Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif remarked that “We have had connections with Saudi Arabia, and we hope these contacts would yield results through later cooperation… for the sake of regional peace and security, particularly Yemen, which is suffering huge humanitarian catastrophe”. The following day, President Rouhani told the Qatari Emir that “there is no military solution to the crisis in Yemen”, emphasised “the need for cooperation and efforts to resolve the crisis in the country” and voiced “hope that UN-led peaceful motives for peace in Yemen would yield desired results”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Abha International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson said that they had successfully targeted King Khalid airbase with a drone.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan, U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Linderking emphasised the need for “a comprehensive, nationwide ceasefire and move to inclusive political talks” in Yemen. The U.S. State Department asserted that “there is a fair deal on the table that will bring immediate relief to Yemeni people. The Huthis passed up a major opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to peace and to make progress on this proposal by refusing to meet with UN Special Envoy Griffiths in Muscat—especially given the Republic of Yemen Government’s stated readiness to reach an agreement to end the conflict”.

A Pentagon spokesperson indicated that “we have… made clear through diplomatic channels our concerned [sic] about IRGC navy activities”, adding: “The IRGC’s not the Iranian state navy and doesn’t have the same reporting structure as the Iranian state navy. Our interactions with the Iranian state navy have remained professional, but that’s a whole different reporting chain up to the elected government, and the IRGC doesn’t report along those same lines”. He further maintained that “you don’t need a hotline with the IRGC to communicate”, adding: “I don’t believe that there’s a need, nor… I would suspect no appetite for any sort of operational or strategic communication between us and the IRGC. We have diplomatic channels that we work through appropriately to communicate our displeasure to Tehran”. The spokesperson asserted that “our commanders at sea have the right and responsibility to defend themselves against threats”, and noted: “This incident [on 26 April]… did finally result in what ended up finally breaking the fever… Nobody wants to even see it come to that”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a ballistic missile and two explosive drones” bound for Najran. A Huthi military spokesperson indicated that they had hit Najran Airport and King Khalid airbase with four drones and two ballistic missiles.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a Huthi “explosive drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson said that they had targeted King Khalid airbase with a drone.

The Saudi defence ministry reported downing a “hostile air target” bound for Jeddah.

Discussing Iran-Israel tensions, CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie stressed that “it is not our desire to have a war with Iran. And we would hope it is not their desire to have a war with us… There is a low-level conflict that’s being fought out across the theater. But we do not intend to enter that conflict”.

Meeting with a Huthi official in Oman, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif reiterated “Iran’s support for a political solution as the only way out of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, a ceasefire and intra-Yemeni talks”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported that they had successfully targeted King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait with a drone.

CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie assessed that “while diplomatic efforts are underway to address Iran’s nuclear program and other destabilising activities, we should be very clear that we remain in a state of contested deterrence with Iran, which continues to play a dangerous game by supporting proxies and affiliated groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen”. McKenzie added: “These groups are often willing to take risks that Tehran is not. So long as Iran continues its material support for these groups, the region will not know true stability and security”.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman remarked that “all what we ask for is to have a good and distinguished relationship with Iran… we want it [ie, Iran] to prosper and grow as we have Saudi interests in Iran, and they have Iranian interests in Saudi Arabia, which is to drive prosperity and growth”. He added: “The problem that we have lies with certain negative behaviours they have, whether in terms of their nuclear program, their support of illegal militias… or their ballistic missile program. We are working now without partners in the region and the world to find solutions for these problems”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently noted that “with constructive views and a dialogue-oriented approach, Iran and Saudi Arabia… can enter a new chapter of interaction and cooperation to achieve peace, stability and regional development by overcoming differences”.

The Saudi defence ministry confirmed that naval forces had intercepted “a bomb-laden unmanned surface vehicle (USV)” in the Red Sea. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a Huthi explosive drone” bound for Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had targeted King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait with a drone.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi “bomb-laden drones” bound for Jizan and Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson said that they had struck “important and sensitive locations at King Khalid air base… [and an] Aramco facility in Jizan” with drones.

Iran’s foreign ministry “denied the remarks recently made by [senior IRGC official] Rostam Qassemi… regarding Iran’s military assistance and the presence of Iranian military advisors in Yemen”, adding that Qassemi’s remarks “are contrary to the reality and policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Yemen”. The ministry further underscored that “Iran’s support for Yemen is of [a] political type, and the Islamic Republic backs the peaceful resolution of the Yemen crisis”.

U.S. CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie described the threat of sea mines as an “example of an Iranian asymmetric capability that they can employ against [the U.S.]”, and further assessed: “the Strait of Hormuz is a logical place for them to do that… There’s another area though that is also of concern to us and that’s the Bab al-Mandab in the Southern Red Sea where they might be able to do it through their Huthi proxies down there”. Relatedly, the commander of U.S. AFRICOM assessed that “Iranian military capabilities threaten sea-lanes through the Red Sea and our posture locations in the Horn of Africa. Iranian support to Yemen’s Huthis further jeopardises freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and increases tensions and instability in East Africa”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthis spokesperson claimed that they had hit “a military site” at King Khalid airbase.

U.S. Special Representative for Yemen Tim Lenderking assessed that “the Huthis receive considerable funding, training and other support from Iran”, and asserted: “If the Huthis are not acting as a proxy or partner of Iran, it is time they engage seriously in our efforts to reach agreement on a ceasefire and resume political talks”. “Each day the war continues, their relationship with Iran deepens”, he warned, while underscoring the need for “a comprehensive peace agreement that not only stops fighting between the Huthis and Saudi Arabia, but that forces the Huthis to participate in a peaceful political process and reduces the instability that Iran and other malign actors will seek to manipulate”. Lenderking further indicated that “we would welcome Iran playing a constructive role [in the conflict], if they are willing to do so. We have not seen any indication of that”. 

U.S. CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie remarked that “Iran provides weapons, parts and expertise to Huthi forces in Yemen for the purpose of attacking Saudi Arabia. Since January 2021, Iranian-aided Huthi forces have launched more than 150 ballistic missile, LACM [Land-Attack Cruise Missiles] and one-way UAS attacks against military, infrastructure and civilian targets in Saudi Arabia. These attacks have varied in scope and complexity, with UAS detection and interdiction particularly challenging not just for Saudi forces, but also for U.S. and Coalition forces supporting Saudi Arabia’s defence”. McKenzie added that “these small- and medium-sized UAS proliferating across the AOR present a new and complex threat to our forces and those of our partners and allies. For the first time since the Korean War, we are operating without complete air superiority”. He went on to emphasise that “U.S. assistance to the Kingdom focuses on providing information to Saudi Arabia’s armed forces to assist them in thwarting Huthi UAV, ballistic missile, and explosive boat attacks that contravene international law and undermine diplomatic efforts”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had hit an “important military site” at Abha International Airport with a drone.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia inside Yemeni territory. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had hit “a sensitive military site at King Khalid Air Base” with a drone.

The Saudi-led coalition announced downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “four bomb-laden UAVs and five ballistic missiles” launched by the Huthis towards Jizan; debris “caused a restricted fire that was contained without any losses to civilian life” at Jizan University. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had successfully targeted an Aramco facility and military sites. The U.S. State Department denounced “the Huthi complex attacks… which threatened civilian infrastructure”, while asserting that “the Huthis’ actions are prolonging the suffering of the Yemeni people and jeopardising… [diplomatic] efforts at a moment when there is a commitment from the international community to end the conflict now”. The U.S. further urged “all parties to agree to a comprehensive, nationwide ceasefire and to engage in negotiations towards an inclusive political agreement under UN auspices”.

The U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2021 Annual Threat Assessment judged that “Iran will remain a destabilising force in Yemen, as Tehran’s support to the Huthis—including supplying ballistic and cruise missiles as well as unmanned systems—poses a threat to U.S. partners and interests, notably through strikes on Saudi Arabia”.

Meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, President Rouhani was quoted as contending that “allowing the Israeli regime a foothold in the Persian Gulf region is ‘dangerous’, given the fact that the regime is a ‘destabilising and provocative’ element”. In a separate conversation with the Qatari Emir, President Rouhani underlined “the need to resolve regional issues and crises, including the Yemeni crisis, through dialogue and negotiation”, adding: “the only successful way to ensure security, peace and stability in the region is resolving issues peacefully, responsibility and taking into account the collective interests, and we believe that militarism cannot resolve regional issues”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “a ballistic missile and six explosive-laden drones” launched by the Huthis towards Jizan, in addition to a drone bound for Khamis Mushait. The Huthis said they targeted two Aramco refineries and military sites across Saudi Arabia using multiple drones and ballistic missiles.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at Jizan and “an armed drone” bound for Saudi Arabia. A military Huthi spokesperson said that they had successfully targeted “warplane hangars in Jizan Airport”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi drone bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had struck “a sensitive site at Abha International Airport with a drone”. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia, and a second en route Jizan. A military Huthi spokesperson said that they had “targeted King Khalid Airbase in Khamis Mushait” with a drone.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that an Iranian ship, the Saviz, was hit the day before by an explosion in the Red Sea, causing “minor damage with no casualties”. “The Saviz civilian ship was stationed… to provide maritime security along the shipping lanes and to fight pirates”, the ministry added, placing the incident near the Djibouti coast. Washington denied involvement in the incident, while media reports citing a U.S. official indicated that “the Israelis had notified the U.S. that its forces had struck the vessel… [in] retaliation for earlier Iranian strikes on Israeli vessels”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson said they had successfully targeted Saudi military sites with two drones.

A senior Iranian diplomat spoke with a Huthi official on “the latest developments in the peace process in Yemen”, and expressed “satisfaction” regarding their progress.

The Saudi-led coalition reported thwarting “an imminent Huthi attack” by “destroying an explosive-laden boat in a southern part of the Red Sea”.

A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had conducted a successful operation against “sensitive and important sites in Riyadh” using four drones. The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a pair of Huthi drones bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi cabinet condemned Huthi strikes against Saudi Arabia as a “continuation of the Iranian guardianship over the political and military decision of the militias in order to achieve its subversive agenda to spread chaos and undermine regional and international security”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi drones bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted two Huthi “explosive-laden boats” to be used in what it described as an “imminent” attack. The coalition also reported downing “three armed drones launched towards southern Saudi Arabia, including the city of Khamis Mushait”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at civilian targets in Najran, in addition to “a drone fired at the city of Khamis Mushait”.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had targeted multiple Saudi energy and military sites using “eighteen drones and eight ballistic missiles”. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry confirmed that “an attack with a projectile was made on the petroleum products distribution terminal in Jizan. The attack resulted in a fire in one of the terminal’s tanks”. The Saudi defence ministry subsequently indicated that it had downed eight Huthi UAVs, and that three ballistic missiles had been launched toward Saudi Arabia, “one of which fell short… and the remaining fell in two uninhabited areas”. “These violations confirm the rejection of the terrorist militia of all political efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis, specifically following the announcement of the Kingdom’s initiative to end the crisis”, a spokesperson indicated. “They as well reaffirm Iran’s control over the militia’s political and military decisions, through which it achieves its vandalistic agenda to spread chaos and undermine regional and international security”. The U.S. said it “join[ed] the international community in strongly condemning the attacks”, asserting that “the actions by the Huthis are a clear provocation meant to perpetuate the conflict”.

