we are slowly chipping away at their capabilities, so the capabilities they had yesterday, they no longer have today. and the disruption in commercial shipping could increase prices — how companies and manufacturers are responding. hello i'm azadeh moshiri. for the next half hour, we'll be focusing on the international response to houthi attacks in the red sea, and the global impact. houthi fighters have continued to target the key shipping route in the red sea, despite the uk and us launching air strikes against them. the latest, an oil tanker caught fire after it was struck off the coast of yemen, by the houthis. but that's not all. earlier, uk maritime trade operations reported an incident 60 nautical miles southeast of aden. and, this comes after british maritime security firm ambrey

reported a fire broke out on a vessel 55 miles southeast of aden after it was hit by a missile the crew were reported safe. the us continues to respond to these threats in the red sea. us central command confimed friday its forces shot down an anti—ship ballistic missile targeting its destroyer in the gulf of aden, the uss carney. the missile was launched from houthi—controlled yemen, according to centcom. no injuries or damage were reported. the houthis are, of course, backed by iran. reuters is now reporting that china is getting involved. citing four iranian sources, the report says officials from beijing have been asking their iranian courterparts to help reign in houthi fighters. the discussions reportedly took place in recent meetings in beijing and tehran. china would take notice, because the commercial shipping route is used widely by its vessels.

plus, these attacks come amid a sagging economy in china, heavily dependent on shipping. not to mention, last year, beijing imported 90% of iran's crude oil available for export. the houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on ships in the red sea since november. they say it's in response to israel's war on hamas in the gaza strip. the timeline of course begins with the attacks on by hamas on israel on october 7. 1,300 people were killed and 240 taken hostage. about a month later, the red sea crisis officially begins. the houthis respond to israel's offensive by hijacking a commercial ship in the red sea in november. they have since attacked more than two dozen others, but most have been missiles, and the drones have been intercepted. and onjanuary ii the us carries out a strike on the houthis in yemen, after the houthis warned of further attacks on ships in the red sea.

fast forward to today. as we told you, an oil tanker is struck by houthi fighters and catches fire in the gulf of aden. earlier, i spoke about how the us has been responding alongside allies including the uk, with sabrina singh. she's the pentagon's deputy press secretary and has been briefing reporters on what the us department of defense's central command — centcom — is calling 0peration poseidon archer. the operation comes amid renewed worries about a widening conflict in the region that began with the israel—gaza war. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme, sabrina singh. i want to start with your reaction to the icj ruling. the un's top court has ruled that israel must stop genocidal attacks by its forces. in terms of how countries wage war and military

operations, what is the pentagon's view of what limits countries should set for themselves?— countries should set for themselves? thank you for havin: themselves? thank you for having me _ themselves? thank you for having me on _ themselves? thank you for having me on today. - themselves? thank you for having me on today. we i themselves? thank you for i having me on today. we have been clear from the beginning having me on today. we have been clearfrom the beginning — when the war started, it was a terrorist attack that happened on israeli soil and of course israel has every right to defend itself. but that doesn't mean that israel can't uphold humanitarian laws and the laws of armed conflict. we have been clear from the beginning that we don't want to see innocent palestinians die, innocent civilians, refugees caught in the middle of trying to flee to safe places, to get caught in this war and caught in the middle. we have been very clear in conversations publicly and privately with the israelis and the idf that they need to do everything possible to protect innocent lives and also allow humanitarian aid to flow into gaza. �* ., ., gaza. all right. i will move to the situation _ gaza. all right. i will move to the situation in _ gaza. all right. i will move to the situation in the _ gaza. all right. i will move to the situation in the red - gaza. all right. i will move to the situation in the red sea | the situation in the red sea and the houthi attacks. they

