Yemen denies IDF strikes in territory, Trump to depart for Mideast visit

A Qatari mission has begun searching for the remains of US hostages killed by Islamic State in Syria a decade ago, two sources briefed on the mission said, reviving a longstanding effort to recover their bodies. 

Islamic State, which controlled swathes of Syria and Iraq at the peak of its power from 2014-2017, beheaded numerous people in captivity, including Western hostages, and released videos of the killings.

Qatar's international search and rescue group began the search on Wednesday, accompanied by several Americans, the sources said. The group, deployed by Doha to earthquake zones in Morocco and Turkey in recent years, had so far found the remains of three bodies, the sources said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Friday that the priority for the Trump administration is releasing the hostages from Gaza.

The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) struck several Hamas terrorists who were operating in the area of Jabalya, in northern Gaza, the security forces announced on Friday.

Yemen had denied reports by the Saudi news channel Al-Hadath that Israel was responsible for airstrikes that targeted the Ras Isa fuel port between Friday night and Saturday morning, Ynet reported. 

Rather than an airstrike, an explosion at the port occurred after a tanker carrying fuel exploded, according to the report.

A Gulf diplomatic source, who declined to be named or disclose his position, told The Media Line, "President Donald Trump will issue a declaration regarding the State of Palestine and American recognition of it, and that there will be the establishment of a Palestinian state without the presence of Hamas."

The source also added, "If an announcement of American recognition of the State of Palestine is made, it will be the most important declaration that will change the balance of power in the Middle East, and more countries will join the Abraham Accords."