Sep 24, 2026
Saudi-led coalition forces intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis targeting the Red Sea port of Yanbu and the city of Taif, with Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti calling on troops to be ready to sacrifice their lives.
US and Iranian officials held three hours of face-to-face negotiations in New York, the first such talks since June, occurring on the same day President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly he could 'annihilate' Iran if the conflict went unresolved. Iran reportedly hardened its terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, demanding a ceasefire tied to lifting Yemen blockades and immediate release of $24 billion in frozen funds.
The foreign ministers of G7 nations issued a joint statement condemning Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia and calling on Iran to end its arming and support for the Yemen-based group. The statement comes ahead of the UN General Assembly and addresses concerns about maritime shipping attacks and regional escalation.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed to provide defensive air-to-air refueling for Saudi jets for a limited time period to help counter Iran-backed Houthi attacks, marking closer UK-Saudi military cooperation amid escalating regional tensions.
Houthi fighters are pushing to seize strategic heights in Yemen's Kahboub Mountains to cut off the Red Sea coast from Saudi-backed forces, following reports that President Trump called off American airstrikes at the last minute even as troops were loading bombs onto aircraft.
President Trump reversed a decision to launch airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen at the last minute after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged restraint, according to reports. Target lists had been approved and bombs were being loaded onto warplanes.
President Donald Trump decided on Sunday not to join Saudi Arabia in joint military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, after two weeks of deliberation over the kingdom's plea for military assistance. The decision comes as Trump balances the request against his need for Saudi cooperation in his broader conflict with Iran.
Ukraine's intelligence service reports Russia plans to deploy at least 27 Yemeni nationals in combat operations against Ukraine, as the Kremlin issues its 18th denial since summer of plans to mobilize another 300,000 Russian citizens by year's end.
Explosions and smoke were reported near Riyadh's international airport following emergency alerts warning of a 'hostile aerial threat.' The incident marks the first such alert for the Saudi capital since the latest escalation with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group began in July.
Saudi Arabia issued rare air raid alerts for Riyadh and other cities after intercepting a Houthi drone, with debris killing one Yemeni resident. Smoke and flames were visible near Riyadh's international airport following the attack.
Pakistan's military spokesperson said the country will go 'to any extent' to defend Saudi Arabia, citing the Mecca defense pact, as Houthi drone attacks on the kingdom intensify. One Yemeni resident was killed by debris from an intercepted drone in Taif.
The US State Department approved the potential sale of up to 48 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, marking the first time the kingdom would receive the advanced stealth aircraft as it faces escalating threats from Houthi rebels.
Saudi Arabia accused Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels of attempting to attack Mecca, Islam's holiest city, prompting regional condemnation but no military support. The Houthis have denied responsibility for the alleged attack.
Saudi Arabia conducted hundreds of airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen after Iran-backed rebels launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities, including an alleged attack near Mecca that the Houthis deny. The escalation marks a significant widening of the broader Middle East conflict that began in February.
Houthi drone strikes forced Saudi Arabia to close its key East-West pipeline capable of transporting 7 million barrels per day, causing oil prices to surge with Brent crude topping $109 and WTI reaching $105. The pipeline was later restored, easing supply concerns.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized the strategic Hanish islands and Perim Island in the Red Sea, completing their takeover of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline and tightening control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping route for global oil supplies. The advance has raised concerns about potential disruptions to energy corridors and increased pressure on Saudi oil exports.
Iran-backed Houthis have captured a key port city and island along Yemen's Red Sea coast, causing security concerns around the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Strait of Hormuz. The offensive has displaced thousands of Yemenis to Djibouti and forced Somali businesses to rethink shipping routes, while the rebels claim new attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Yemen's Houthis launched over 50 strikes on Saudi Arabia in 24 hours, targeting military bases and civilian areas, injuring at least 13 civilians. Gulf Arab states postponed a planned meeting with Iran to discuss the Strait of Hormuz as fighting intensified.
President Trump suggested the US could remain in Iran to secure its oil, drawing parallels to US involvement in Venezuela's oil reserves. He also said the Iran war would end after US midterm elections and claimed Houthis asked the US not to intervene in Yemen.
The UN's International Organization for Migration reports that at least 46,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since fighting between Houthi forces and pro-government troops escalated last week, with the number rising by the hour. The renewed conflict is forcing civilians to flee their homes, adding to Yemen's long-running humanitarian crisis.
Anthropic disclosed that a group in northern Yemen, where Iran-backed Houthi militants operate, used its Claude AI model to support development of missile and rocket navigation, control, and guidance software. The company blocked the attempts and released a threat intelligence report detailing the incident.
Anthropic disclosed that groups in Yemen attempted to use its Claude AI to develop guided missiles, while China, Iran, and UAE-directed actors used the platform for surveillance, cyber operations, and influence campaigns.
Saudi Arabia is confronting a multi-front security crisis as Houthi rebels advance toward Red Sea shipping routes, Iraqi militias force the closure of a major oil pipeline through drone attacks, and Iran continues disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation is testing the kingdom's national security and economic resilience.
AI company Anthropic released a threat intelligence report detailing how it disrupted multiple attempts to misuse its Claude AI models for weapons design, cyber-espionage, surveillance, and propaganda operations. The company identified actors in Yemen working on missile projects, Iranian groups spreading propaganda and spying on dissidents, and Chinese entities conducting surveillance campaigns.
