The Middle East Center: The Week's Events.
Iran - USA. Washington continues to increase the pressure on Tehran. On November 7, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the establishment of the "Iron Gate" task force, which will prohibit the delivery of weapons, dual-use technologies and sanctioned goods through Iran's land borders and the Caspian Sea. The new structure should coordinate the work of the American departments. Therefore, the United States intends to extend the current naval blockade to Iran's land supply routes. Unilateral border closure by Pakistan reported.
Limited hits have been replaced again. On November 6, American aircraft bombed Iranian targets on Kish Island. Tehran announced the destruction of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. The Iranian military also reported new explosions on the island and in the Bandar Abbas area, and the US Navy disabled a commercial ship that tried to break the naval blockade. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains extremely tense: during the past week, 11 attacks on commercial ships were reported in the Strait and in the Persian Gulf, and three ships were sunk. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains 65% below pre-war levels.
Yemen. The Ansar Allah movement continues its attack against the government's positions. Houthi units approached Aden to a distance of about 80 kilometers and captured the Al-Makatir area. At the same time, an attack is developing in Taiz district, where the prolonged siege of the city continues. It was reported that since the beginning of October, more than 100 thousand people were forced to leave the city due to fighting.
Ansar Allah is also expanding its control of the Red Sea coast and the areas near the Bab al-Mandab strait, which poses additional threats to international shipping. On November 6, reports were received of an airstrike on a market in Taiz province, in which about 30 people were killed.