US, UK pummel #Houthi sites across #Yemen as Red Sea attacks escalate In 4th joint operation, fighter jets hit 18 targets in 8 locations; Iran-backed rebels denounce ‘US-British aggression’ while Washington admits Houthis yet to be deterred The US and Britain struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed rebel group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that set fire to a cargo vessel. According to US officials, American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones, and air defense systems. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to provide early details of an ongoing military operation. This is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since January 12. But the US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch. The US F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea, officials said. “The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks.”

Amid US pressure for reform, entire PA government submits its resignation to Abbas PM Shtayyeh sends letter to Palestinian Authority president, says new ‘political arrangements’ required for postwar Gaza; Hamas: Must be national consensus Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Monday he was resigning to allow for the formation of a broad consensus among Palestinians about political arrangements after the conclusion of Israel’s war against terror group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The move comes amid growing US pressure on PA President Mahmoud Abbas to shake up the Authority, which would allow it to take a greater role in ruling postwar Gaza. International efforts have intensified to stop the fighting in Gaza and begin work on a political structure to govern the enclave after the war. Shtayyeh said he put the resignation to Abbas last Tuesday and was now formalizing it in writing. His resignation must still be accepted by Abbas, who may ask him to stay on as caretaker until a permanent replacement is appointed.

#Zelensky says #Ukraine in talks with #France on supplies of fighter #jets Kyiv is in talks with Paris about delivering combat aircraft to Ukraine, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said. "Yes, we are holding talks about fighter jets," Zelensky said, when asked by a reporter from France’s LCI television whether the option of providing Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Kiev was on the table. The president did not elaborate. On 16 February, the chief of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov (who is on the Russian list of extremists and terrorists), said Kiev had hopes of getting Mirage 2000 fighter jets from Paris. In September 2023, the French news website Intelligence Online reported that Kiev and Paris were close to concluding a deal for the transfer of these jets to Ukraine. Ukrainian Ambassador to France Vadim Omelchenko said in an interview with the Le Point magazine on February 23 that Paris and Kiev are currently working to train Ukrainian pilots. He urged against believing rumors that there was a chance of transferring Mirage 2000D aircraft, saying that Ukraine had opted for the US F-16s, but added that Ukraine was still considering all available options for Western assistance.

Global economic activity remaining low, says IMF Midterm prospects of global economic growth and economic activity remain low, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its report, released before the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 28-29. "The global economy appears on track for a soft landing, but activity and growth prospects remain weak," IMF said. "Medium-term growth prospects remain subdued—reflecting secular trends and challenges including weak productivity growth, ageing, GeoEconomic fragmentation and climate vulnerabilities. These trends also undermine income convergence and increase the vulnerability of economies to external shocks," IMF experts added.

Dozens of Nukhba terrorists who participated in the massacre - arrested in Khan Yunis The terrorists were taken in for questioning by AMAN and Shin Bet personnel and provided information on how hostages were held in the Strip. Dozens of Nukhba terrorists who participated in the massacre on October 7 were arrested yesterday in a refugee camp in western Khan Yunis, this was published this evening (Sunday) here. According to the report, a total of 60 terrorists were arrested in the operation in question, including many who were involved in the imprisonment and holding of Israeli hostages in the southern Gaza Strip. The terrorists were taken in for questioning by Iman and Shin Bet personnel, and provided information on the manner in which abductees were moved from place to place within the Strip. Terrorists even described how they handed over hostages who were under their care to other terrorists - and joined the fighting against IDF forces. After the operation at the Nassar hospital, the IDF forces in the Gaza Strip are focusing mainly on Hamas infrastructure and working on everything related to the hostage. The security establishment estimates that many of the hostages are being held in the Rafah area alongside senior Hamas officials who are hiding there.