Houthis Claim Missile Strike on Saudi Arabia After Riyadh Bombs Yemen

Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Saudi Arabia’s southern Jizan province, hours after Riyadh carried out air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, marking a fresh escalation in the widening Middle East conflict.

The Houthis, through their Ansarollah media platform on Telegram, said the missile attack triggered fires in Jizan and described it as retaliation for Saudi air raids on the Yemeni port city of Hodeida and the nearby Kamaran Island on Friday.

“The Saudi enemy’s targeting of civilian facilities in Hodeida and Kamaran Island constitutes a dangerous escalation,” the group said, adding that the attacks “will not go unanswered.”

Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts for Jizan Province following the reported missile strike but had yet to officially confirm the attack or announce casualties as of Saturday.

The latest exchange of hostilities came amid rising regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and their allies, although there were no reports of fresh US or Iranian air strikes overnight for the first time in two weeks.

The development followed nearly two weeks of sustained military action by Washington, which had carried out 13 consecutive nights of strikes against Iranian targets.

Iran, in turn, has launched multiple drone attacks targeting US military facilities and bases across the Middle East.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts appeared to continue behind the scenes as a delegation from Oman arrived in Tehran for talks centred on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

Oman controls the southern coastline of the vital waterway, through which a significant portion of the world’s crude oil exports passes.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Tehran were ongoing but warned that Washington remained prepared to intensify military action if diplomacy failed.

“We are talking to them. I think they’re being serious… but that doesn’t mean we get there,” Trump said.

The US President added that Washington had two options: continuing military operations or reaching a negotiated settlement.

“There’s a military exit where we just keep going… or there’s a smarter strategy that you make a deal,” he said, adding, “We’re locked and loaded. We’re ready to go.”

The US military also disclosed that it had disabled a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly attempted several times to breach the American blockade on Iranian ports.

US Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said the tanker ignored repeated warnings before US forces fired into its engine room, preventing it from continuing its voyage to Iran.

The incident marked the second commercial vessel disabled by the US since it reinstated its maritime blockade on Iranian ports earlier this month.

The renewed threat to shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz has continued to fuel concerns in global energy markets.

Crude oil prices climbed above $100 per barrel earlier this week on fears of supply disruptions before retreating below $97 on Friday after two Chinese-chartered supertankers successfully navigated the Bab el-Mandeb Strait without incident.

Diplomatic activity is also expected to intensify in the coming days, with the United States and the United Kingdom scheduled to host a high-level conference in London next week on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine are expected to attend the meeting.

The conference will precede Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the White House on Tuesday, where regional security and the escalating conflict with Iran are expected to dominate discussions.

The latest violence has further undermined the June memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran, which sought to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The agreement effectively collapsed after renewed attacks on shipping in the strategic waterway prompted retaliatory US strikes, with Trump later declaring the ceasefire “over.”

Trump Blasts ‘Fake News’, Jokes About Third Term

United States President Donald Trump on Friday reignited his long-running feud with the American media, accusing journalists of spreading “fake news” and suffering from what he described as “Trump Derangement Syndrome” during the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

The annual gala, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington after April’s dinner was cancelled following an assassination attempt on the President, saw Trump oscillate between humour and sharp criticism as he addressed hundreds of journalists, government officials and guests.

Although Trump opened his remarks on a conciliatory note, saying he respected “most” journalists and joking that “the second time is always better,” his speech soon turned combative as he launched fresh attacks on media organisations, including CNN, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, with whom he has had repeated public confrontations.

“This place is really the largest group of ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ people ever put together at one time,” the President said, drawing mixed reactions from the audience.

Trump also joked about seeking a third and even a fourth presidential term despite the US Constitution limiting presidents to two elected terms.

“I’m pleased to announce my intention to run for a fourth term,” he quipped after earlier putting on a “Trump 2028” campaign cap, a remark that sparked laughter and renewed debate over his repeated references to extending his stay in office.

The event marked the first White House Correspondents’ Association dinner since an armed attack in April forced organisers to cancel the original gathering at the Washington Hilton.

Friday’s ceremony was relocated to the Waldorf Astoria under heavy security, with several roads around the venue shut and guests subjected to multiple security screenings.

In a symbolic moment, Trump presented an award to US Secret Service officer Victor Gonzalez, who was recognised for helping foil the April assassination attempt.

The suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, is facing charges of attempting to assassinate the President after he was overpowered before reaching the ballroom where the dinner was taking place.

Despite his repeated attacks on the press, Trump struck a more unifying tone while reflecting on the shooting, insisting that political disagreements should never be settled through violence.

“We settle our differences not with bullets, but with open and vigorous debate,” he said. “No deranged loser with a gun will ever change that.”

Earlier, White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang vowed that the annual dinner would return to the Washington Hilton next year, saying the association would not allow the attack to define the tradition or intimidate journalists.

The ceremony also honoured several journalists for outstanding reporting, including a Wall Street Journal investigative team recognised for its coverage of Trump’s relationship with late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The scaled-down event attracted about 700 guests, far fewer than the more than 2,000 who attended the previous correspondents’ dinner, reflecting heightened security concerns and the lingering impact of the April shooting.

Imo Ex-Lawmaker’s Son Irvin Ibejiako Called to Nigerian Bar

By Boniface Ihiasota

Irvin Ibejiako has been formally called to the Nigerian Bar, marking the successful completion of his legal training after years of academic and professional preparation.

Speaking after the ceremony in Abuja, the newly inducted lawyer described the occasion as the reward for years of hard work, discipline and perseverance.

“There were moments during this journey when the finish line felt very far away,” he said.

“The path from university lecture halls to the Nigerian Bar demanded sacrifices, long nights, discipline and resilience that often went unseen.”

He added that the achievement was not his alone but a reflection of the support he received from his family and well-wishers.

“Standing here today, I carry not only my own dreams but also the prayers, sacrifices and hopes of my parents, family and everyone who believed in me,” he said.

Ibejiako noted that being called to the Bar comes with a greater responsibility to uphold the rule of law and serve society.

“Being called to the Bar is a reminder that perseverance has a way of rewarding those who refuse to quit. I am grateful for the journey, humbled by the moment and excited for the responsibility that comes with wearing the wig and gown,” he added.

Irvin is the son of the Imo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and former member of the House of Representatives for Owerri Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ernest Ibejiako.

Following the ceremony, family members, friends and associates held a reception in his honour at Icheku Gardens Villa in Owerri Municipal, where they celebrated his admission into the legal profession.

Guests at the event described the achievement as a source of pride for the Ibejiako family and the Owerri community, expressing confidence that the young lawyer would contribute meaningfully to the administration of justice in Nigeria.