Al Mayadeen – April 18, 2025
80 killed, 150 wounded in US airstrikes on Yemen's Ras Issa port
Earlier in the day, the same office had reported 74 deaths and 171 injuries. The attack, which targeted the strategic Red Sea port, marks one of the deadliest US operations in Yemen since the start of the year.
The death toll from recent US airstrikes on the Ras Issa port in western Yemen has risen to 80 martyrs and 150 wounded, according to the Public Health Office in Hodeidah Governorate. The figures remain preliminary and are expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue.
In a statement reported by the Yemeni al-Masirah channel, the health office confirmed, “The death toll from the US attack on the Ras Issa facility has reached 80 martyrs and 150 injured, in a non-final tally.”
Earlier in the day, the same office had reported 74 deaths and 171 injuries. The attack, which targeted the strategic Red Sea port, marks one of the deadliest US operations in Yemen since the start of the year.
Paramedics among the dead
The health office added that five emergency responders were killed in a subsequent strike on the same site. “Five of our ambulance teams were martyred after the US aggression returned to target the Ras Issa port,” the statement said.
Al-Masirah broadcast graphic footage of the aftermath, showing charred bodies of workers, scenes of medical personnel treating the wounded, and testimonies from survivors suffering from burns and blast injuries.
US confirms strike
Washington said on Thursday that its forces had targeted and destroyed a fuel platform at Ras Issa in Yemen, not mentioning the double-tapping of Paramedics and rescue teams.
According to Yemeni-released figures since March 15, US airstrikes across Yemen have killed at least 199 civilians and injured 427 others, including a large number of women and children. The figures reportedly do not include casualties among Houthi fighters.
Thursday’s incident included four US strikes on Ras Issa and its surrounding area. An initial report from Al-Masirah stated that 17 port workers were killed, alongside dozens injured.
Sanaa gov. promises retaliation
The government in Sanaa condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms, denouncing it as a “full-fledged war crime.” The government warned that such actions "will not go unpunished."
“This crime once again proves that the American enemy deliberately targets civilian facilities and vital infrastructure,” the statement read. “The justifications provided by the US are false and misleading.”
US Strikes will not deter Yemen from supporting Palestine
Sanaa further emphasized that the US escalation would not deter Yemen from continuing its operations in support of Palestine
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We will continue our support operations, which have been 100% successful in preventing Israeli navigation in the Red Sea,” the statement asserted.
Reaffirming Yemen’s stance, the government said it reserves the legal right to self-defense and holds Washington fully accountable for the consequences of its ongoing aggression in regional waters.
Ras Isa assault continues, as workers fight raging fires
The Ras Isa assault came amid renewed US airstrikes on the facility, with warplanes returning to bomb the site located northwest of Hodeidah city, early on Friday. According to our correspondent, at least five emergency workers were killed by the strikes while fighting the fires
The attack on Ras Isa follows a pattern of intensified US airstrikes across Yemen, targeting civilian areas and critical infrastructure in multiple provinces. While Washington claims the airstrikes are aimed at neutralizing missile launch sites, Yemeni officials and residents stress that the strikes are disproportionately affecting civilians.
The escalation of US airstrikes on Yemen has drawn criticism over the impact on civilian infrastructure. While the United States asserts that the campaign targets military sites linked to missile launches, the destruction of critical infrastructure such as the Ras Isa oil port has raised alarm. This facility plays a vital role in Yemen’s energy operations, which are essential to the country’s economy.
Other strikes and raids have caused extensive damage to civilian areas, with hospitals, schools, homes, and transportation infrastructure also being affected.
Israeli attacks kill at least 50 across Gaza as heavy strikes hit north, south
Dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, have lost their lives in new Israeli strikes on Gaza, as the regime’s genocidal war continues unabated across the besieged Gaza Strip.
Medical sources said at least 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas of the Gaza Strip since dawn on Friday.
More than half of the casualties were in Gaza City and northern Gaza, but deadly attacks have occurred throughout the blockaded region, including in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.
