World News Roundup Saturday
Houthis release 159 members of Yemeni government forces, attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf and a fire on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump exempts Russia from oil sanctions, and renewed protests in France.
The Houthis announced the release of 159 members of the Yemeni government forces who had been detained since the resumption of hostilities in July, as part of an amnesty issued by the group in September. In a separate development, a Houthi-affiliated news agency reported that three children were killed in Saudi strikes on Yemen on Friday night. Two oil tankers were attacked off the coast of Saudi Arabia in Gulf waters on Friday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced a fire on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz after it struck a naval mine. On the diplomatic front, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed that his country supports a political solution between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, saying in Baghdad on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation: "We support a comprehensive and inclusive political solution, because it is the only practical and sustainable way to resolve this issue." In another matter, US President Donald Trump exempted Russia from sanctions targeting its oil revenues that were recently approved by Congress. Protests in France continue and are expanding in scope and violence.