US Military Says it Destroyed Houthi Missile Launcher, Explosion Reported Near Ship

Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA
Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA
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US Military Says it Destroyed Houthi Missile Launcher, Explosion Reported Near Ship

Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA
Houthi supporters shout slogans during a protest following the death of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, in Sanaa, Yemen, 02 August 2024. EPA/OSAMAH YAHYA

US forces successfully destroyed a Houthi missile and launcher in Yemen, US Central Command said in a statement on Saturday.

Britain's marine security agency on Saturday reported a small explosion near a vessel 170 nautical miles east of Yemen's Aden, an area where the Houthis have been targeting commercial ships in solidarity with Palestinians.

UKMTO initially said the incident happened southwest of Aden.

"An armed security team observed a small explosion near the vessel," the UKMTO advisory said, quoting the master of the MV Groton, who said there was no damage and all crew members were safe.

If the Houthis claim responsibility, the incident would be their first since Israel carried out a retaliatory airstrike against the group in the port of Hodeidah.

International shipping in the region has been disrupted by Houthi attacks since November. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.



Sweden Shuts Lebanon Embassy Over Fears of Escalation

A man rides his moped past a billboard bearing portraits of slain leaders, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, Iranian Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani (C), and Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr on the main road near the Beirut International Airport on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)
A man rides his moped past a billboard bearing portraits of slain leaders, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, Iranian Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani (C), and Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr on the main road near the Beirut International Airport on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)
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Sweden Shuts Lebanon Embassy Over Fears of Escalation

A man rides his moped past a billboard bearing portraits of slain leaders, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, Iranian Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani (C), and Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr on the main road near the Beirut International Airport on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)
A man rides his moped past a billboard bearing portraits of slain leaders, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, Iranian Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani (C), and Hezbollah senior commander Fuad Shukr on the main road near the Beirut International Airport on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Ibrahim AMRO / AFP)

Sweden said Saturday it was shutting its embassy in Beirut amid fears the war in Gaza could escalate into a region-wide conflict, after urging thousands of its citizens to leave Lebanon.
The killing of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders this week, blamed on Israel, have heightened regional tensions amid the Gaza war.
“The foreign ministry has instructed its staff to leave Beirut and travel to Cyprus, and the foreign ministry is planning a temporary relocation of its embassy,” Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told Swedish Radio, according to Agence France Presse.
The decision had been taken “initially for the month of August but may be extended depending on the security situation.”
“The ministry is monitoring developments closely,” he said.
According to the foreign ministry, as many as 10,000 Swedish nationals may have traveled to Lebanon this summer, defying a travel warning in place for the country since October 2023.
“I urge Swedes in Lebanon to leave the country by whichever means possible, while they still can,” he said.