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.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that the ongoing conflict with Iran does not constitute a "war," noting that major combat operations reportedly ended several weeks ago, despite recent reports of intensified military strikes in the region. Concurrently, global equities rose as market expectations for a Federal Reserve interest-rate hike diminished, while Volkswagen’s supervisory board approved a restructuring plan that includes 50,000 additional job cuts to reduce the company's industrial footprint.

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.