have been several rounds of strikes now and the houthis have been sustained bombardment by saudi arabia for years. why would these strikes deter them? what is the aim here?— what is the aim here? again, the strikes — what is the aim here? again, the strikes are _ what is the aim here? again, the strikes are really - what is the aim here? again, the strikes are really comingl the strikes are really coming from houthi —controlled territories in yemen being launched towards notjust us ships but commercial vessels with no connection to the middle east that are just transiting in international waterway where we see the majority of the world's, is low. when it isn't in their interest anymore to disrupt commercial economic flow through the red sea and through the gulf of aden, and in december use of the secretary of defence announce a coalition, a new operation, operation prosperity guardian to protect vessels transiting through the red sea through joint patrols with our partners in the region, to ensure safety

and to protect. as we see ms mills being shot out of yemen, our ships and coalition partners have engaged the missiles to allow the ship to transit through.— missiles to allow the ship to transit through. you have said that ou transit through. you have said that you have _ transit through. you have said that you have engaged - transit through. you have said that you have engaged them. | transit through. you have said . that you have engaged them. but what is the damage that the pentagon estimates the houthis have sustained our? we pentagon estimates the houthis have sustained our?— have sustained our? we have destroyed — have sustained our? we have destroyed radar _ have sustained our? we have destroyed radar sites, - have sustained our? we have destroyed radar sites, uav . destroyed radar sites, uav facilities, storage facilities for weapons, facilities, storage facilities forweapons, places facilities, storage facilities for weapons, places they operate out of. so we are inflicting incredible cost of their capabilities. we haven't sentin their capabilities. we haven't sent in by no means have we implied that we have eradicated all they capabilities across the map. they still have a robust arsenal. but by our strategic strikes with partners such as the uk and other countries, and our unilateral dynamic strikes, as you have seen, taken in self defence, we are chipping away at their capabilities. the capabilities they had yesterday they no longer had today. they can no

longer had today. they can no longer go back to the storage sites, radarsites, and longer go back to the storage sites, radar sites, and lord successfully commercial ships. again, i am under — i don't think anyone here is under the impression we have eradicated their capabilities. they still maintain them. iran continues to equip and train and support the houthis and other irgc backed militia groups. but we will take straight where we need to protect our forces and to protect commercial ships transiting in the area. to that oint, transiting in the area. to that point, sabrina, _ transiting in the area. to that point, sabrina, you _ transiting in the area. to that point, sabrina, you said - transiting in the area. to that point, sabrina, you said that| point, sabrina, you said that iran supplies them with weapons. both iran and the houthis would deny that. but either way, what has the us done to cut off that supply? what is the us able to do when it comes to the backing from iran? ., ., ~' it comes to the backing from iran? ., u, , it comes to the backing from iran? ., , ., iran? look, iran can deny that they want _ iran? look, iran can deny that they want but _ iran? look, iran can deny that they want but the _ iran? look, iran can deny that they want but the facts - iran? look, iran can deny that they want but the facts are . iran? look, iran can deny that| they want but the facts are the facts. we know iran has a hand in directing and supporting these irgc proxy groups,

whether it be hamas, hezbollah, or with the houthis in yemen. just recently, about a week ago, the us military interdicted a that was transiting weapons from iran, going towards supplying houthis. with more military capabilities. that is one instance of the united states military taking action in being able to seize weapons that were going to restock and refill the houthi capabilities. i won't get into all of our intelligence assessments of how we can interdict weapons, but we can interdict weapons, but we know that iran can continue to support the houthis, but it is a calculation that iran and the houthis will have to make. at what point does because become too much for them? because ultimately, at the end of the day, they are firing missiles at ships that have no connection to the region, that ijust connection to the region, that i just transiting through as part of commercial trade and commercial shipping on an everyday basis. it is really up to the houthis to make the

