Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed on Sunday to have struck facilities at a military base in Saudi Arabia as the burgeoning conflict threatens to throw the region back into chaos.
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said that the Iran-backed group had targeted “weapons depots and command and control centers” at the southern Sharurah base.
Saree claimed that a joint ballistic missile and drone attack hit its targets and warned of wider measures if the Saudi attacks on Yemen continue.
The escalation follows a lightning Houthi advance to the Red Sea coast this week, giving the group greater power to attack Saudi ships around the Bab-al Mandeb strait.
Oil hovered around $100 per barrel on Sunday amid growing fears the clashes could drag in the US to help its ally in Riyadh, prolonging the six-month conflict with Iran to the east.
Separately, a crew member was killed early on Sunday when an Iranian commercial ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian media.
There has been no statement so far from the US military, which has previously struck Iranian vessels to enforce its blockade of the country's ports.
Read MoreInternal White House warnings caution Trump that Iran war could last years: report
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Man and woman arrested in London on suspicion of spying for Iran
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Key Points
- Trump says he does not regret Iran war despite midterm election risks
- Saudi crown prince calls Trump to urge him to launch strikes against Houthis - report
- White House advisers tell Trump the Iran war could last his entire term - report
- Two people arrested in London on suspicion of assisting Iran’s intelligence service
- Trump says 'everything will work out just fine' as Red Sea crisis deepens
Report: Hamas 'planned to carry out attacks in European capitals last year'
12:00 , James ReynoldsHamas planned to carry out terror attacks in European capitals last year to mark the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel, according to an indictment filed by Germany’s federal prosecutor.
The Palestinian group reportedly intended to carry out attacks on Israeli and Jewish ‘interests’ in Berlin and Vienna around October 7 2025, according to the indictment, as seen by German broadsheet Die Welt.
It was said to have been backed by “an international weapons-procurement network” that moved pistols, a rifle and ammunition through Europe.
The plot is claimed to have come undone just days before the attacks were due to be carried out, as German authorities swooped on three suspects in Berlin during the handover of a cache of weapons that prosecutors say were intended for the operation.
Federal prosecutors in Germany last year said they had arrested men linked to Hamas who were suspected of planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Germany.
Trump says Iran probably behind attack on Saudi Arabia
11:30 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said on Saturday that Iran was probably responsible for the aerial attack on Saudi Arabia that shut down its East-West pipeline, one of the kingdom's main routes for exporting crude while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
"I think they are, probably they are," Trump told reporters in Dublin when asked if Iran was responsible for the attack on the vital oil conduit.
The president also said that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he described as a "good friend."
Trump added that Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis had called his administration and indicated they did not want the United States to become directly involved in the conflict.
“There's just one country that they're not too happy with, and we'll get that straightened out," Trump added.
Where are peace talks six months on?
11:00 , James ReynoldsThere have been no talks between the United States and Iran to end the conflict since a June agreement that collapsed within weeks.
In a post on X on Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, said: "As long as the American side does not accept all of Iran's conditions, dialogue and negotiation are of no use."
Iran's foreign ministry announced on Friday that Iran would be attending a meeting with Gulf Arab states in Oman on Monday, at which the future of the Strait of Hormuz would be discussed.
But a senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters on Saturday, played down the chances of a breakthrough, saying the meeting, called at Oman's initiative, was intended to discuss issues including the strait but was not expected to yield a signed agreement.
Oman has not officially announced the meeting, and other Gulf countries have remained silent. Bahrain said on Saturday it would not attend meetings with Iran.
Recap: China accused of handing Iran intel for strike on Jordan air base
10:30 , James ReynoldsChinese ‘entities’ may have supplied Iran with high-resolution satellite images of a US military base in Jordan ahead of a strike that killed three troops in July, according to a report.
Three soldiers were killed and four injured at the overnight strike at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on 17 July.
US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the alleged handover of images represented the most clear evidence so far that Chinese support for Iran had had lethal consequences for US forces.
China has repeatedly dismissed Washington’s concerns, refusing to acknowledge that any Chinese companies are engaged in such activity, the officials said.
Emerging story: Iranian commercial ship is struck near Strait of Hormuz
10:00 , James ReynoldsIranian state media reports that one person was killed after an Iranian commercial ship was struck near the Strait of Hormuz.
