Iraqi Parties Resort to Maximum Pressure to Counter Sadr’s Stance on Elections

Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (Reuters file photo)
Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (Reuters file photo)
TT

Iraqi Parties Resort to Maximum Pressure to Counter Sadr’s Stance on Elections

Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (Reuters file photo)
Head of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. (Reuters file photo)

Shiite parties in Iraq are adopting a policy of maximum pressure on influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to persuade him to take part in the upcoming elections in October without any prior conditions.

The pressure reached a peak last week when rival Shiite parties delivered various indirect messages that they were not opposed to holding the elections and forming a new government without Sadr.

Such messages are an effort to outmaneuver Sadr through intimidation, claiming that he will lose his influence in government and parliament if he refuses to take part in the polls.

A senior political aide revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Sadr recently received two messages through a “neutral mediation” that called on him to “follow through with his boycott to the end. If he chooses to take part in the elections, then he should do so without preconditions.”

Sadr’s close associates say he has many scenarios to mull over. His Shiite rivals have warned that his withdrawal from the race will lead to security repercussions, while the heads of Shiite parties have dismissed these fears.

Amid this speculation, the leaders and representatives of six Shiite parties held at least four meetings in a week to discuss the calls to postpone the elections.

Despite the apparent hesitation of the Nasr movement, headed by former Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, the leaders agreed that the elections must be held on time.

Sources revealed that Abadi was seeking dialogue with Sadr to persuade him to go back on his boycott.

As it stands, veteran Shiite leaders, such as former PM Nouri al-Maliki and Hadi al-Ameri, have complained of the claims that the elections can only be held securely and smoothly with Sadr’s participation. They have also complained of claims that their participation is not enough to push forward the political process and that Sadr was needed to do so.

Such sentiments have prompted these parties to prove themselves and forge ahead with elections that would eliminate Sadr from the political scene.

Electoral campaign managers have grown fiercer in taking advantage of the vacuum he is leaving behind in areas where he wields influence.

One such manager in a southern city said: “This is our golden opportunity. Why should we waste it?”

Such zeal does not eliminate the concerns that still hound Shiite party leaders who fear that Sadr’s absence would deal a blow to the Shiite political weight and who are also concerned over whether they would be able to withstand the cleric’s popular opposition on the street.

Sources close to Sadr have appeared very satisfied with the Shiite party meetings and their speculation over the cleric’s boycott, including their concern over the return of protests by the Sadrist supporters.

A political aide, who helped coordinate the Shiite party meetings, said the leaders had even approached the religious authority in Najaf city over the elections.

The response they received was clear: “We support holding the elections in October.”

This position stands in contrast with the stances of three Najaf clerics, all of whom are close to the office of the religious authority, Ali al-Sistani.

They claimed that no specific position has been taken over the political debate over the elections. The date of the polls is up to the people and an agreement reached by the concerned powers, they said.

Sistani had last year warned against postponing the elections. He had, however, also said that the necessary conditions should be available to hold them.

As Sadr’s rival keep speculating, he has deliberately chosen to remain silent to keep them guessing as to whether he will join the electoral race or pull out a new card from his sleeve to reshuffle the Shiite scene in Iraq.



Israel Says it Killed Deputy Commander of Hezbollah Rocket, Missiles Unit

28 March 2024, Lebanon, Naqura: Lebanese women walk past rubble of a café that was hit by an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese village of Naqoura. Photo: STR/dpa
28 March 2024, Lebanon, Naqura: Lebanese women walk past rubble of a café that was hit by an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese village of Naqoura. Photo: STR/dpa
TT

Israel Says it Killed Deputy Commander of Hezbollah Rocket, Missiles Unit

28 March 2024, Lebanon, Naqura: Lebanese women walk past rubble of a café that was hit by an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese village of Naqoura. Photo: STR/dpa
28 March 2024, Lebanon, Naqura: Lebanese women walk past rubble of a café that was hit by an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese village of Naqoura. Photo: STR/dpa

The Israeli military said on Friday it had killed Ali Abed Akhsan Naim, deputy commander of Hezbollah's rocket and missiles unit, in an airstrike in the area of Bazouriye in Lebanon.

It said he was one of the group's leaders in heavy-warhead rocket fire and was responsible for conducting and planning attacks against Israeli civilians.