calculation — at what time does it become financially and economically too much of a strain for them to continue to damage trade in that region? sabrina, you have sent twice that it sabrina, you have sent twice thatitis sabrina, you have sent twice that it is the houthi' decision as to when this ends. drones are not expensive, they have a lot, and iran is applying them. in your view lot, and iran is applying them. in yourview and lot, and iran is applying them. in your view and the pentagon's view, how could this persist in the red sea? i view, how could this persist in the red sea?— the red sea? i can't speak for the red sea? i can't speak for the houthis— the red sea? i can't speak for the houthis but _ the red sea? i can't speak for the houthis but that _ the red sea? i can't speak for the houthis but that is - the red sea? i can't speak for the houthis but that is really i the houthis but that is really up the houthis but that is really up to them to decide when they stop and when they to stop lodging ballistic missiles at ships, and our destroyers, at coalition partners. it is their decision and they calculation as to when they stop the attacks. again, and i know is that you covered this extensively — a comforter timeline on it. it is for the houthis to decide. and to make that calculation on when they decide to stop these reckless and dangerous attacks. what i can tell you is the united states' commitment to upholding

international rule—based order, upholding freedom of navigation, and enduring commercial ships and aaron ships are safe.— commercial ships and aaron ships are safe. sabrina singh, thank you _ ships are safe. sabrina singh, thank you for _ ships are safe. sabrina singh, thank you for the _ ships are safe. sabrina singh, thank you for the time - ships are safe. sabrina singh, thank you for the time you . ships are safe. sabrina singh, l thank you for the time you have given today. we really appreciate it. she course, thank you. let's discuss this further. —— of course, thank you. with me in studio is our panel for the evening — i'm joined by phil stewart, a military and intelligence correspondent at reuters, as well as bassima alghussein, the executive director of the middle east policy council here in dc, and hisham al—0meisy, a senior yemen advisor at the european institute of peace. finally, joining us remotely isjon lang who focuses on trade and supply chains at the eurasia group. i would like to start with you, phil. we heard sabrina singh say they comforter timeline on it and it depends on the houthis. they like to play the long game, though, don't they? that's right. and if you are sitting here and watching, some

34 sitting here and watching, some 3a attacks by houthis, ten rounds of us mentality strikes, and you are looking at this is and you are looking at this is a tit—for—tat fight, that really isn't what it is. what it is is the houthis will not stop. and it is unclear what it will take for the us military to get them to do that. find to get them to do that. and bassima. — to get them to do that. and bassima, in _ to get them to do that. and bassima, in terms - to get them to do that. and bassima, in terms of - to get them to do that. and bassima, in terms of what the houthis are saying when it comes to their motivation, they are saying this is all about the israel— gaza war, the united states and its allies to say does nothing to do with the war. how is this being framed by houthis, exactly? fine war. how is this being framed by houthis, exactly?- war. how is this being framed by houthis, exactly? one of the most strategic _ by houthis, exactly? one of the most strategic advantages - by houthis, exactly? one of the most strategic advantages that l most strategic advantages that iran has in the region is playing the israeli—palestinian conflict to their ability to recruit and inspire people on the ground to fight for whatever cause really advances iran in interests. —— iranian. the iranians are keen to mobilise is underground to be

active and continue to attack us forces whether it be ships going through or troops in iraq and syria. 50 going through or troops in iraq and syria-— and syria. so you are talking about perception _ and syria. so you are talking about perception they - and syria. so you are talking about perception they are, l about perception they are, essentially, and i wonder, in terms of the way the houthis are promoting this, and the way the middle east is seeing it in general, hisham, how is this being viewed in the middle east? , ' east? very different perspective - east? very different perspective on - east? very different perspective on the l east? very different - perspective on the middle east? very different _ perspective on the middle east. they are seeing it as a war between basically good and evil. the houthis have framed this narrative locally and now they are propagating it, that this is a fight between the west and the muslim nation. they have got very good at it and they have recruited between 30 and 40,000 fighters to the alex sarr flood brigades, locally. this is resonating pretty well. —— al—aqsa. it is

