Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement exchanged attacks after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade and struck Saudi vessels. Saudi airstrikes targeted Houthi positions in Hodeida and Kamaran Island, while the Houthis said they had launched a missile attack on Jizan; the escalation adds to wider regional conflict and risks to vital shipping routes.

Separately, US forces disabled a tanker in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly tried repeatedly to breach the US blockade of Iranian ports, the second commercial ship stopped this month. The US and Iran have exchanged fire for nearly two weeks, while Oman has begun talks in Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz. Fears over threats to shipping pushed oil above $100 a barrel this week, though Brent later fell to just over $96.