There was no immediate comment from the US military, which previously struck Iranian-flagged ships during its blockade of ports.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations monitor separately reported a vessel was hit by a projectile while transiting the strait, with no details.
Trump strains UK-US relations with backing for united Ireland
09:30 , James ReynoldsRelations between Britain and America have been further strained after Donald Trump expressed support for a united Ireland.
The US president claimed Irish unification was inevitable as he spoke to reporters alongside Taoiseach Micheál Martin, adding it “may as well happen now”.
In response, Downing Street pointed to comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham earlier in the week rejecting the prospect of an immediate border poll.
Mr Trump’s remarks brought condemnation from unionist politicians in Northern Ireland:
Read the full story:
What’s happening with the Houthis and Saudi Arabia?
09:00 , James ReynoldsThe Iran-aligned Houthis have been fighting Saudi Arabia for more than a decade as part of the Yemen civil war. But clashes have flared up in recent weeks around the US-Iran conflict.
The Houthis are reasserting control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which controls access to the Red Sea, at a time when Iran has all but closed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to the east. That makes it difficult for countries like US ally Saudi Arabia to export oil, driving up global prices.
In Yemen, the Houthis embarked on a lightning offensive west this week, bringing them closer to the Red Sea and granting them greater control over traffic through the waterway.
Yemeni government sources said that the Houthis had seized the strategic island of Perim on Friday in the middle of the Bab el-Mandeb strait — the "Gate of Tears" at the southern entrance to the Red Sea.
The Houthis also launched attacks in southern cities in Saudi Arabia, causing injuries and damage to energy infrastructure.
In a separate attack, Saudi Arabia’s crucial East-West oil pipeline was struck by a drone from Iraq this week, where Iranian-backed militia operate. Donald Trump said Iran was “probably” behind the attack, without providing evidence.
Washington now faces a dilemma over whether to help their allies fight the Houthis, potentially expanding the deeply unpopular war.
Crew of vessel attacked in Hormuz strait evacuated, UKMTO says
08:53 , James ReynoldsA vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said early on Sunday.
The crew were evacuated by local authorities after a fire broke out following the attack, the British navy-affiliated firm said.
China accused of handing Iran intel for strike on Jordan air base
08:40 , James ReynoldsChinese ‘entities’ may have supplied Iran with high-resolution satellite images of a US military base in Jordan ahead of a strike that killed three troops in July, according to a report.
Three soldiers were killed and four injured at the overnight strike at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on 17 July.
US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the alleged handover of images represented the most clear evidence so far that Chinese support for Iran had had lethal consequences for US forces.
China has repeatedly dismissed Washington’s concerns, refusing to acknowledge that any Chinese companies are engaged in such activity, the officials said.
Ed Miliband discusses attacks on Saudi Arabia with counterpart
08:31 , James ReynoldsBritain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said on Saturday he had spoken with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud this morning and discussed Houthi aggression in Yemen and attacks against Saudi Arabia.
He added that the United Kingdom "stands firmly with Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognised government of Yemen against these attacks."
Iranian commercial vessel struck off Qeshm Island, one killed, three wounded
06:15 , Namita SinghAn Iranian commercial vessel was struck off southern Iran early on Sunday, killing one person and wounding three others, Iranian state media reported, citing the governor of Qeshm County.
Foreign ministers of Gulf countries to meet on Monday amid shipping challenge
06:00 , Namita SinghAs global shipping becomes even more challenged, Iran said a regional meeting is planned Monday between the foreign ministers of Gulf countries about talks between Tehran and Oman – located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz – on managing shipping there.
Commercial ship traffic remains low on what had been considered an international waterway before the war. Iran has expressed interest in having ships pay fees for transit.
It has said traffic into the Persian Gulf would pass through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would pass partly through Iranian waters and partly through Oman’s.
But Iran has said reaching an agreement with Oman on the strait doesn’t mean it will open for shipping.
“The waterway would be opened up on the condition that the US will terminate its blockade,” Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian told Indian broadcaster, India Today. The US military on Saturday said its forces had redirected 100 commercial vessels over the past 60 days.
Bahrain, however, said it will not attend any group meeting including Iran before the restoration of diplomatic relations between the countries.
Iraq says attack on Saudi pipeline originated there
05:46 , Namita SinghIraq’s government confirmed that attacks that shut down a key Saudi oil pipeline on Thursday had originated from its territory.