resonating in egypt, morocco, and algiers, and whizzing cheerleaders from places like london and washington and in brussels, and it is really scary, because it is getting a lot of traction.— lot of traction. you say it is sca . lot of traction. you say it is scary- this _ lot of traction. you say it is scary- this is _ lot of traction. you say it is scary. this is - _ lot of traction. you say it is scary. this is - these - lot of traction. you say it is scary. this is - these are l scary. this is — these are brutalfighters, the scary. this is — these are brutal fighters, the way they fight. you know this better than anyone, hisham. you enjoyed being taken by them and held by them for months. how is it that they can gain that sort of support after the sorts of actions they have committed against others and themselves? 0ne against others and themselves? one of the things they are good at is weaponising grievances. they take shared traumas that have happened in the general public and muslims imposed by gaza and they turn it around and pin grievances on an external battle. it is us versus them, the external flow. and they weaponising it. and they romanticise their violence in a way by using religious rhetoric. they use verses from

the koran, and they say the whole campaign is called the promised conquest and the holy jihad, the promised conquest of jerusalem, the holy land, and thejihad against the jerusalem, the holy land, and the jihad against the heathens, against the thejihad against the heathens, against the dues, against the christians, anybody who stands in the way of the muslim nation. , ., ., ., , nation. john, i want to bring ou in nation. john, i want to bring you in here _ nation. john, i want to bring you in here because - nation. john, i want to bring you in here because while i you in here because while hisham is talking about the way the houthi is framing this, the us and its allies would, of course, argue they had no choice but to proceed in this way, that this was defence. could you explain the economic impact this is having on international trade? impact this is having on internationaltrade? it impact this is having on international trade? it has been significant. - international trade? it has been significant. as - international trade? it has been significant. as soon | international trade? it has i been significant. as soon as you have this sort of activity in a checkpoint like the red sea, your document a number of downstream impact. as soon as you talk about global supply chains, you arejust you talk about global supply chains, you are just talking about direct imports but about upstream import — upstream

imports into the manufacturing of downstream goods. the tentacles go all over the place. and it is being particularly felt in europe. that said, particularly on the heels of the logistics disruptions we saw in the midst of the worst of the covid—i9 pandemic, a lot of resilience has been built into the system, so there is a lot more new since then, shipping capacity brought online, that, to some degree, will mitigate some of the worst impacts of — of the current crisis in the suez canal or the red sea as ships circumnavigate africa as an alternative round. but we are seeing impacts downstream in the automotive industry in europe and in other industries. so the trying to act quickly. roy has also had that report about china. can you talk about how the pressure on iran might

be the solution here? it is clear what _ be the solution here? it is clear what might - be the solution here? it is clear what might happen with iran, — clear what might happen with iran, if— clear what might happen with iran, if china buys 90% of your '5 exportable oil as you 's exportable oil as you mentioned, china has some influence. i have it on authority that even today with the attack on the fuel tanker, there — the attack on the fuel tanker, there were chinese pla ships in there were chinese pla ships in the vicinity that did not respond to the distress call. so respond to the distress call. 50 how— respond to the distress call. so how much is china willing to put skin— so how much is china willing to put skin in— so how much is china willing to put skin in the game here? if they— put skin in the game here? if they are _ put skin in the game here? if they are willing to protect global— they are willing to protect global trade. and as you're up against — global trade. and as you're up against mentioned we are seeing 45% declines in freight shipping through the suez canat _ shipping through the suez canal. that's a major disruption in global trade. so china — disruption in global trade. so china has_ disruption in global trade. so china has an interest here in doing — china has an interest here in doing something, but so far no skin_ doing something, but so far no skin in— doing something, but so far no skin in the _ doing something, but so far no skin in the game.— skin in the game. right. when it comes to — skin in the game. right. when it comes to iran's _ skin in the game. right. when it comes to iran's role - skin in the game. right. when it comes to iran's role in - skin in the game. right. when it comes to iran's role in all i it comes to iran's role in all of this, we had sabrina singh say they are trying to disrupt the supply of weapons. in your view, could you lay out the calculation that the pentagon is making and not taking on

