White House confirms Biden and Netanyahu discussed ‘objectives and phasing’ of war in Gaza but US president says ‘I did not ask for a ceasefire’
The United States shot down four drones headed towards a US destroyer in the southern Red Sea and launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Saturday, US Central Command (Centcom) said.
“These attacks represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since Oct. 17,” Centcom said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have disrupted world trade for weeks with attacks on ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea in what they say is a response to Israel’s war in Gaza.
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The Israeli military said on Sunday eight soldiers had been killed in Gaza, bringing to 154 its published combat losses since ground incursions began on 20 October, Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed more than 200 people in 24 hours, Hamas-controlled authorities said earlier Saturday.
The latest tallies could not be independently verified.
Fighting is now centred on Gaza City and the southern city of Khan Yunis, both considered strongholds of the Palestinian militant group that carried out bloody October 7 raids into Israel, according to Agence France-Presse. After reports of heavy Israeli shelling, grey and black smoke rose over the north of the coastal territory and in Khan Yunis.Biden says he didn’t request a ceasefire in Netanyahu call
Joe Biden spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, calling it a long and private conversation a day after the Biden administration again shielded Israel in the diplomatic arena, news agencies report.
On Friday, the UN Security Council adopted a watered-down resolution that calls for immediately speeding up aid deliveries to desperate civilians in Gaza, but not for a ceasefire.
According to Netanyahu’s office, Netanyahu voiced appreciation towards the US for its stance at the UN security council. Netanyahu’s office also added that he “made clear that Israel will pursue the war until all of its objectives are fully met”.
