Middle East live: Houthis say hit Saudi base after renewed fighting with Yemeni forces
· France 2413/09/2026 - 17:45
Yemen: The Houthis test Iran's regional influence
Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have intensified as fighting spreads around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint for global trade and oil shipments. On FRANCE 24, Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies chairman Farea Al-Muslimi argued this could mark "the last round in Yemen's current war", unpacking the Houthis' ties with Iran and the growing pressure on Washington as the group targets US allies while Donald Trump heads into a crucial election.
13/09/2026 - 17:17
Saudi sends alert warning of potential attacks in regions near Yemen
Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency sent alerts warning of potential attacks in two regions bordering Yemen on Sunday, with its southern neighbour gripped by renewed war.
The alerts, which were for the city of Abha and the region around Khamis Mushait, were quickly lifted. It came shortly after Houthi media reported Saudi strikes in the north of Yemen, close to the border.
13/09/2026 - 16:42
Houthi media reports Saudi strikes in northern Yemen
Houthi media reported on Sunday that Saudi Arabia had carried out two strikes on Saada, in the north of Yemen, a stronghold for the pro-Iran group.
The Almasirah TV channel also reported artillery fire in the border district of Monabbih, in the same province. The Houthis have been engaged in renewed fighting with pro-government forces since Yemen's civil war reignited in July.
13/09/2026 - 15:54
Trump doesn't 'care' if Gulf nations meet with Iran
US President Donald Trump said Sunday he does not "care" about a proposed meeting between Iran and Gulf states to discuss the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing American conflict with Tehran.
"I don't care. That's up to them," the US leader told reporters during a visit to Ireland when asked about Monday's planned meeting in Oman.
13/09/2026 - 15:18
Yemen: Fighting escalates around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Fighting is escalating in Yemen after Iran-backed Houthi forces seized strategic territory around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting counterstrikes by government forces and reported Saudi air raids.
The Houthis also claimed attacks inside southern Saudi Arabia and threatened to disrupt shipping through the key maritime chokepoint, raising fears for regional security and global trade.
13/09/2026 - 14:47
Iran president says Tehran and UAE want to 'turn the page' on war
Iran and the United Arab Emirates, whose relations have deteriorated since the start of the Middle East war, want to "turn the page", the Iranian president said on Sunday.
"We had a constructive exchange with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi," Massoud Pezeshkian said a day after a meeting with Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in India, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. "It was agreed that we would turn the page, look to the future and build it together."
13/09/2026 - 14:15
Saudi pipeline outage threatens loss of 4% of global oil supply
Saudi Arabia will run out of oil stocks for exports if it doesn't restart its major pipeline to the Red Sea within days, leading to a loss of up to 4% of global supply, Saudi oil buyers and traders said.
A further decline in Saudi flows will worsen the global supply crunch, which has already pushed global fuel prices to record highs, spurred inflation around the world and sent US bond yields to the highest levels since the 2008 financial crisis.
13/09/2026 - 12:09
More than 2,000 fled Yemen fighting to Djibouti
More than 2,000 people have landed in Djibouti this week after fleeing the uptick in fighting between Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi fighters and Saudi-backed government, the United Nations said.
Tens of thousands have taken flight in the wake of a week-long Houthi offensive that culminated in the group capturing the remainder of Yemen's Red Sea coast and several strategic islands, cementing their hold on the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
On Thursday, the group took control of the Red Sea port city of Mocha, which lies along the key waterway for ships passing from Europe to Asia.
13/09/2026 - 11:43
🎥 Yemen: Houthi offensive triggers new displacement crisis
More than 70,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen after Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched an offensive to seize the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with many escaping to Aden and around 1,400 crossing into neighbouring Djibouti.
The UN and IOM warn the new displacement wave is worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis in a country devastated by 12 years of war.
13/09/2026 - 10:26
Crew of vessel attacked in Hormuz strait evacuated, UKMTO says
A vessel has been struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.
The crew were evacuated by local authorities after a fire broke out following the attack, the British navy-affiliated firm said.
13/09/2026 - 09:09
13/09/2026 - 08:33
Iraq to reopen Iran crossings after drone attack
Iraqi authorities announced a timeline to reopen three crossings with Iran, a day after closing them following a drone attack originating from their shared border on a Saudi pipeline.
After the Friday night attack on the East-West pipeline, Baghdad sacked the military commander in Missan province near the Iran border, after authorities determined the drones were launched from there.
The government then closed three crossings, citing the need to reorganise operations and boost intelligence efforts to stop violations.
13/09/2026 - 07:00
- 1,400 flee Yemen fighting to Djibouti
- Houthis say hit Saudi base after renewed fighting with Yemeni forces
- Vessel struck while transiting Hormuz strait
13/09/2026 - 06:59
Iran authorities say one dead after ship struck in Hormuz
A ship was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one person and injuring three, local Iranian authorities said.
"A merchant vessel was struck around 5:00am (0130 GMT) this morning off the coasts of Hengam and Qeshm islands. One person was killed and three others were injured," Qeshm city governor Amir Teymouri said, according to state TV, without specifying the origin of the strike.
13/09/2026 - 06:59
13/09/2026 - 06:59
Houthis say hit Saudi base after renewed fighting with Yemeni forces
Houthi fighters on Sunday said they used drones and missiles to attack a military base in southern Saudi Arabia as renewed fighting with Yemen's government forces forced growing numbers of civilians to flee.
The attack at the southern Sharurah base targeted "weapons depots and command and control centres that are managing the aggression against our nation and people", Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree wrote on X.
The date of the operation was not specified. Clashes have increased this week between the Iran-allied Houthis and Yemeni government forces, which are backed by Riyadh.
13/09/2026 - 06:59
13/09/2026 - 06:59
1,400 flee Yemen fighting to Djibouti
About 1,400 people have fled Yemen for Djibouti due to fighting between government forces and Iran-allied Houthis, Djibouti's minister of economy and finance said Saturday.
Houthi fighters control a large part of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and Hodeida in the west. They have advanced along the coast in just days and on Thursday seized the port city of Mokha.
The Houthis have since taken control of the coastline and islands in the Red Sea, and on Friday tightened their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is vital to global shipping through the Suez Canal.
13/09/2026 - 06:58
Welcome to the FRANCE 24 liveblog covering the war in the Middle East.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters and AP)