iran more directly?- is making and not taking on iran more directly? sure. the coal, i iran more directly? sure. the goal. i have _ iran more directly? sure. the goal, i have been _ iran more directly? sure. the goal, i have been on - iran more directly? sure. the goal, i have been on two - iran more directly? sure. the i goal, i have been on two troops when _ goal, i have been on two troops when pentagon officials to the region— when pentagon officials to the region since the war in gaza broke — region since the war in gaza broke out— region since the war in gaza broke out and in both of those you saw — broke out and in both of those you saw the us defence secretary and the head of central _ secretary and the head of central command trying to manage _ central command trying to manage the fallout from the crisis — manage the fallout from the crisis in _ manage the fallout from the crisis in gaza to try and contain _ crisis in gaza to try and contain it so we didn't have a regional— contain it so we didn't have a regional war. and basically what — regional war. and basically what you are seeing the us do is trying — what you are seeing the us do is trying to deal with all of the — is trying to deal with all of the symptoms of the conflict without _ the symptoms of the conflict without going after iran. and on it — without going after iran. and on 11 january there were two navy— on 11 january there were two navy seal who lost their lives, the pentagon spokesperson did bring _ the pentagon spokesperson did bring this up. intercepting the battistic— bring this up. intercepting the ballistic metal components, the guidance — ballistic metal components, the guidance system that the houthi is needed, but clearly they have — is needed, but clearly they have much more capability. the us does— have much more capability. the us does not want to go after iran, — us does not want to go after iran, doesn't want to go after houthi — iran, doesn't want to go after houthi leadership and the houthi _ houthi leadership and the houthi seemed to be ready for a fight _ houthi seemed to be ready for a fight |t— houthi seemed to be ready for a fiuht. , houthi seemed to be ready for a fiht. , ., ,. ., houthi seemed to be ready for a fiuht. , ., fight. it is fascinating, you think of iran _

fight. it is fascinating, you think of iran and _ fight. it is fascinating, you think of iran and the - fight. it is fascinating, you think of iran and the us i fight. it is fascinating, youj think of iran and the us as having these huge capabilities but these are fighters who have withstood years of bombardment by the saudi government and they can handle it and are willing to handle it no matter the cost in some ways. hold that thought, all of you. let's look a little closer at the economic impact. increased safety concerns have prompted hundreds of cargo ships to avoid the red sea altogether, causing fears it could have a widespread economic impact. to give you an idea of the drastic change for these vessels, this is marine data showing container ship traffic back in november. you can see how busy that route is, up from the red sea to the suez canal. and this is the current map — ships have all but abandoned the red sea and are going round the southern tip of africa's cape of good hope. this shows you what our panel has been disgusting. —— discussing.

that means vessels are now adding nearly two weeks to their journeys. the lengthy detour adds nearly 3,500 miles — 6,500 kilometres — to theirjourneys and costs an additional $1 million in extra fuel. this could also impact the 12% of global trade worth over $1 trillion that passes through the red sea each year. there are concerns that the crisis could push the prices of goods even higher, delaying deliveries by weeks or even longer. it's already affecting manufacturers in europe, causing telsa and volvo to temporarily in europe, causing tesla and volvo to temporarily suspend vehicle production at their plants in germany and belgium due to shortages of parts. and swedish furniture giant ikea warned some products could have less availability. riccardo viaggi is secretary general of the cece — that's the committee for european construction equipment — which represents more than 1,000 european manufacturers. he says the trade sectors that depend on now—diverted cargo

are bracing for the worst. the sector is being hit quite badly. forthe the sector is being hit quite badly. for the moment this is not nearly as negative, as hard—hitting as the 2021 supply chain disruptions, but we are only waiting for it to get worse. when these two weeks you just mentioned, and the increased costs will become the norm, will become the sustained norm, will become the sustained norm for days and weeks, or maybe even months, and these supplied change disruptions will be very bad. it may even be similar to what we have had in 2021 with factory closures or assembly lines closures, and down the line it may be machines and equipment that are needed forjob sites all over europe will not be delivered any longer. let's return to our panel now.

