28 August 2025
Yemen
The prime minister of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen was reportedly killed during Israel’s airstrikes on Thursday in the capital city of Sanaa. Yemen’s Al-Jumhuriya channel and the Aden Al-Ghad newspaper reported that Houthi prime minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed in an Israeli attack on an apartment, with the latter reporting that several of his companions were killed as well. Among the Houthi officials targeted were the Houthis’ defence minister and military chief of staff. Also targeted was Houthi chief of staff Muhammad Al-Ghamari, who was reportedly seriously hurt, but not killed, by an Israeli strike in Yemen in June, carried out while the war against Iran was ongoing.
E3
The UK, France and Germany have begun the process of restoring major UN sanctions on Iran. The move will trigger a so-called snapback mechanism, which could result in the return of sanctions in 30 days. In a letter to the European Union’s policy chief, Iran’s foreign minister said the three countries had “no legal jurisdiction” to reactivate the sanctions and that both Russia and China supported Iran’s position. The minister wrote that Iran was ready to resume “fair and balanced” negotiations on the disputed programme if the other parties showed “seriousness and goodwill”.
Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that direct talks between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy wouldn’t occur, despite the Trump administration’s continued efforts to broker a peace deal. “Unlike what had been agreed between President Trump and President Putin last week, when we were together in Washington, it is obviously not going to come to a meeting between President Zelenskyy and President Putin,” Merz told reporters before a dinner with France’s Emmanuel Macron at Fort de Brégançon, the French leader’s summer residence.
US
Over 600 United Auto Workers at GE Aerospace’s Evendale, Ohio, plant and Erlanger, Kentucky facilities have gone on strike after failing to reach an agreement. The Evendale plant produces engines for the US Navy. This is the latest strike that has hit the US defence industry.
US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, not Tulsi Gabbard, included an active undercover CIA operative in the roster of 37 current and former officials whose security clearances were revoked. According to someone close to Gabbard, she was unaware that the person was undercover and was only following orders from the president.
Russia China
Russia and China began their first joint submarine patrol of the Pacific Ocean. China and Russia have been increasingly conducting joint military patrols in the region. In 2021, 10 vessels circumnavigated Japan’s main island. In 2023, Chinese and Russian vessels operated together off the coast of Alaska. Operating together signals that the two countries aim to increase military coordination.
Feature Photo: “Russian sailors boarding diesel-electric Kilo-class submarine” – Wikimedia Commons, 2025
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