François Picard welcomes Bilal Saab, Senior Managing Director of Trends Research Group and a close friend of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Saab offers a cautiously optimistic view of a pivotal diplomatic moment, describing President Aoun’s Washington visit as a crucial opportunity to strengthen international support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and state institutions. While acknowledging serious challenges—including Hezbollah’s influence, regional tensions, and complex Israeli‑Lebanese security issues—Saab argues that progress will rely not on military coercion but on the gradual reinforcement of the Lebanese state. He emphasizes that Lebanon serves both as a testing ground for U.S. regional diplomacy and a fragile experiment in state‑building, requiring sustained political backing rather than symbolic gestures.
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![Houthi Rebels Report Strikes on Two Saudi Oil Tankers in Red Sea</TITLE]Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi Arabian oil tankers navigating the Red Sea.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated on Wednesday, “We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named ENCELA and LAYLIA, for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the armed forces.”Saree noted that the operation utilized a combination of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.While Saudi Arabia has yet to issue a formal response, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed receiving reports of a strike. According to the UKMTO, a vessel’s master reported being hit by an unidentified projectile, resulting in an onboard fire that the crew is currently working to extinguish.The escalation follows the Houthi movement’s decision on July 20 to impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. This move comes amidst heightened volatility in Yemen, following recent airstrikes by the Yemeni government on Sanaa Airport intended to intercept Iranian flights.Saudi Arabia has consistently denied Houthi allegations regarding a siege on the Yemeni population. Additionally, critics of the Houthi movement have highlighted their refusal to accept a Jordanian proposal to restore flight connections between Amman and Sanaa.As the US-Israel conflict with Iran has caused significant disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has sought to utilize alternative routes through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to maintain oil supplies. However, these routes are now facing direct threats from Houthi operations.The Houthi campaign against shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait began in October 2023, following the start of the conflict in Gaza, and continued through the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire in October 2025.The Bab al-Mandeb Strait serves as a vital global maritime artery, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. At its narrowest, the chokepoint is only 29km wide, restricting traffic to two channels for vessels moving toward or away from the Suez Canal.In 2024, approximately 4.1 billion barrels of crude and refined petroleum products—roughly five percent of the global supply—traversed this strait. Given the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel war with Iran, any closure of the Bab al-Mandeb could potentially obstruct up to 25 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply.](https://i2.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ap_6a613e7ed9b96-1784757886.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440&w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "Houthi Rebels Report Strikes on Two Saudi Oil Tankers in Red Sea</TITLE]Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacking two Saudi Arabian oil tankers navigating the Red Sea.Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated on Wednesday, “We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named ENCELA and LAYLIA, for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the armed forces.”Saree noted that the operation utilized a combination of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.While Saudi Arabia has yet to issue a formal response, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed receiving reports of a strike. According to the UKMTO, a vessel’s master reported being hit by an unidentified projectile, resulting in an onboard fire that the crew is currently working to extinguish.The escalation follows the Houthi movement’s decision on July 20 to impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia. This move comes amidst heightened volatility in Yemen, following recent airstrikes by the Yemeni government on Sanaa Airport intended to intercept Iranian flights.Saudi Arabia has consistently denied Houthi allegations regarding a siege on the Yemeni population. Additionally, critics of the Houthi movement have highlighted their refusal to accept a Jordanian proposal to restore flight connections between Amman and Sanaa.As the US-Israel conflict with Iran has caused significant disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has sought to utilize alternative routes through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to maintain oil supplies. However, these routes are now facing direct threats from Houthi operations.The Houthi campaign against shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait began in October 2023, following the start of the conflict in Gaza, and continued through the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire in October 2025.The Bab al-Mandeb Strait serves as a vital global maritime artery, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. At its narrowest, the chokepoint is only 29km wide, restricting traffic to two channels for vessels moving toward or away from the Suez Canal.In 2024, approximately 4.1 billion barrels of crude and refined petroleum products—roughly five percent of the global supply—traversed this strait. Given the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel war with Iran, any closure of the Bab al-Mandeb could potentially obstruct up to 25 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply.")
