International news 7/7: Israel launches 'Black Flag' campaign against Yemen

Israel launches 'Black Flag' operation

The move is seen as the latest escalation in regional tensions, following a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and international shipping routes.

According to an announcement from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on July 6, the attack targets included strategic ports such as Hodeidah, Ras Isa, Al‑Salif, and a power plant in the Ras Katib area.

Mr. Katz declared this was a “necessary defensive action” to protect the Israeli people and send a strong message to the Houthi forces, that any attack targeting Israel will be met with overwhelming force.

"We are launching Operation Black Flag to destroy the military and economic capabilities of the Houthi terrorist forces... Anyone who attacks us will pay dearly," Mr. Katz affirmed on social network X.

The aftermath of the Israeli airstrike on Hodeidah on May 5. (Photo: Getty)

The operation was launched just hours after Israel successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen. The missile was believed to be aimed at southern Israel, but was intercepted by the Arrow missile defense system outside Israeli skies. The incident triggered sirens in major cities and caused panic among residents.

Israel said the operation not only targeted military facilities but also key ports that play a central role in Yemen’s economy . Experts said the move was aimed at “breaking” the Houthis’ source of income from smuggling oil and goods through the Red Sea.

Houthi spokesmen did not immediately respond to the attack, but local sources said there were loud explosions and plumes of smoke rising from the ports hit by the shelling.

Terrible floods in Texas: 78 people died

Texas is facing its worst flooding disaster in decades, with the death toll rising to at least 78 as of July 6. Among them are 28 children, and more than 40 others are still missing. The intense flooding began on the night of July 4, after torrential rains hit central Texas, especially around the Guadalupe River.

Scene of devastation after the flood in Kerrville, Texas, USA. (Photo: Reuters)

Texas rescue workers and federal agencies mobilized hundreds of personnel, helicopters, rubber boats and military vehicles to evacuate more than 850 people. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared a state of emergency, and the Coast Guard and National Guard continued search and rescue operations in extremely dangerous weather conditions.

US President Donald Trump said he will visit the flood-hit area on July 11 to directly survey the situation, meet with victims' families and encourage rescue workers.

In a speech in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One, Mr. Trump emphasized that the federal government will provide "maximum support" to help Texas overcome the consequences, rebuild and stabilize people's lives.

The Texas National Guard is using remote-controlled military drones to assist in the search for missing people.

President Putin sends message to BRICS

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke online at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, stressing that liberal globalization – which has dominated the world for decades – is now “obsolete”, and “the center of business activity is shifting to emerging markets” like BRICS.

In a video address from Moscow, Mr. Putin affirmed that BRICS countries are becoming “the driving force of world economic development,” as the bloc currently accounts for about 40% of global GDP, with a gross domestic product (GDP) calculated by purchasing power parity (PPP) reaching nearly 77 trillion USD, far exceeding the G7 group (about 57 trillion USD).

He emphasized: “The strong rise of emerging economies shows that the world needs a more equitable, multipolar economic order that is not dependent on Western financial institutions.”

The Kremlin leader said the strong rise of emerging economies has opened up a "strong wave of growth" and promoted BRICS to play an increasingly important role in building a multipolar economic order, independent of Western financial institutions such as the IMF or the World Bank.

BRICS was founded in 2006, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa officially joined in 2010, and in the past year Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE and Indonesia have also become full members.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/thoi-su-quoc-te-7-7-israel-phat-dong-chien-dich-co-den-chong-lai-yemen-5052385.html