INTERNACIONAL
White House calls Yemen ceasefire a ‘WIN’ – experts warn Houthis may not hold the line
President Donald Trump’s sudden halt to U.S. airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi militants is drawing praise as a potential breakthrough – and doubts over whether it will last.
Trump on Tuesday at the Oval Office marked the formal end of «Operation Rough Rider,» a 50-day bombing campaign that targeted more than 1,000 sites across Yemen.
«The Houthis have announced that they don’t want to fight anymore,» Trump said during remarks at the White House. «They say they will not be blowing up ships anymore. And that’s what the purpose of what we were doing. So… we will stop the bombings.»
Bard Al-busaidi, the foreign minister of Oman, who has been involved in peace negotiations, confirmed that talks had led to a ceasefire agreement. «In the future, neither side will target the other, including American vessels, in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait, ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping.»
US STRIKES ON YEMEN CONTINUE AFTER HOUTHI MISSILE HITS BY ISRAELI AIRPORT; TERROR GROUP VOWS ‘AERIAL BLOCKADE’
«The Houthis have announced that they don’t want to fight anymore,» Trump said. (AP Photo)
While Trump portrayed the ceasefire as a straightforward military win, experts say the path to this moment was built on deliberate diplomatic escalation – namely, a dual-pronged threat against both the Houthis and their Iranian backers.
«This was about linking Houthi aggression directly to Iran,» said Can Kasapoglu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. «The Trump administration signaled clearly: any further attacks would bring consequences for Tehran as well. That was the actual key to success.»
The campaign’s origin in March followed a surge in Houthi attacks on international shipping and the dramatic escalation last weekend, when a missile from Houthi-controlled territory landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. That prompted a retaliatory Israeli airstrike on Yemen’s main airport in Sana’a, which military officials say crippled Houthi air capabilities.
Lt. Col. Eric Navarro, director of the Red Sea security initiative at the Middle East Forum, called the ceasefire «a product of overwhelming pressure,» pointing to precision U.S. strikes on Houthi command-and-control infrastructure and weapons depots, paired with Israeli air assaults.
«They saw the writing on the wall,» Navarro said. «I would argue that this is the kind of pressure that needs to be applied over time – not just to the Houthis, but also to the Iranian regime.»
From a military standpoint, Trump’s campaign leveraged significant assets, including bombers flying from Diego Garcia and two U.S. aircraft carriers operating in the region. That show of force, combined with clear diplomatic signaling, appears to have catalyzed the ceasefire – at least for now.
TRUMP CLAIMS HOUTHIS ‘DON’T WANT TO FIGHT’ AND SAYS US WILL STOP BOMBING CAMPAIGN
Trump on Tuesday at the Oval Office marked the formal end of «Operation Rough Rider,» a 50-day bombing campaign that targeted more than 1,000 sites across Yemen. (Reuters/Leah Millis/File Photo)
Still, not all analysts see the Houthis as a grave threat or the campaign as a necessary use of force.
«Trump’s surprise announcement that the U.S. will stop airstrikes against the Houthis is the right decision, regardless of whether the group stops targeting U.S. vessels,» said Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East program at Defense Priorities. «The Houthi threat was always more hype than substance.»
Kelanic argued the group’s attacks on shipping «neither damaged the U.S. economy nor contributed to inflation, which actually went down during the militant group’s assaults throughout the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.» In her view, «the Houthis’ biggest achievement was tricking the U.S. into wasting some $7 billion of its own resources by bombing them.»
«Trump’s bold choice shows there are offramps from endless escalation in the Middle East,» she added.
ISRAEL APPROVES PLAN TO CAPTURE ALL OF GAZA, CALLS UP TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RESERVE TROOPS: REPORT
An aircraft launches from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 15. (U.S. Navy via AP)
Jon Hoffman, a research fellow in defense and foreign policy at the Cato Institute, said, «Washington’s open-ended and congressionally unauthorized strikes against the Houthis for targeting shipping in the Red Sea was the epitome of strategic malpractice, neglecting the origins of the conflict (the war in Gaza) and failing to deter the group while squandering billions in taxpayer dollars.»
Military analysts remain skeptical about the Houthis’ long-term reliability.
«I am always worried about groups like the Houthis sticking to anything they say,» said Navarro, warning that the ceasefire could simply be a pause to rebuild their capabilities. «We need to remain vigilant… and adopt a broader strategy that includes not just military tools, but economic and informational pressure, and support for local alternatives to Houthi control in Yemen.»
Still, the Trump administration is framing the halt as a strategic victory that demonstrates how military power, when wielded with diplomatic clarity, can yield tangible political results.
«Massive WIN. President Trump promised to restore the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, and he used great American strength to swiftly deliver on that promise. The world is safer with President Trump in charge,» said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
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«If they can deliver this,» said Kasapoglu, «it would be a major, major victory for the Trump administration.»
