Russia claims full control of Kursk region while Ukraine denies it

Russia announced on Saturday that it has fully regained control of the Kursk region, a claim immediately disputed by the Ukrainian side.

Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov made the declaration in his report to President Vladimir Putin, saying Russian troops on Friday "liberated" the last settlement under Ukrainian control in the Kursk.

In his response to the army's report published by the Kremlin, Putin said that Ukraine's attacks on the Kursk region have completely failed, and its losses will "certainly be reflected on the entire line of combat contact."

He added that the defeat creates conditions for further successful military actions on other fronts.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Telegram Saturday that Russia's claim of completing the operation in the Kursk region does not correspond to reality, adding that Ukraine's operation in certain areas of Kursk continues, and there is no threat of an encirclement of its units.

Yemenis took to the streets on Friday in Al-Sabeen Square in the capital, Sanaa, as well as in other areas under Houthi control, to express solidarity with Iran and Lebanon.

The demonstrations were held to protest ongoing military operations by the United States and Israel against the two countries.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi reiterated on Friday that his forces will stand firmly with Iran. He stressed that the group is ready to take action should the situation require it.

Officials from the group stood behind those remarks while attending the demonstrations.

"As our leader said, we should observe and monitor, and move the situation, with our hands already on the trigger, in the sense that we are ready for any new situation, for any emergency and for what the situation calls us, because we are ready," said Houthi official Ali Al-Dailami.