A Saudi-led coalition has accused Yemen's Houthis of attempting to target Mecca with a drone, a claim the Iran-backed group has denied as "false." The incident escalates a broader regional conflict in which the Houthis have recently seized control of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while the coalition has vowed retaliatory measures to protect holy sites.

Reuters reported on September 15 that Amazon Web Services (AWS) declared infrastructure in Bahrain and one availability zone in the UAE "beyond saving" following damage from Iranian strikes. AWS stated that the impact exceeded the resilience of its multi-zone architecture, though the full scope of the incident remains unverified by independent assessments.

Yemeni Houthi forces have reportedly targeted Saudi Arabia’s critical oil infrastructure and shipping routes, an escalation described by analysts as a strategic shift to offset diminished leverage following US naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Iraqi militias suspected of coordinating with Iranian-backed groups attacked the East-West pipeline, potentially disrupting up to 4 million barrels per day in exports for a month or more.

U.S. officials stated that the Trump administration is considering a $2.8 billion arms package that would include 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, a category of weapons previously withheld by the Biden administration due to concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza.

The proposed deal, which has not yet been finalized but was informally disclosed to Congress, reportedly includes 20,000 Mk84s and 20,000 BLU-117s to be purchased largely through foreign military financing.