Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Saudi Arabia, marking a new escalation in regional tensions following Saudi air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
According to the Houthis' Ansarollah media outlet, a missile launched from Yemen struck the Saudi city of Jizan early Saturday, reportedly causing fires. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts across Jizan Province, although they had not immediately confirmed the extent of the damage or any casualties.
The Houthis said the attack was retaliation for Saudi air strikes carried out on Friday against targets in the Yemeni port city of Hodeida and the nearby Kamaran Island. In a statement released on Telegram, the group accused Saudi Arabia of targeting civilian facilities and warned that the strikes "will not go unanswered."
Saudi officials had not issued an immediate response to the Houthi claims.
A Temporary Pause in Wider Fighting
The exchange came during a rare pause in the broader regional conflict. For the first time in nearly two weeks, there were no overnight reports of new US air strikes on Iran or Iranian attacks on American forces across the Middle East.
The US military had previously conducted 13 consecutive nights of strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, while Iran responded with drone attacks against US military facilities throughout the region.
Diplomatic Efforts Continue
Meanwhile, diplomatic activity continued as an Omani delegation arrived in Tehran for talks concerning the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes. Oman, which controls the southern coastline of the strait, has played a key mediating role in previous regional negotiations.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran were continuing despite ongoing military operations.
"We are talking to them. I think they're being serious... but that doesn't mean we get there," Trump said.
He added that Washington was weighing two possible paths: continuing military pressure or pursuing a negotiated settlement.
"We're locked and loaded. We're ready to go," the president said.
Maritime Tensions Remain High
The US military also confirmed that it had disabled a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel allegedly attempted multiple times to evade the American naval blockade imposed on Iranian ports.
According to US Central Command, the ship ignored repeated warnings before American forces fired into its engine room, rendering it unable to continue toward Iran.
The vessel became the second commercial ship disabled by US forces since the blockade was reimposed earlier this month.
Energy Markets React
Growing security concerns surrounding shipping lanes in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea have continued to influence global energy markets.
Crude oil prices briefly climbed above $100 per barrel earlier in the week amid fears of further disruptions to global supply. Prices later eased after two Chinese-chartered supertankers successfully passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait without incident.
International Attention Intensifies
The latest developments come ahead of a high-level security conference expected to take place in London next week, where US and UK officials are expected to discuss maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region.
At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Trump at the White House, as diplomatic and military efforts continue to shape the rapidly evolving crisis in the Middle East.
While military exchanges continue, diplomatic channels remain open, leaving uncertainty over whether negotiations can prevent a wider regional conflict.
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