Discussing a Saudi-proposed ceasefire plan to end the Yemen war, the Saudi UN envoy remarked that “the ball is in the Huthis’ court… They need to come clean and not give priority to the interests of outside parties, but rather to the interest of the Yemeni people. That’s where the ball lies and that’s where we are waiting to see if we have a partner for peace or not”.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had targeted Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport using a drone; the Huthis also claimed to have downed a coalition drone.

Marking the sixth anniversary of the Yemen war, Iran’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that “the Yemen crisis has no military solution… Iran supports any peace plan focused on ending the aggression, declaring a nationwide ceasefire, ending the occupation, lifting the economic siege, starting the political dialogue and finally letting Yemenis take the helm of shaping their political future free from any foreign interference”. The following day, Iran’s ambassador to Sanaa contended that “the [22 March] Saudi initiative for Yemen is a project of permanent war; it will keep up occupation and war crimes there, and will not put an end to the war”.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister unveiled “an initiative to end the Yemeni crisis and reach a comprehensive political resolution”, noting that it “gives the Huthis an opportunity to uphold the interests of the brotherly Yemeni people… and the independence of their homeland over the Iranian regime’s expansionary ambitions in Yemen and the region”. The U.S. hailed “Saudi Arabia and Republic of Yemen Government’s commitment to a ceasefire and political process in Yemen”, urging “all parties to commit seriously to a ceasefire immediately and engage in negotiations under the auspices of the UN”. The same day, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Saudi counterpart and underscored the U.S.’s “commitment to supporting the defence of Saudi Arabia and strongly condemned recent attacks against Saudi territory from Iranian-aligned groups in the region”. According to the State Department, the two officials underscored “their close cooperation to support the efforts… to end the conflict in Yemen, starting with the need for all parties to commit to a ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid”.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei posited that the Saudis “can neither stay nor leave [Yemen]… Both ways are to their detriment”. He further said: “You Americans knew what a disaster you were creating for the Saudis. If you knew it and you did it anyway, how wretched are your allies because you treat them this way. And if you did not know it, then again how wretched are your allies for trusting you and for planning with you who are not familiar with regional issues”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Khamis Mushait.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had targeted Aramco facilities in Riyadh with six drones. The Saudi oil ministry confirmed that “the Riyadh oil refinery was attacked by drones, resulting in a fire that has been brought under control. The attack did not result in any injury or death nor was the supply of oil or its derivatives affected”. A spokesperson further urged “all nations… to stand together against such acts of terrorism and sabotage, and to stop all groups carrying out or supporting these attacks”.

The UN Security Council deplored “the cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia and expressed concern about military developments elsewhere in Yemen”. The Council also emphasised “the need for de-escalation by all, including an immediate end to the Huthi escalation in Marib”, and called on “all parties to come together and work with the UN Special Envoy to negotiate, without preconditions, a nationwide ceasefire and a Yemeni-led and owned, inclusive, political settlement”.

A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had hit “a military target” at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport using a drone.

The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) denounced the 7 March drone attack on a Saudi port and missile strike on an Aramco facility in Dhahran. They also condemned “continuous attacks” by the Huthis, “affirming the GCC’s stand by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in taking all necessary and deterrent measures against these provocative acts”. The six Gulf countries urged “the international community to bear its responsibility toward these terrorist sabotage acts and the parties supporting them”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently contended that the “communique… lacks a realistic understating of surrounding developments and is in line with political pressure from the Saudi regime on the state members of the council”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “explosive-laden drone” bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi cabinet underscored “the importance of extending weapons embargo on Iran as it is continuing to provide the terrorist Huthi militias with advanced weapons and drones”, while voicing “support for the international efforts aimed at ensuring that the Iranian regime does not develop a nuclear weapons system and ballistic missiles, making the Arab Gulf region free of all weapons of mass destruction, and respects the independence and sovereignty of countries and not to interfere in its internal affairs”. The following day, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) asserted that “any future negotiations with Iran must include discussions on the Iranian regime’s ballistic missiles and nuclear program”.

A military Huthi spokesperson reported that they had successfully targeted Khalid Air Base with drones; the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a UAV bound for Khamis Mushait

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Khamis Mushait. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed that they had targeted Abha International Airport and King Khalid Air Base with drones. The same day, the coalition confirmed that two ballistic missiles had fallen in unpopulated parts of southern Saudi Arabia. A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson maintained that “we remain deeply concerned by the frequency of these attacks… these are not actions of a group who say that they want peace”. She further urged “all parties to seriously commit to a ceasefire and engage in negotiations”, adding: “This is a time for… the Huthis to come to the table and to commit to peace and diplomacy”.

Asked about Israel’s involvement in a 12 March “terrorist attack” on an Iranian cargo vessel, Defence Minister Benny Gantz maintained that “I’m not saying anything about what we did or didn’t do. We have an obligation to be preemptive on all fronts… By land, they [ie, Iranians] are supporting militias in Iraq and Syria – and by air and sea, they are sending weapons to Lebanon”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently contended that “given the geographical location of the attack it is possible that this terrorist act was carried out by the Zionist regime [ie, Israel]”. He further asserted that “Iran would consider all options when it finds out who has been involved in this operation, and will resort to them to protect its legitimate rights”.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and voiced “U.S. concern regarding the conflict in Yemen, particularly the humanitarian toll on the Yemeni people”, noting also that “the U.S. supports a unified, stable Yemen free from foreign influence, and that there is no military solution to the conflict”.

An Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines spokesperson asserted that an Iranian cargo vessel bound for Europe, Shahr-e Kord, had on 10 March been “damaged in [a] terrorist attack in the international waters of the Mediterranean sea”. He further stated that “such terrorist acts amount to naval piracy, and are contrary to international law on commercial shipping security, and legal action will be taken to identify the perpetrators”. The announcement came one day after media reports citing U.S. officials suggested that since 2019 Israel had “targeted at least a dozen vessels bound for Syria and mostly carrying Iranian oil”. 

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remarked that “The Yemenis [ie, the Huthis] have managed to create defensive weapons for themselves by benefiting from certain opportunities… the UN does not condemn the culprit for its six years of bombarding [Yemen], but it condemns the Yemenis because they occasionally defend themselves and because that defence has worked”.

In a joint statement with the E3 and Italy, the U.S. “condemn[ed] the sustained Huthi offensive on the Yemeni city of Marib and the major escalation of attacks the Huthis have conducted and claimed against Saudi Arabia”. The four governments went on to “urge the Huthis to seize this opportunity for peace and end the ongoing escalation”, and underscored their “firm commitment to the security and integrity of Saudi territory”. In subsequent remarks, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen said that “we now have a sound plan for a nationwide ceasefire… That plan has been before the Houthi leadership for a number of days”. “It appears that the Houthis are prioritising a military campaign to take Marib... over suspending the war and moving relief to the Yemeni people”, he added.

President Rouhani asserted that “Iran is ready to resolve… [regional] crises in the form of regional cooperation and by strengthening the role of the United Nations”. “We are against foreign interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, deeming it to the detriment of Iraq and the region as a whole, and blaming Iran in the recent events in Iraq is not a constructive approach”, Rouhani added. “The Iranian government is suspicious of the recent attacks on coalition bases in Iraq, and has asked the Iraqi government to look into the matter”. Discussing the Yemen war, Rouhani reiterated that “there is no military solution to this crisis”, adding: “while proposing a four-article initiative, [Iran] has used its full capacity to advance UN efforts in Yemen, and it supports any attempt to put an end to the aggression against the Yemeni people”.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister asserted that “efforts must be combined to stop the sources of the continuation of the conflict [in Yemen], the most important of which is Iran, as it supplies the Huthi militia with advanced weapons… this is a violation of UN resolutions and confirms that the arms embargo on Iran must be extended”.

The Saudi energy ministry confirmed a drone attack against “one of the petroleum tank farms at the Ras Tanura Port in the Eastern Region”, and also reported that “shrapnel from a ballistic missile fell near Saudi Aramco’s residential area in the city of Dhahran”; no casualties were reported in either incident, which a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition asserted had been carried out using Iranian-supplied weapons. A military Huthi official claimed they had targeted multiple Saudi cities and military sites using fourteen drones and eight ballistic missiles. The U.S. said it was “alarmed by the frequency of Huthi attacks... escalating attacks like these are not the actions of a group that is serious about peace”. “We will look for ways to improve support for Saudi Arabia's ability to defend its territory against threats”, a White House spokesperson indicated. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing that two Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Khamis Mushait and Jizan. A military Huthi spokesperson claimed successful strikes against “important and sensitive targets at King Khalid airbase”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing six Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Saudi Arabia; debris caused two civilian injuries. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that their drones had successfully targeted King Khalid Air Base and Abha International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi ballistic missiles bound for Jizan, and one “bomb-laden UAV” aimed at Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully struck a Saudi Aramco facility in Jeddah with a missile, in addition to targeting the King Khalid base by drone.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia. The same day, a Saudi spokesperson confirmed “the fall of a [Huthi] military projectile launched… from inside Yemen towards one of the border villages in Jizan Region”, injuring five and causing material damage.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif spoke with the UN Secretary-General regarding Yemen and expressed “Iran’s support for the UN’s moves to launch fair peace, calling for putting an end to the war, lifting the siege and providing humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people”. Zarif also underscored the importance of “holding inter-Yemeni talks and forming an inclusive government”.

The U.S. blacklisted two senior Huthi officials for having “used their positions… to procure weapons from Iran and to oversee attacks threatening civilians and maritime infrastructure”. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken contended that “Iran’s involvement in Yemen fans the flames of the conflict, threatening greater escalation, miscalculation and regional instability. Ansar Allah [ie, the Huthis] uses Iranian weapons, intelligence, training and support to conduct attacks threatening civilian targets and infrastructure in Yemen and Saudi Arabia”. Blinken went on to assert that “we will ensure Saudi Arabia and our regional partners have the tools they need to defend themselves, including against threats emanating from Yemen that are carried out with weapons and support from Iran. At the same time, the U.S. is working diligently at senior levels alongside the United Nations and others to bring an end to this conflict”.  

Commenting on a 26 February explosion on an Israeli-owned vessel in the Gulf of Oman, Prime Minister Netanyahu contended that “this was indeed an operation by Iran”, while asserting: “Iran is Israel’s biggest enemy. I am determined to fend it off. We are striking at it all over the region”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson denied any involvement in the incident, adding: “the security of the Persian Gulf is extremely important for Iran and we will not allow them to spread fear in the region by such accusations”. He further noted that Iran was “monitoring all the actions made by the [Israeli] regime in security zone of Iran in the past few months, and we will give a response where it happens”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and half a dozen “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Jizan and Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson, citing Saudi Arabia’s “ongoing escalating aggression and siege”, reported the launching of “a Zolfaghar ballistic missile and fifteen drones”. He further warned that “our retaliatory attacks are continuing” and urged Saudi civilians “to stay away from all military sites and airports or that may be used for military purposes”. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken deplored the strikes and urged “the Huthis to end these egregious attacks and engage constructively with” the UN and U.S. special envoys. He further asserted that “the U.S. remains committed to its longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a ballistic missile and two “bomb-laden UAV”s launched by the Huthis at Saudi Arabia.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that a merchant vessel, identified in media reports as the Bahamian-flagged, Israeli-owned Helios Ray, had “experienced an explosion” in the Gulf of Oman. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz subsequently indicated that “the location of the ship in relative close proximity to Iran raises the notion, the assessment, that it is the Iranians”. Too, Israel’s military chief of staff maintained: “we got a reminder that Iran not only is a nuclear threat, but that it spreads and carries out terror and operations against civilian targets… the IDF acts and will act against the threats that endanger [Israel], near and far”.

