The Iran-backed Houthis are pushing to seize strategic heights in Yemen and cut off the Red Sea coast from remaining areas held by Saudi-backed forces.
The Houthis continued with their lightning advance after US president Donald Trump reportedly called off American strikes on the group at the last minute.
The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had prepared to launch airstrikes against the Houthis on Sunday, after receiving fresh pleas from the Saudi crown prince.
However, Trump called off the airstrikes at the last minute, even as troops were loading bombs onto aircraft, according to the report.
Rashid al-Alimi, the Riyadh-based president of Yemen's Saudi-backed, internationally-recognised government, asked Trump by phone on Sunday for US military help, four sources told Reuters.
Riyadh was apparently struck on Saturday for the first time since the escalation began, with explosions heard and smoke visible near the airport. The Houthis said they had fired missiles at the Saudi capital; the Saudis have not commented.
Meanwhile, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian was on his way to New York for the UN General Assembly, just days after Donald Trump threatened to “blow the entire nation up”, referring to Iran.
Read MoreUS government tells Americans to ‘seriously reconsider’ travel to the Middle East
UK to provide military support to Saudi Arabia in war against Houthis, Burnham confirms
Trump will use UNGA to paint himself as the world’s peacemaker even as he stokes war in Iran
Is it safe to travel to Riyadh? Latest advice after Houthis targeted Saudi Arabia
Is it safe to travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi? Latest advice after regional conflict escalates
Key Points
- Houthis push to seize highlands as Trump calls off strike
- Oil rises to $100 ahead of potential US-Iran talks
- Iran informed that US plans to resume action
- US government tells Americans to ‘seriously reconsider’ travel to the Middle East
- Saudi Arabia kills six in Mokha strike - report
Iranian foreign ministry blames US for rising fuel prices
07:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has criticised US officials for blaming Tehran for rising global fuel prices, while drawing parallels between America and Nazi Germany.
Baghaei, in a post on X, wrote: "US officials blame Iran for rising fuel prices, as if the public's memory is short enough to forget who actually initiated the war of aggression, and whose actions created the crisis that led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of commercial shipping.
"This isn't a new trick, though. In 1939, Hitler similarly framed his invasion of Poland as a defensive action," he added.
Trump will use UNGA to paint himself as the world’s peacemaker even as he stokes war in Iran
07:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe President faces a tough sell to convince the world’s leaders that he and the US are on the right side of history amid a week of foreign policy-focused events in New York and Washington, writes Andrew Feinberg.
More here.
Trump will use UNGA to paint himself as world’s peacemaker as he stokes war in Iran
Binance under US scrutiny over possible Iran sanctions violation
07:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarUS federal prosecutors are investigating whether Binance violated sanctions on Iran by failing to prevent certain trading activity on its platform, Bloomberg News reported.
The probe is being led by the Manhattan US attorney's office, with the justice department's criminal division in Washington also involved, according to the report.
Binance said in a statement that it has a zero-tolerance approach to sanctions violations.
It added: "We fully cooperate with law enforcement, and we remain committed to rooting out and shutting down bad actors."
Displaced Yemenis take shelter at a makeshift camp in Taiz province
06:40 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Araghchi speaks to UN chief after landing in New York
06:20 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres after arriving in New York.
The Iranian minister and the secretary-general discussed the UN General Assembly agenda and efforts to advance international peace and security, Tasnim news agency reported.
Araghchi will address the General Assembly in New York.
Iranian minister lands in New York to defend 'rights of Iranian people'
06:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly.
Araghchi said the purpose of his visit was to "defend the righteousness, rights and interests of the Iranian people".
“Every year we have used this opportunity to set out the rightful positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran — our well-known stances — and to defend the rights of the Iranian people," he added.
Gaza students return to schools for first time in three years
05:46 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHundreds of thousands of Gaza children returned to in-person instruction on Saturday for the first time in nearly three years, gathering inside damaged buildings, makeshift structures, and tents despite severe shortages that have made basic pens, notebooks, and uniforms unaffordable.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that 98 percent of Gaza’s schools were destroyed or damaged during the war, leaving an estimated 660,000 students without regular, face-to-face education, according to local education officials.
More here.
Gaza students resume in-person learning after 98% of schools were destroyed
G7 ministers call on Iran to stop arming Houthis
05:10 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarG7 foreign ministers have called on Iran to end its arming and support of Houthis in Yemen, which they said constituted a dangerous pattern of escalation that risked undermining international trade and creating global instability.