An umbrella group of Iran-backed militias in Iraq denied their involvement while praising the Houthis for their “ongoing battlefield victories against Saudi forces”.
Regional officials have told the Associated Press that the Houthis and the Iraqi militias recently coordinated attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
As the latest events threaten even higher global oil prices, US president Donald Trump said Iran was “probably” responsible for the pipeline attack, but tried to calm concerns.
“The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us,” Trump said. “They would much prefer not having us involved, and they’re letting most ships go through.” He said his administration has had “discussions” with the Houthis, but the White House didn’t say when. His administration engaged in at least one round of talks in May 2025.
“We are not in war with Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis have their own problems,” Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian told India Today TV on the sidelines of the Brics summit in India.
People fleeing Houthis' advance in Yemen describe a 'hysterical panic'
05:32 , Namita SinghAs Houthi rebels backed by Iran swept south along Yemen's Red Sea coast this week, some residents had little time to flee.
“We set out in hysterical panic on a motorcycle, not knowing where we were heading,” Alaa Ali Salem said.
“The roads suddenly became extremely congested, and while I was driving, the motorcycle overturned. My wife, my children and I were all injured.”
His family and thousands of others, in numbers leaping by the day, are now displaced as the Arab world's poorest country faces a potential return to a devastating civil war.
The Houthis' advance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea threatens a key global shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has attacked some vessels during more than six months of war.
But on the ground in Yemen, the rebels' offensive means something very different. It could bring the kind of upheaval that killed 150,000 people and caused near-famine before a 2022 ceasefire.
“This renewed war should alarm us all,” the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warned as the Houthis moved south.
Iranian official plays down Oman meeting
05:00 , Namita SinghIran's foreign ministry announced on Friday that Iran would be attending a meeting with Gulf Arab states in Oman on Monday, at which the future of the Strait of Hormuz would be discussed.
But a senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity on Saturday, played down the chances of a breakthrough, saying the meeting, called at Oman's initiative, was intended to discuss issues including the strait but was not expected to yield a signed agreement.
An agreement on routes through the strait between Iran and Oman will be presented at the meeting on Monday, which will also be attended by Iraq, but the strait will not reopen unless seven conditions conveyed by Iran to the US are met, a source told Tasnim news agency, without elaborating.
In a post on X on Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, said: "As long as the American side does not accept all of Iran's conditions, dialogue and negotiation are of no use."
Iran wants its control of the Strait of Hormuz to be recognised, allowing it to collect fees from ships that use it, which Washington rejects. Oman, which controls the opposite bank of the strait, says it is negotiating with the agreement of other regional states.
Saudi leader asks for military help as Trump says Houthis asked him to not get involved
04:40 , Namita SinghOil prices shot up over the past week and the retail price of diesel in the United States surged past a record $6 a gallon as the United States and Iran both fired on tankers and the Houthis in Yemen advanced along the Red Sea, potentially extending disruptions to another major oil route.
Washington now faces a dilemma over whether to help the Saudis fight the Houthis, risking further expansion of the war. Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, phoned Trump on Thursday and asked for US military help fighting the Houthis, three sources told Reuters.
They said the prince was told that Washington would not intervene directly for now but would help with intelligence.
Donald Trump confirmed on Saturday that he had spoken to the crown prince, and said the Houthis had also phoned his administration and asked Washington not to become directly involved in the conflict.
Four Yemeni government sources told Reuters that the Houthis had seized the strategic island of Perim on Friday in the middle of the Bab el-Mandeb strait – the "Gate of Tears" at the mouth of the Red Sea.
Trump claims Iran probably responsible for latest Strait of Hormuz attack
04:20 , Namita SinghUS president Donald Trump, visiting Ireland to attend a golf tournament at one of his resorts, said Iran was probably to blame for the attack on a pipeline in Saudi Arabia.
The East-West pipeline running across the Arabian Peninsula has been moving 4 million to 5 million barrels per day, amounting to four to five per cent of global supply, sparing Saudi Arabia the brunt of the disruption that has crippled other Gulf oil and gas exporters.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strikes on the pipeline.
Satellite images showed black smoke rising from an area of the pipeline south of Medina. The attack resulted in some injuries and damage that was being assessed, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said without detailing the impact on exports.
On Saturday, the Saudi Civil Defence said in a statement that a projectile fired by the Houthis had injured two people in Jazan region, and damaged several buildings, including a mosque.