Iran’s navy commander remarked that “the navy of the army has a strong presence in the Red Sea and escorts the tankers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which are threatened by proxy terrorist groups to make sure the vessels safely cross the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to the Red Sea”. He further asserted that “the enemies wanted to close the ports on us in the first phase, and in the second phase to close the seas and sea routes to our trade ships and oil tankers… the deployment of the navy had disrupted all of the enemy’s equations at sea”.

President Biden spoke with Saudi King Salman on “regional security, including the renewed diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations and the U.S. to end the war in Yemen, and the U.S. commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend its territory as it faces attacks from Iranian-aligned groups”. 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Saudi counterpart, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Austin “condemned the recent Huthi cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and expressed his commitment to assisting Saudi Arabia in the defence of its borders”. He also “discussed the importance of ending the war and thanked the Crown Prince for Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a political settlement”. Austin went on to highlight “Saudi Arabia’s role as a pillar of the regional security architecture”, as well as the “U.S. and Saudi shared commitment to countering Iran’s destabilising activities and defeating violent extremist organisations in the region”. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing two Huthi bomb-laden UAVs, one of which it said was intended for Khamis Mushait; a similar incident was again reported the following day.

The U.S. special envoy for Yemen, saying that he had talked to the UN Special Envoy for Yemen after the latter’s trip to Iran, contended: “The Iranians have played a very negative role in Yemen hitherto... both their training, their supplying, and their equipping the Huthis to conduct attacks against civilian targets in the kingdom and elsewhere in the Gulf have been particularly damaging”. “There’s also opportunity… for Iran to show its better – put its best foot forward in terms of supporting the kind of international response that we’re trying to engineer here to end this conflict”, he added. The U.S. envoy went on to say that “if the Huthis want to state their goodwill, they’ll push away from Iran. That’s something that they have… stated that they want to be seen as independent of Iran. This is a good opportunity for them to show that”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully targeted Jeddah and Abha airports using drones.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” which it said were intended for Khamis Mushait. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that their drones had “targeted Saudi Abha International Airport… for the fourth consecutive day”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for “civilian objects in Abha International Airport”. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had “hit an important target” at the airport.

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they “had hit Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport and King Khalid Air Base with drones”. This was not confirmed by the Saudi-led coalition, which in turn reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” bound for Saudi Arabia. The same day, the Huthis reported intercepting a coalition drone in Marib province.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced that “effective 16 February, I am revoking the designations of Ansarullah, sometimes referred to as the Huthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)… and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT)”. “This decision is a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen”, he added. “The U.S. remains clear-eyed about Ansarullah’s malign actions and aggression”. Blinken further underlined that “we remain committed to helping U.S. partners in the Gulf defend themselves, including against threats arising from Yemen, many of which are carried out with the support of Iran. The U.S. will redouble its efforts, alongside the United Nations and others, to end the war itself”. Saudi Arabia’s UN envoy remarked that “we will still deal with the Huthi militia as a terrorist organisation and address its threats with military action”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi ballistic missile bound for Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had successfully targeted King Khalid air base using “a new undisclosed ballistic missile”.

A Huthi military spokesperson announced that they had “targeted… warplanes hangars at Saudi Abha International Airport” using four drones. The Saudi-led coalition confirmed an attack and damage to a civilian aircraft, while reporting the downing of two Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Saudi Arabia. The U.S. State Department responded to the incident by saying that “Huthi leaders will find themselves sorely mistaken if they think this administration is going to let up the pressure… They will come under significant pressure”. The following day, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken “condemned the Huthi attacks” and spoke with his Saudi counterpart about “joint efforts to bolster Saudi defences against attacks on the Kingdom”. The two sides also discussed “diplomatic outreach to find a negotiated political settlement to the war in Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV”.

The UN special envoy for Yemen visited Iran and met with senior Iranian officials as part of what his office described as “efforts to support a negotiated political solution to the conflict in Yemen”. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told the UN envoy that “a political solution, rather than an imposed war, is the only way to resolve the Yemen crisis”, and expressed Iran’s readiness “to support any effective role played by the UN in settling the crisis considering the very difficult conditions caused by the war and economic siege”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing multiple Huthi “bomb-laden UAV[s]” bound for Saudi Arabia. The same day, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urged “the Huthis to immediately cease attacks impacting civilian areas inside Saudi Arabia and to halt any new military offensives inside Yemen”. He further called on them “to refrain from destabilising actions and demonstrate their commitment to constructively engage in UN Special Envoy Griffiths’ efforts to achieve peace”.

A U.S. State Department official confirmed that the administration had “formally notified Congress of the Secretary’s intent to revoke” Huthi terrorism designations. “This decision has nothing to do with our view of the Huthis and their reprehensible conduct, including attacks against civilians and the kidnapping of American citizens”, the official added. “We are committed to helping Saudi Arabia defend its territory against further such attacks. Our action is due entirely to the humanitarian consequences”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken conferred with his Saudi counterpart on “regional security, counterterrorism and cooperation to deter and defend against attacks on the Kingdom”. Blinken also raised “several key priorities of the new administration including elevating human rights issues and ending the war in Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV in Yemeni airspace”, which was bound for Saudi Arabia.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken noted that “the Huthis committed an act of significant act of aggression in taking over Sanaa… committing acts of aggression against our partner, Saudi Arabia, committing human rights abuses and other atrocities, creating an environment in which we’ve seen extremist groups fill some of the vacuums that were created”. He also noted that “we’ve seen a campaign led by Saudi Arabia that has also contributed to what is by many estimates the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today... it’s vitally important, even in the midst of this crisis, that we do everything we can to get humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen who are in desperate need”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “hostile air target going toward Riyadh”. A Huthi military spokesperson denied any involvement in the incident. The U.S. State Department denounced the attack, noting that “it appears to have been an attempt to target civilians”. It further maintained: “As we work to de-escalate tensions in the region through principled diplomacy, including by bringing an end to the war in Yemen, we will also help our partner Saudi Arabia defend against attacks on its territory and hold those who attempt to undermine stability to account”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting a Huthi “explosive-laden” boat, and separately downing an armed drone bound for Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. designated the Huthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity; three Huthi leaders were also individually designated as SDGTs. The Treasury Department also issued four licenses “to facilitate the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance and certain other critical commodities to the people of Yemen”. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the decision, saying it “would aggravate the most catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the current century and obstruct the course of ongoing efforts for the political settlement of Yemen’s crisis”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing three Huthi “bomb-laden UAVs” bound for Saudi Arabia.

The interior ministry of Yemen’s internationally recognised government asserted that a 30 December attack on Aden airport involved ballistic missiles fired from Huthi-controlled territory, and accused “Iranian and Lebanese experts” of involvement in the strike.

Against the backdrop of war games in the Gulf of Oman, Iran’s military chief of staff, Mohammad Baqeri, announced that Iran would “once again include the Red Sea in the list of zones for its naval patrol operations after a series of limited actions against Iranian trade vessels”. On the second day of the military exercise, Iran’s navy commander asserted that “our approach today is not just defensive. We are prepared for whatever offensive operation [as well]”. The same day, the Iranian army reported spotting a foreign submarine approaching the drill zone, which “left the region immediately after being traced”.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced his “intent to designate Ansarallah – sometimes referred to as the Huthis – as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO)… and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity”. “I also intend to designate three of Ansarallah’s leaders… as SDGTs”, he added. Describing the Huthis as “a deadly Iran-backed militia group”, Pompeo maintained that “the designations are intended to hold Ansarallah accountable for its terrorist acts… [and] advance efforts to achieve a peaceful, sovereign and united Yemen that is both free from Iranian interference and at peace with its neighbours”. He further urged Iran “to stop smuggling weapons to Ansarallah in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and to stop enabling Ansarallah’s aggressive acts against Yemen and towards its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia”. Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision, while Iran called it an impediment to “a political solution and peace talks”.

Israeli media reported that Israel Defence Force had “deployed Patriot air defence batteries near the southern city of Eilat… amid concerns of attack from an Iran-backed militia in Yemen”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported downing a Saudi- drone over Yemeni airspace.

Iran wrote to the UN Security Council objecting to increased U.S. “military adventurism… in the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea”. “Coupled with a series of systematic disinformation campaign, unfounded accusations and inflammatory statements and threats… such confrontational measures have further deteriorated the already tense security environment of this highly volatile region”, the letter added. “If unchecked, such warmongering tendencies could escalate the situation to an alarming level, and it is self-evident that the U.S. shall bear the full responsibility for all consequences”. Relatedly, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claimed that “intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to fabricate pretext for war”, asserting: “Iran doesn’t seek war but will openly and directly defend its people, security and vital interests”. Relatedly, media reports indicated that “the U.S. has seen increasing indications that Iran could be planning an attack against American forces or interests in the Middle East”, with an unnamed U.S. official describing Iran’s intentions as “difficult and at times unpredictable” to assess.

Media reports indicated that “at least 22 people were killed and dozens wounded in an attack on Aden airport… moments after a plane landed carrying a newly formed Saudi-backed cabinet”. A Yemeni minister reported that all “cabinet members are safe” and called the incident a “terrorist attack by Iran-backed Huthi militia”. A Houthi official reportedly denied any involvement in the attack. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently remarked that “such acts of violence and the killing of civilians are the results of the mentality of aggressors and occupiers of Yemen… Iran condemns the aggressors’ acts of aggression and war, and stresses a political solution to the crisis, and once again asks all parties to end the futile conflict by returning to political negotiations”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that an explosion it said was caused by a Huthi naval mine had “hit a commercial cargo ship in the southern Red Sea”, adding that such activities by the Huthis “in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait has been increasing… [posing] a serious threat to international shipping”. The following day, the coalition announced that the Huthis had launched a ballistic missile which “fell short in Yemeni territory”.

An Israeli military spokesperson was cited as indicating that “Israel is monitoring Tehran’s movement in the region and expects that an Iranian attack could come from Iraq and Yemen… as Iran’s second circle after Lebanon and Syria”. “Iran has developed a wide range of capabilities in the area – and specifically in Iraq and Yemen – that include advanced drones and remote-guided missiles, which they manage to operate without detection”, he added. “Everyone should be on high alert regarding the Iranian threat… considering the many blows Iran has received in the past year without being able to properly respond”. A Huthi official subsequently warned that if Israel “makes any reckless move or action that affects Yemen, then any interests of this entity or its partners in the Red Sea will be a legitimate target”. An Iranian official also told media that “Tehran’s response to any attack on national security will be strong and wide”, assessing that Israel “is looking for excuses to drag the region into tension that will create chaos”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported the downing of a Saudi drone.