Whether the ceasefire holds – or proves to be merely a lull in a longer conflict – remains to be seen. But for now, the bombs have stopped, and Washington is claiming a win.
Middle East,Pentagon News & Events,Donald Trump,Wars,Iran,Terrorism,Politics
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new sanctions on Thursday that he called «necessary» to «deter and dismantle» the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States.
The new policy imposes new visa restrictions on family members and close personal and business associates of foreign drug traffickers.
Speaking with reporters Thursday afternoon, State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said that this move «will not only prevent them from entering the United States, but also serve as a deterrent for continued illicit activities.»
In a statement released by the State Department, Rubio stressed the importance of further expanding sanctions to stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the country.
«The fentanyl crisis in the United States is unprecedented, with overdoses remaining the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 44,» said Rubio.
STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO MORE THAN 25,000 PEOPLE IN ISRAEL, WEST BANK AND IRAN
Left: Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., May 20, 2025. Right: Over 1.2 million fentanyl pills, which were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The secretary said that «more than 40 percent of Americans reportedly know someone who has died from an opioid overdose, and in 2024, the United States averaged over 220 overdose deaths daily.»
«Today’s action expands upon existing tools,» he said, adding that the State Department «will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs from entering the United States and harming U.S. citizens.»
Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that is often trafficked into the United States across the southern and northern borders by cartels and other criminal elements. In 2024, fentanyl was linked to the deaths of 48,422 persons in the United States, according to the CDC.
During his campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to wage a war against fentanyl traffickers through increased border security and by cracking down on illegal immigration. Since taking office, Trump has deployed U.S. troops to the southern border, targeted cartels and transnational criminal groups as «foreign terrorist organizations» and hit cartel leaders with sanctions.
LIBERAL NEWS OUTLET MOCKED FOR REPORTING ON ‘MYSTERIOUS’ DROP IN FENTANYL FLOWING ACROSS BORDER
Liberal news outlet The Washington Post is being mocked online and by the White House for «pathetic» reporting on what the outlet calls a «mysterious» decline in fentanyl flowing across the border. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Fox News)
According to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), the U.S. law enforcement seizures of fentanyl, which the group explains is a «key indicator of broader total smuggling at and between the southern border’s ports of entry,» have dropped 50% since the November election. CIS states that this significant decline indicates a «greater decline in total fentanyl smuggling.»
In May, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that authorities had made one of the biggest fentanyl busts in U.S. history with the seizure of 409 kilos of fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilos of fentanyl powder. Bondi said that around 35 kilos of methamphetamine, 35 kilos of meth, 7.5 kilos of cocaine and 4.5 kilos of heroin also had been seized along with $5 million in cash and 49 rifles and pistols.
Sixteen people including three women, were arrested in the operation. Six of the males are in the U.S. illegally, according to Bondi.
BONDI ANNOUNCES ONE OF LARGEST FENTANYL SEIZURES IN US HISTORY
Bondi described fentanyl as a weapon of «mass destruction» and laid down a stern warning to drug pushers looking to distribute the potentially deadly drug throughout the nation. (Pool)
Bondi described fentanyl as a weapon of «mass destruction» and laid down a stern warning to drug pushers looking to distribute the potentially deadly drug throughout the nation.
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«When we catch you like all of these individuals, if convicted, we will put you behind bars. There will be no negotiating and we will lock you up for as long as humanly possible,» Bondi said. «We will not negotiate with those who are killing our family members, including brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, parents, friends, everyone in this room.»
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Japón ejecutó al “asesino de Twitter”, el hombre que manipulaba a sus víctimas y las descuartizaba en su departamento
Japón ejecutó este viernes a Takahiro Shiraishi, conocido como el “asesino de Twitter”, tras ser condenado a la pena capital por el homicidio y desmembramiento de nueve personas en 2017. La ejecución, llevada a cabo por ahorcamiento, representa la primera aplicación de la pena de muerte en el país desde 2022, según informaron medios como NHK y Kyodo News, citando fuentes gubernamentales. El Ministerio de Justicia no confirmó de inmediato el procedimiento, pero anunció una próxima rueda de prensa.
Shiraishi, de 34 años, fue sentenciado en 2020 tras declararse culpable de los crímenes, cometidos entre agosto y octubre de 2017. Las víctimas —ocho mujeres y un hombre— tenían entre 15 y 26 años y fueron contactadas por Shiraishi a través de Twitter, actualmente conocida como X. Según la investigación judicial, las víctimas manifestaban pensamientos suicidas en redes sociales y Shiraishi se ofrecía para ayudarlas a morir. Posteriormente, las atraía a su domicilio en la ciudad de Zama, prefectura de Kanagawa, donde las asesinaba y descuartizaba.
