The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia in Yemen, said they had downed a Saudi jet, while Saudi authorities accused the group of firing a drone near Mecca. The Houthis denied doing so.
The Houthis are increasingly using artificial intelligence and other tools to produce advanced weaponry on their own, making them less reliant on Iran.
The two sides traded accusations of attacks as fighting inside Yemen remains fierce. The escalating conflict threatens to further destabilize the Middle East.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked the United States for more U.S. military help last week after the Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen launched a broad offensive.
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, last month. Prince Mohammed held talks on Monday with Adm. Brad Cooper, who leads U.S. Central Command.
Talks between the United States and Iran hit a dead end weeks ago, leaving Arab countries struggling to manage their ties to Tehran amid ongoing attacks.
A drone attack from Iraq forced Saudi Arabia to close its East-West pipeline, the kingdom said, threatening a key workaround to Iran’s Persian Gulf blockade.
Satellite images released by Planet Labs on Saturday showed the East-West pipeline facility in the Hejaz Region of Saudi Arabia on Sept. 8, and again, after sustaining damage, on Sept. 11.
Iran and its allies now hold sway over two key oil shipping routes, and Tehran is setting the stage for a diplomatic win that could enhance its stature.
A strategic location on the Red Sea afforded the city centuries of trading dominance — and makes it a coveted target in today’s fighting in the Middle East.
Coffee farmers spreading fermented coffee cherries on drying beds in Haraz, Yemen, in 2025. The port city of Mokha rose to prominence through the Yemeni coffee trade.
Hunger and disease have tormented Yemen for years. Now, fighting between the Saudi-backed government and Iran-backed Houthis is pushing it to the brink.
The militia captured the island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a choke point for trade. Saudi Arabia also announced it had shut down a critical oil pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq.
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