Speaking at a ceremony marking a rotation of Iranian forces, a senior Iranian naval official posited that “ensuring the security of Iran’s commercial transportation lines, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, conveying the message of peace and friendship of Iran to other countries present in the Gulf of Aden are among the missions of the Iranian naval flotilla”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “it had discovered and destroyed a marine mine planted by the Huthi militia in the southern Red Sea”, claiming that “the mine… was Iranian-made”. The coalition also reported that three Huthi projectiles had landed in Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that a ballistic missile launched by the Huthis had landed in Yemeni territory.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed a Huthi “explosives-laden drone” heading toward Saudi Arabia. The following day, the coalition reported that a Huthi “military projectile” had landed inside Jizan.

A shipping company reported that one of its Singapore-flagged tankers, the BW Rhine, had “been hit from an external source whilst discharging at Jeddah”. Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry indicated that “an explosive-laden boat” had been used in the incident, and a spokesperson asserted that “these acts of terrorism and vandalism, directed against vital installations, go beyond the Kingdom and its vital facilities to the security of energy supplies to the world and global economy”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently condemned “any destructive action against maritime security and freedom of international trade” and “expressed hope that countries in the region would increase their efforts to strengthen cooperation on maritime security, combating pirates and countering the trade in banned substances”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo conferred with his Saudi counterpart on, inter alia, “the efforts to overcome divisions between Gulf countries needed to deter Iran’s aggressive acts in the region and the mutual determination to achieve an inclusive political solution to the conflict in Yemen”. 

The U.S. designated four Yemeni officials for “serious human rights abuse” and one for “for engaging in activities, directly or indirectly, that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen” under Magnitsky authorities. 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted and destroyed “an attempt by the terrorist Huthi militia to carry out a hostile, terrorist act in Southern Red Sea using two bomb-laden Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “destroyed… a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing “an explosive-laden drone launched towards the kingdom by Yemen’s Huthi group”.

UK maritime authorities confirmed “an attack on a vessel off the coast of Yemen”, noting that the “vessel and crew are safe”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a “bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that a ballistic missile launched by the Huthis had landed inside Yemen. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that the “missile hit accurately the aggression’s joint operations room [in Marib governorate]… [and] killed eight Saudi soldiers and commanders”. 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “destroyed two mines laid by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi militia in the south of the Red Sea”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “it had destroyed an explosives-laden boat and foiled [an] attack in the southern Red Sea”; the owners of the tanker MT Agrari indicated the “vessel was attacked by an unknown source… [and] suffered a breach”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “it had destroyed five naval mines planted by the Iranian-backed Huthi militia in the southern Red Sea. The naval mines were Iranian-made”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reported that a Huthi missile had successfully “targeted Aramco's distribution station in the Saudi city of Jeddah”, asserting that “this operation comes in response to the continued siege and aggression against Yemen”. He further “advised citizens and foreign companies operating in Saudi Arabia to stay away from vital installations”. The Saudi Ministry of Energy subsequently confirmed that “an explosion took place as a result of a terrorist attack by a projectile, causing a fire in the fuel tank at the petroleum products distribution terminal in the north of Jeddah”. The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson asserted that the Huthis had “been positively identified as the culprits, which did not target the Kingdom’s national assets but the core of global economy and supply routes, as well as the security of global energy”. The following day, the Saudi ambassador to the UN called on the Security Council to “shoulder its responsibility and to stop the threat of this militia to the global energy security, [to] the UN political process in Yemen and to regional security”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed, inter alia, “the need for Gulf unity to counter Iran’s aggressive behaviour in the region and the need to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Yemen”. The following day, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan denied media reports regarding a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Saudi Arabia to meet with the U.S. and Saudi sides.

The Saudi-led coalition announced the interception of a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” launched towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing multiple Huthi “explosive-laden drones launched towards Saudi Arabia”.

On a visit to Riyadh, the U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Elliott Abrams, “met with Saudi and Yemeni government officials to discuss joint efforts to counter Iran’s aggressive and malign policies in the region, emphasising that Iran’s destabilising actions put U.S. partners and the entire region at risk”. According to the State Department, Abrams “noted that Iran’s provision of lethal aid to the Huthis prolongs the conflict in Yemen and intensifies its humanitarian crisis, and he condemned indiscriminate Huthi attacks against Saudi cities and civilian infrastructure”.

A Huthi military spokesman urged “all foreign companies operating in Saudi Arabia, as well as our brothers inside Hijaz and Najd residents in all Saudi regions, to stay away from vital military and economic installations from being targeted by the Yemeni army”. The same day, the Saudi-led coalition announced that it had destroyed “two bomb-laden Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)” and intercepted “a bomb-laden UAV” all launched by the Huthis. A Saudi energy official subsequently confirmed that the former operation “occurred in close proximity to a floating offloading platform that belongs to the Jizan oil products terminal [and] resulted in a limited fire on the platform’s floating hoses”. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “two explosive-laden drones” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported downing a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” launched towards Saudi Arabia.

A top Huthi diplomat maintained that “Iran does not interfere in Yemen’s internal affairs”, and argued that “with respect to weapons and military strikes, we carry out these attacks ourselves, relying on our own weapons depots”. “Iran, God willing, will be one of the parties to peace”, he added. On 5 November, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif described the two sides’ relations as “good and strategic”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson deplored the “assassination” of a Huthi official and maintained: “Like other crimes committed by the aggressors against Yemen, such cowardly assassination undoubtedly reveals only the weakness of the aggressors that have reached an impasse in confrontation with the resisting and determined nation in that country”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed six “bomb-laden UAVs” towards Saudi Arabia and two ballistic missiles bound for Jizan and Najran all launched by the Huthis. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh issued an alert indicating that it was “tracking reports of possible missiles or drones that may be headed toward Riyadh”, which was subsequently revised to recommend “increased caution in Saudi Arabia due to terrorism and the threat of missile and drone attacks on civilian targets”. The following day, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced the attacks and argued that “this irresponsible escalation coincides with the Houthis’ declared desire to strengthen their ties with Iran… the Houthis are not serious about seeking a political solution in order to bring peace to Yemen”. Pompeo further urged “Iran to stop smuggling weapons to the Huthis in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and to stop enabling the Huthis’ aggressive acts against Yemen and towards its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” launched towards Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson reported that “the operation targeted an important target at Abha International Airport”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed multiple “bomb-laden UAV[s]” launched by the Huthis towards the Kingdom. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that Huthi drones had “hit accurately an important military target” at Abha International Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted multiple “bomb-laden UAV[s]” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia over consecutive days. A Huthi military spokesperson reported that Huthi drones had been used against “Jizan and Abha airports and Khamis Mushait military base”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed two Huthi launched “bomb-laden UAV[s]” targeting Saudi Arabia.

The U.S. ambassador to the UN told the Security Council that “Iran continues to support the Huthi rebels who have plunged that country into a bloody civil war… Instead of supporting peace efforts to end the conflict, Iran has continually sent the Huthis weapons to fuel the war, in violation of the arms embargo in Resolution 2216”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that the Huthis had “launched a ballistic missile from Sanaa governorate… using civilian objects as a launch site”. “The missile fell short” and landed in Saada governorate, the report added.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that an ambassador to Yemen, Hassan Irloo, had arrived in Sanaa. The Yemeni government asserted that Tehran had “clandestinely dispatched a figure… joining the ranks of Hizbollah and IRGC who have already entered the country with nefarious intentions”, and also declared that it “does not recognise the presence of any diplomatic officials present in Sanaa aligned with the Iran-backed Huthis”. On 21 October, the U.S. diplomatic spokesperson argued that “the Iranian regime smuggled… an IRGC member tied to Lebanese Hizbollah, into Yemen under the guise of ‘Ambassador’ to the Huthi militia. Iran’s intent to use the Huthis to expand its malign influence is clear. The Yemeni people should say no to Irloo and Iran”.

The Saudi-led coalition and the Huthis concluded a two-day prisoner swap releasing more than 1000 individuals as part of a UN-brokered deal.

Following a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan contended that “the Iranian regime continues to provide financial and material support to terrorist groups, including in Yemen where the Huthis have launched more than 300 Iranian-made ballistic missiles and drones towards the Kingdom. Their development of their nuclear program, ballistic missiles and their malign activities represent a grave danger to the region and the world”.  He further asserted that Saudi Arabia and the U.S. “are both committed to counter and deter Iran’s destabilising behaviour”.

U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien confirmed the release of two “U.S. citizens… from Huthi custody in Yemen”; in parallel, Omani state media and Huthi officials reported that more than 200 Huthis had been returned to Saana.

The U.S. and Saudi Arabia held a strategic dialogue and reiterated “bilateral commitments to counter Iran’s threats to regional security and prosperity, seek a political solution to end the conflict in Yemen and enhance maritime and border security”. Speaking alongside his Saudi counterpart, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asserted that “it’s no secret that Iran’s destabilising behaviour threatens Saudi Arabia’s security and disrupts global commerce. That’s clear from Iran’s ballistic missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities in the fall of last year, and the frequent, ongoing Huthi bombardment of Saudi territory using rockets, drones and other lethal technology supplied by the regime in Tehran”. In separate remarks, Pompeo underscored that “we are doing everything we can to make sure that the Islamic Republic of Iran has fewer resources with which to underwrite the Huthis… Our pressure campaign in Iran has been enormously successful at denying them the resources for terror”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “destroyed a ballistic missile” the Huthis “had been planning to launch towards Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed two Huthi-launched “bomb-laden UAV[s]” towards Saudi Arabia; another was intercepted the following day.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV in Yemeni airspace”, intended to “target civilians and civilian objects in the Kingdom”.

The Yemeni Minister of Information maintained that Tehran “has provided the Huthi militia with the means to produce missiles, drones and sending consultants to militia-controlled areas”. He further urged Washington to move forward with “designating the Huthi militia as a terrorist organisation, freezing its assets and preventing its leaders from traveling abroad”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV… target[ing] civilians and civilian objects in Najran”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had thwarted an “imminent terrorist attack” by “a remotely-controlled explosive-laden Houthi boat” close to a Yemeni port.

The UN announced that “delegates representing the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah have agreed to immediately release a first group of 1,081 conflict-related detainees and prisoners”, including fifteen Saudi nationals. The Iranian Foreign Ministry hailed the agreement and considered it a sign that “Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue is the only solution to the country’s current problems”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “in Yemeni airspace a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

A senior IRGC official cautioned that “Iran will not just retaliate any U.S. attempt to inspect Iranian ships in international waters, but also give a decisive response to such moves in sensitive places… They will face our massive fire”. He further insisted that “the U.S. will not succeed to achieve its objective of imposing [an] arms ban against Iran”. 

King Salman told the UN General Assembly that “our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security. A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required to ensure fundamental solutions to the Iranian regime’s attempt to obtain weapons of mass destruction, and its ballistic missile program, and its interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and its sponsorship of terrorism”. On Yemen, he maintained that Tehran “interfered… by supporting the coup carried out by its surrogate, the Huthi militia”, adding: “the Kingdom will not hesitate to defend its national security, nor will it abandon the fraternal people of Yemen until they regain their complete sovereignty and independence from Iranian hegemony”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently noted: “Saudi Arabia has, for years, been pursuing a blame-game policy and seeking to distort realities in order to escape the realities and not to be held accountable for its crimes”. He further highlighted Iran’s “fundamental policy of boosting diplomatic and dialogue-oriented talks in the region and the promotion of relations with all neighbours”.

