Despite the appearance of complete serenity in relations between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, something is wrong. The US President said: “I will not stop in Israel when I visit the Middle East next week”. “We are discussing many issues with Netanyahu, now it’s Iran’s turn. I hope Iran will do the right thing and not have nuclear weapons”. Steve Witkoff was officially sworn in as “Special Representative for Near Eastern Affairs”. Probably the US-Houthi agreement was not digested by Israel.
In his first interview with ARD since his appointment as Chancellor, Friedrich Merz criticizes Israel: “Israel must fulfill its obligations under international law. Israel has the right to defend itself from the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7 and everything that followed. But it must provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Israel worries us greatly. Next week, Foreign Minister Yohann Wadephul will travel to Israel with my mission.”
Al Arabiya sources: “They report that a new proposal regarding Gaza will be formulated under pressure from the United States. The proposal includes the opening of safe corridors and the establishment of special points for the distribution of aid in Gaza. Consultations are underway to entrust the United States with responsibility for the entry and distribution of aid in Gaza.”
A Qatari-Egyptian statement reads: “The State of Qatar and Egypt affirm that their mediation efforts in the Gaza Strip are continuous and steady. Our mediation efforts in the Gaza Strip are based on a unified vision to end the humanitarian crisis. We emphasize that attempts to sow discord among our brothers through doubts, distortions or media escalation will not succeed. Attempts to sow discord will not prevent us from continuing our joint efforts to end the war and the humanitarian catastrophe. We will not get involved in any internal contest or collateral calculation that does not serve the interests of the brotherly Palestinian people. We renew our commitment to work within a clear framework focused on alleviating suffering, consolidating calm and achieving a permanent solution. We are working closely with the United States to reach an agreement that puts an end to the humanitarian tragedy and ensures the protection of civilians.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz sent a threatening message to Iran after the attack on the Houthis in Yemen: “The Houthi terrorist organization attempted to attack Ben Gurion Airport, and in response, today we destroyed the airport in Sana’a. In addition, following yesterday’s attacks on the port of Hodeida, we hit additional targets within the additional national infrastructure that we hit. Whoever harms us, we will harm him sevenfold.” He also sent a warning message: “You are directly responsible for any Houthi attack against the State of Israel and you will also be responsible for all consequences.”
Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Yemenia Airlines has officially announced the suspension of all its flights to and from Sana’a International Airport. The ceasefire agreement with the Iran-backed Houthis, announced on the evening of May 6 by President Trump, was reached in recent days with the mediation of Oman and negotiations led by US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, officials said. A Pentagon official confirmed that both the Navy and Air Force have already received orders to cease any further hostile action against the Houthis.
According to US President Donald Trump: “The Houthis capitulate and say they will no longer bomb ships.” Meanwhile, CNN reports that another US F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter has crashed from the aircraft carrier nuclear-powered USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea, CNN reports, citing sources. This is the second loss of an F-18 from an aircraft carrier in a week, the event occurred on April 28.
According to the channel, when the plane landed on the carrier, a brake system failure was believed to have occurred. The pilot and the weapons control officer ejected. They were picked up by a rescue helicopter and suffered minor injuries, a source said. Two other CNN sources said the fighter jet crashed into the sea and has not yet been found. The F/A-18 is worth more than $60 million.
And now a look at the military scenarios updated at 15:00 on May 7. CNN confirms that the United States has lost a second F/A-18 over the Red Sea in less than a week. This time, the pilot suffered “minor injuries.” The Houthis said last week that it was due to Ansar Allah’s attacks on the Truman.
Donald Trump announced that US strikes against the Houthis, as part of Operation Rough Rider, will end “immediately.” This follows what the president called a Houthis “capitulation,” after the United States and Israel struck Houthi refueling infrastructure, Sanaa International Airport and other key targets, bolstering Houthi efforts to target shipping and maintain power.
Despite today’s announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and the Houthi rebel group in western Yemen, two B-52H strategic bombers that took off from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana yesterday still appear to be headed to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, after flying over Darwin, Australia today. It is not known what the B-52Hs will do in the region, especially now that Operation Rough Rider appears to be over. Iranian social media sources say they are there for a possible attack on Tehran.
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council: “We will continue to support the Palestinians. I call on the Israelis to stay in their shelters. The Houthis will continue to attack Israeli ships in the Red Sea despite the US decision to cease fire,” a representative of the movement said. An Ansar Allah leader told Reuters: “The ceasefire agreement with Washington did not include any direct talks with US officials. Oman brokered a ceasefire agreement with the US to end attacks on US ships.”
Israeli drones entered southern Syrian airspace on the evening of May 6. Explosions reported in Latakia
Israeli airstrike against Kfarkila in southern Lebanon, targeting a car. Possible bombing. An Israeli targeted strike in the town of Kfarruman in Nabatieh.
The IDF in a statement on May 7: “The IDF struck in the Sidon area and eliminated Khalid Ahmad Ahmad, who was in charge of operations of the Hamas Western Brigade in Lebanon. During the war, he carried out numerous attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Recently, he has been involved in arms smuggling and perpetrated attacks against the State of Israel. The terrorist activity of posed a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens. The IDF will continue to operate against Hamas terrorists wherever they operate.”
A drone launched from the east was intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces. Sirens were activated according to protocol.
The Government Press Office in Gaza reports that the death toll from two attacks by Israel bombing the Abu Hamisa school, which houses thousands of displaced persons in the Al-Bureij camp, has risen to 33, with 73 wounded. An Israeli airstrike targeted the southern area of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Israeli warplanes resumed bombing of the Al-Karama school in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City. 13 people were killed in two separate raids on the Al-Karama school in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City. Medical sources told Al Jazeera: 36 people were killed in Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip since dawn today. Several people were killed in an Israeli raid in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City.
The Al-Qassam Brigades claimed responsibility in a statement: “As part of the “Gates of Hell” series of operations, Qassam fighters managed to lure an Israeli infantry force of 10 soldiers into a pre-arranged ambush with numerous explosive devices. As soon as the soldiers arrived at the ambush site, the devices were detonated, killing and wounding the soldiers near the Al-Mashrou’ intersection east of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Our fighters monitored the landing of an evacuation helicopter. The clashes are currently ongoing.”
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
Follow our updates on Geopolitical Gleanings - Spigolature geopolitiche: https://t.me/agc_NW and on our blog The Gleanings of AGCNEWS - Le Spigolature di AGCNEWS: https://spigolatureagcnews.blogspot.com/
