Day 190 | US to investigate deadly Kuhestak wedding party strike
US Vice President JD Vance said the US will investigate the strike on an Iranian wedding party in Kuhestak, as the death toll from the attack rises to five.
Iran’s first vice president said the US attacks have changed Tehran’s calculations, warning that Iran’s response would be “asymmetrical” and “multi-layered.”
South Korea is reviewing practical options, including military measures, to support freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a presidential official said. The official also rejected claims that Seoul had provided no assistance on the issue, calling them “not true.”
More than 100 fighters from both sides have been killed in clashes around Taiz and Hodeidah, according to a Houthi source who spoke to Al Jazeera.
Four Lebanese prisoners released by Israel have been returned to Lebanon.
Yemen’s army claims over 15 airstrikes against Houthis in Taiz
Yemen’s internationally recognized government said its air force carried out more than 15 airstrikes targeting Houthi positions, gatherings and vehicles along the western coastal fronts in Taiz and Hodeidah provinces.
The strikes come as fighting between Houthi fighters and government forces has intensified since Thursday across several fronts in western Yemen.
The renewed clashes have raised concerns over a broader escalation, with the Houthis attempting to advance toward strategic areas linking Taiz with the Red Sea coast.
US Senator Sanders slams VP Vance over Iran ‘not a war’ comment
US Senator Bernie Sanders has criticized Vice President JD Vance for describing the US military campaign against Iran as something other than a war.
Vance said the administration would not call the situation a war, arguing that there was currently no active shooting despite recent flare-ups.
Sanders responded on X, saying Vance should explain his characterization to the families of the 19 US service members who have lost their lives, as well as to the thousands of people killed across the region.
President Donald Trump also downplayed the campaign on Friday, calling the conflict “small potatoes” while agreeing with Vance that it should not be described as a war.
Ban on English proficiency certification for Iranians slammed
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) has condemned Pearson PLC and Pearson VUE for suspending English proficiency exams for candidates residing in Iran following the US suspension of a sanctions exemption.
NIAC President Jamal Abdi said the Trump administration’s policy was “draconian” and accused Pearson of going beyond what US sanctions law requires by restricting Iranians outside Iran.
Abdi called for Pearson to restore access to the exams for Iranians outside the country and urged the US Treasury to provide clearer guidance on which educational services are subject to sanctions.
The move follows similar restrictions affecting English-language testing in Iran. Pearson has said its suspension takes effect September 8 and applies to candidates residing in Iran unless they can prove primary residence outside the country.
Day 189 of the US-‘Israeli’ war on Iran
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Read more: Day 189 | US says no major operations against Iran, but options open