New report of attack on Strait of Hormuz shipping fans fears of threats to oil supplies
04:03 , Namita SinghMaritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, adding to concerns about Iran-related threats to energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline.
The British navy-affiliated agency UKMTO said it had a report of a projectile hitting a vessel as it moved through the Strait of Hormuz. The amount of damage and the status of the crew were unknown as of early Sunday, the agency said.
UKMTO's report came the day after Saudi Arabia said it had temporarily closed its East-West pipeline as a precaution after a drone attack that both Baghdad and Riyadh said had originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate.
Ongoing attacks in the widening Middle East war could send energy prices even higher after a week that saw the cost of Brent crude surge back above $100 a barrel.
The 1,200km (745-mile) East-West pipeline running across the Arabian Peninsula has served as the main route out for global supplies of Middle East oil for the past six months while the Strait of Hormuz has been largely shut by war.
Trump says no after Saudi crown prince pushes for US strikes: report
03:00 , Bryony Gooch
Trump says no after Saudi crown prince pushes for US strikes on Houthis: report
Watch: Trump says he has ‘no regrets’ over Iran war
02:00 , Bryony GoochFive charts that lay bare economic disaster caused by Trump’s war in Iran
01:00 , Bryony Gooch
Five charts that lay bare economic disaster caused by Trump’s war in Iran
Where are peace talks six months on?
Sunday 13 September 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsThere have been no talks between the United States and Iran to end the conflict since a June agreement that collapsed within weeks.
In a post on X on Saturday, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's national security committee, said: "As long as the American side does not accept all of Iran's conditions, dialogue and negotiation are of no use."
Iran's foreign ministry announced on Friday that Iran would be attending a meeting with Gulf Arab states in Oman on Monday, at which the future of the Strait of Hormuz would be discussed.
But a senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters on Saturday, played down the chances of a breakthrough, saying the meeting, called at Oman's initiative, was intended to discuss issues including the strait but was not expected to yield a signed agreement.
Oman has not officially announced the meeting, and other Gulf countries have remained silent. Bahrain said on Saturday it would not attend meetings with Iran.
ICYMI: UK economy grows despite Iran war toll
Saturday 12 September 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsBritain's economy grew by a much stronger than expected 0.4% in July, extending the strong performance seen in the first half of the year despite headwinds from the US-Iran war, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed on Friday.
Compared with a year earlier, output in July was 1.6% higher, the fastest annual rate since February 2025 and above economists' 1.2% forecast.
Growth in the three months to July held at the 0.4% recorded in the three months to June, compared with economists' median forecast for a slowdown to 0.3%.
Britain, like other European economies, has taken less of an immediate hit to growth from the US-Iran war than economists had feared at the outset.
But the conflict this week pushed oil prices above $105 a barrel with knock-on impacts on government borrowing costs, and the BoE expects inflation to rise to around 3.2% later this year.
Top story: Iraq confirms attacks on Saudi pipeline originated from its territory
Saturday 12 September 2026 22:01 , Namita SinghAttacks on a key Saudi oil pipeline were launched from Iraqi territory, Iraq's government said on Saturday, pledging to investigate further.
Iraq closed two key border crossings with Iran, halting all passenger and commercial traffic until further notice, in the wake of the attack, Iranian media reported on Saturday.
Meanwhile, fears continued to grow that gas and oil prices could rise and international shipping could be further disrupted after Yemen's Houthis seized a key island and captured a Red Sea port.
In focus: Fighting erupts in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as Houthis push towards key waterway
Saturday 12 September 2026 21:01 , James Reynolds
Britain's Miliband discusses attacks on Saudi Arabia with Saudi counterpart
Saturday 12 September 2026 20:22 , Bryony GoochBritish foreign secretary Ed Miliband said on Saturday he had spoken with Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud this morning and discussed Houthi aggression in Yemen and attacks against Saudi Arabia.
He added that the United Kingdom "stands firmly with Saudi Arabia and the internationally recognised government of Yemen against these attacks."
Breaking: Explosions heard in Strait of Hormuz
Saturday 12 September 2026 20:16 , Bryony GoochExplosions have been heard in Qeshm, an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s state media reported the sound of two explosions from the sea.
Iran-Oman understanding does not provide for immediate reopening of Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim reports
Saturday 12 September 2026 20:15 , Bryony GoochAn understanding between Iran and Oman does not provide for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz but establishes the basis on which it could reopen, an Iranian source told the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Saturday.
