Live updates: Iran war, heavy bombardment in Tehran as conflict expands

Key Points:

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels have entered the Middle East conflict by launching ballistic missiles at Israel and threatening the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint for 12% of global seaborne-traded oil, escalating risks to regional shipping and energy security.
• The Bab al-Mandab Strait, controlled on its eastern shore by the Houthis, is a narrow and strategically vital passage connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean; attacks here could force ships to reroute around Africa, significantly increasing transit times and costs.
• Saudi Arabia has shifted much of its oil exports to the Red Sea port of Yanbu due to disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz, but any closure of Bab al-Mandab would complicate this route, potentially doubling shipping times to Asia and impacting global oil supply chains.
• Diplomatic efforts involving Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are underway to mediate the conflict and de-escalate tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, though experts caution that a quick breakthrough is unlikely.
• The Houthis, supported by Iran and part of the Axis of Resistance, have previously targeted over 100 ships in the Red Sea, demonstrating increasing missile and drone capabilities, which have drawn military responses from the US and Israel amid ongoing regional hostilities.