Military and medical sources in Dubai reported that 81 individuals were killed in Friday clashes between Yemen's Houthis and Saudi-backed forces, following a Houthi ground and aerial assault aimed at controlling the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Officials stated that the rebels captured elevated positions near Khokha and Taiz, potentially threatening shipping lanes, though specific casualty breakdowns and tactical claims remain based on anonymous or conflicting reports.

Jordan, a U.S. ally hosting American military forces, has faced repeated drone and missile attacks, which reports suggest are linked to Iranian operations, alongside broader economic challenges and regional instability. Despite these security risks, Jordanian officials have affirmed their commitment to the alliance, while King Abdullah II warned that current global and regional disruptions pose a broad threat to international stability.

Oil prices rose this week as conflict intensified in the six-month war, with Iran reportedly maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz while the US presses a counter-blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian authorities claimed to have targeted US military assets in Kuwait and the UAE, though Kuwait confirmed intercepting a missile and drone attack on its air base, while the UAE reported no evidence of an attack on its own facilities.

These exchanges followed Iran’s attribution of a deadly wedding strike in Kuhestak to the US, a claim US Vice President JD Vance stated is currently under investigation but disputed by Washington.

U.S. officials state that Central Command is conducting an internal review following Iranian reports of five deaths and 67 injuries at a wedding venue during Tuesday's strikes, although it remains unconfirmed that the incident resulted from a U.S. attack.

While CENTCOM emphasizes that it does not target civilians and notes that initial reports originated from Iranian state media, Vice President JD Vance confirmed the military is investigating the claims to verify the circumstances.