The source said the arrangement would be a step towards Iran exercising sovereignty over the strait and that its reopening depended entirely on the United States meeting Tehran's conditions.
Users in Houthi-held Yemen tried to develop advanced weapons with AI, Anthropic says
Saturday 12 September 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsAnthropic says Claude users in northern Yemen, territory controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, tried to use the AI model to develop advanced missiles.
AI is already transforming warfare from Ukraine to Gaza, and its use on a rugged and remote battlefield is likely to increase concerns about its rapid spread.
Anthropic said the users of the accounts, which it blocked after identifying them, did not succeed in “fielding an operational device” but did carry out a failed test of a guided rocket. It said it knows that because the users returned to its Claude chatbot to find out why it failed.
Read the full story:
Users in Houthi-held Yemen tried to develop advanced weapons with AI, Anthropic says
Analysis: Why fighting between the Houthis and Saudis is a disaster for Trump
Saturday 12 September 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsWashington has largely ignored the lingering disruption created by the Houthis around the Red Sea. But a wider conflict with Saudi Arabia could force them to intervene, writes James C. Reynolds
Why fighting between the Houthis and Saudis is a disaster for Trump
Yemen risks a return to civil war as Iran-backed rebels target a crucial shipping route
Saturday 12 September 2026 18:00 , Harriette BoucherYemen is moving closer to a return to civil war. The escalating events in the Arab world's poorest country are closely linked to the war in Iran and global efforts to ship oil out of the Gulf region.
Here’s a look at an emerging conflict involving an Iranian-backed rebel group's efforts to keep neighboring Saudi Arabia from using a crucial shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, and how that could tear Yemen apart once more.
What’s happening could return Yemen to civil war
Yemen is home to over 40 million people who fear a return to the civil war that killed 150,000 and brought many others to the brink of famine in one of the world’s most sprawling humanitarian crises. A ceasefire with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a wider coalition backed by the Saudis began in 2022. Now that truce is buckling.
Read more:
Yemen risks a return to civil war as Iran-backed rebels target a crucial shipping route
Envoy warns of 'new and more dangerous phase' in Yemen war
Saturday 12 September 2026 17:00 , James ReynoldsThe UN Security council has been warned that the international community must act to address “a new and more dangerous phase” in the Yemen war.
Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told a UN said the Houthis' gaining control of Mocha gave them “a direct presence on the approaches to one of the world’s most vital straits.”
Speaking to the council on Thursday, he said: “When I briefed this council last month, I warned that Yemen was facing the greatest risk of a return to large-scale conflict since the 2022 truce. That risk has now turned into a harsh reality.
“This renewed war should alarm us all. It effectively marks the end of the relative calm that Yemen has experienced for over four years since the UN-brokered truce.
“It not only threatens to plunge Yemen into a prolonged and expanding war, but also risks yet again dragging the country into the wider and unresolved regional confrontation, with global repercussions.”
Explained: Why fighting between the Houthis and Saudis is a disaster for Trump
Saturday 12 September 2026 16:30 , The IndependentWashington has largely ignored the lingering disruption created by the Houthis around the Red Sea. But a wider conflict with Saudi Arabia could force them to intervene, writes James C. Reynolds
Why fighting between the Houthis and Saudis is a disaster for Trump
Recap: Hamas 'planned to carry out attacks in European capitals last year' - report
Saturday 12 September 2026 16:00 , James ReynoldsHamas planned to carry out terror attacks in European capitals last year to mark the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel, according to an indictment filed by Germany’s federal prosecutor.
The Palestinian group reportedly intended to carry out attacks on Israeli and Jewish ‘interests’ in Berlin and Vienna around October 7 2025, according to the indictment, as seen by German broadsheet Die Welt.
It was said to have been backed by “an international weapons-procurement network” that moved pistols, a rifle and ammunition through Europe.
The plot is claimed to have come undone just days before the attacks were due to be carried out, as German authorities swooped on three suspects in Berlin during the handover of a cache of weapons that prosecutors say were intended for the operation.
Federal prosecutors in Germany last year said they had arrested men linked to Hamas who were suspected of planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Germany.
Modi and Putin discuss war disruption at BRICS summit
Saturday 12 September 2026 15:30 , James ReynoldsIndian prime minister Narendra Modi urged Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine during their meeting at the BRICS summit in New Delhi on Saturday, according to a report.
