In brief
Saudi forces launched air strikes on Houthi‑linked targets in Yemen, sparking a new wave of missiles that struck the Saudi city of Jizan. The US Navy intervened in the Gulf of Oman, disabling a tanker that repeatedly tried to breach a blockade. Omani diplomats visited Tehran to discuss the strait’s safety. US President Trump warned of an escalating military exit, while oil prices jumped above $100 a barrel before pulling back as supertankers entered the Bab el‑Mandeb. The conflict highlights how regional skirmishes can ripple through global trade and energy markets.
Saudi forces have shot down Houthi targets in Yemen this week, after the Iran‑backed group instituted a maritime blockade and launched missiles that struck the coastal city of Jizan.
Saudi emergency alerts were issued for the Jizan province when the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike that set the city ablaze.
Across the Gulf of Oman, a US Central Command captain reported that Navy forces disabled a tanker that had attempted to evade the American blockade four times. The vessel was fired upon and its engine room destroyed, stopping the ship from heading to Iran.
Oman’s delegation docked in Tehran as Omani guards control the strait’s southern coast, a key spot for shipping between the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
President Trump was heard on the White House doorstep insisting the US is "locked and loaded," and hinting at a military‑exit strategy that could either keep pressure high or seal a deal to halt the war.
The flare‑up hit crude oil prices, pushing Brent futures above $100 a barrel before a dip of more than US$4 occurred after two Chinese‑chartered supertanker traversed the Bab el‑Mandeb. The security concerns in Yemen’s Red Sea remain a looming threat to global shipping lanes.