"We condemn in the strongest terms the unacceptable continued strikes carried out by the Houthis in Yemen and against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US said in a statement.
"We call on the Houthis to immediately cease all military actions, all threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and to return to the political process in good faith."
Oil rises to $100 ahead of potential US-Iran talks
04:55 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarOil prices gained this morning as the market steadied after several days of declines, with investors awaiting developments on potential US-Iran talks at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
The Brent crude futures November contract gained 22 cents, or 0.22 per cent, to $100.57 a barrel. The WTI October contract, which expires on Tuesday, crept up 2 cents, or 0.02 per cent, to $95.8 a barrel.
Houthis push to seize highlands as Trump calls off strike
04:40 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarHouthi fighters pushed to seize strategic heights in Yemen to cut off the Red Sea coast from remaining areas held by Saudi-backed forces, after a report that US president Donald Trump had called off American strikes on the group at the last minute.
The New York Times reported that the Trump administration had prepared to launch airstrikes on Sunday against the Houthis after fresh pleas from the Saudi crown prince. But the newspaper said Trump called off the airstrikes at the last minute, even as troops were loading bombs onto aircraft.
Rashid al-Alimi, the Riyadh-based president of Yemen's Saudi-backed, internationally recognised government, asked Trump by phone on Sunday for US military help, four sources told Reuters.
Riyadh was apparently struck on Saturday for the first time since the escalation began, with explosions heard and smoke visible near the airport. The Houthis said they had fired missiles at the Saudi capital; the Saudis have not commented.
Saudi Arabia kills six in Mokha strike - report
04:23 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarSaudi Arabia's airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea port city of Mokha killed at least six people and wounded eight others, the Houthi-backed media reported this morning.
"Six civilians, including two children and a woman, were killed and eight others, including a child and a woman, were injured in Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Mokha," Saba news agency reported.
Analysis: Why Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington is the culmination of a ‘profound shift’ in balance of world power
03:00 , James ReynoldsWhile the Iran war will feature prominently in the talks, the main focus of the 24 September meeting is on whether the leaders will signal an extension to a trade truce struck last year that averted a major shock to the global economy.
Arpan Rai reports:
Why Xi’s visit to US is culmination of ‘profound shift’ in balance of world power
Cost of hiring a supertanker swells as Iran war drags on
02:00 , James ReynoldsHiring an oil supertanker to load in the Persian Gulf and transit the Strait of Hormuz cost as much as $1m a day earlier this month as the Iran war weighs on global shipping.
That figure, shared by maritime-intelligence firm Windward, is worth around a quarter of the current value of crude oil, and goes some way towards explaining its inflated price.
With Yemen’s Houthi rebels now squeezing the Bab el-Mandeb strait, prices are likely to continue to climb, with fewer alternative routes available to bypass Hormuz.
According to the Wall Street Journal, operators are now also constrained in by a shortage of oil tankers, slowing deliveries and compounding costs for consumers.
Adi Imsirovic, a former energy trader and lecturer at Oxford University, told the Journal: “What matters for refiners is the delivered cost of the crude, and that includes freight. The price at the pump includes all of it and the consumer has to pay the full price.”
Hegseth mocked for having Jake and Logan Paul give motivational speech at the Pentagon
01:00 , James ReynoldsUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been slammed for having influencers Jake and Logan Paul deliver a motivational speech at the Pentagon.
The Paul brothers, who have both been linked to President Trump, spoke at the Pentagon a day before National POW/MIA Recognition Day - which honors prisoners of war and those missing in action.
A spokesperson for the Defense Department touted the brothers’ visit with a video shared online, which was captioned: “Last Thursday, we welcomed Logan and Jake Paul to the Pentagon to meet with our warriors.”
Hegseth mocked for having Jake and Logan Paul deliver Pentagon speech
Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Foreign Office updates advice for tourists
Tuesday 22 September 2026 00:00 , James ReynoldsConflict in the Middle East has raised concerns among holidaymakers with trips booked to Turkey.
Turkey, a popular holiday destination, is considered by the UK Foreign Office (FCDO) a generally safe place for travel, yet the UK government is still warning of an “unpredictable” situation with attacks that “could resume at short notice”.
Aside from ongoing conflict in the region, there are other factors that travellers need to bear in mind when visiting.