Speaking to the Russian president on the sidelines of the event, prime minister Modi “again reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy was the way forward in resolving conflicts and India stood ready to assist in peace efforts”, the foreign affairs ministry said in a readout.
They were said to have discussed the “conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region which have impacted maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers”.
Man and woman arrested in London on suspicion of spying for Iran
Saturday 12 September 2026 15:00 , James ReynoldsCounter-terrorism officers in London have arrested a man and a woman suspected of aiding the foreign intelligence service of Iran.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the 60-year-old man and 42-year-old woman were taken into custody after properties in north and north-west London were searched on 24 June.
Following their detention under the National Security Act (NSA), officers conducted a further search at a third address in north-west London on 9 September.
Man and woman arrested in London on suspicion of spying for Iran
Iraq agrees to Iran request for joint investigation into drone launch sites
Saturday 12 September 2026 14:12 , James ReynoldsIraqi prime minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi has agreed to an Iranian request for a joint investigation into the discovery of drone launch platforms near the Iraqi-Iranian border, the prime minister's office said on Saturday.
The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the platforms near the border area, the statement said, after it was used to launch attacks on the Saudi Arabia East-West pipeline.
Trump says Iran probably behind attack on Saudi Arabia
Saturday 12 September 2026 14:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said on Saturday that Iran was probably responsible for an aerial attack on Saudi Arabia that shut down its East-West pipeline, one of the kingdom's main routes for exporting crude while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
"I think they are, probably they are," Trump told reporters in Dublin when asked if Iran was responsible for the attack on the vital oil conduit.
The president also said that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he described as a "good friend."
Trump added that Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis had called his administration and indicated they did not want the United States to become directly involved in the conflict.
“There's just one country that they're not too happy with, and we'll get that straightened out," Trump added.
The Houthi advance in Yemen raises concerns about a key shipping choke point
Saturday 12 September 2026 13:30 , James ReynoldsThe capture of the Red Sea port of Mokha and a strategic island by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen brings their forces to the heart of a key choke point for the global economy: the Bab el-Mandeb Strait leading out of the Red Sea.
The Houthis took Mokha on Thursday and on Friday captured Mayun, also known as Perim, off Yemen's coast, two officials said, in a swift advance that extends their reach near one of the world’s key commercial lanes.
The strait had been a vital route for crude oil supplies from Saudi Arabia to Asia after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was restricted due to threat of Iranian attack — until Houthi targeting of Saudi tankers largely ended that safety valve.
Here’s why the strait matters:
The Houthi advance in Yemen raises concerns about a key shipping choke point
Trump says he has ‘no regrets’ over Iran war
Saturday 12 September 2026 13:00 , James ReynoldsIraq races to contain fallout after local Iran-backed militias accused of attacking Saudi pipeline
Saturday 12 September 2026 12:30 , James ReynoldsIraq’s government was racing Saturday to contain the fallout after local Iran-backed militias were accused of attacking and shuttering a key Saudi pipeline.
Iraq's government confirmed the attacks had originated from its territory, pledged to investigate and dismissed a military commander.
The country is under mounting pressure to prevent local militias from aiding other Iran proxy groups across the region. It's especially acute as the Iran-backed Houthi rebels make an advance across Yemen’s west coast in a major setback to the Saudi-backed coalition that risks escalating the war in the region.
Here’s the latest:
Iraq races to contain fallout after local Iran-backed militias accused of attacking Saudi pipeline
Hamas 'planned to carry out attacks in European capitals last year' - report
Saturday 12 September 2026 12:00 , James ReynoldsHamas planned to carry out terror attacks in European capitals last year to mark the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel, according to an indictment filed by Germany’s federal prosecutor.
The Palestinian group reportedly intended to carry out attacks on Israeli and Jewish ‘interests’ in Berlin and Vienna around October 7 2025, according to the indictment, as seen by German broadsheet Die Welt.
It was said to have been backed by “an international weapons-procurement network” that moved pistols, a rifle and ammunition through Europe.
The plot is claimed to have come undone just days before the attacks were due to be carried out, as German authorities swooped on three suspects in Berlin during the handover of a cache of weapons that prosecutors say were intended for the operation.
Federal prosecutors in Germany last year said they had arrested men linked to Hamas who were suspected of planning attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets in Germany.