with me in the studio is phil stewart at reuters, bassima alghussein with the middle east policy council and the european institute of peace's hisham al—0meisy. joining us remotely isjon lang with the eurasia group. i would like to return to you, because one former raf helicopter captain told me that helicopter captain told me that he thought one way this could all unfold and potentially be resolved in terms of the west and their worries about global trade is that saudi arabia might see a weakness and say it is time to up our attacks again and this is moment of vulnerability for the houthis. what you make of that? it is a fascinating _ what you make of that? it is a fascinating idea _ what you make of that? it is a fascinating idea but _ what you make of that? it is a fascinating idea but so - what you make of that? it is a fascinating idea but so far- what you make of that? it is a fascinating idea but so far the | fascinating idea but so far the saudis have sought to extricate themselves from the crisis in yemen and from there war. and our reporting at reuters, so far we have not sent any appetite from the saudis to get involved here. if the saudis

think a quick fight with the houthis would be a quick way out of this conflict, i think history would prove that wrong. looking to the future, hisham, yemen as you know better than most is going through a severe economic crisis. this won't help. could that put pressure on the people to demand that the houthis stop these attacks, is that one solution? h0. the houthis stop these attacks, is that one solution?— is that one solution? no, the saudis have _ is that one solution? no, the saudis have tried _ is that one solution? no, the saudis have tried that - is that one solution? no, the | saudis have tried that formula before. they thought if they squeeze yemen enough, they could force a blockade, shut airports, that would force the people to stand up and rise up against the houthis. they did not work. if anything it further galvanised support for the houthis globally because again houthis really good at propaganda and anything that went wrong they depended on external folks. went wrong they depended on externalfolks. they went wrong they depended on external folks. they pinned went wrong they depended on externalfolks. they pinned on the saudis and that is where i agree with what philjust said, the reason saudis are trying to

extricate themselves. they don't want to be embroiled in the conflict, they want to shut that door. yemen has always been saudi's vietnam and they have made a lot of concessions over the last 18 months to sign a peace roadmap. they want to basically get out of there. and i have noticed a lot of talk with foreigners and diplomats trying to entice the saudis and the amorite is to get involved, even with the forces in the red sea, but the saudis and uae and other countries have blocked those efforts because they don't want to get involved and get back on the wagon of years of war. . , get back on the wagon of years of war. ., , ., ,. ., of war. that is fascinating what you _ of war. that is fascinating what you said _ of war. that is fascinating what you said about - of war. that is fascinating what you said about the l of war. that is fascinating i what you said about the fact that at the end of the day this is saudi arabia's vietnam. bassima, in terms of saudi arabia's perspective, is displaying to their advantage, suddenly painting the houthis has a really disrupting force that had to be dealt with perhaps? and therefore reframing some of their actions? i

reframing some of their actions?— reframing some of their actions? ., �* ,, ., actions? i don't think so at all. actions? i don't think so at all- the — actions? i don't think so at all. the houthis _ actions? i don't think so at all. the houthis were - actions? i don't think so at i all. the houthis were already extremely unpopular in the west, and as we are very aware that the saudis were very much on track to have normalised relations with israel which would have created another huge trading opportunity for both the saudis and the israelis. and so there were many potential commercial benefits for both sides to gain. now because of the situation they are not going to be able to get involved for probably another decade or so, and any kind of commercial relationship with israel, because their domestic political pressure that they see in support of the people in palestine. i see in support of the people in palestine-— palestine. i 'ust want to wrap this u- palestine. i just want to wrap this up quickly _ palestine. i just want to wrap this up quickly with _ palestine. i just want to wrap this up quickly with john. - this up quickly withjohn. john, wejust highlighted their how difficult it is to see this coming to an end quickly. so what, very quickly, would be the potential worst—case scenario if this goes on for months?— scenario if this goes on for months? ~ ,. ., ., months? worst-case scenario

