World News Today Live Updates: US limits aerial protection windows for tankers crossing Strait of Hormuz
FT reports the US has limited air defence protection for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz to two daily time slots after increased Iranian night attacks.
by Mashkoora Khan · The Indian Express · JoinTensions across the Middle East have intensified as Iran-backed Houthi forces expand their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, while attacks and disruptions threaten vital regional energy and shipping routes. The developments come amid heightened US-Iran tensions, declining traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and growing diplomatic efforts to protect maritime trade.
The US has tightened the schedule for aerial protection of tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, limiting military air cover to two designated time windows each day, according to the Financial Times.
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An Iranian attack on a US military base in Jordan damaged American military aircraft, according to a US official. The incident adds to growing regional tensions and raises concerns over the security of US forces stationed across the Middle East. Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to single-digit levels, according to shipping data, highlighting the growing disruption to one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Houthis expand control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast: Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline, strengthening their position around the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had driven Saudi-backed forces from six districts and claimed maritime navigation remained safe for most shipping companies, except Saudi vessels.
Saudi Arabia halts East-West oil pipeline: Saudi Arabia temporarily halted oil flows through its East-West pipeline as a precaution after the infrastructure was targeted in an attack that Riyadh said originated from Iraq. The shutdown underscores growing concerns over the vulnerability of regional energy infrastructure. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said a regional meeting on shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz will be held in Oman on Monday, with Iraq and Gulf states expected to participate. Meanwhile, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said its forces had begun bombing a designated “kill box” near Mocha after the city was seized by the Houthis.
Key world developments
- Saudi pipeline suspended: Riyadh temporarily stopped oil flows through its East-West pipeline after an attack it said originated from Iraq.
- US aircraft damaged: An Iranian attack on a US base in Jordan reportedly damaged American military aircraft.
- Hormuz traffic plunges: Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to single-digit levels.
- Houthis seize Red Sea coast: The group now claims control of Yemen’s entire Red Sea coastline and has expanded its position near Bab al-Mandeb.
- North Korea fires ballistic missiles toward sea after rivals’ military drill it sees as provocation
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 12, 2026 12:14 PM IST
Saudi Arabia shut down East-West pipeline as Houthis tighten grip on Red Sea shipping
Saudi Arabia has shut down a major oil pipeline after a drone attack, while Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized a strategically vital island guarding the entrance to the Red Sea developments that mark a dangerous new front in the wider war with Iran.
The kingdom’s East-West pipeline, built in the 1980s, was hit by multiple drones on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed the line was shut down “as a precautionary measure.”
According to CNN, US officials say the strike damaged pump stations along the route, and satellite images appear to show extensive fire damage at one pumping station, with a separate image showing black smoke rising from another site. Read more
Sep 12, 2026 10:56 AM IST
US limits air defence time slots for tankers sailing through Hormuz, FT reports
The US has asked tankers travelling through the Strait of Hormuz to sail only at specific times to guarantee military protection after Iran stepped up attacks on ships travelling at night, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
Washington has been offering air-based defence since May to ships wanting to sail via a route hugging the Omani coast on the strait's southern side.
That period during which ships would be protected was cut down to two specific time slots daily around the start of September, the FT reported, citing emails sent by the US naval co-ordination centre to maritime advisers.
Sep 12, 2026 10:24 AM IST
Clashes reported between Iranian security forces, armed group in Saravan
Clashes have been reported between Iranian security forces and an armed group in Saravan, in Sistan-Baluchestan province, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
According to the report, the fighting began when those it described as “Islamic fighters” attacked a house allegedly being used by “mercenary terrorists”.
Sep 12, 2026 09:41 AM IST
Iran used Chinese satellite images for July attack on US base in Jordan: WSJ
The Wall Street Journal reports, citing US officials familiar with details of the incident, that Iran used Chinese satellite images to carry out its attack that killed three US soldiers in July.
According to the report, Tehran had acquired high-resolution satellite images of the Muwaffaq Salti airbase, a US military base in Jordan that was fatally struck.
US officials declined to identify the Chinese entities that supplied the imagery to Iran and did not allege direct involvement by Beijing, WSJ reported, adding that senior US officials raised the allegations with their Chinese counterparts, who pushed back and demanded proof.