Here’s the latest:
Is it safe to travel to Turkey? Foreign Office updates advice for tourists
US government tells Americans to ‘seriously reconsider’ travel to the Middle East
Monday 21 September 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsThe US government has urged its citizens to reconsider all travel to the Middle East as tensions continue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
In the latest conflict escalation in the Middle East, Iranian-supported Houthis, a military group in Yemen, have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including civilian airports.
This came after the group launched a lightning offensive around the narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait, a vital waterway in the region, especially for Saudi oil exports.
US government tells Americans to ‘seriously reconsider’ travel to the Middle East
Will Xi's visit help Donald Trump to end the Iran war?
Monday 21 September 2026 22:00 , James ReynoldsChinese president Xi Jinping will meet with Donald Trump in the United States on Thursday for a summit expected to centre on a possible extension to a trade truce that averted a major shock to the global economy last year.
A shift in fortunes has tempered expectations this time around, with Xi in no rush to make concessions and Trump constrained by the costly war with Iran.
Washington still sees Xi as uniquely able to exert pressure on Iran to bring an end to the war that has dragged Trump’s approval rating to the lowest of his political career. China buys 80-90 per cent of Iran’s total crude oil exports.
But so far, Xi has shown little inclination to do so. Reuters earlier this month reported that Beijing is selling billions of dollars' worth of goods to Iran through a sanctions-evasion scheme. China's foreign ministry says it is not aware of such a scheme.
US threats last month of secondary sanctions on countries doing business with Iran - which Bessent called an "Economic D-Day" - appear not to have yet been wielded against Tehran's largest trading partner.
That is more evidence, analysts say, that Trump is eager to keep relations with Xi steady as he focuses his energies elsewhere - an arrangement that also suits the Chinese leader.
"Both Xi and Trump feel it's quite helpful to have stability in the relationship so that they can focus on more pressing things," said Ruby Osman, senior geopolitical researcher at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
"For Trump, that is Iran. For Xi, that is building out China's domestic resilience for whatever comes after Trump."
Turkey finally acknowledges Saudi Arabia may need help with the Houthis
Monday 21 September 2026 21:00 , James ReynoldsTurkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Saudi Arabia may have some military needs due to the ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthis and that Turkey would look into them as part of a trilateral defence pact signed with Pakistan.
Speaking on broadcaster NTV, Fidan said it was unacceptable for Saudi Arabia to be made a part of the US-Iran war as it had no desire to join the conflict, and added without elaborating, that proposals have been conveyed to all sides to end the fighting.
Why it matters:
What the escalating war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis means for Trump in Iran
Top story: Iran informed that US plans to resume action
Monday 21 September 2026 20:00 , James ReynoldsIran received information that the United States, with the backing of some regional countries, was preparing to resume actions against Iran, the country's central military command said in a statement on Sunday, according to state media.
The military said that any U.S. attack would trigger sustained strikes on U.S. bases and interests in the region, the report added, warning that regional countries supporting U.S. aggression against Iran would be considered parties to the conflict.
Watch: Trump threatens to ‘blow entire nation up’ after Iran warns of ‘painful strikes’
Monday 21 September 2026 19:00 , James ReynoldsICYMI: Saudi Arabia says Yemen's Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile
Monday 21 September 2026 18:00 , James ReynoldsSaudi Arabia said on Saturday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels tried to attack its capital with a ballistic missile in what would be the first targeting of Riyadh since the escalation in fighting with the rebels.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said the attack was intercepted. Some residents in Riyadh heard an explosion. Later, some saw a plume of smoke near the airport. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
The statement also said the Houthis tried to attack civilian infrastructure in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu — where a key Saudi pipeline ends — and in Taif, Baysh and Farasan but they were thwarted, giving no further details.
The Houthis had earlier claimed, without providing evidence, that they had targeted “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and facilities of Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu.
Trump planning sanctions against International Criminal Court over Netanyahu arrest warrant: report
Monday 21 September 2026 17:20 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump is reportedly preparing sanctions against the International Criminal Court after the global tribunal issued an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sweeping sanctions could prohibit the court from carrying out transactions in dollars, cutting it off from the global financial system and drastically undermining its work, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Trump administration has made no secret of its disdain for the court, which prosecutes war crimes and genocide worldwide. U.S. officials want the court to drop its arrest warrants against Israeli leaders as well as a past probe into American troops in Afghanistan.
