Yemen market strike kills 30 as Gulf leaders push for Iran deal

At least 30 people were killed in airstrikes on a market in Yemen on Friday, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by telephone with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani on Friday. The Qatari media office said the call focused on international efforts to end regional tensions. The two leaders discussed Qatar’s mediation work aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement that ends the crisis and stabilizes the region.

Sheikh Tamim emphasized the need for continued dialogue and diplomatic solutions to spare the region further escalation. He also stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of maritime navigation and the security of energy supplies. Qatar and other Gulf states allied with the United States faced heavy fire from Iran during the recent war and seek to avoid new attacks.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate phone calls with Iraqi and Tunisian counterparts on Friday. Araghchi outlined Iran’s vision to resume negotiations with the United States to Iraqi officials. That vision includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and setting a timetable for talks. It also adds issues related to Iran’s nuclear program to the agenda. Iraq’s state media reported that Araghchi presented this vision to the U.S. before the midterm elections.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with Araghchi on Thursday. Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nader Zaki said Abdelatty urged all sides to display flexibility to reach a political solution. The strikes in Yemen hit a market in al-Waziyah in the province of Taiz. Houthi spokesperson Anees Alsabahi said on X that eight other people were wounded. Taiz is mostly controlled by the Houthis, who have besieged the provincial capital where Saudi-allied forces are based. The Saudi-backed military and the Houthis traded accusations over responsibility for the strike. The Associated Press could not independently verify those claims.

Italy’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday it is seeking the release of several Italians detained by Israeli authorities in the West Bank. The group was assisting Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest when they were detained. Officials are verifying the number of detainees but said the group may include four Italian activists and two journalists. The detainees are held at a police station in the settlement of Modi’in Illit. They are expected to be transferred to a holding facility at Ben Gurion Airport pending deportation.