Durante el juicio, Shiraishi reconoció los hechos y no mostró arrepentimiento. “Sí, los maté, y no hay duda de eso”, declaró ante el tribunal. El caso conmocionó a la opinión pública japonesa por la violencia de los actos y por la utilización de redes sociales para capturar a sus víctimas.
Los cuerpos fueron desmembrados y almacenados en cajas y neveras portátiles en su pequeño apartamento. La policía descubrió el caso tras la denuncia del hermano de una de las víctimas, quien logró acceder a la cuenta de su hermana en Twitter e identificar una conversación con el acusado.
La pena de muerte en Japón se aplica exclusivamente por ahorcamiento y se lleva a cabo en secreto. Los reclusos son informados de su ejecución pocas horas antes del acto, una práctica que ha sido criticada por organizaciones internacionales por sus efectos sobre la salud mental de los condenados. Como establece la ley japonesa, la ejecución debe realizarse dentro de los seis meses siguientes a la sentencia firme, aunque en la práctica suelen transcurrir varios años.
En diciembre de 2023, el Ministerio de Justicia informó que había 107 personas en el corredor de la muerte. Los detenidos se mantienen en régimen de aislamiento durante años, sin conocer cuándo se ejecutará su condena. “La incertidumbre permanente constituye una forma de tortura psicológica”, ha advertido en reiteradas ocasiones Amnistía Internacional.
Japón, junto con Estados Unidos, es uno de los dos países del G7 que aún mantienen la pena de muerte. La sociedad japonesa, sin embargo, muestra un alto grado de respaldo a la práctica. Según una encuesta del gobierno de 2024, el 83% de los encuestados considera que la pena capital es “inevitable” para ciertos crímenes.
La última ejecución en Japón antes del caso de Shiraishi ocurrió en 2022, cuando fue ejecutado Tomohiro Kato, condenado por un ataque con vehículo y cuchillo en el barrio de Akihabara en 2008, que dejó siete muertos. En aquella ocasión, Kato declaró a la policía: “Vine a Akihabara a matar. No importaba a quién”.
Entre las ejecuciones más relevantes en la historia reciente de Japón figuran las de 2018, cuando fueron ejecutados el líder de la secta Aum Shinrikyo, Shoko Asahara, y 12 de sus seguidores, responsables del ataque con gas sarín en el metro de Tokio en 1995, que dejó 14 muertos y más de 5.000 afectados.
El caso Shiraishi reabre el debate sobre la pena de muerte, el uso de redes sociales para la captación de víctimas vulnerables y la necesidad de mayor vigilancia sobre contenidos relacionados con el suicidio en internet. La ejecución ha sido recibida con atención por los medios y por organizaciones de derechos humanos que insisten en la necesidad de mayor transparencia en el sistema penal japonés.
(Con información de EFE y AFP)
INTERNACIONAL
Mossad chief thanks US for help with Iran, says ‘significantly thwarted’ regime threats
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Mossad Director David Barnea thanked the men and women working for the agency after the success of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion.
He also expressed his appreciation to the U.S. — particularly the CIA — for their work in countering Iran’s nuclear program.
«These are historic days for the people of Israel. The Iranian threat, which endangered our security for decades, has been significantly thwarted thanks to the extraordinary cooperation between the IDF, which led the campaign, and the Mossad, which operated alongside it, with the support of our ally, the United States,» Barnea said.
Mossad Director David Barnea thanks the men and women in the agency who worked to counter Iran’s nuclear program. He also expressed appreciation for the U.S.
INSIDE ISRAEL’S SECRET WAR IN IRAN: MOSSAD COMMANDOS, HIDDEN DRONES AND THE STRIKE THAT STUNNED TEHRAN
The Mossad, Israel’s equivalent of the CIA, had personnel in Iran ready for the launch of Operation Rising Lion, something that was revealed in unprecedented fashion when the agency released video of its operatives at work.
Ahead of the U.S. strikes in the early hours of Sunday morning, Iranian time, there was speculation whether Washington and Jerusalem were coordinating. President Donald Trump made it clear after the strikes that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been working together behind the scenes.
«I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team — like perhaps no team has ever worked before — and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel,» Trump said in his address to the nation following the strikes on Iran.
A map of the U.S. strikes on Iran. (Fox News)
US STRIKES SET IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM BACK ‘MANY YEARS,’ ISRAELI ASSESSMENT FINDS
While Barnea expressed his gratitude to Israeli and American forces alike, he also said that «the mission is not yet complete.»
«The Mossad will continue, with determination, to monitor, track, and act to thwart the threats against us — just as we always have — for the sake of the State of Israel and its people,» Barnea said.
President Donald Trump, right, listens during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House on April 7, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Iran’s nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, said on Tuesday that the country was assessing the damage and preparing to restore the facilities, according to Reuters. He added that Iran’s «plan is to prevent interruptions in the process of production and services.»
Both Trump and Netanyahu vowed to respond if Iran rebuilds its nuclear program.
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