World news today live updates: Iran-backed Houthis take over Yemen’s Perim, Mayun islands

Capture of key islands will give Houthi rebels control over Bab-el-Mandeb strait.

A senior military official with Yemen’s internationally recognised government said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have taken the island of Mayun after government forces withdrew from there on Thursday. A Houthi official confirmed the rebels were on the island, also known as Perim, about 3.5 kilometres off Yemen’s west coast.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) phoned President Trump twice on Thursday, pressing him to order strikes on the Houthis as the Iran-backed group advanced towards a key Red Sea chokepoint, two US officials told Axios. Trump turned down the request, and US officials said the administration has no plans to intervene directly against the Houthis for now.

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The US-Iran war is intensifying on multiple fronts, with Washington tightening its economic squeeze on Tehran even as fighting spreads across shipping lanes, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. Treasury officials confirmed a major new sanctions target is coming, while battlefield activity around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea signals no near-term resolution.

Treasury vows new bank sanctions: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington will hit a major, unnamed bank with sanctions early next week, part of an ongoing pressure campaign against Tehran. He indicated the penalty had originally been planned for Friday but was pushed back out of respect for September 11 memorial events. Bessent framed the strategy as financial isolation severe enough to threaten any company or individual still doing business with Iran, while separately, President Trump suggested the conflict would likely stretch on until after the US midterm elections in November.

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Key Developments

• New sanctions incoming: The US Treasury plans to sanction a large, undisclosed bank on Monday as part of its ongoing economic pressure campaign against Iran.
• Yemen’s port city falls: Houthi forces have taken control of Mocha, a key Red Sea port, tightening their grip near the vital Bab el-Mandeb shipping strait.
• Shipping under threat: Wednesday saw the heaviest attacks on vessels since the war began, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time since July.
• Military and diplomatic fallout spreads: Iranian strikes damaged US aircraft in Jordan, Iran claims it hit a US drone vessel in Hormuz, and Saudi Arabia faced repeated missile alerts from Houthi attacks.
• No quick end in sight: Trump says the war will likely continue until after the November US midterms, even as economic pain from sanctions and rising oil prices grows.

Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.

Live Updates
Sep 11, 2026 04:51 PM IST
Saudi airstrikes hit Yemen's rebel-held Mokha airport as Houthis take island near key strait

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured a strategic island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance of the Red Sea, two officials said Friday in a swift advance that further threatens Saudi oil exports through one of the world's key commercial lanes.

Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes against the airport in the key port city of Mokha that the Houthis seized on Thursday, a Houthi broadcaster said. There was no immediate report of damage or deaths.

The capture of Mayun, a tiny, barren volcanic island in the strait, was confirmed by a senior military official with Yemen's internationally recognised government and by a Houthi official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to journalists.

The island, also known as Perim, is about 3.5 kilometres off Yemen's west coast. AP

Sep 11, 2026 04:48 PM IST
Why Houthi takeover of Yemen islands is important

The Houthi seizure of Mayun (Perim) island and Mocha port is strategically significant because it potentially gives the group a stronger position around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's key maritime chokepoints. Mayun sits directly inside the strait, while Mocha is located on Yemen's Red Sea coast roughly 80 km away.

Together with the Houthis' reported advance towards the Hanish Islands and the Dhubab area, these moves could allow the group to exert greater pressure on shipping moving between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The timing is particularly important because disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have already pushed Saudi Arabia and other shippers to seek alternative routes through the Red Sea.

By expanding their territorial presence around Bab el-Mandeb, the Houthis are therefore positioning themselves near a critical alternative route for oil and global trade, potentially giving them greater leverage over maritime traffic and Saudi economic interests.

Sep 11, 2026 04:41 PM IST
Iran-backed Houthis now control a Yemen island in Bab el-Mandeb Strait

A senior military official with Yemen's internationally recognised government said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have taken the island of Mayun after government forces withdrew from there on Thursday.

A Houthi official confirmed the rebels were on the island, also known as Perim, about 3.5 kilometres off Yemen's west coast.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to journalists.

The strait is a key alternative to the Iran-choked Strait of Hormuz, and the Houthis say their advance is part of an effort to target Saudi shipping. AP

Sep 11, 2026 02:46 PM IST
France's budget deficit to top 5% of GDP this year, finance minister says

French finance minister Roland Lescure said on Friday that the ⁠country's ​budget deficit will be over 5% ​of gross ​domestic ⁠product this year.

