Yemen
Yemen's Houthis announce 'maritime blockade' on Israel's Haifa port
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced on Monday what they called a "maritime blockade" on Israel's Haifa port in response to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Lebanese authorities have reportedly foiled an attempt to smuggle gold bars—worth an estimated $2 million—through Beirut International Airport, according to The Wall Street Journal.
This interception follows a string of recent seizures © Mena Today
Lebanese authorities have reportedly foiled an attempt to smuggle gold bars—worth an estimated $2 million—through Beirut International Airport, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Citing an unnamed senior security official, the report suggests the smuggling operation was intended to benefit Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite militant group.
This interception follows a string of recent seizures.
In February, $2.5 million in cash allegedly destined for Hezbollah was confiscated from a passenger arriving from Turkey. A month later, UK officials at Heathrow airport arrested a man bound for Beirut with approximately $1.3 million in undeclared funds.
These incidents occur against a backdrop of intensified efforts by the Lebanese government to curb Hezbollah’s influence over critical infrastructure, including the airport and seaport.
Since President Joseph Aoun took office in January, reforms have been implemented—such as replacing key personnel and revoking exemptions for certain flights, particularly from Iran, long accused of funneling resources to Hezbollah.
Dozens of airport employees suspected of Hezbollah ties have reportedly been dismissed. The government is also upgrading security with AI-based surveillance technologies. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told WSJ that these efforts have produced unprecedented results in combating smuggling.
U.S. and Israeli officials welcomed the shift, viewing it as a weakening of Hezbollah’s grip following months of military losses in its ongoing conflict with Israel, which began in October 2023. Despite setbacks, Hezbollah insists it retains the ability to rebuild its arsenal.
The new measures signal a growing determination within Lebanon to assert greater control over its borders and limit the influence of armed groups operating outside state authority.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced on Monday what they called a "maritime blockade" on Israel's Haifa port in response to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, a militia group led by Kurdish fighters, said on Monday that one of its fighters was killed and another injured in an attack by Islamic State in Syria's eastern Deir el-Zor region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday Israel would control the whole of Gaza despite mounting international pressure that pushed it to lift a blockade on aid supplies that has left the enclave on the brink of famine.
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