Morning briefing: Saudi strikes on Mokha, Iranian airlines face global shutdown

At least six people were killed and eight others injured in Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen’s strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha, according to the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency.

The casualties included two children and a woman, while those injured included a child and a woman, Saba reported. Saudi Arabia backs Yemen’s internationally recognized government in its war against the Houthi movement.

In recent days, the Houthis have claimed responsibility for drone and ballistic-missile attacks targeting Riyadh and energy facilities along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.

Iranian airlines face US sanctions

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said all Iranian commercial airlines would cease operations globally from Sept. 23 as part of broad secondary sanctions intended to isolate Tehran’s civil aviation network.

Speaking to CNBC, Bessent said international hubs serving Iranian aircraft would be excluded from the US banking system. He warned that foreign operators could risk access to dollar clearing if they refueled Iranian planes, provided landing facilities or sold tickets for their flights.

Iranian officials had not immediately issued a public response to the planned restrictions.

Erdogan, Lebanese prime minister meet in New York

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Turkevi Center in New York, across from the United Nations headquarters.

The closed-door talks covered bilateral relations and regional developments, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate. Erdogan said Ankara was continuing efforts to help establish lasting peace and stability in Lebanon.

He also called for an international initiative to replace the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, and said Türkiye would continue providing humanitarian and medical assistance to the Lebanese people.

Other major developments

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was alarmed by escalating daily Russian attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, which he said were causing a record number of civilian casualties.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, according to local media.
• The UK Maritime Trade Operations center said an LPG tanker was hit by debris from unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz.
• China confirmed that President Xi Jinping would pay a state visit to the United States this week for talks on world peace amid the Iran war.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes if Russia stopped targeting energy facilities, infrastructure and food exports.
• A Vermont jury convicted Jason Eaton, 51, of attempted murder for shooting three Palestinian college students near the University of Vermont in November 2023, The Guardian reported.
• British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK would provide defensive air-to-air refueling support to Saudi Arabia following Houthi attacks, the BBC reported.
• “Lockheed Martin” received a US Army contract worth up to $1.2 billion to produce the Increment 2 variant of its Precision Strike Missile.
• US President Donald Trump and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani discussed housing, affordability and other city issues at Gracie Mansion.
• US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said the dispute over Türkiye’s purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system would be resolved.
• Poland could eventually host up to 15,000 US troops as Warsaw seeks a permanent American military base, Deputy Defense Minister Stanislaw Wziatek said, according to TVP.
• An Iranian official said the US had refused visas to members of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s media team ahead of his planned New York visit.
• The UN again condemned persistent cross-border Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including attempted strikes on Riyadh.
• China expelled two senior generals from the Communist Party and military service over serious disciplinary and legal violations, state media reported.
• Israel prevented Palestinian patients and wounded people in Gaza from traveling abroad for treatment for a second consecutive day because of Jewish holidays, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.
• A Sudanese civil society group accused the Rapid Support Forces of killing five civilians and injuring 27 others in an attack on a gold market in North Kordofan.

Business and economy

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani signed a memorandum of understanding on critical minerals in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Rubio described Italy as a strong partner and said Washington wanted to continue working with Rome on critical minerals.

Cuba forecast a power deficit of 1,975 megawatts during Monday’s peak evening hours as the country continued to face severe electricity shortages following the collapse of its national grid the previous week.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines said available generation was expected to reach 1,215 megawatts against projected demand of 3,150 megawatts. The resulting generation shortfall was estimated at 1,935 megawatts, while the expected impact on electricity services was put at 1,975 megawatts.