Saudi-Led Coalition Joins Yemen Offensive; Global Tensions Rise

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen announced on Monday its participation in an offensive against the Houthi rebels, launched by the Yemeni government the previous day with airstrikes. Yemeni government forces are continuing operations to reclaim areas recently seized by the Houthis. The Yemeni government forces also declared the start of a "strategic offensive operation on Sanaa," which is under Houthi control, though details on the methods or specifics of the attack were not provided. The announcement was made by Majed Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, the official spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces. Houthi media reported "Saudi aggression against Sanaa," with the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah channel reporting the death of a student and injuries to two others in Saudi airstrikes in Sanaa province.

Meanwhile, a Houthi authority warned airlines operating in Saudi airspace that it is "unsafe," citing concerns for civilian aviation safety and human life. The warning, published by the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency, stated that Saudi airspace would become a "theater for operations of our armed forces and the Yemeni Republic, which disclaims responsibility after this announcement."

Following Houthi advances and a tightened siege on the city of Taiz, a source in Saudi Arabia's energy sector reported the shutdown of the East-West pipeline after it was targeted in an attack on Sunday. Amin Nasser, CEO of Saudi Aramco, stated at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London that global oil inventories are "worryingly low" due to the conflict between the United States and Iran. This comes after G7 nations agreed to release additional oil from their reserves to stabilize prices and alleviate supply concerns.

The British Maritime Trade Operations reported that Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, ordering it to turn back, which it did. Iran has been conducting attacks in the strategic waterway to maintain control. Iranian judicial authorities announced the execution of two individuals convicted of involvement in the killing of four police officers during anti-government protests earlier this year. Mohammad Amin Aghamiri, head of the government's National Center for Cyberspace, confirmed that Iran had successfully disabled Starlink devices used by some individuals after an internet shutdown during January unrest.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that Hamas would not govern the Gaza Strip, speaking at a ceremony commemorating the third anniversary of the October 7th attack. Israeli forces killed one Palestinian and injured two others in the southern West Bank after firing on their vehicle. Approximately 500 former European diplomats, ministers, and officials called on the European Union and its member states to act against a large-scale Israeli settlement project in the West Bank.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of launching drone attacks in Eastern European airspace, a region experiencing increased drone activity from both Russia and Ukraine.

US and Taiwanese officials reported the arrest of a woman in the US accused of spying for China, who had been monitoring the family of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi described China as an "important neighbor" and pledged to foster stable relations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Iceland to bolster US presence and interests in the Arctic. Danish authorities announced a cyberattack that compromised the national registry, exposing personal data of millions. Fiji urged developed nations to support a just transition to renewable energy and assist those most vulnerable to climate change, ahead of a UN climate conference preparatory meeting in Fiji.

The article also mentions a separate report on Bolsonaro's lead in the first round.