would be _ months? worst-case scenario would be an — months? worst-case scenario would be an expansion - months? worst-case scenario would be an expansion of - months? worst-case scenario would be an expansion of the | would be an expansion of the current conflict. it is hard for the throughput disruption, through the red sea itself to get much worse, it has been a precipitous drop off in container traffic. precipitous drop off in containertraffic. but precipitous drop off in container traffic. but we also have to remember this is not happening in isolation. so we have throughput issues in the panama canal, we have issues in the black sea, i would say a thing that would be a consideration for making conditions worse is right now a lot of the challenges on the supply side... crosstalk i'm sorry, we are running out of time. but clearly it won't be resolved anytime soon and the consequences could be very severe, thank you for your time this evening, to our panel, at all for now but please keep watching. the weekend's weather is looking relatively quiet, certainly quieter than we started the week with all that stormy weather. still quite breezy with a few showers, particularly across parts of scotland.

but for most of us, a dry weekend in store and things turning milder, particularly by the time we get to sunday. so to start off saturday, i think temperatures will be around about one or two degrees in the south and south—east of england. quite a chilly start here, a touch of frost, perhaps a few mist and fog patches around. they should clear away pretty quickly. windiest weather will be in the north and north—west. we could see gusts 60, even 70 miles an hour up towards the northern isles through saturday morning. some rain lingering mainly to the north of the great glen. i think for scotland, perhaps the odd light spot of rain for northern ireland as well. but i think for southern scotland, england and wales we're looking at a dry day with some long spells of sunshine, areas of cloud drifting around, particularly towards the west, and highs around nine or ten degrees. into saturday evening then, it's again going to turn quite chilly in the south and the east for a time with those lighter winds. but more cloud rolling in towards the west could be the odd spot of drizzle coming out of this cloud as well. and it will be turning milder. belfast, plymouth, eight or nine degrees first thing sunday, but only round about three there in norwich. and through the day on sunday

then, we've got a high pressure sitting out towards the near continent, this frontal system moving its way in from the atlantic that is going to draw in these southerly winds all the way from north africa. could be some dusty conditions in the skies as well as the mild air that we're going to be seeing. so things, i think, a little bit hazy with all that saharan dust around on sunday for some of us, some of it coming down in this rain that will arrive across northern ireland and western scotland later on in the afternoon. but a good deal of dry weather before that arrives, perhaps a little bit more cloud through parts of the midlands, south—west england as well. sunny spells either side of that and the top temperatures in the west up to around about 13 for the likes of glasgow and belfast into monday. that frontal system has slipped its way a little bit further southwards and eastward, so it's likely to bring some rain across much of northern england. i think wales perhaps down towards the far south—west, just across parts of scotland, it'll turn to snow for a time, perhaps over the highest ground of the southern uplands and to the north and the cooler air we're looking at single figures, seven or eight degrees, still not particularly cold, but 14, possibly 15 in that warmer air down towards the south—east. so the week ahead still fairly

unsettled in the north and west. showers at times drier conditions further south and east. and for all of us, it's a mild week ahead.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme.

i love hunting down bad guys and ending them. we wanted to make a statement, hence the choice to use a detonator and a bomb. you had people sitting on the street, drinking chai. you had al-qaeda on every street corner. as soon as the vehicle stops, the doors open and it's showtime. would you say that it was a successful operation? yes. yemen's armed factions have an impact throughout the middle east and beyond, most recently as the houthi group attacks ships in the red sea.

voiceover: the us and uk hit. around 30 sites across yemen...