Lebanon: Hezbollah Launches Two Attacks on Israeli Outposts in Shebaa Farms

People inspect the damage at the site of an airstrike in Habbariyah, southern Lebanon, 27 March 2024. (EPA)
People inspect the damage at the site of an airstrike in Habbariyah, southern Lebanon, 27 March 2024. (EPA)
TT

Lebanon: Hezbollah Launches Two Attacks on Israeli Outposts in Shebaa Farms

People inspect the damage at the site of an airstrike in Habbariyah, southern Lebanon, 27 March 2024. (EPA)
People inspect the damage at the site of an airstrike in Habbariyah, southern Lebanon, 27 March 2024. (EPA)

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group said it carried out two attacks on Friday on an Israeli military outpost in the Shebaa Farms in “support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”.
On its account on Telegram, Hezbollah said its militants inflicted “direct” missile hits on the Zebdine barracks. It also said that three of its members were killed in Israeli strikes in South Lebanon.
On Thursday, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said nine members of Hezbollah and the Amal party were killed in Israeli shelling that targeted the towns of Naqoura and Tayr Harfa in the south.
Seven people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the town of Al-Habbariyah in southern Lebanon early on Wednesday, before Israel announced that 30 rockets were launched from Lebanon on the town of Kiryat Shmona in the north, resulting in one casualty, according to the Arab World Press agency.
Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire across Lebanon's southern border in parallel with the Gaza war. More than 270 Hezbollah fighters and 50 civilians - including medics, civilians and journalists, have been killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon. About a dozen Israeli troops and half as many civilians have been killed in northern Israel.


32,623 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Offensive Since Oct. 7

A Palestinian man inspects the rubble in a house, following Israeli bombardment, in the Maghazi camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on March 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
A Palestinian man inspects the rubble in a house, following Israeli bombardment, in the Maghazi camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on March 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
TT

32,623 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Offensive Since Oct. 7

A Palestinian man inspects the rubble in a house, following Israeli bombardment, in the Maghazi camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on March 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
A Palestinian man inspects the rubble in a house, following Israeli bombardment, in the Maghazi camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on March 29, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

At least 32,623 Palestinians have been killed and 75,092 injured in Israel's military offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, the Gaza health ministry said on Friday.

The top United Nations court on Thursday ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including opening more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into the war-ravaged enclave.

The International Court of Justice issued two new so-called provisional measures in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its military campaign launched after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

Israel denies it is committing genocide and accused South Africa of trying to “undermine Israel's inherent right and obligation to defend its citizens.”

The court also ordered Israel to immediately ensure that its military does not take action that could that could harm Palestinians' rights under the Genocide Convention, including by preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
It told Israel to report back in a month on its implementation of the orders.


UN Concerned over ‘Unacceptable’ Israeli Attacks on Lebanon’s Health Facilities

Mourners carry the flag-draped caskets of four people killed in an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese border village of Naqoura, during their funeral procession on March 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Mourners carry the flag-draped caskets of four people killed in an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese border village of Naqoura, during their funeral procession on March 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
TT

UN Concerned over ‘Unacceptable’ Israeli Attacks on Lebanon’s Health Facilities

Mourners carry the flag-draped caskets of four people killed in an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese border village of Naqoura, during their funeral procession on March 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Mourners carry the flag-draped caskets of four people killed in an overnight Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese border village of Naqoura, during their funeral procession on March 28, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

The United Nations has said that it was “deeply disturbed” by Israel’s “unacceptable” attacks on health facilities and health workers in Lebanon after up to 11 civilians were killed in a single day, including 10 paramedics.

“I am deeply disturbed by the repeated attacks on health facilities and health workers who risk their lives to provide urgent assistance to their local communities,” the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, said Thursday.

“Attacks on healthcare violate international humanitarian law and are unacceptable. The rules of war are clear: civilians, including healthcare workers, must be protected.”

He called for the protection of civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, saying “healthcare is not a target. Civilians are not a target.”

“The tragic events of the past 36 hours have resulted in a significant loss of life and injuries in south Lebanon. Up to 11 civilians were killed in a single day, including 10 paramedics,” Riza stated.

The UN peacekeeping force deployed in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel called for ending the escalation a day after exchanges of fire killed 16 people in Lebanon.

UNIFIL said Thursday it is very concerned over the surge of cross-border violence between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.

