Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen seized a key island on Friday after having captured a Red Sea port, moves that threatened to further disrupt international shipping in the region. Iran called on Saudi Arabia to end its blockade of Yemen and immediately resume talks. Separately, the AI company Anthropic said it identified and blocked users in northern Yemen attempting to develop advanced missiles. Hereâs a look at the latest news in the Middle East. Houthi rebels capture strategic island as Saudi Arabia targets airport Yemenâs Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured the island of Mayun at the entrance of the Red Sea, a key alternative for shipping Saudi oil and other exports since Iran has been targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The islandâs seizure was confirmed by a senior military official with Yemenâs internationally recognized government and a Houthi official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to journalists. Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes against the airport in Yemenâs port city of Mokha, which the Houthis captured Thursday, a Houthi broadcaster said. There was no immediate report of damage or deaths. About 12% of the worldâs goods are typically shipped through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. Itâs especially important to Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally. For years, Saudi Arabia has imposed a blockade on Houthi-held parts of Yemen, prompting the rebels to escalate attacks on Saudi shipping. Iran presses for end to Saudi blockade of Yemen Iranâs Foreign Ministry called for an end to Saudi Arabiaâs blockade of Yemen and an immediate return to negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, throwing its support behind its ally. The statement carried by Iranâs state-run IRNA news agency marked Tehranâs first public comment since the Houthis entered into the Red Sea port of Mokha on Thursday. Meanwhile, Yemenâs National Defense Council strongly condemned the Houthisâ renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia, saying it would respond to threats across the country. Anthropic blocks users in Houthi-held Yemen over weapons development The AI company Anthropic said it blocked users in northern Yemen who were using its AI models to run weapons development programs, some using commercially available smartphones. Anthropic said its models were being used to pursue sophisticated precision, long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The company said it identified the users during an internal investigation and banned their accounts. Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control northern Yemen have been smuggling advanced weapons for years despite a blockade and U.N. arms embargo. Iran denies arming the rebels. Anthropic said the accounts used Claude Code to develop software that âsteers and stabilizes a flying vehicleâ and were working to develop weapons including a guided rocket that allows mobile phone users to autonomously track targets. There is no evidence the users in Yemen succeeded in fielding a weapon, the company said. Man walking in street killed by Israeli strike in Gaza An Israeli strike on Friday killed a man walking in a street in southern Gaza and wounded several others, including children, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the body and the wounded. The Israeli military said the strike in Khan Younis had targeted a Hamas member. Meanwhile, mourners held funeral prayers for two of three men who were killed Thursday in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said one of the men, Mohammad Yazouri, was a Hamas commander.
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen seized a key island on Friday after having captured a Red Sea port, moves that threatened to further disrupt international shipping in the region. Iran called on Saudi Arabia to end its blockade of Yemen and immediately resume talks. SeparateâŚ
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Yemeni government officials reported that Houthi forces have taken control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Mayun Island, and the remaining Red Sea coastline, an expansion that officials stated occurred during a week-long offensive. While the government attributed these territorial gains to a recent military campaign, independent verification of the specific operational details and casualty figures is not provided in the text.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to extend the arms embargo on Sudanâs Darfur region, while negotiations continue over a U.S. proposal to expand the restriction nationwide to pressure warring parties. Russia, which backs the Sudanese government, stated it would veto any such expansion.
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told The Epoch Times that Iranian strikes on February 28 caused "significant damage" to the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain, marking the first official acknowledgment of impact on the Fifth Fleet headquarters, though the Pentagon previously stated operations were not significantly impacted.
While open-source imagery had suggested structural damage, a retired Vice Admiral noted it may take time to restore full operating capacity.
On September 11, 2026, Yemenâs Ansarallah announced the capture of six districts in western Yemen and control of the Red Sea coast, coinciding with Saudi airstrikes on Mocha airport and reports that its East-West oil pipeline was struck. The escalation displaced at least 46,000 people according to the IOM, while the IRGC claimed the destruction of a U.
S. unmanned vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, contributing to oil prices surpassing $108. Concurrently, Israel intensified operations in Gaza and the West Bank, killing a Hamas commander and conducting attacks that resulted in multiple casualties, while also detonating explosives at the Ali Al-Taher ridge.