A family of 10 has been reported killed in an Israeli attack on a Khan Yunis home Friday morning.
In northern Gaza's as-Saftawi area, at least four individuals, including two children, were killed in an airstrike.
A separate attack targeted a makeshift barber shop in central Khan Younis, resulting in the deaths of six Palestinians.
Meanwhile, northeast of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian woman was killed in a bombardment.
In the northern at-Twam area, two displaced Palestinians died after an attack on a tent. Meanwhile, three people were killed in an airstrike on a house located on as-Sikka Street in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood.
The Israeli military continues its relentless bombardment of Gaza, inflicting further casualties and widespread destruction across the Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has condemned the killing of Palestinian children in Gaza in what he described as Israel’s “relentless brutal bombardment” and “cruel starvation”.
“These are not only morally outrageous; they are the most heinous acts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under international law,” Baghaei said in a post on X.
“The Israeli regime, its enablers & apologists, must be held accountable.”
The death toll from Israel’s genocidal war on the besieged enclave has now exceeded 51,000, with more than 116,500 others wounded since the genocidal war began in October 2023.
Since the beginning of the war in October 2023, Israel has signaled its desire to rid Gaza of its local Palestinian population.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel will implement US President Donald Trump’s scheme for the resettlement of much of Gaza’s population in other countries.
Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected Trump’s proposal, which human rights experts say would violate international law.
Palestinians in Gaza say they don’t want to leave, and fear another mass expulsion like the one that occurred during the war surrounding Israel’s creation in 1948.
The Trump administration has expressed full support for Israel’s decision to end the truce and to cut off aid. Trump’s West Asia envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been desperately trying to broker a new ceasefire, more favorable to Israel.
The Hamas resistance movement has said it will not release dozens of remaining captives without a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/04/18/746408/Palestine-Gaza-US-Trump-Israel
Sheikh Qassem says Resistance to persist, disarmament not possible
Addressing local and international calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament, Sheikh Qassem warned, "'Israel’s' talk about disarming the resistance is aimed at weakening Lebanon and occupying it as part of its expansionist project."
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem reaffirmed in a televised speech on Friday the centrality of armed Resistance as a response to Israeli aggression and expansion, rejecting any discussion of disarmament while occupation persists.
"The resistance is a reaction to the occupation," Sheikh Qassem said, "especially in the event that the Lebanese state is unable to protect the land and its citizens on its own."
He warned of the Israeli regime's broader ambitions, declaring, "'Israel' is expansionist—it is not satisfied with occupied Palestine but also wants to take Lebanon."
Resistance achievements and ceasefire credibility
Highlighting the role of resistance in Lebanon's modern history, Sheikh Qassem said, "The distinction of the resistance in Lebanon is that it has achieved great and influential accomplishments over the past 40 years."
He credited the current ceasefire to the endurance of the resistance. "The ceasefire agreement is the result of the steadfastness of the resistance," he stated. "Without this steadfastness, there would be no agreement, and 'Israel' would have continued its aggression."
Sheikh Qassem added, "The entire world today acknowledges that Hezbollah and the Lebanese state adhered to the agreement, while 'Israel' did not."
Rejection of disarmament calls
Addressing local and international calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament, Sheikh Qassem warned, "Israel’s talk about disarming the resistance is aimed at weakening Lebanon and occupying it as part of its expansionist project."
"There is one particular party and a few discordant voices in Lebanon who focus solely on the issue of the Resistance’s weapons," he said. "But the Resistance’s weapons are exclusively tied to confronting the Israeli enemy."
"The primary issue in Lebanon is not the Resistance’s weapons but the expulsion of the Israeli occupation," he asserted.
Steadfastness, unity, and options
Sheikh Qassem stressed that the Resistance is here to stay. "As long as the resistance exists—and that it will—alongside the national army, the Lebanese people, and its popular base, 'Israel' cannot achieve its objectives."
He dismissed any suggestion of weakness, saying, "Anyone who thinks we are weak is delusional." He added, "We confront the occupation with the strength of our position, national unity, the building of the army, and the preparedness of the resistance. We have not and will not surrender."