On Wednesday, a series of Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed 16 people and a barrage of rockets fired by Hezbollah killed one Israeli man, making it the deadliest day in more than five months of fighting along the border.

UNIFIL said the escalation has caused a high number of civilian deaths adding that it is imperative that “this escalation cease immediately.”

“We urge all sides to put down their weapons and begin the process toward a sustainable political and diplomatic solution,” UNIFIL said.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry said its UN mission would file a complaint with the Security Council against the Israeli “massacres” in southern Lebanon.

The Ministry said on X that the complaint involves attacks on southern villages that have left more than 18 people dead, including civilians and paramedics, in only a few days.


Kabashi Warns of Risk of ‘Popular Resistance’ Beyond Sudanese Army Control

Deputy General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Shams-Edin Kabashi made his statement during a military graduation event in Al-Qadarif, eastern Sudan (AFP)
Deputy General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Shams-Edin Kabashi made his statement during a military graduation event in Al-Qadarif, eastern Sudan (AFP)
TT

Kabashi Warns of Risk of ‘Popular Resistance’ Beyond Sudanese Army Control

Deputy General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Shams-Edin Kabashi made his statement during a military graduation event in Al-Qadarif, eastern Sudan (AFP)
Deputy General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Shams-Edin Kabashi made his statement during a military graduation event in Al-Qadarif, eastern Sudan (AFP)

Member of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and Deputy General Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Shams-Edin Kabashi, has cautioned against the danger of “armed popular resistance” operating outside the command of the armed forces.

He warned against armed groups operating independently and urged against political parties misusing military camps.

It was evident that Kabashi’s remarks were directed towards the “Islamists” within the ranks of the ousted regime, whose factions are engaged in battle against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Kabashi issued his strong warning during a military graduation event in Al-Qadarif, eastern Sudan, urging army leaders to prevent armed resistance members from carrying weapons outside military camps.

He stressed the importance of discipline, stating that while the army acknowledges the need for resistance, it must be regulated. Kabashi also urged political groups not to use resistance camps for anything other than supporting the army.

Political and civilian groups have warned about the rise of armed militias fueling conflict with the backing of the Sudanese army. Some factions linked to Sudanese Islamists are fighting alongside the army in the current battles across the country.

“The army is ready for genuine peace talks but won't stop fighting or agree to a ceasefire,” said Kabashi, adding that dialogue is essential.

Kabashi reiterated SAF’s commitment to the Jeddah peace platform mediated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, and other regional parties.

“We welcome any efforts, both national and international, to solve Sudan's issues,” he said, noting that this is on the condition that the RSF leave civilian homes using agreed-upon methods, including accountability and compensation for those affected.

“We won't engage in politics until military matters are resolved,” emphasized Kabashi, insisting on meeting basic demands outlined in the Jeddah agreement and subsequent developments.

He affirmed SAF’s readiness to end the war soon, describing it as a “proxy war” managed from afar, with RSF acting as mere instruments.

Kabashi also mentioned humanitarian aid, stating that SAF allows it to enter the country through ports and airports without restrictions. He urged all armed groups not to block relief supplies destined for conflict-affected areas.


Turkish Airlines Resumes Flights to Libya After 10-year Hiatus

A Turkish Airlines plane takes off from the city's new Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 6, 2019. (Reuters)
A Turkish Airlines plane takes off from the city's new Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 6, 2019. (Reuters)
TT

Turkish Airlines Resumes Flights to Libya After 10-year Hiatus

A Turkish Airlines plane takes off from the city's new Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 6, 2019. (Reuters)
A Turkish Airlines plane takes off from the city's new Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 6, 2019. (Reuters)

The Turkish Airlines launched on Thursday its first flight to Mitiga International Airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli, after a 10-year hiatus.
The Arab World Press said the announcement came on “Hakomitna,” the media platform of the interim Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
Last week, Dbeibah said the Turkish Airlines would resume its flights to Libya after a hiatus of about ten years. He considered the return of Turkish flights as “an additional indicator of strengthening the state of stability in all its forms despite the challenges.”
“Alhamdulillah, Turkish Airlines will resume flights to Libya from next week after an absence of nearly 10 years,” Dbeibah wrote on his social media account last Saturday.
He then praised the efforts of the transportation and civil aviation sector, and everyone who contributed to facilitating air transport movement, as well as achieving the technical requirements for the return of major companies to the country.
Turkish Airlines' General Manager Bilal Ekşi announced in a press conference that the company would fly three flights per week to Mitiga Airport in the Libyan capital.