"The reality ‌is that 5% is no longer an option today," Lescure ⁠told ⁠reporters.

French officials had ⁠warned ‌that ​the country ‌would enter the danger zone ‌with ​international ​creditors ​if its budget ​deficit surpassed 5% in ⁠2026. Reuters

Sep 11, 2026 12:31 PM IST
Oil prices set to end week above $100 for first time in nearly 4 months

Oil prices fell on Friday but both major benchmarks are on track to end the week above $100 a barrel for the first time since mid-May, as increasing attacks along key shipping routes in the Middle East fuel fears of a prolonged disruption to supplies.

The benchmarks pared all early gains to trade lower on Friday after the Financial Times reported that foreign ministers in the Middle East are trying to work out a ⁠temporary ​deal with Iran to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures fell $1.64, or 1.5%, to $105.99 a barrel by 0643 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.28, or 1.3%, to $101.20 a barrel.

The benchmarks were still trading more than 10% higher on a weekly basis - the steepest gain since the week ended July 17. Both benchmarks rose more than 6% on Thursday.

Sep 11, 2026 11:45 AM IST
US has loosened Iran's grip on Strait of Hormuz, but costly war is far from over

The United States has managed in recent weeks to loosen Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz while nearly halting Iran's oil exports, deepening Tehran's economic downturn, according to AP. But the war launched by the US and Israel in February originally expected to last only a few weeks remains far from resolved, with the standoff proving costly for both sides. A June agreement broke down quickly, and no diplomatic progress has followed since, while low-level fighting continues and Washington appears to lack a clear exit strategy.

Sep 11, 2026 10:59 AM IST
Anthropic blocks weapons work queries on Claude AI from China, Russia users

Anthropic has said it stopped several attempts this year by scientists trying to use its artificial intelligence models for research that could have helped in the development of biological weapons. The company set out the findings in a report published on Thursday, its third since March 2025 on the misuse of its AI systems.

Anthropic said it could not always tell whether the research in question was meant for weapons work or for legitimate medical study, such as vaccine development. The company said this is a hard line to draw in biology, where the same research can help people or cause harm. Because of this, Anthropic said it chose to act with caution and block the activity rather than wait for certainty. Read more

Sep 11, 2026 10:37 AM IST
Hormuz shipping traffic falls to single digits, data shows

Vessel transits at the Strait of Hormuz fell to seven on Thursday from 11 the previous day, preliminary ship-tracking data showed on Friday, well below the 10-day average of 15.

Of the seven vessels, two Panamax ships exited the strait, one carrying fertiliser and the other sailing in ballast, according to data from ship tracker Kpler as of 0306 GMT.

Five vessels entered the strait, including ⁠a ​Panamax vessel carrying dry bulk cargo, a Handysize vessel laden with steel, a Handysize vessel carrying grains, a medium-range tanker loaded with dirty petroleum products, and a Supramax vessel carrying dry bulk cargo.

Sep 11, 2026 09:30 AM IST
Trump declines Saudi crown prince's call for US strikes on Houthis, Axios reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called US President Trump twice ⁠on ​Thursday and urged him to ​launch strikes ​against the ⁠Houthis, Axios reported, citing two ‌US officials.

Trump rejected the request, and US officials ⁠said ⁠the administration does not ⁠intend ‌to ​take direct ‌military action against the Houthis ‌at ​this ​time, ​the report said.

Reuters ​could not ⁠immediately verify the report.

Sep 11, 2026 09:20 AM IST
Trump’s Census plan could exclude H-1B workers, Indian students: What it means

The Trump administration has proposed a major overhaul of the 2030 US Census that could exclude undocumented immigrants, and potentially some temporary legal residents, including people on work and student visas, from the population count used to determine congressional representation.

The US Census Bureau submitted the proposal about a year after President Donald Trump directed the agency to draft new rules for the next census that would block illegal immigrants from being counted. The bureau is scheduled to conduct the next full census in 2030, Reuters reported. Read more

Sep 11, 2026 07:14 AM IST
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi to attend BRICS summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday began a three-day visit to India to participate in the BRICS summit and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand bilateral trade, investment and energy cooperation.

Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation.

"Warmly welcome President Vladimir Putin of Russia for the 18th BRICS Summit. He was received by MoS K V Singh at the airport. India and Russia share multifaceted and longstanding ties anchored in Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

Sep 11, 2026 06:05 AM IST
US slaps new sanctions on networks aiding Iran's proxies in Middle East

The US government announced new sanctions against firms and individuals that it says are aiding Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies in the Middle East as it intensified its campaign to isolate Iran economically, Reuters reported.

Thursday's actions by Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control hit entities and individuals in Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey that Washington said supported Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi paramilitary group under the command of the IRGC, and Hezbollah, Treasury said in a statement.

Treasury also announced a settlement with a US citizen who agreed to pay $1.43 million to settle their potential civil liability for 39 apparent violations of sanctions on Iran, and issued a broad whistleblower appeal for tips on any sanctions evasion or money laundering by Iran.

Sep 11, 2026 05:46 AM IST
Iranian FM discusses regional escalation, tensions with Pakistan army chief

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed escalating tensions and regional insecurity with Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, according to the Iranian diplomat’s Telegram channel.

During a phone call, the two “emphasised the need for vigilance and coordination among regional countries in response to current developments, and stressed the importance of utilizing shared capacities to help establish lasting peace and security in the region”.

Pakistan’s military leader played a crucial role in mediating between the US and Iran in securing the now-defunct June memorandum of understanding that aimed to end the war.

Sep 11, 2026 05:17 AM IST
In Florida’s 15th execution this year, man put to death for killing linked to ‘Hog Trail Murders’

Daniel Owen Conahan Jr., 72, was executed by lethal injection Thursday at Florida State Prison, becoming the state's 15th person put to death this year. He had been sentenced to die for the 1996 kidnapping and strangling of Richard Allen Montgomery, whose body was found in a wooded area where authorities uncovered the remains of at least six people over three years, in killings that became known as the "Hog Trail Murders." Conahan was named a person of interest in the other deaths but was never charged.

Conahan was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. after declining to give a final statement; the lethal drugs began flowing at 6:01 p.m., and he was declared dead 11 minutes later.
The state has carried out more than half of the 25 executions nationwide this year under Gov. Ron DeSantis, following a record 19 executions in 2025.
Sep 11, 2026 05:10 AM IST
Trump administration to sanction unnamed 'large' bank on Monday, Bessent says

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday the Trump administration will sanction a large bank next week, part of its ongoing economic pressure campaign to end the more than six-month conflict with Iran. Speaking on "Real America's Voice," he did not name the bank or its country but said the move, originally planned for Friday, was pushed to Monday out of respect for September 11 anniversary ceremonies. "We are just going to continue with this process until everyone stops dealing with this regime," Bessent said, warning that companies and individuals still doing business with Tehran risk financial ruin. President Trump said Wednesday he expects the war to continue until after November's midterm elections.

Key Points:

Treasury will target a large, unnamed bank as part of its pressure campaign against Iran, delayed from Friday due to 9/11 memorial events.
The US has already sanctioned nearly 60 entities, individuals and vessels under "Operation Economic Outcast," hitting Iran's oil, shipping, aviation, technology, gold and digital asset sectors.
Trump said the war will likely persist until after the US midterm elections in November, even as sanctions pressure intensifies.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Sep 11, 2026 05:08 AM IST
Ghalibaf says Yemeni people will ‘triumph’ after Houthis capture Mocha

Iran's parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, voiced support for Yemen's Houthis in a post on X, declaring that "the brave Yemeni people will certainly triumph."

The comment comes as the Houthis have taken control of the key Red Sea city of Mocha, tightening their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait one of the world's most vital shipping routes.

Sep 11, 2026 04:49 AM IST
Two vessels hit by projectiles off Oman coast: UKMTO

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre says it has received a report of two vessels involved in an incident 4 nautical miles (7.4km) west of the port of Khasab in Oman.

An alert issued by UKMTO says the master of a vessel reported seeing four unknown projectiles hit two unknown vessels, causing a fire on one vessel. The master said he was unsure of the status of the second vessel, 6 nautical miles (11km) north of his position.

Sep 11, 2026 04:47 AM IST

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