Live Middle East: US shoots down four long-range missiles over the Red Sea

Live

1. 06:21

   Ukraine’s foreign minister visits India

   Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit. India has been an ally of Russia since the Cold War. Ukraine hopes to strengthen ties with a visit.

   Kuleba is meeting with his Indian counterpart, according to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. He will also pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.

   Last week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. India has so far avoided making critical statements about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Indian government has emphasized that the country wants to contribute to conversations about peace.

   Earlier this week, Modi reported via X that his country is providing humanitarian support to Ukraine. Just before that, he congratulated Russian leader Putin on his re-election.

2. 06:09

   US shoots down four long-range missiles over the Red Sea

   The United States shot down four long-range missiles over the Red Sea on Wednesday night. The American military command in the Middle East (Centcom) announced this on Wednesday on X.

   The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, fired the missiles at an American warship, according to Centcom. That ‘turned into self-defense’.

   No injuries or damage were reported.

3. 10:46 PM, Yesterday

   Welcome to this live blog

   This was the most important news about the crisis in the Middle East on Wednesday, March 27:

   • The Dutch naval ship Tromp has arrived in the Red Sea. There it will take part in an international mission against the Yemeni Houthis who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones for months.

   • Israel wants to talk to the US soon about the impending offensive in Rafah. On Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled the meeting after the US failed to veto a resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza in the UN Security Council.

   • At least eighteen Palestinians have been killed in food drops in Gaza. On Tuesday, six Gazans drowned trying to rescue food parcels that fell into the sea.

   Read yesterday’s full live blog here.