The Times of Israel is liveblogging Friday’s events as they happen.
Trump shares video purporting to show deadly strike on Houthi fighters
US President Donald Trump posts a video purportedly showing dozens of Houthi fighters being killed in an American strike on Yemen, adding the comment “oops.”
Resembling images shot from military drones or other loitering aircraft, the black-and-white footage Trump posted to his Truth Social network shows several dozen human figures from an almost vertical angle.
“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,” Trump writes in an accompanying text.
American forces have carried out major raids on Yemen in recent weeks in response to the group’s attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Gathered in a loose oval along a road, the people in the video are superimposed with a gun camera-style crosshair.
A few seconds in, a bright flash appears in the middle of the scene, followed by billowing smoke.
The footage cuts to a wider shot showing a column of smoke over the apparent impact site and several vehicles parked further up the road.
The camera then cuts closer again to show a broad crater at the point of impact. No bodies are readily identifiable.
These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!
They will never sink our ships again!
Donald Trump Truth Social 04/04/25 05:40 PM pic.twitter.com/zafEdKwKtM
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 4, 2025
“Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis,” Trump writes.
“They will never sink our ships again!”
US says Rubio discussed tariffs with Netanyahu after Israel hit with 17% import duty
WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed tariffs with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the State Department says in readout of their conversation on Friday, in the aftermath of a sweeping new tariff policy announced by the United States.
Unspecified Israeli goods exports to the United States, Israel’s largest single trading partner, face a 17% tariff.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to underscore US support for Israel,” says the US readout. “The secretary discussed the situation in Gaza and the administration’s resolve to free the hostages in Gaza and recently announced tariffs.”
There is no statement on the call from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Report: Netanyahu planning to visit the White House on Monday
WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit the White House on Monday, Axios reports, citing four sources with knowledge of the matter.
The report adds that if the visit takes place as planned, the premier will be the first foreign leader to meet with US President Donald Trump in person to try to negotiate a deal to remove tariffs.
Trump in touch with Israel, India and Vietnam over trade deal talks — CNN
US President Donald Trump is in touch with representatives from Vietnam, India and Israel to negotiate trade deals that could alleviate proposed tariffs on those countries in advance of a deadline next week, CNN reports, citing a source.
Anti-Israel protester interrupts Microsoft’s 50th anniversary party over AI contract
REDMOND, Washington — A pro-Palestinian protester interrupts the keynote event of Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration, the latest backlash over the tech industry’s work to supply artificial intelligence technology to the Israeli military.
The protest happens as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman presents product updates and a long-term vision for the company’s AI assistant product, Copilot, to an audience that includes Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.
“Mustafa, shame on you,” shouts a woman in the audience. “You claim that you care about using AI for good but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military.”
She says that 50,000 people in Gaza have died in the conflict sparked by the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, claiming the war is a genocide.
“Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” Suleyman says. The protester continues, shouting that he and “all of Microsoft” have blood on their hands.
Houthis claim responsibility for launching drone that was downed by IDF
The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen take responsibility for launching a drone at Israel this evening, claiming to have targeted a “military target” in the Tel Aviv area.
According to the IDF, the drone was intercepted by air defenses, in the Dead Sea area.
Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen have launched at least 10 ballistic missiles at Israel.
The Houthis also claim to have shot down an American reconnaissance drone over Yemen today.