The U.S. State Department underscored that Washington “remains deeply concerned by the Huthis’ aggression, supported by Iranian weapons shipments in violation of UN arms embargoes”, and urged “the Huthis to immediately cease their cross-border attacks against Saudi Arabia”. 

An Iranian military spokesperson confirmed that “we provided… [Yemenis] with the experiences in technology in the defence sphere, as they have learned how to produce missiles, drones and weapons in Yemen by themselves”. “The resistance front countries have armies and forces themselves. We provide them with advisory help. In order to share our experiences with the people of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, our experienced forces go there and give them intellectual assistance, but this is the people and armies of those countries who stand against the enemies in practice”, he added.

A Saudi official reported receiving “a report about the fall of a military projectile launched by the Iranian-backed Huthi militia from inside Yemeni territory”, which injured five civilians in Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “intercepted and destroyed... a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis in the direction of Khamis Mushait. 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a number of ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs” launched by the Huthis toward Saudi Arabia, and accused the Huthis of “deliberately escalating the hostile, terrorist targeting of civilians and civilian objects”. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had hit “important targets” in Riyadh “in retaliation to the continuous escalation by the Saudi enemy and its continuous siege on Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis toward Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that multiple Huthi drones had “targeted Abha International Airport” and “struck the designated targets with great precisions”.

A UN panel of experts report on Yemen concluded that between July 2019 and June 2020, Iran and the U.S. were among the countries that “continued their support of parties to the conflict including through arms transfers, thereby helping to perpetuate the conflict”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson asserted that the report “ignored Iran’s pivotal role and its unfailing assistance for the political settlement of crisis in Yemen and has made a totally false claim by putting Iran on a list alongside those who arm the Saudi-led coalition aggressors… The allegation of Iran’s arms support for Yemen is basically false”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had intercepted “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that multiple Huthis drones had “targeted Abha International Airport”, adding that it was a “response to the continuous escalation of the forces of aggression [ie, the Saudi-led coalition] and their continued siege of the Yemeni people”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV” en route to Saudi Arabia. The same day, a Huthi military spokesperson claimed a drone attack on Abha Airport “with a number of drones targeting military sites and sensitive targets inside Saudi territory”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed a Huthi “bomb-laden UAV while in Yemeni airspace”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted two armed UAVs launched by the Huthis. One was aimed at Abha International Airport, where “debris scattered” following the interception; there were no reported casualties. The same day, the coalition destroyed a Huthi “bomb-laden USV” in the southern Red Sea.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” launched by the Huthis toward Najran.

The Saudi-led coalition downed a ballistic missile fired in the direction of Najran.

A senior Iranian foreign ministry official met with the UN’s Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, and other senior UN officials in Geneva. 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV” and “one ballistic missile” launched by the Huthis towards Saudi Arabia.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke to Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, “presented a report on the latest efforts made by the UN to end the Yemen war and called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to help settle certain environmental problems in Hodeida port”. According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Zarif “expressed Iran’s preparedness to use its good offices in this regard”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV launched by the terrorist Huthi militia” and one ballistic missile bound for Najran.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that it had downed “multiple bomb-laden UAVs” launched by the Huthis within Yemen. The following day, the coalition intercepted “a ballistic missile… toward civilians and civilian objects”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had downed “a bomb-laden UAV... and two ballistic missiles” by the Huthis targeting Khamis Mushait. 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed “some southern neighbours” and affirmed: “Iran’s defence and weapons power is in favour of the whole region, and we use weapons to defend ourselves, and our power is not against you. You have to be careful of those who plunder your resources and sell you weapons to bomb your neighbour… Certainly, if we did not stand for the stability of the region, you would not be here today. So we have always been your supporter and brother”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and shot down a bomb-laden Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)” launched by the Huthis.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei remarked that “Our eternal concerns are helping innocent Palestine and showing sympathy to the injured body of Yemen and to the consternations of Muslims subject to oppression in any part of the world. We also consider it our duty to offer words of advice to the heads of some Muslim countries who have resorted to the bosom of the enemy instead of relying on their Muslim brothers”. “These are people who condone the survival of the usurping and oppressive Zionist regime [ie, Israel] and who extend their hand of friendship to them privately and openly… I warn them about the bitter consequences of this behaviour” Khamenei added. He also remarked that “we regard the presence of the U.S. in west Asia as detrimental to regional nations and as a cause of insecurity, destruction and backwardness for countries”.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei contended that the U.S. “and their agents are always seeking to create a power vacuum in regional countries in order to cause chaos and prepare the ground for their own intervention. This is what they did in Yemen. Everyone can see the appalling circumstances in Yemen today”. 

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif spoke with his Huthi counterpart and remarked that “Iran has always believed that the only way to resolve the Yemen crisis is through political means, and has had constructive cooperation with relevant Yemeni and international sides to propose a peace plan for Yemen”. “Iran is of the conviction that the only way to establish stability in Yemen is to maintain its territorial integrity, unity among Yemeni groups and holding comprehensive political talks among different groups and parties to establish a united and broad-based government”, he added. 

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and “bomb-laden UAVs launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia launched deliberately from Sanaa to target civilians and civilian objects in the Kingdom”. A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that “the operation targeted the warplanes hangers, base housing and patriot systems in Khamis Mushait and other military sites at the airports of Abha, Jizan and Najran… A giant oil facility in the industrial zone in Jizan was [also] accurately targeted”. The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the next day denounced “Iran’s provision of… weapons to the Huthis in violation of the embargo imposed by Security Council Resolution 2216”. Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded: “we recommend the new GCC secretary general focuses his attention on the need to stop attacks by the [Saudi-led] coalition aggressors against Yemeni women and children and help settle the Yemen crisis through intra-Yemeni talks rather than pursuing the blame game trend and levelling groundless accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is in line with the destructive role of some GCC members”.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson remarked that “since the end of June… we’ve noticed the Huthi militias escalating their attempts to target civilians in Saudi Arabia, in Yemeni areas, and to threaten maritime routes and international trade. The important aspect here is that there is no doubt that the Iranian regime, the Iranian [Islamic] Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) are dictating [orders for those attempts]”. “The [Huthi] militias do not have the power to make the decision to reach a political solution… The Iranian regime is the one benefitting from the continuation of those operations or the Yemen crisis”, he contended.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had conducted a “destruction operation against two legitimate military targets of the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia” off the coast of Yemen.  “The destroyed targets are two bomb-laden USVs [Unmanned Surface Vehicles]… prepared to imminently execute hostile and terrorist actions in Bab al-Mandab Strait and Southern Red Sea”, the coalition asserted.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo provided details of a 28 June weapons seizure previously alluded to by Saudi officials, stating that “U.S. and partner forces interdicted a vessel off the coast of Yemen with illicit cargo including 200 RPGs, more than 1,700 AK rifles, 21 surface-to-air and land-attack missiles, several anti-tank missiles and other advanced weapons and missiles”. Pompeo contended that “Iran is not abiding by the UN arms embargo restrictions” and urged the UN Security Council to “extend the arms embargo on Iran [beyond October] to prevent further conflict in the region”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson reacted by saying that “Americans who feel they have not succeeded in continuing Iran’s arms embargo on the international arena and the UN Security Council, are trying to use accusations and lies as an excuse to continue to exert maximum pressure and advance their vicious goals”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… four bomb-laden UAVs launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia toward the Kingdom”. A Huthi military spokesperson indicated that the attack struck “Saudi military sites in Asir and Najran provinces”, and warned that “we will continue targeting the Saudi depth and its military and sovereign institutions, and we will make sure that our targets are far from harming the Saudi people”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “started a military operation against Yemen’s Huthi movement after it stepped up cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia”.

Briefing the Security Council on the UN Secretary-General’s ninth biannual report on the implementation of resolution 2231, a senior UN official shared the Secretariat’s conclusion that “the examined cruise missiles and delta-wing UAVs and/or parts thereof used in the [2019] attacks on Saudi Arabia were of Iranian origin”. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the report’s findings “reinforce our support for a continued ban on arming the Iranian regime, and confronting its developing nuclear and ballistic programs”. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claimed that the U.S. had “coerced the Secretariat to rely on self-serving allegations and forged documents to produce an utterly unprofessional report outside the scope of its mandate”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, met with senior Saudi officials in Riyadh. According to a U.S. readout, the two sides “highlighted the importance of extending the United Nations arms embargo on Iran” and “discussed joint diplomatic efforts at the UN and around the world to extend the embargo” beyond October 2020. At a joint press conference with Hook, a senior Saudi official warned that “despite the embargo, Iran seeks to provide weapons to terrorist groups, so what will happen if the embargo is lifted? Iran will be become more ferocious and aggressive”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded: “it is time that… countries [like Saudi Arabia] give up injudicious remarks and blind obedience to the U.S… The only way to establish stability and security in the region is to change hostile behaviour and turn to regional cooperation”, he added.

The Arab Parliament issued a resolution holding “the Iranian regime fully responsible for its flagrant violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and its continued provision of Huthi coup militia with smart weapons, ballistic missiles and drones with the aim of destabilising security in the region and perpetuating chaos in the Republic of Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted “eight bomb-laden UAVs… and three ballistic missiles” launched by the Huthis. The following day, the coalition reported the interception of another Huthi missile targeting Riyadh. A Huthi military spokesperson declared that “we have implemented… the largest offensive operation named ‘the 4th Balanced Deterrence Operation’ on the capital of the Saudi enemy” as a result of “the ongoing unjust blockade and the brutal aggression against our great Yemeni people”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, posited that “Iran would love to see a version of Hizbollah on Saudi’s southern flank. That is their ambition. And this would, I think, help build out Iran’s goals to create the Shiite crescent that stretches from Beirut down to Yemen. And so we’re doing what we can to interdict weapons”. Contending that “the Iranian regime has not been held to account by the international community for what it has done to create one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes”, Hook argued that “the Huthis are a tribal militia that have been organised, trained and equipped for many years by Iran. And they did this while they were in the Iran deal”. Discussing negotiations, Hook claimed that “every time we bring these groups together, Iran is always hanging outside the conference room urging the Huthis to keep at it. And that has been one of the biggest, if not the biggest, obstacle to winding down the war in Yemen, is Iran wants to keep attacking Saudi Arabia through a proxy. It’s no different from what they do in Lebanon with Hizbollah or with Palestine Islamic Jihad, or with Hamas, or with its PMF in Iraq, on and on. This is Iran’s playbook”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia from Saada, Yemen, toward Najran in a deliberate attempt to target civilians and civilian objects”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… a bomb-laden UAV launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia to deliberately target civilians and civilian objects in Khamis Mushait”. Later in the day, the coalition announced interception of “multiple bomb-laden UAVs” intended for “civilians and civilian objects in Aseer province”. A Huthi military spokesperson maintained that the strikes “hit their targets” and were “in response to the massive air escalation” by the coalition.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Huthi militia from Saada governorate, deliberately targeting innocent civilians and civilian objects in Najran”. According to the statement, “minor injuries were sustained by civilians as a result of debris of the intercepted ballistic missile”.

CENTCOM commander Kenneth McKenzie opined that “Iran has no interest in this [Yemen] war being over. In fact, there's nothing better for them than for Saudi to continue to bleed out, for the Huthis to continue to launch attacks into Saudi Arabia and for this to continue to go on as something they can use to further embarrass the kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the international stage”. McKenzie further assessed that “if we could reduce the Iranian patronage… for the Huthis we might be able to get to an ultimate solution there. And that would allow other things to happen”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “intercepted and destroyed… UAVs launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia toward civilian objects in Najran”.

The leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah asserted that “the Yemeni People are facing an unjust aggression under American supervision and Israeli cooperation, and it is our faith, religious, innate and national duty to confront this aggression with full force and at all levels”.

Referring to a 19 May U.S. Navy warning, according to which “armed vessels approaching within 100m of a U.S. naval vessel may be interpreted as a threat”, the Pentagon underscored that “we have stated very clearly to individuals in the area to be careful and avoid our shops in the area… we’ve seen Iran violate that in an alarming and unprofessional way recently”. A spokesperson explained that “a determination was made that it would be helpful to provide a reminder, additional guidance to mariners in the area, to avoid U.S. warships and to set out a bright-line rule that would be a little bit clearer for them if there was any claims of possible confusion that they should not attempt to harass or approach or confront a U.S. warship sailing in international waters”.

The U.S. Navy advised, with specific reference to the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, that “due to recent events, in order to enhance safety, minimise ambiguity and reduce opportunities for miscalculations, all vessels are advised to maintain a safe distance of at least 100m from U.S. naval vessels in international waters and straits. Armed vessels approaching within 100m of a U.S. naval vessel may be interpreted as a threat and subject to lawful defensive measures”. An Iranian military official subsequently stated that “the naval units of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman will continue their regular missions in accordance with professional principles as in the past”.

The U.S. convened the UN “Security Council to meet under its 2231 Format to discuss Iran’s April 22 satellite launch”, which it called “yet another example of Iran’s relentless defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231”. According to the U.S. mission, its representatives “highlighted Iran’s ongoing violation of the UN arms embargo in Resolution 2231, reminding Council members that Iran continues to funnel weapons to proxy forces and terrorist groups in places like Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain”. The U.S. also argued that “Iran’s continued violations of the Security Council’s arms embargo demands greater pressure from the Security Council, not less, and the U.S. will work tirelessly with a coalition of concerned nations to ensure the embargo is extended”.

The U.S. sanctioned an Iranian-Iraqi dual citizen, Amir Dianat, whom it said was “involved in IRGC-QF [ie, Quds force] efforts to generate revenue and smuggle weapons abroad”. According to the Treasury Department, which also sanctioned a company controlled by Dianat, the Quds force “relied on Dianat to security entry for vessels IRGC-QF shipments”. The U.S. also asserted that “Dianat has been directly involved in IRGC-QF efforts to smuggle shipments from Yemen to Iran”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, referring to the 15 April naval interaction between Iranian and U.S. vessels, argued that “the Iranian swift boats that the IRGC operates exceeded the rules of maritime safety in international waters. The Iranian regime would like to desensitise us so that after doing it a number of times, they could then get within sufficient range to actually kill American soldiers. We're not gonna let that happen. We're going to enforce the rules of the road in international waters… As a matter of self defence, and protecting the lives of Americans, President Trump said that if they do it again the boats will be destroyed”. In related comments, Secretary of State Pompeo underscored that U.S. forces “have all the authority they need to do what’s right to defend themselves, no matter who it is that presents that risk to them”.

After the Yemeni Southern Transitional Council (STC) declared self-rule in southern Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition called “for an immediate end to any steps contrary to the Riyadh Agreement, and work rapidly toward its implementation”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson also indicated that “Iran supports the united Yemen whose territorial integrity is protected… Such actions [of self-rule] will not only fail to help solve the current problems in Yemen, but will complicate the situation in the country”. The U.S. State Department said it was “concerned” by the STC announcement, contending that “such unilateral actions only exacerbate instability in Yemen”.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif spoke with the UN Secretary-General, who, according to an Iranian readout, “welcomed the Islamic Republic of Iran’s efforts to ensure a ceasefire in Yemen and launch political talks over the Yemeni crisis”. Both officials “also emphasised the need for the reopening and security of the border and ports in Yemen to deliver humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, particularly at the time of outbreak of coronavirus”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced “a one-month extension of the ceasefire” initiated on 8 April. The statement indicated that “the chance is still there for concerted efforts to reach a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Yemen, and consensus on serious, direct and tangible steps to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni brotherly people”. The Coalition also stated that “it will strongly support such fundamental steps with the UN in order to reach a just and comprehensive political solution agreed upon by all the Yemenis”. A Huthi military spokesperson subsequently reported multiple strikes by the coalition.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif spoke with the UN Secretary-General discussing, inter alia, “latest developments in Yemen”. The two spoke again the following day. According to an Iranian readout, “the UN chief gave a report on the international body’s efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Yemen”, and “Zarif expressed support for the Secretary-General's efforts… stating that the Yemeni crisis has no military solution. He also called the establishment of a lasting ceasefire a prelude for the launch of political process to resolve the crisis”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced a “comprehensive ceasefire in Yemen for a period of two weeks”, effective 9 April and with a possibility of extension. A spokesperson declared that “the Coalition will seize this opportunity to unite all efforts to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Yemen, and agree on serious, concrete and direct steps to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Yemeni people and maintain their health and safety” amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. A Huthi military spokesperson on 9 April maintained that coalition strikes were ongoing. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed the announcement and “urge[d] the Huthis to respond in kind and cooperate with the UN special envoy, who has called for urgent talks between the parties”; another senior U.S. diplomat opined that “we think this is incredibly productive, and we think it’s really problematic that the Huthis aren’t following suit”. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with his Saudi counterpart and “underscored that the U.S. strongly condemns the Huthis’ attempted attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia on 28 March”. According to a U.S. readout of the conversation, “Secretary Pompeo expressed support for the de-escalation efforts led by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, and the Secretary and the Foreign Minister agreed that an unstable Yemen only benefits the Iranian regime and that the regime’s destabilising behaviour there must be countered. The Secretary underscored that the U.S. would continue to support Saudi Arabia in the face of Iran’s threatening behaviour”.

Discussing an 28 March Huthi missile attack against Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo indicated that “the damage that was done by those was very minor, but nonetheless there’d been a lot of work to reduce conflict, to take down the levels of violence that were there, and we’d had some success. The Saudis had been leading that effort, and it broke down that day”. Pompeo added that “the Saudis have now responded, and I’m hopeful they can get back on the right path. We are hopeful that we can find a path forward with the UN Security Council resolution in Yemen to find a path to peace there... Sadly, it appears that the Iranians don’t share our vision for peace in Yemen and in Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that in response to a 28 March Huthi missile attack, the coalition had “conducted a military operation to neutralise and destroy ‘legitimate military targets’ of the terrorist Huthi militia in accordance with customary International Humanitarian Law to confront ongoing and imminent threats”. The statement added that “the targets that were destroyed include advanced capabilities of the terrorist militia, storage, assembly and installation sites of ballistic missiles and UAVs, locations of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) experts and weapons depots”. The coalition further posited that “the Iranian regime is concentrating all financial, man and logistic powers to support the terrorist militia to realise its ideals and expansionist ambitions on the account of the Iranian people who are suffering in this hectic time”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded by calling on “the coalition of aggressors against Yemen to take into account the realities on the ground… instead of delusions and reveries, and to recognise that playing with words, pinning blame on others and making accusations against the others will not make up for their political and military failures”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “the Royal Saudi Air Defense intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia… toward Riyadh and Jizan”. Debris fell in both cities though there were no initial reports of casualties. The coalition asserted that “the launch of ballistic missiles by the terrorist Huthi militia and the IRGC at this time reflects the real threat of this terrorist militia and the Iranian regime sponsoring it…It is a continuation of Iran’s strategy of falsification and procrastination to deepen the suffering of brotherly people of Yemen, and further proof that the Huthi militia is stripped of its will and decision-making ability to end this crisis”.

Lithuania signed on to the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), joining seven other countries in the U.S.-led initiative.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had been “able to intercept and destroy UAVs launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia toward civilian objects in Abha and Khamis Mushait”.

On the anniversary of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement to condemn the coalition’s “continuous military aggression”. It also claimed that the U.S. had “unveiled its strategy in Yemen with a remarkable increase in its military presence in various parts of Yemen, and seeks to stabilise itself militarily in that country… however, the U.S. will ultimately suffer another defeat in Yemen and will leave that country in humiliation”. Maintaining that “the crisis in Yemen has no military solution”, the statement added that “Iran supports Yemen’s territorial unity, and emphasises that political solutions such as the Stockholm Agreement and its generalization to all other issues and regions in Yemen could keep the hopes alive for the achievement of peace and calm across that country”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it had “detected an attempt by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia to conduct an imminent hostile, terrorist act in Southern Red Sea using two R/C exploding boats launched from Hodeida governorate”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that it had “destroyed… six remote-controlled exploding boats and naval mines assembly, rigging and launch sites” in western Yemen, adding that “these locations are used [by the Huthis] to prepare execution of hostile action and terrorist operations that threaten sea lines of communication and international trade in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “an imminent terrorist attack that was aiming to target an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea… was thwarted”. The coalition’s spokesperson indicated that “the attempt was carried out using four boats and [was] attempting to bomb the oil tanker using one of the unmanned, remote-controlled exploding boats”, and further asserted that “the naval threat… has evolved into a strategic threat to international security”.

The UN Security Council adopted resolution 2511 in a 13-0 vote, with Russia and China abstaining, authorising a one-year extension today of the asset freeze and travel ban imposed in 2014 on individuals or entities threatening peace, security and stability in Yemen… The Council also reaffirmed the provisions of an arms embargo imposed in April 2015 on militias of Ansar Allah – also known as the Huthis – and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh”. 

A senior State Department official asserted that “Iran's support to Huthis, especially in areas like sending advanced weapons, is continuing without any diminution. They might even be stepping it up”. The official further remarked that “there is the potential there to encourage elements of the Huthi movement to recognise that being linked to Iran is not in their interest”. 

The Saudi-led coalition said that it had foiled “an attempt of an imminent hostile, terrorist attack in Southern Red [Sea] using a remote-controlled exploding boat… by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia”. The coalition also announced that it had carried out “a military operation to destroy legitimate military targets of Iran-made ballistic missile and UAV assembly, storage and launch capabilities in the capital [ie, Sanaa]”.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with King Salman and “discussed bilateral issues, including countering the malign influence of the Iranian regime, as well as the need for cooperation on regional conflicts such as Syria and Yemen”. According to a U.S. readout of the conversation, both leaders “agreed that a comprehensive political agreement is the only way to achieve peace, prosperity and security in Yemen”. Pompeo also met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and pledged that “the U.S. stands with Saudi Arabia in the face of… threats [from Iran], as reflected in our greater military presence in Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that “the Royal Saudi Air Defence intercepted ballistic missiles launched by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthi militia towards Saudi cities”. The following day, a Huthi military spokesperson claimed that they had “targeted Aramco and other sensitive targets in Yanbu”, Saudi Arabia.

Speaking alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. ambassador to country indicated that “the kingdom has done a tremendous amount to suppress Sunni Islamic extremism within their own borders, and they have been a great cooperation partner with us… Now what the next job is, at some point in history – hopefully soon – Shiite Islamic extremism led by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force gets rolled back”. Discussing the aftermath of the September 2019 attack against Saudi oil facilities, he noted that the Saudis “naturally turned to us for support, and our support has been defensive. They’ve never asked for offensive support… the defensive posture is much improved not only for the U.S. but for Saudi Arabia. And so our ability to withstand something that might come from that direction is much improved, but it’s not perfect”. He further maintained that “the missiles that are being used and fired from Yemen by the Huthis are all coming from the Iranians… it’s really important for us to understand who is the aggressor in the region, and it’s no doubt it’s the Iranians”.