The Hezbollah leader emphasized that diplomacy has its limits. "The opportunity we are giving to diplomacy is not open-ended," he said. "We have options, we fear nothing, and if you persist, you will see at the right time what we decide."
Urging reflection on resistance outcomes rather than its costs, he said, "One should not say to the resistance, ‘You have paid a high price, look at the losses,’ but rather ask how it was able to prevent 'Israel' from achieving its goals."
He concluded, "We are patiently steadfast with wisdom because we know there is a balance in losses and gains, but we do not build on that; we build on our stance, and our stance is resistance."
Resistance arms serve to defend homeland
Sheikh Qassem firmly rejected all calls for the disarmament of the Resistance, emphasizing that Hezbollah’s weapons are integral to Lebanon’s defense and sovereignty. "We are not weak; we are people of confrontation, dignity, and pride—for the land and the people," he said.
"We will not allow anyone to disarm Hezbollah or the Resistance; this idea must be entirely discarded," Sheikh Qassem declared. He warned that "those calling for the disarmament of the Resistance by force are offering a free service to the Israeli enemy and are aiming to sow discord between the Resistance and the army. That discord will not happen."
"These weapons are the backbone of the Resistance. They liberated our country and protected its sovereignty," Qassem stated. "We will confront anyone who attacks the Resistance or seeks to disarm us, and we advise no one to play this game with us."
He added, "Those who have the most honorable people fear no one in the world, and those who have the most honorable people stand firm while cowards flee."
Lebanon’s defensive strategy
On the ceasefire agreement, he clarified, "It applies exclusively to the area south of the Litani River, and this is stated five times in the agreement."
Sheikh Qassem said further discussions can only happen after Israeli compliance: "Let’s first see ‘Israel’ adhere to the agreement, then we can talk." He added, "Once ﾑIsraelﾒ fulfills its obligations, Lebanon will begin discussing the other provisions of Resolution 1701."
Sheikh Qassem outlined a framework for any future dialogue. "Three fundamental principles must govern any dialogue: first, the protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty, the liberation of its land, and the cessation of all forms of aggression against it." He added, "The second principle in any dialogue is to leverage the strength of the Resistance and its weapons in any defensive strategy."
The third, he said, would be to de-link reconstruction and the disarmament of the Resistance.
He confirmed that there had been an "exchange of messages with the President of the Republic regarding the implementation of the agreement south of the Litani," noting the messages were "positive and will remain so."
"When we are invited to dialogue, we will be ready," he said, "but not under the pressure of occupation."
As for the defensive strategy itself, he stressed, "We will not discuss the details in the media, nor will we preempt the principles that will be agreed upon once we sit at the dialogue table."
Link between disarmament, reconstruction rejected
Sheikh Qassem tied the Israeli occupation's obligations directly to the path forward. "Hezbollah has fulfilled its responsibilities; let ‘Israel’ fulfill its own, and let the Lebanese state fulfill its own."
He insisted that any transition to the next phase must begin with a clear end to hostilities: "Moving to the second phase requires implementing the first phase, which includes the withdrawal of ‘Israel,’ an end to its aggression, and the actual start of reconstruction."
Sheikh Qassem rejected any conditional approach to rebuilding. "They say they are linking reconstruction to disarmament; we say we are the ones linking weapons to reconstruction," he stated.
He concluded with a warning to Washington: "Lebanon cannot move forward under US guardianship, and the US must respect the Lebanese people’s will for independence and non-interference in its affairs."
Iran's Araghchi to visit China following stops in Moscow and Rome
Following Moscow, Araghchi is scheduled to meet US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on Saturday for the second round of indirect nuclear negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that he will head to Beijing next week for consultations with senior Chinese officials, as part of a broader diplomatic effort to coordinate with key allies during a pivotal moment in US-Iran nuclear talks
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"Next week, I will head to Beijing for consultations with my Chinese counterparts," Araghchi said, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.
