Middle East Conflict Live: China Reportedly Presses Iran Over Houthi Attacks Amid Business Fears

KEY POINTS

• US, UK slap new sanctions on 4 key Houthi leaders
• US makes rare condemnation of supposed Israeli strike on UN shelter in Gaza
• Israeli minister accuses Qatar of being "largely responsible" for Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre

Live Updates

The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney has been on patrol in the Red Sea as part of the international maritime task force that aims to protect Red Sea shipping lanes from continuing Houthi attacks. (Credit: AFP)

The war in Gaza has entered its 112^th day, and instability in the Middle East continues as fighting intensifies between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas militants in southern Gaza's main city.

Washington, Israel's main Western ally, is in an awkward position after a leaked recording purportedly revealed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criticism of Qatar as a mediator in hostage talks.

• Iran a 'legitimate target' for Israeli missile strikes: Top Israeli minister
• Houthis claim 'direct hit' on US vessel after CENTCOM says rebel militia strike again
• Blinken urges Israel to protect civilians after alleged UN shelter strike
• Iran warns countries normalizing relations with Israel will pay heavy price
• Austin reaffirms Washington's support for Israel
• Hezbollah's Nasrallah slams Saudi's liquor store opening
• Israeli army urges 4 Khan Yunis neighborhoods to leave area
• Missile sightings, explosion reported in Red Sea, off Houthi-held Hodeidah
• Report of 'attack' in Red Sea, off Yemen: UKMTO

Bill Burns, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is expected to meet negotiators to push for a hostage release deal as the U.S., along with mediators Qatar and Egypt, engage in intensive talks over a potential ceasefire-hostage agreement to free more than 130 abductees still in Hamas captivity.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is due to announce an order Friday in the high-stakes case filed by South Africa against Israel.

Amid rising fears of a wider conflict beyond the Israel-Hamas war, Israel's economic minister Nir Barkat said Iran has become a "legitimate target" for missile strikes following attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting Israel and U.S. military assets in the region.

In the Israel-Lebanese border, Iranian-backed Hezbollah continues to fan the flames as it claimed early Friday that it attacked another Israeli military site.

Another Iran-backed militia, Yemen's Houthi, also continues to disrupt Red Sea shipping activities. It has been firing drones and missiles toward U.S.-owned ships and other vessels it claims are headed to Israeli ports.

Back in war-torn Gaza, Netanyahu refuses to bend to international calls for an immediate ceasefire. His unyielding attitude draws from the bitter and decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict that reached a frenzied high on Oct. 7, when Hamas operatives raided Israel, murdering more than 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and abducting over 240 others.

1 min ago 06:28 AM EST

Attack report off Yemen: UKMTO

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Friday local time that it received a report of an "attack" in the Red Sea, approximately 60 nautical miles southwest of Aden in Yemen.

Authorities are still investigating the incident and vessels have been advised to transit the area with caution.

UKMTO WARNING

INCIDENT 020 - ATTACKhttps://t.co/XsgrK5uW2N#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/tWGmLJhgI4

— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) January 26, 2024