Tasnim News Agency, citing a provincial governor, said an explosion near Islamabad-e Gharb in western Iran was caused by an old artillery shell.

China Coast Guard said on Aug 1 it staged a rights-protection enforcement and control drill near Huangyan Island, focusing on onboard inspections and arrests, interception of breach attempts, and forcible towing. The coast guard said Huangyan Island is Chinese territory and that it will intensify enforcement and control in adjacent waters to defend national sovereignty and maritime rights.

On Aug. 1 the Houthi-run Humanitarian Action Coordination Center in Sana'a denied reports it intends to charge transit fees in the Bab al-Mandeb, saying security passage is completely free and all vessels outside embargo lists may pass safely. The center said it published an email for ships to request security passage and warned any individual or entity demanding payments in the name of Bab al-Mandeb transit does not represent Yemen.