Trump says he believes Iran war will end after midterms
Saturday 12 September 2026 11:50 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump repeated on Saturday that he believed the war with Iran will end after US midterm elections in November and that oil prices will tumble once it does.
"I think very soon. I think it'll be probably right after the mid-terms. They're trying to hold out as long as they can to complicate the election. But I think people are wise to it," Trump told reporters in Dublin.
"When that happens, oil prices will come tumbling down."
Lebanon’s president makes a rare visit to southern city as fears of Israeli attacks grow
Saturday 12 September 2026 11:20 , James ReynoldsLebanon’s president made a rare visit to a southern city Saturday, close to where Israel captured a strategic hill, amid fears of more Israeli attacks.
President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Nabatiyeh came after Israel seized parts of Ali Taher ridge earlier this month, where Israeli officials said they had blown up Hezbollah tunnel networks, despite a June ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group.
Aoun said the state will follow up on the needs of the residents “so that you stay here."
Lebanon’s president makes a rare visit to southern city as fears of Israeli attacks grow
Trump says Iran war 'will end soon' and Houthi crisis 'will be straightened out'
Saturday 12 September 2026 11:00 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump is speaking to reporters in Ireland while on a non-state visit.
He insists - again - that the war with Iran will end soon and that oil prices will come down thereafter.
Asked whether Iran is responsible for the attack on the Saudi East-West pipeline, Trump says dismissively that “they probably are”.
He claims the Houthis called the US and “doesn’t want to fight with us”. He says they are mostly allowing ships through with one exception - allied Saudi Arabia - and that they will “get that straightened out”.
China accused of handing Iran intel for strike on Jordan air base
Saturday 12 September 2026 10:50 , James ReynoldsChinese ‘entities’ may have supplied Iran with high-resolution satellite images of a US military base in Jordan ahead of a strike that killed three troops in July, according to a report.
Three soldiers were killed and four injured at the overnight strike at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base on 17 July.
US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the alleged handover of images represented the most clear evidence so far that Chinese support for Iran had had lethal consequences for US forces.
China has repeatedly dismissed Washington’s concerns, refusing to acknowledge that any Chinese companies are engaged in such activity, the officials said.
Trump says 'everything will work out just fine' as Red Sea crisis deepens
Saturday 12 September 2026 10:22 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said on Saturday that everything would “work out just fine” when asked whether he could help move traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in light of fresh concerns about a burgeoning conflict between the Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia.
“Everything will work out just fine,” the US president said, speaking in Dublin after meeting Irish President Catherine Connolly.
Iraq closes border crossing with Iran following drone attacks on Saudi Arabia
Saturday 12 September 2026 10:20 , James ReynoldsIraq ordered the closure of the Shalamcheh border crossing between Iraq and Iran as a precautionary measure after the latest drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to a report.
Two security sources told Reuters on Saturday that a wide-scale operation was underway to pursue perpetrators of the attack on Saudi Arabia.
It came after Riyadh on Friday said its vital East-West pipeline was attacked by drones that were launched from Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate.
The world’s largest crude oil exporter temporarily closed the pipeline after a drone attack. Iraq dismissed a military commander on Saturday in response to the attack.
Users in Houthi-held Yemen tried to develop advanced weapons with AI, Anthropic says
Saturday 12 September 2026 09:50 , James ReynoldsAnthropic says Claude users in northern Yemen, territory controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, tried to use the AI model to develop advanced missiles.
AI is already transforming warfare from Ukraine to Gaza, and its use on a rugged and remote battlefield is likely to increase concerns about its rapid spread.
Anthropic said the users of the accounts, which it blocked after identifying them, did not succeed in “fielding an operational device” but did carry out a failed test of a guided rocket. It said it knows that because the users returned to its Claude chatbot to find out why it failed.
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Users in Houthi-held Yemen tried to develop advanced weapons with AI, Anthropic says
Brics bloc agrees on joint declaration, sources say
Saturday 12 September 2026 09:21 , Namita SinghThe Brics group of countries has agreed on a joint declaration, which is unlikely to name any country but will condemn unilateral war by any country, four sources told Reuters on Saturday.
The bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, is holding its annual summit in New Delhi this weekend.
Representatives of the member nations have been engaged on bridging the divide between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, who are on opposite sides of the Gulf conflict, to produce a consensus declaration.
The leaders of the countries are expected to approve the declaration on Saturday, the sources said.
