoted by Al Jazeera. Though some Afghans returned voluntarily, many were forcibly removed, part of what UNHCR called a broader pattern of returns from Iran.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Ship catches fire off Yemen after being hit by unknown projectiles
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel DUBAI: A ship travelling through the Red Sea is reportedly on fire after coming under attack Sunday by armed men firing guns and launching rocket-propelled grenades, authorities report said the unidentified vessel was later hit by what may have been bomb-carrying boats, setting it was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which comes as tensions remain high in the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war and after the Iran-Israel war and airstrikes by the United States targeting Iranian nuclear suspicion immediately fell on Yemen 's Houthi rebels , who have launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea corridor in the past and have drone boats in their British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said that an armed security team on the unidentified vessel had returned fire and that the "situation is ongoing." It described the attack as happening some 100 kilometres southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, which is held by the country's Houthi rebels.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
India's diplomacy is measured, not mute
On June 13, Israel struck Iranian targets in several provinces, even as it continued its war against Hamas. Its conflict with Iran in an already unstable West Asia lasted 12 days. India's response to the Israel-Iran conflict was cautious. India called for restraint and de-escalation to maintain peace in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly expressed concern for humanitarian losses and has reiterated that this cannot be an era of war. Under his leadership, the Indian government has been quick to provide humanitarian aid when requested; voted in favour of a permanent ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations General Assembly; and swiftly evacuated its citizens from conflict zones. Most recently, as part of Operation Sindhu, India evacuated citizens, mostly medical students, from Israel and Iran. Ground Zero | Operation Sindhu: Fear, flight, and an uncertain future A sign of strength The world recognises India's growing credibility and diplomatic weight. India's strategic silence is a sign of its growing stature — it speaks when it matters most, acts when it counts, and leads when it is required to. India has strategic interests in West Asia, including close defence co-operation with Israel, energy and trade ties with Iran, and a large diaspora spread across many Gulf countries. One of Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic successes has been to overhaul ties with Arab nations so much so that some of them have become India's largest foreign investors and trading partners. For India, the fourth largest global economy, economic ties have to take centre stage in diplomatic calculations. To unnecessarily intervene in a war which is not ours is against national interests and irresponsible. Being able to maintain an independent stance doesn't betray India's values; rather, it allows the country to engage with all sides and assert its interests more deliberately. Today's international diplomacy prioritises protecting national interests. The recent Pakistan-led terror attacks in Pahalgam, India's retaliative Operation Sindoor, and the subsequent global response to the India-Pakistan conflict were telling of the changing geopolitical times we live in. Over the years, several nations, particularly western powers and multilateral bodies, which are seemingly against terror, have extended funds and other military support to embolden Pakistan, a known sanctuary to terror groups. The western world, a large part of which has worked overtime to build strategic relationships with India, once again re-hyphenated Pakistan and India, which the Indian government had managed to de-hyphenate in its past two terms. Several countries remain oblivious to Pakistan's official role in sponsoring terror activities, many of which are directed towards India, so that they can obtain access to ports and airbases in Pakistan, which will provide an edge to them in their own conflicts with Iran and China. Pakistan's loyalty, which seems to be on sale to the highest bidder, is being courted with loans from the International Monetary Fund, state-of-the-art military equipment, and lunches with its leaders. The irony is that the same countries which are often quick to give lectures on democracy and invade nations to 'protect democratic values' are eager to engage with Pakistan's unelected military regime because it suits their interests. The Arab world, despite growing ties with India, is also quick to side with Pakistan as it is bound by religious brotherhood with the country. India's foreign policy calculations take into account all these nuances. India's diplomatic position also prioritises its own national interests, security, value system, and growth story. West Asia is one of the most politically unstable regions in the world. There are multiple ongoing and recurring conflicts and a network of non-state actors in the region. In such a highly volatile environment, to be in possession of nuclear weapons would dramatically increase the risk of escalation and unauthorised use. Nuclear weapons could lead to prolonged conflicts and have disastrous consequences on civilians. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is already under pressure. A nuclearised West Asia will embolden other conflict regions such as in parts of Africa and South America to pursue more aggressive nuclear weapons acquisition programmes. A stable West Asia requires arms control, de-escalation, and regional cooperation. COMMENT | Blame not the messenger in India's diplomacy Selective outrage Often, ill-informed preaching, which is often politically motivated, demonstrates a limited understanding of today's evolving global dynamics. India cannot selectively ignore the role of Iran in destabilising the region. Indian diplomats cannot ignore the horrific October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel or its use of civilian Palestinian infrastructure as a shield in diplomatic response calculations. Selective outrage and heated opinions often disguised as moralistic views run a dangerous undercurrent against the core interests of the country. Many people hold views that are passionate but under-informed. If their opinions are taken seriously, it could lead to dire diplomatic consequences and stall India's strong economic progress. India's strategic autonomy reflects its quiet confidence, conviction, and clarity. We live in an India that is confident of its growth story. This is also an India that is capable of maintaining its own opinions and upholding the ability to engage with both warring sides instead of getting swayed into making public statements due to pressure from any one side during global conflicts. Priyam Gandhi-Mody, Director of VishwaMitra Research Foundation, a Mumbai-based foreign policy think tank.