Referring to weapon shipments seized by the U.S. forces in the Arabian Sea on November 2019 and February 2020, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command stated that “the U.S. assesses with high confidence that the weapons… were manufactured in Iran and were being illicitly smuggled to the Huthis in Yemen”. A senior U.S. defence official underscored that “the Pentagon continues to be committed to disrupting the transport of illicit weapons in the region and preventing Iran from spreading its malign influence”. The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, asserted that “Iran’s ongoing transfer of weapons to the Huthis violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions”. He added that “The international community should apply more pressure on Iran until it stops providing arms, training and funding to proxy groups in the gray zone. This includes by acting to extend the UN arms embargo on Iran, which, under the Iran deal, expires in October”.

Discussing Iran’s Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE) proposal, President Rouhani noted that “some regional countries welcomed it well and some others have not yet given an explicit response, but we still believe that it is the regional states that must help establish peace. We stress that all countries must enjoy security and stability in the region”. On Yemen, Rouhani underlined that “the Yemeni issues must be resolved by the Yemenis themselves and the countries that are carrying out acts of aggression toward the country must stop it”. He also asserted that Iran “oppose[s] war”, while adding that “Americans are not looking for war either”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan indicated that “we have a back channel [between Riyadh and the Huthis] and it’s not yet ready to move to the highest level”. “It’s making progress”, he added, maintaining that “we have seen some deterioration recently, but we are committed to moving it forward”.

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed that the previous day a “Royal Saudi Air Force Tornado fighter jet crashed while conducting close air support to units of the National Army of Yemen”. The coalition subsequently indicated that it “holds the terrorist Huthi militia responsible for the lives and wellbeing of the [Tornado] air crew”. The following day the Huthis accused the coalition of conducting airstrikes in al-Jawf governorate in which “nearly 30 people were killed”; Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson condemned the strike.

The U.S. contended that the UN Security Council’s Final Report of the Panel of Experts on Yemen supported “the conclusion of the U.S., France, Germany, and the United Kingdom that Iran bears responsibility” for the 14 September attack on Saudi oil facilities, arguing that since then “Iran has continued its program of terrorism, nuclear extortion and destabilising behaviour”. “The Security Council,” the statement added, “now has less than 36 weeks until the October expiration of the UN arms embargo to renew sanctions forbidding the sale of certain weapons systems to Iran”. According to the UN report, “despite claims to the contrary, the Huthi forces are unlikely to be responsible for the [September 2019] attack, as the estimated range of the weapon systems used does not allow for a launch from Huthi-controlled territory. Nevertheless, a number of other attacks on Saudi Arabia can clearly be attributed to the Houthi forces”. The Panel also reported “the continued reception by Huthi forces of military support” and indicated that “some of those weapons have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with his Saudi counterpart in Washington and “discussed bilateral and regional issues of mutual concern, including the continued need to counter the Iranian regime’s destabilising behaviour”. According to a U.S. readout of the conversation, Pompeo highlighted “the importance of the U.S.-Saudi partnership in confronting the Iranian regime’s threats”, and both officials “expressed their concern over the recent violence in Yemen, including Huthi cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia, and they agreed on the need to swiftly return to de-escalation”. Pompeo also voiced “U.S. support for a political solution to the conflict facilitated by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths”.

The White House revealed that “the U.S. conducted a counterterrorism operation in Yemen that successfully eliminated Qasim al-Rimi, a founder and the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and a deputy to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded to reports of a UN panel assessing that the Huthis had obtained materiel “similar to Iran’s” by contending that “all that glitters is not gold and any similar weapon is not necessarily as an Iranian weapon”.

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that “in response to the air escalation of the aggression, the missile force and drone air force carried out specific operations targeting Aramco in Jizan, Abha, Khamis Mushait base and sensitive targets in the Saudi rear”.

In a statement, the U.S. said it was “alarmed by renewed violence in Yemen”. It went on to urge “all parties to put the needs of the Yemeni people first and immediately return to restraint”, while asserting that “the Huthis must cease attacks on Saudi territory”. 

A missile strike against a Yemeni armed forces camp in Marib killed over a hundred and left dozens more injured; the Saudi government “expressed in the strongest terms… condemnation and denunciation of this sinful terrorist attack carried out by the Huthi militia”.

The U.S. Maritime Administration issued a new advisory valid through November 2020 regarding commercial shipping in areas including the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz which noted that “multiple maritime threats have been reported in the geographic areas described above. Heightened military activity and increased political tensions in this region continue to pose serious threats to commercial vessels. Associated with these threats is a potential for miscalculation or misidentification that could lead to aggressive actions”. The advisory went on to caution that “Vessels operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman may also encounter GPS interference, bridge-to-bridge communications spoofing, and/or other communications jamming with little to no warning. Vessels have also reported bridge-to-bridge communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be U.S. or coalition warships”.

Media reports cited a confidential UN report assessing that “Huthi forces did not launch the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September 2019” because the missiles used in the attack did not “have a sufficient range to have been launched from Yemeni territory under the control of the Huthis”. “Abqaiq and Khurais were approached respectively from a north/northwestern and north/northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory”, the report added.

A U.S. maritime alert, active through 13 January, warned of “the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests in the region”, specifying that “U.S. commercial vessels are advised to exercise caution and coordinate vessel voyage planning for transits of the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea with NCAGS (U.S. Fifth Fleet Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping)”.

The head of the IRGC's Qods force, Qasem Soleimani, was killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad. The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that "at the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani”, adding that "Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region". Iran confirmed Soleimani’s death, and the IRGC said that four other Qods force members along with five Iraqis, notably including a senior Hashd official, were also killed in the operation. Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei subsequently asserted that "enemies should bear in mind that the Islamic Republic of Iran will take tough revenge on criminals over the martyrdom of General Soleimani".

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “six Saudi war prisoners arrived at King Salman Airbase”.

A Huthi military spokesperson reportedly indicated that the “the armed forces of Yemen are fully prepared to strike nine strategic targets deep inside the territory of the aggressors, of which six are located in Saudi Arabia and the rest are in the United Arab Emirates”.

Japan’s cabinet agreed to deploy a destroyer and two patrol planes off the Yemeni and Omani coasts. A senior Japanese official explained that “peace and stability in the Middle East is extremely important for the peace and prosperity of the international community including Japan… Also, it is very important to make sure Japan-related ships can sail safely in the Middle East, the world’s major source of energy”.

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that a “Badr-1P ballistic missile struck… a military camp for the Saudi army and its mercenaries in Najran”.

The Huthi envoy to Tehran met with Iran’s defence minister, Amir Hatami. Hatami remarked that “Yemen has reached a level of military capability that can penetrate deep into the enemy’s front, target enemy strongholds from a distance of more than 1000km, create deterrence and disrupt military-political security equations in the region”. He also asserted that “Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue in a peaceful atmosphere with the participation of all parties, groups and political-social currents is the only practical solution to the complicated problems in this country”. The following day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with a Huthi spokesperson during a visit to Oman.

The Huthi envoy to Tehran met with Iran’s defence minister, Amir Hatami. Hatami remarked that “Yemen has reached a level of military capability that can penetrate deep into the enemy’s front, target enemy strongholds from a distance of more than 1000km, create deterrence and disrupt military-political security equations in the region”. He also asserted that “Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue in a peaceful atmosphere with the participation of all parties, groups and political-social currents is the only practical solution to the complicated problems in this country”. The following day, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with a Huthi spokesperson during a visit to Oman.

The UN Security Council convened to discuss the implementation of resolution 2231 following the Secretary-General’s eight biannual report, with remarks from the U.S. and Iranian envoys.  

The State Department announced that “the U.S. is taking action against three Iranian entitles linked to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and sanctioning eight other entities that helped smuggle weapons from Iran to Yemen”. The statement noted that “to allow exporters of humanitarian goods to Iran sufficient time to find alternate shopping methods, the designations for IRISL [Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines] and E-Sail Shipping Company Ltd will have a brief wind-down period” of 180 days.

Referring to the 14 September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, the UN Secretary-General reported to the Security Council that “at this time, it [ie, the UN] is unable to independently corroborate that the cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles used in these attacks are of Iranian origin”, while also noting that Huthi forces “have not shown to be in possession, nor been assessed to be in possession”, of the materiel employed during the operation.

Addressing a GCC summit, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman remarked that “our region today is undergoing circumstances and challenges that call for concerted efforts to confront them, as the Iranian regime continues its hostile actions to undermine security and stability and support terrorism… [This] requires us to preserve the gains of our countries and the interests of our peoples, work with the international community to stop the interference of this regime, deal seriously with its nuclear program and the program to develop ballistic missiles and secure energy sources, safety of waterways and freedom of maritime navigation”.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister was cited as asserting that “the Iranian threat is a threat to everyone… There is an understanding by the GCC countries on the importance of dealing with the threat and confronting it in the necessary ways”. He also called on Iran to “change its behaviour in attacking ships in the Gulf, supplying militias with weapons, financing terrorism and destabilising countries”.

A senior Huthi official indicated that “the [Huthi] Yemeni Armed Forces has completed all aspects of construction that qualify it for a comprehensive strategic attack that cripples the enemy's capabilities… [It] has a bank of naval and ground military targets for the Zionist enemy [ie, Israel], and we will not hesitate to hit it whenever the leadership decides”.

A senior Saudi official opined that “Iran is a threat to the entire region and its aggression can no longer be tolerated”. He also underlined that “nobody is talking about a regime change in Iran. The solution is to have a negotiating table and agree on a better JCPOA, stop of interference into other countries and behaviours towards terrorism”. On Yemen, the senior official stated that “Yemen is of particular importance to us, and Iran’s intervention there is devastating. The only solution in Yemen is political, and the Huthis are the ones who started the war, not us… All Yemenis, including the Huthis, have a role in the future of Yemen”.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif insisted that “Iran does not see any point in the continuation of the war and siege in Yemen, welcomes peaceful solutions and encourages all parties to move forward in this regard and supports initiatives that call for dialogue to restore prosperity to Yemen”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, indicated that “on November 25th, a U.S. warship conducted a flag verification boarding in international waters off the coast of Yemen.  We interdicted a significant hoard of weapons and missile parts, evidently of Iranian origin”. “The vessel reportedly was heading to Yemen to deliver these weapons”, he added, contending that “the weapon components comprise the most sophisticated weapons seized by the U.S. Navy to date during the Yemen conflict”. Hook went on to argue that “this discovery is yet more proof of Iran’s efforts to inflame conflicts in the region by proliferating deadly weapons to its proxies. It is also further evidence of how Iran repeatedly violates the UN arms embargo”. Hook additionally stressed that “the Huthis’ de-escalation proposal, which the Saudis are responding to, shows that Iran clearly does not speak for the Huthis, nor have the best interests of the Yemeni people at heart. Iran is trying to prolong Yemen’s civil war to project power. Iran should follow the calls of its own people and end its involvement in Yemen”. He also announced a reward for information relating to “a Yemen-based high-ranking commander of the IRGC’s Qods force”.

