War in Middle East intensifies with first strike from Yemen

Key Points:

• Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles targeting southern Israel early Saturday, marking their first direct involvement in the Middle East war; Israel intercepted the projectiles and responded to multiple impact sites in the Tel Aviv area.
• The conflict escalated after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with Iran retaliating by attacking Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base, injuring over two dozen U.S. troops; the Houthis’ entry could further complicate the war and threaten Red Sea shipping routes.
• Diplomatic efforts continue as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt plan talks in Islamabad to de-escalate tensions, while the U.S. has sent thousands of troops and naval assets to the region but insists ground troops are not planned.
• Israel conducted airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, targeting sites involved in missile production and uranium processing, which Iran vowed to retaliate against; meanwhile, Iran agreed to allow humanitarian and agricultural shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
• The war’s death toll has risen sharply, with thousands killed across Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, and Gulf states, and significant damage to civilian infrastructure reported in Iran, exacerbating regional instability and global economic disruptions.