The visit comes as Iran intensifies diplomatic outreach to secure support from strategic partners while facing indirect talks with the United States. Araghchi has just concluded a two-day visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. During the visit, he delivered a message from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and held in-depth discussions on regional cooperation and the current nuclear talks.
Following Moscow, Araghchi is scheduled to meet US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on Saturday for the second round of indirect nuclear talks. These talks follow initial discussions in Oman on April 12, which both parties described as constructive. Witkoff called the talks "positive and constructive," while Araghchi thanked Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi for his country's mediation.
The renewed talks come amid heightened diplomatic activity. In Moscow, Araghchi stated that an agreement with the US is still possible, provided Washington adopts a realistic position and avoids unrealistic demands. According to Iranian officials, the outcome of the Rome talks may help determine the trajectory of future engagement.
China, a key signatory of the original 2015 nuclear deal, has consistently backed diplomatic solutions and opposes unilateral US sanctions. Araghchi's upcoming trip to Beijing is expected to focus on consolidating China's role in supporting Iran's negotiating position and ensuring that any future agreement aligns with broader multilateral interests.
Palestinian Information Center – April 18, 2025
Photo of Palestinian boy who lost both arms wins World Press Photo Award
A touching photo of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms as a result of an Israeli attack in Gaza was honored Thursday as World Press Photo of the year, the most prestigious photojournalism competition, in its 2025 edition
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The photo, taken by Samar Abu Elouf for the New York Times, shows Mahmoud Ajjour, who was evacuated to Doha after an explosion that severed one of his arms and led to the disfigurement of the other last year.
“Working on this project was a unique but painful experience,” Samar said while accepting the award in Amsterdam.
The self-taught photographer emphasized that “Palestinian children have paid a high price for the atrocities they have endured. Mahmoud is one of them,” she added.
Samar Abu Elouf, also from Gaza and evacuated in December 2023, is currently photographing severely injured Palestinians in Doha. He is the first Palestinian photographer to win the World Press Photo Award.
“One of the hardest things Mahmoud’s mother told me was how when Mahmoud first came to the realization that his arms were amputated, the first sentence he said to her was, ‘How will I be able to hug you?’,” she said.
“This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly. It tells the story of one boy, but also of a wider war that will have an impact for generations,” said World Press Photo Executive Director Joumana El Zein Khoury.
The jury praised the image’s “strong composition and the attention given to light” and its thought-provoking subject matter, especially questions about Mahmoud’s future.
The boy is currently practicing playing games on his phone, learning to write and opening doors with his feet, according to the jury.
The organizers of the World Press Photo Award said in a statement, “Mahmoud’s dream is simple: He wants to have two prosthetic limbs and live his life like any other child.”
During the awards ceremony, Abu Elouf addressed the case of her colleague Ihab al-Bardini, who was injured in Israeli strikes that targeted a journalists’ tent in Khan Yunis on April 7.
“My joy is not complete, as one of my best friends who is a photographer in Gaza, Ihab al-Bardini, is injured,” she said, holding pictures of her colleague lying in the hospital.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/04/18/337613/
Palestinian Information Center – April 18, 2025
Tens of thousands of worshipers perform Friday prayer at Aqsa Mosque
Tens of thousands of Muslim worshipers performed Friday prayer at the Aqsa Mosque, despite heightened restrictions and intensified Israeli measures around and within the Old City of Occupied Jerusalem and the holy site.
According to the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem, the worshipers performed Friday prayer and the funeral prayer in absentia for the souls of martyrs in Gaza and the West Bank.
The PIC correspondent reported that Israeli forces erected iron barricades around the Old City and stopped many young men at Bab al-Asbat, Bab al-Sahira, and Bab al-Amud checking IDs and searching personal belongings.
In a further escalation, the road leading to the al-Maghariba Gate was sealed off with iron barriers and red tape, with access denied to all vehicles except residents of the Silwan neighborhood.
Checkpoints were also set up inside the Old City, including on Al-Wad Street, coinciding with the influx of Muslim worshipers heading to the Aqsa Mosque and Christian pilgrims making their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
