Tensions Flare in Middle East as Rafah Border Reopens, Explosions Rock Iran
Tensions in the Middle East escalated as the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Sunday, following a US-brokered deal, while two explosions were reported in Iran on Saturday, according to Sky News. The border crossing, a crucial point between Gaza and Egypt, had been near total closure for almost two years.
The reopening of the Rafah border is a key step in the US-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Initially, around 50 people a day will be allowed to cross in each direction, subject to strict rules, officials said. Israel announced the opening as a test to assess its operation, with a full opening planned for Monday, according to Sky News.
Meanwhile, Iran experienced two explosions on Saturday. One blast occurred at Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas, killing a four-year-old girl and injuring 14 others, local media reported, according to Sky News. A second explosion, over 1,000 kilometers away in Ahvaz, resulted in four fatalities, local officials stated. Local media attributed both incidents to gas explosions, and Israel has denied involvement, according to Sky News.
Adding to the regional unease, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the entire region would be engulfed in conflict if the US starts a war, Sky News reported. This warning followed US President Donald Trump's statement that "very big" American warships were heading for the region, in response to Iran's alleged killing of peaceful protestors, according to Sky News. An Iranian general had previously stated that "our fingers are on the trigger," according to Sky News.
In Yemen, a sense of hope emerged in Aden as electricity returned for most of the day, a significant improvement for the war-scarred city that has suffered from extensive blackouts for years, Al Jazeera reported. Saleh Taher, a resident of Sanaa, noted the change after a recent visit to Aden, according to Al Jazeera.
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