In May, Washington sanctioned three Chinese companies over the alleged provision of such imagery to Iran.
Sep 12, 2026 08:51 AM IST
How Iran-linked users put Claude AI to work tracking US Navy warships
An Iran-linked group used Anthropic’s Claude AI to collect public information on US Navy ships, track their movements and research potential weaknesses in onboard communications systems, according to a report released by the AI company. Anthropic said it disrupted the activity and shared information about the operation with US government authorities.
The report offers a detailed look at how Iran-linked actors used a commercially available AI model for military intelligence, alongside separate efforts involving propaganda, domestic surveillance, cyberattacks and the profiling of people in Israel and the Jewish diaspora. Read more
Sep 12, 2026 07:18 AM IST
Saudi Civil Defence says danger has passed in Sharurah
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence says the danger has passed in Sharurah Governorate, after an earlier alert warned residents of a potential threat.
In a post on X, the authority urged people to continue following Civil Defence instructions and to avoid gathering or filming.
Sep 12, 2026 07:02 AM IST
Saudis shut down oil pipeline as Houthis tighten grip on Red Sea shipping
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut its East-West oil pipeline after multiple aerial attacks, including a strike Riyadh and Baghdad said originated in Iraq, as Iran-backed Houthi forces expand their control along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The developments have heightened pressure on regional energy supplies and shipping routes already disrupted by the wider US-Iran conflict.
Saudi pipeline shut: Riyadh suspended operations on the 1,200-km East-West pipeline as a precaution after attacks, threatening a key alternative route for exporting crude when tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is severely disrupted.
Houthis expand Red Sea control: Houthi forces have advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and seized the strategic Perim island near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, strengthening their ability to threaten maritime traffic.
Saudi Arabia seeks US support: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly asked President Donald Trump for US military assistance against the Houthis, but Washington has so far ruled out direct military action while offering intelligence and targeting support.
Sep 12, 2026 06:19 AM IST
North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles toward sea, South Korea says
North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the sea off its east coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Saturday.
The missiles were launched from around 5:20 a.m. (2020 GMT on Friday) and flew about 250 km (155 miles), the JCS said in a statement, adding that South Korean and US authorities were conducting a detailed analysis of their specifications.
South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities had tracked and shared information on the launches from the outset, while information on the ballistic missiles was also shared with Japan, the JCS said.
Sep 12, 2026 06:18 AM IST
Muslim World League ‘strongly condemns’ attack on East-West pipeline
The Muslim World League has “strongly condemned” the drone attacks originating from Iraq on the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, the international non-governmental organization, quoted its Secretary General Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa as saying the attacks “violate all religious values, international and humanitarian laws and norms”.
The General Secretariat, headquartered in Mecca, “stressed full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all measures it takes to deter aggressors, preserve its security and sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents on its lands”.
Sep 12, 2026 06:12 AM IST
Iraq orders closure of border crossing with Iran as a precautionary measure
Baghdad has ordered the closure of the Shalamcheh border crossing between Iraq and Iran, according to a Reuters report.
Two security sources quoted by Reuters said Iraq had closed the crossing as a precautionary measure following a drone attack launched from Iraq targeting Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline.
The Shalamcheh border crossing is a major land route between Iran and Iraq. A United States missile strike hit the border in July 2026, killing two people and injuring 11 others.
Sep 12, 2026 05:55 AM IST
Saudi Arabia shuts East-West pipeline after drone attack, threatening key Hormuz oil bypass
Saudi Arabia has shut down a major oil pipeline after a drone attack, while Yemen’s Houthi rebels have seized a strategically vital island guarding the entrance to the Red Sea developments that mark a dangerous new front in the wider war with Iran.
The kingdom’s East-West pipeline, built in the 1980s, was hit by multiple drones on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed the line was shut down “as a precautionary measure.”
According to CNN, US officials say the strike damaged pump stations along the route, and satellite images appear to show extensive fire damage at one pumping station, with a separate image showing black smoke rising from another site.
Sep 12, 2026 05:46 AM IST
Saudi East-West pipeline temporarily shut down after several attacks
A Saudi energy ministry official has said that the vital East-West oil pipeline was temporarily shut down on Thursday, September 10 after several attacks on the pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, adding some people were injured and received medical treatment.
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