 

 


Egypt Reveals Start Date for Trial Operation at Dabaa Nuclear Plant

Egypt is preparing to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in the inauguration of the station's fourth reactor. (Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Egypt is preparing to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in the inauguration of the station's fourth reactor. (Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
TT

Egypt Reveals Start Date for Trial Operation at Dabaa Nuclear Plant

Egypt is preparing to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in the inauguration of the station's fourth reactor. (Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority)
Egypt is preparing to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin to participate in the inauguration of the station's fourth reactor. (Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority)

Egypt on Thursday has unveiled the start date for trial operation at its first nuclear power plant in the city of Dabaa on the Mediterranean coast, in cooperation with Russia.
Amjad Al-Wakeel Chairman of Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority, said on Thursday that the trial operation of the first reactor at the Dabaa plant will commence by the second half of 2027.
The commercial operation of the first reactor is set to start in September 2028, to be followed by the operation of the remaining units, El-Wakeel noted.
The Dabaa plant consists of four nuclear reactors with a total power-generation capacity of 4,800 megawatts (MW), 1,200 MW per reactor.
Speaking on the sidelines of the two-day Atom Expo 2024 forum in Russia’s Sochi, Al-Wakeel affirmed that the project will provide 7.2 to 7.7 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually after its full operation.
The Egyptian official said one of the agreements concluded with the Russian side stipulates the construction of a special storage facility for storing used nuclear fuel for up to 60 years.
In 2015, Cairo signed a contract with the Russian state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, to build Egypt’s first nuclear power plant at a cost of $25 billion.
In December 2017, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin witnessed in Cairo the signing of a document to kickstart the Dabaa nuclear power plant.
Last January, the two presidents inaugurated the construction of a new unit at Egypt's Dabaa nuclear power plant via video link.

 

 


Lebanon: Escape of a Politically Connected Prisoner Embarrasses Authorities

Personnel from the General Directorate of State Security (State Security Directorate)
Personnel from the General Directorate of State Security (State Security Directorate)
TT

Lebanon: Escape of a Politically Connected Prisoner Embarrasses Authorities

Personnel from the General Directorate of State Security (State Security Directorate)
Personnel from the General Directorate of State Security (State Security Directorate)

Lebanon’s judiciary kicked off an investigation on Thursday into the escape scandal or "smuggling" of a prisoner from his detention place at the State Security apparatus in the Sahet al-Abed area in eastern Beirut.
The incident has raised many interpretations despite the accused, Dani al-Rashid’s, re-arrest in coordination with the Syrian authorities. Rashid is considered a very prominent figure.
He is the director of the office of former minister Salim Jreissati (advisor to former President Michel Aoun) and the personal advisor to the head of the State Security apparatus, Brigadier General Tony Saliba.
Acting Public Prosecutor at the Court of Cassation, Judge Jamal al-Hajjar, held a meeting with the Government Commissioner at the Military Court, Judge Fadi Akiki. They agreed to initiate an immediate investigation to be conducted by Akiki under the supervision of al-Hajjar.
A judicial source said the investigation "has so far led to the arrest of three guards from the State Security prison, and will include officers and other personnel."
Akiki "summoned Brigadier General Tony Saliba for interrogation as the head of the State Security apparatus responsible for the actions of his officers and personnel”.
Rashid is accused of involvement in the attempted murder of engineer Abdullah Hanna in Zahle, eastern Lebanon. Reports emerged that he was receiving special treatment in prison from the State Security for his close relationship with political figures.
Hajjar has therefore sent a letter to Saliba requesting the transfer of all prisoners held by State Security to prisons and detention centers under the authority of the Internal Security Forces. However, it turned out that these prisoners had not been transferred.
Hajjar asked the State Security about the reasons for the delay in transferring the prisoners and requested a list of the detainees they have only to be surprised later by the news of Rashid’s escape.
Rashid’s escape occurred after the agreement on the date of his transfer into the custody of the Internal Security Forces. The source said that "communication between Brigadier General Saliba and the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, during which the transfer date of this prisoner to the custody of the Internal Security Forces was set. Hours later, news of his escape from prison was announced."
Investigations to uncover the escape operation are ongoing.
“Investigations and tracking operations will determine whether he left Lebanon or not”, a security source told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that there could have been “an arrangement to smuggle him out of Lebanon before leaving prison because he realized well that if he remained in Lebanon, he would be rearrested”.
At night, the State Security announced in a statement the re-arrest of the escaped detainee after a joint security operation between the directorate and the relevant Syrian security authorities and a State Security force.
It said that Rashid “was handed over to the General Directorate of Lebanese General Security to carry out the required legal procedures. He will be referred again to the General Directorate of State Security on Friday morning for the necessary legal action to be taken against him under the supervision of the competent judiciary." 


