Fighting intensifies in Yemen, Nepal flood aftermath

0:00Al Jazeera podcasts. Pakistan's Defence Minister says the Mecca Joint Defence Alliance could be activated. Kauaja Al-Safis says an attack on one member is to be treated as an attack on all. On Tuesday, Yemen's Ansarul Houthis attacks Saudi Arabia, targeting energy facilities and other civilian sites. Riyadh has responded to those attacks. The Houthis say Saudi-backed government forces have launched more than 30 air strikes across Yemen. There's been heavy fighting west of Tayyis. It is all part of an escalating conflict and battle for territory in Yemen. The Houthis control the capital, Sunna and the North West, including most of the Red Sea coast. The internationally recognized government controls much of southern and eastern Yemen. Global oil prices have surged to $100 a barrel following more attacks between the US and Iran.

1:02The US military says it's destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf. Central Command says the strikes are in response to recent attacks by Iran's revolution regard, targeting a US Navy vessel with ballistic missiles. Centcom says the warship evaded both attacks and that no personnel were hurt. The US says crews onboard the Iranian vessels were ordered to abandon the ships before the attacks. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned Iran against more attacks. The back and forth is pretty straightforward and that is that Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships. And for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers. And I think you'll see that again today. Central Command has also rejected an earlier statement by Iran's revolution regard that it had targeted two US Navy destroyers. The US military says no American warships have been struck and that all attempted attacks by Iran have failed.

2:04Iran also says it attacked a US military base in Jordan. Missile interceptions were seen near the city of Erbid, about 70 kilometers north of Iran. Jordan says its air defenses down 18 of the 20 missiles launched towards its territory. The United Nations says more aid is urgently needed to support survivors of the devastating floods on the border of Nepal and China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Thousands of displaced people are living in shelters after their homes were destroyed. The UN and its partners are appealing for nearly $50 million for humanitarian assistance. Have you ever had the strange feeling we've been here before? I've always resisted this idea that history repeats itself, but the problem is it does. I think history is like a map. You know, if you don't understand history, you're like someone stuck on a mountain without knowing which way to go. And history allows you to understand where you are and who you are. That's the way we should look at the past. What is the aim, the past, that we can pluck out and plant again?

3:07I'm Mohammad Hassan and this is Deja Vu, a podcast that connects our turbulent times to history's most pivotal moments. It's a kind of an interesting dance that happens of all of these different figures. This is only a fraction of the great history that we lost, but we did not lose anything. Join me for real conversations with historians and public thinkers who unravel the past and challenge what we think we know about today. There is so much from the past that has still the capacity to tell us how to make our way through the modern world and we must not project that knowledge anymore.