Trump planning sanctions against ICC over Netanyahu arrest warrant: report
Minister dismisses Burnham’s past Trump criticism as ‘politics’ as PM and president set to meet this week
Monday 21 September 2026 16:40 , James ReynoldsA government minister has dismissed Andy Burnham’s previous comments about Donald Trump as “politics” ahead of the prime minister’s expected meeting with the US president.
The prime minister is set to travel to New York for the UN general assembly, in one of his most important trips abroad since taking over from Sir Keir Starmer.
Mr Burnham will reportedly meet the US president on the sidelines of the event, in what will be their first in-person conversation and a major diplomatic moment.
Labour chair Bridget Phillipson, asked whether the encounter could prove awkward in light of past remarks, told Sky News: “Look, I think what you’ve just described there is politics, and the president knows that.”
In full:
Minister dismisses Burnham’s past Trump criticism as ‘politics’ ahead of meeting
What happened to the Islamabad Memorandum to end the war?
Monday 21 September 2026 16:00 , James ReynoldsIran and the US have remained at odds on several prickly issues since the signing of the ‘Islamabad Memorandum’ to end the war in June.
The agreement, which was primarily brokered by Pakistan, was supposed to immediately stop the fighting in the Middle East and facilitate more talks aimed at resolving the conflict.
But four months on, the region continues to live under fear of re-escalation. Both sides continue to contest the status of the Strait of Hormuz. And diplomatic efforts appear to have stopped entirely.
What were the terms?
The agreement was focused on an end to the war and a US naval blockade, in exchange for Tehran taking steps to ensure safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei.
Senior Iranian diplomat Hossein Nooshabadi told ISNA news agency that the possible framework deal included the end of the war on all fronts including Lebanon, the release of blocked Iranian assets, the lifting of the US naval blockade and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of US forces from the region and freedom to sell Iranian oil. He said Iran’s draft contained no commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Americans said the nuclear issue must be resolved as part of any deal. A senior US official told Reuters that Iran had agreed “in principle” to reopen the Strait in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade, and to dispose of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.
What happened?
Israel was left out of the signing and fighting continues with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The US continues to maintain its presence in the region and has struck Iranian sites.
Maintaining its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran has tried to show its neighbours that they cannot depend on Washington for security and should accept a new status quo, whereby they are responsible for transit through the Gulf with Oman.
With neither side backing down, the Iran-aligned Houthis have entered the fray, attacking Saudi ships in the Red Sea and seizing land near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to squeeze those trying to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
Talks are apparently suspended, while Iran and its proxies continue to exert more and more pressure on its neighbours and on the global economy.
Another tanker hit by debris from unknown projectiles - UKMTO
Monday 21 September 2026 15:32 , James ReynoldsAnother LPG tanker has been hit by debris from unknown projectiles while transiting out of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UKMTO.
The monitor, citing a Master, reported that all crew are safe and that there is no impact to the environment. Authorities are investigating, they say.
It follows an earlier report of an incident involving a vessel transiting the Strait.
A tanker coming into the waterway was struck by an unknown projectile, the UKMTO reported earlier on Monday.
Trump says 250-foot arch will now be a military complex for attack drones, snipers and ammo
Monday 21 September 2026 15:20 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump made another push on Sunday to redefine one of his Washington, D.C. “beautification” projects that is likely aimed at securing funding for the project from a skeptical Congress.
The president posted on Truth Social that his planned 250-foot triumphal arch will now be loaded up with “large numbers of drones, plus Snipers,” and insisted that the commemorative structure on the grounds of one of America’s most sacred spaces — Arlington National Cemetery — would become a “top grade Military Complex.”
“At the strong request of the United States Military, and for National Security purposes, I have agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch, planned since the Civil War Era many years ago, at the Receptive Circle adjoining the Arlington Memorial Bridge, into a top grade Military Complex/Triumphal Arch, to house, store, and have the rapid ability to use large numbers of drones, plus Snipers, on both the roof and plaza areas, and additionally have and hold large quantities of sniper ammunition in storage,” wrote the president.
In full:
Trump says 250-foot arch will now be a military complex for drones and snipers
Monday 21 September 2026 15:03 , James ReynoldsDonald Trump said on Monday that Russia has “lost control” of its diesel industry and again called for an end to Moscow's war with Ukraine.
The rising cost of diesel is hitting US farmers just as the president’s war with Iran weighs on global oil prices. Both risk souring Trump’s domestic approval rating ahead of the November midterms.
"Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine. A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission," Trump said in a social media post a day before he was to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
"This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended."