Pakistan delivered a Saudi warning to Iran to control its Yemeni Houthi allies after major attacks on Saudi Arabia wounded 73 people, as the newly formed Makkah Defence Alliance between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey could be activated if attacks continue.
Brent crude oil prices surged to near $100 per barrel after Saudi Arabia reported attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants on energy facilities, causing temporary operational disruptions. Additional strikes were reported at Iran's Kharg Island export hub, raising fears of supply disruptions in the Middle East.
Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people and igniting fires at multiple oil facilities including Saudi Aramco sites. The strikes hit civilian and energy infrastructure in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan, and Najran, with the Saudi-led coalition vowing to respond.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched attacks on civilian sites and energy facilities across southern Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people including women and children, according to the Saudi-led coalition. The strikes hit cities including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jizan and Najran, causing fires at energy facilities and marking a major escalation.
Saudi Arabia and the United States conducted joint strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq in July after drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities, which were claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels. Officials warn that Iran is forging a new network of proxy forces to threaten US allies in the Gulf region.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants attacked Saudi Aramco's oil refinery in Jazan with two drones on Thursday, marking the second assault on the Red Sea coastal facility within a week. The attack caused negligible damage to a tank at the refinery, which has a processing capacity of approximately 400,000 barrels per day.
The Pentagon acknowledged that U.S. military operations killed more than 150 civilians in 2025, with particular focus on casualties from Trump administration's Yemen campaign following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's dismantling of an office focused on mitigating unintended casualties.
The Pentagon acknowledged that U.S. military airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen killed 153 civilians and wounded 243 in 2025, according to its annual civilian casualty report delivered to Congress. The report notably excluded any deaths from airstrikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, drawing criticism from some officials.
A Pentagon review revealed that US airstrikes targeting Houthi militants in Yemen during 2025 killed more than 150 civilians, significantly higher than previously acknowledged. The assessment comes amid growing concerns over civilian casualties in the region.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Saudi Aramco's oil refinery facility in Jazan, southwestern Saudi Arabia, on Sunday morning. The attack caused a fire that was subsequently extinguished with no reported injuries.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi forces launched deadly missile and drone strikes on the city of Marib, killing at least 30 government soldiers and civilians, prompting UN warnings that Yemen is at its greatest risk of renewed major conflict since the 2022 ceasefire. The escalation comes as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed a NATO-style mutual defense pact in response to regional threats.
An Indian-flagged cargo vessel, MSV Faize Noore Oliya, capsized and sank after being struck by a projectile in the Red Sea near Yemeni waters. All 14 crew members, including 13 Indian nationals, were safely rescued following the attack.
Saudi Arabia is working to form an international coalition to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea as Houthi strikes on energy tankers intensify, driving oil prices higher and threatening critical maritime trade routes.
Yemen's Houthi group is weighing the implementation of fees on commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, according to regional sources, coming one week after the group declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia conducted airstrikes on the strategic Yemeni port city of Hodeida, prompting Iran-backed Houthi rebels to retaliate with missiles and drones targeting Saudi territory, including reported strikes on Aramco facilities. The escalation comes amid broader tensions over vital shipping routes in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
For the first time since July 13, the Pentagon did not report conducting airstrikes against Iran, while Houthi rebels escalated attacks on Saudi oil facilities and claimed missile strikes on southern Saudi Arabia.
President Donald Trump said Iranian money in the possession or control of the United States would be used to pay for damage to ships, cargo or related property. Trump did not specify the amount of money involved, the legal authority for using it, or how claims would be assessed and compensation distributed.
President Donald Trump vowed major retaliation against Iran and the Houthis after the group said it had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening to extend the Middle East conflict to another critical shipping chokepoint. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel amid fears of wider shipping disruption, while the U.S. military carried out another round of strikes on Iran.
The United States and Pakistan separately condemned Yemen's Houthi rebels for threatening commercial shipping in the Red Sea after the group announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. Pakistan warned it could use force to protect its maritime interests if its vessels come under attack.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, causing at least two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to China and India to make U-turns in the Red Sea. The move opens a new front in the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict and threatens shipping through critical energy chokepoints.
A leading Houthi official warned of potential attacks on Saudi Arabia following an incident at Sanaa International Airport involving an Iranian Mahan Air flight. Yemen's UN-recognized government condemned Iranian flights to Yemen as violations of sovereignty, raising fears of renewed conflict.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport on Monday in a dispute over an Iranian plane attempting to land, prompting the Houthis to launch retaliatory missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport in a sharp escalation of hostilities.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport in retaliation for airstrikes they attributed to the kingdom on Sana'a airport, breaking a four-year period of calm between the two sides. Saudi Arabia intercepted the attacks with no reported casualties.
Senior Iranian lawmaker warned, that "the importance of Bab el-Mandeb may be no less than that of the Strait of Hormuz" and that Iran's Yemeni allies were "waiting to block it and deliver another blow to America", threatening to extend the global shipping crisis to a second critical chokepoint.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated, that Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz "has already been acknowledged by the United States" and that Tehran will never relinquish its jurisdiction over the waterway, while describing the US naval blockade as an "ill-considered and ignorant decision." A senior Iranian lawmaker also warned that Iran's Yemeni allies are "waiting to block" the Bab el-Mandeb strait if the blockade continues.
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fired a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, marking their first direct involvement in the month-old US-Israeli war against Iran. The entry of the Houthis threatens to further expand the regional conflict and disrupt global shipping.