US and UK repel major Houthi attack in Red Sea | First Thing

Authorities describe Houthi attack with drones and missiles as largest yet in the Red Sea. Plus, why speed dating is back in fashion

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Yemen's Houthi rebels fired one of their largest barrages of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, forcing the American and British navies to shoot down the projectiles in a major engagement, authorities said today.

Where did the attack take place? The assault happened off the Yemeni port cities of Hodeida and Mokha, according to the private intelligence firm Ambrey. In the Hodeida incident, Ambrey said ships described over radio seeing missiles and drones, with US-allied warships in the area urging vessels to proceed at maximum speed".

What else is happening? The Israeli politician Nissim Vaturi has reiterated his call for Gaza to be burned down, saying there are no innocents there". Referring to Palestinians still in northern Gaza after repeated orders from the Israeli military for them to flee, Vaturi, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party said: One hundred thousand remain. I have no mercy for those who are still there. We need to eliminate them."

Why did they build the tunnel? The reason for the tunnel's creation remains undisclosed.