Türkiye to Discuss Syria, YPG with US Officials

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the State Department in Washington, US, March 8, 2024. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the State Department in Washington, US, March 8, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Türkiye to Discuss Syria, YPG with US Officials

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the State Department in Washington, US, March 8, 2024. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at the State Department in Washington, US, March 8, 2024. (Reuters)

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Güler will hold talks with a visiting delegation from the US House of Representatives on Friday to tackle the Syrian war and American support for the People's Protection Units (YPG), the largest component of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria.

During a press conference in Ankara, the Turkish defense ministry's media and public relations advisor, Zeki Akturk, said four members of the US House of Representatives Armed Services Committee will pay a visit to Ankara on Friday for talks with the Turkish Defense Minister.

“The meeting will focus on several files, most notably the fight against terrorism, Syria in general, in addition to the US support for the YPG, which forms the Syrian branch of the Türkiye-based Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK),” Akturk said.

The US support for Kurdish militant groups in Syria is one of the pressing issues in US-Turkish relations. Washington considers the YPG as its main ally in the fight to dismantle ISIS in Syria.

In return, Ankara says the US must end support for the YPG, which it is fighting in northern Syria.

US and Turkish officials already discussed the Kurdish issue during the Türkiye-US Strategic Mechanism meetings held in Washington early this month.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who led his country’s delegation, said he conveyed Ankara’s objections to the support provided by the US to the YPG/PKK, including the transfer of weapons and trainings.

“The Republic of Türkiye is fighting and will continue to fight against all threats and terrorist sources that pose a threat within or outside its borders,” the minister said, adding that his country “will not wait for permission from anyone to do so.”

Earlier, the Turkish defense minister echoed the same position. He criticized the US support for the Kurdish units and said it contradicts the alliance relations between Ankara and Washington. “It is not possible to fight a terrorist organization using another terrorist organization,” he stressed.

Last week, Turkish reports said Washington had expressed its readiness to discuss the Syrian war with Ankara, in light of the new climate in relations between the two countries.

The reports also said that during the meeting of the Strategic Mechanism, the US confirmed its readiness to “strategically discuss Syria.”

Currently, around 900 US troops are located in Northeast Syria.

During an annual Iftar with veterans in Ankara on Wednesday, Güler vowed that the Turkish military would uproot the “terrorist” PKK organization and its expansion in Syria (YPG), and would eliminate any threat to its southern borders and the security of its people.


US Military Says It Destroyed 4 Drones Launched by Yemen's Houthis

HMS Richmond, currently taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, fires missiles to shoot down hostile Houthi drones heading towards the ship, on the Red Sea, March 9, 2024. LPhot Chris Sellars/UK Ministry Of Defense/Handout via REUTERS
HMS Richmond, currently taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, fires missiles to shoot down hostile Houthi drones heading towards the ship, on the Red Sea, March 9, 2024. LPhot Chris Sellars/UK Ministry Of Defense/Handout via REUTERS
TT

US Military Says It Destroyed 4 Drones Launched by Yemen's Houthis

HMS Richmond, currently taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, fires missiles to shoot down hostile Houthi drones heading towards the ship, on the Red Sea, March 9, 2024. LPhot Chris Sellars/UK Ministry Of Defense/Handout via REUTERS
HMS Richmond, currently taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, fires missiles to shoot down hostile Houthi drones heading towards the ship, on the Red Sea, March 9, 2024. LPhot Chris Sellars/UK Ministry Of Defense/Handout via REUTERS

The US military said on Thursday that it had destroyed four unmanned drones launched by Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen.
The US Central Command said on the social media site X that the drones "presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region."
The drones were aimed at a coalition vessel and a US warship and "were engaged in self defense over the Red Sea," the statement from the US Central Command said, adding there were no injuries or damage reported to the US or coalition ships.