US intelligence agencies warned that Russia might arm the Houthi militants in Yemen with advanced anti-ship missiles. Moscow is reportedly renewing a push to arm the Houthis after the US allowed Ukraine to attack Russian territory with US-supplied weapons. Gen Erik Kurilla, the head of US Central Command, in his letter to Austin urged for a stepped-up “whole of government” effort against the Houthis. Washington has sought help from a third country to persuade Russian President Putin not to join Iran in providing weapons to the Houthis, as per US officials. Meanwhile, far-right Likud party leader appeared to mock the victim of the overnight drone strike in Tel Aviv launched by the Houthi rebels. Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit and damaged a Singapore-flagged container ship with two missiles on July 19 as they escalate attacks on Red Sea shipping.