Speaking alongside U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “we have been fortunate that President Trump has led a consistent policy of pressure against Iran. Iran is increasing its aggression as we speak even today in the region. They’re trying to have staging grounds against us and the region from Iran itself, from Iraq, from Syria, from Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen, and we are actively engaged in countering that aggression”. Netanyahu further maintained that “Iran’s aggression is growing, but its empire is tottering. And I say let’s make it totter even further”. Secretary Pompeo, citing unrest in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran, stated that “some of these are people that are seeking freedom and a reasonable way to live, and they recognise the threat that is posed by the kleptocrats that are running the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

Meeting with the Omani foreign minister in Tehran, President Rouhani contended that “unfortunately, Europe and the U.S., despite what they say, are not interested in [the] establishment of peace in Yemen because they have been able to sell a great number of weapons”. He further asserted that "we should all attempt to put an end to the war in Yemen as soon as possible and establish stability and security in the country within the framework of Yemeni-Yemeni peace talks”.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Ali Shamkhani, remarked that “continuation of this genocide [in Yemen] is only in favor of the enemies of the region, including the U.S. and the Israeli regime, and Saudi Arabia should surrender to the demand of the Yemeni nation and not to put the regional peace at further risk”.

128 Huthi prisoners freed by the Saudi-led coalition arrived in Yemen, prompting a senior Huthi official to call it “a first practical step by the Saudis that builds trust”.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson indicated that the coalition had “decided… to release 200 prisoners of the Huthi militia”. A senior Huthi official subsequently reacted by saying that “we welcome the news of the release of 200 captives by the American-Saudi-UAE coalition and its allies and we call for a halt to torture and employing coercive measures against the captives”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu asserted that “Iran’s aggression in our region, and against us, continues. We are taking all necessary actions to prevent Iran from entrenching here in our region. This includes the activity necessary to thwart the transfer of lethal weaponry from Iran to Syria, whether by air or overland”. “We will also take action to thwart Iran's effort to turn Iraq and Yemen into bases for launching rockets and missiles against the State of Israel”, he added. Citing remarks by a senior U.S. defence official who had indicated that “it is very possible they [the Iranians] will attack again”, Netanyahu stated that “I can confirm that and I can also confirm to you that we are continuing our plans to thwart this aggression by various means”.

Discussing the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), CENTCOM Commander Kenneth McKenzie stressed that “Iran has been hindering freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz over the past few months… Had Iran not undertaken those actions, had there been no threat to freedom of navigation, there might not have been a need for the IMSC”. “Since it has been operational”, McKenzie observed, “none of these actions have occurred”. He also remarked that “unfortunately, sometimes, the Iranian regime has proved itself to be the bully in the neighbourhood. The only way to stand up to a bully is to do it together”. McKenzie also opined that while Iran “may control the next step on the escalation ladder... I do not believe that even Iran conceives that they own the last step on the escalation ladder. And that is point that we should hold”.

Discussing the 14 September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, a senior Saudi official indicated that “the results of the investigation will be revealed. What is absolutely clear is that these missiles and drones are Iranian-made, and the attack occurred from the north, not from the south. We hold Iran responsible for this. We expect the international community to take steps in order to extract the price from Iran”. He additionally posited that “the idea that perhaps engagement will cause the Iranians to change their behaviour has not worked in 40 years… The key to regional stability is deterrence”. “If Iran chooses to continue along its destructive path, sanctions should be increased, not reduced”, the official added. He also identified three principles by which Iran could, in his words, “become an accepted member of the international community”, namely: “abandon the principle of exporting the revolution, accept the sovereignty of nations and respect international law and the principle of non-interference in the affairs of other countries”.

Iran’s naval chief indicated that “due to the current special security conditions in the Red Sea region, and insecurities caused by terrorist activities that threaten our shipping lines, the Iranian Navy has been giving serious attention to this region as an insecure body of water”. He also tallied that “we have so far dispatched 64 fleets to international waters to defend the country’s interests”.  

A Huthi military spokesperson was cited as asserting that “Yemeni army troops and allied fighters… are fully prepared to deliver a befitting response to the Tel Aviv regime [ie, Israel] in case the Israeli military launches an act of aggression”.

King Salman expressed hope that the Riyadh Agreement would “open the door before broader understandings to reach a political solution to the crisis according to the three references and give room to the dear Yemeni people to foresee a future of security, stability and development”.

Receiving the credentials of Yemeni Ansar Allah’s ambassador to Iran, President Rouhani commented that “today, aggressors and the Yemeni nation’s enemies have reached the conclusion that they cannot advance their goals by pressure and war, and this means that the Yemeni nation’s resistance has borne fruit”. “Iran”, he added, “believes in the righteousness of the people of Yemen and their revolution, and considers helping them in both fighting aggressors and negotiations as its religious duty”.

The Huthis detained, and subsequently released, three vessels. Two of the ships were South Korean; the other was a Saudi tug.

The Huthi leader, Abd-al-Malik al-Huthi contended that “our people will not hesitate to declare jihad against the Israeli enemy, and to launch the most severe strikes against sensitive targets in the occupied territories if the enemy engages in any folly against our people”. He further maintained that “we reaffirm our anti-Israel position and that the regime is occupying one. This is a principled humanitarian, moral and religious commitment”.

The U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct inaugurated the Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel headquarters in Bahrain. A senior U.S. naval official characterised the operation as “an important multinational maritime effort to increase surveillance of and security in key waterways in the Middle East to ensure freedom of navigation in light of recent events in the Arabian Gulf”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson subsequently contended that “history shows that the American coalitions have been nothing but misnomers, which have not only not created security so far, but have resulted in further insecurity and instability in different parts of the world… the U.S. move to hide its objectives and dreams behind the names of a few other countries signifies the weakness and lack of international legitimacy”. “As the country with the longest coastline by the Persian Gulf”, he added, “the Islamic Republic of Iran will vigorously keep protecting its economic and security interests, including the navigation security and safety in the body of water”.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin contended that “Iran continues to spread terror throughout the region. It continues to build military bases and plan attacks from Syria, and other parts of the region, Lebanon and even Yemen”. “Our enemies”, he added, “must know the state of Israel will do everything needed to defend its citizens”. 

Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the secessionist Southern Transitional Council signed the Riyadh Agreement. The U.S. hailed the accord, stating that “we are hopeful that with this agreement, the parties will work together to end the conflict and to achieve the peace and stability that Yemen’s people deserve”; Secretary of State Pompeo thanked Saudi Arabia for its role and in a meeting with a senior Saudi official also talked about “the need to continue countering the Iranian regime’s destabilising behaviour”. Referring to the Riyadh Agreement, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson contended that “signing such documents will by no means help settle the problems or Yemen, and it will contribute to stabilisation of occupation of southern Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its allies, directly or through their proxy forces”. He added that “the next step is holding Yemeni-Yemeni talks”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, emphasised that “[Iran] would like to turn the Huthis into their proxy right on Saudi’s southern border so that they’re able to attack at will through the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE”. Referring to the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities, Hook stated that “it was a mistake for the Huthis [to claim credit]. I think they recognised it. They were embarrassed by it. They were surprised by it. So we’ll use this opening to press our advantage. And that’s why I think we’re seeing some positive developments in Yemen”. 

A Huthi military spokesperson claimed that the Huthis had shot down a U.S. drone in Asir province.

The U.S. State Department in its Country Reports on Terrorism 2018 found that “throughout 2018, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS-Yemen, Hizbollah, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and other Iran-backed terrorist groups continued to exploit the political and security vacuum created by the ongoing conflict”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that “the area around us is stormy and restive. Threats lurk in every corner – in Syria, in Lebanon, in the Gaza Strip, as well as in Iraq, Yemen and directly in Iran. Where not? Iranian and pro-Iranian forces are relentlessly arming themselves”. He went on to assert that “we are prepared for the threats and will not hesitate to strike harshly at anyone who tries to attack us. Iran’s threshold of daring in the region is rising and it grows even more in the absence of a response. However, Israel will not turn the other cheek. Whoever is bent on aggression – will meet with a vigorous response, and will pay a heavy price”.

Prime Minister Netanyahu contended that “Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons. It’s transgressing on its agreement and commitment. Iran wants to develop precision guided missiles that can hit any target in Israel within five to ten meters. It’s doing that. Iran wants to use Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen as bases to attack Israel with statistical missiles and precision-guided missiles.” He went on to assert that “to ward off this danger… you have to be strong militarily. And to be strong militarily, we have to shift now money from the civilian areas to the military areas”.

Speaking alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, Prime Minister Netanyahu argued that “Iran is seeking to develop now precision-guided munitions, missiles that can hit any target in the Middle East with a circumference of five to ten metres. They are developing this in Iran. They want to place them in Iraq and in Syria, and to convert Lebanon’s arsenal of 130,000 statistical rockets to precision-guided munitions. They seek also to develop that, and have already begun to put that in Yemen, with the goal of reaching Israel from there, too”. He further asserted that “Iran is the single greatest threat to stability and peace in the Middle East”, and urged Mnuchin “to put even more” sanctions on Iran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with a senior Huthi official in Tehran, and reportedly expressed “Iran’s support for establishing a truce in Yemen and holding intra-Yemeni dialogue”.

A senior U.S. diplomat met with the President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and other officials in the international recognised government of Yemen in Riyadh. The U.S. official “reaffirmed U.S. support for the unity of Yemen” and “stressed that a political solution is the only path to a peaceful, prosperous, stable and unified Yemen”. 

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani argued that “any measure which exacerbates insecurity and increases crisis in the region should be halted immediately… the regional crises, including the Syria and Yemen crises, have no military solution and they should be settled through diplomacy and Syrian-Syrian and Yemeni-Yemeni talks”.

In a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Rouhani noted that “foreign interference will add to the insecurity. The first step to ease tensions in the region is to establish a cease-fire in Yemen and end attacks on the innocent Yemenis, and Iran supports any attempt in this regard”. He further argued that “to resolve regional issues, we require changing strategies towards political dialogue with goodwill, security-building and developing regional cooperation… relying on terrorists, the Zionist regime [i.e. Israel], and the U.S. has no fruit except for more tension and damages to Islamic countries and regional nations, and does not guarantee security for any country and the region”. Rouhani also stated that “sustainable security and peace in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz can only be achieved through the participation of regional states”, adding that “Iran is always ready for dialogue and cooperation with all countries in the region”. Rouhani went on to posit that “the U.S.’ request for negotiation without preconditions is not an honest move with sanctions in place… we are ready to negotiation within the framework of the JCPOA if sanctions are lifted”.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, remarked that “Iran has proposed a four-article plan for finishing the war on Yemen since a long time ago. The end of this war can have positive effects on the region”. He also reiterated that “Iran has never been the initiator of any war, but if any country begins a war against Iran, it will undoubtedly regret it”.

Referring to 14 September attacks on Saudi oil facilities, Saudi Aramco's Chief Executive contended that “an absence of international resolve to take concrete action may embolden the attackers and indeed put the world's energy security at greater risk”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif stated that “in a situation where the Saudis would like to negotiate with Iran, if they pursue regional issues at the negotiating table and not by killing people, they will certainly have the Islamic Republic along with them”.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that two Huthi ballistic missiles landed inside Yemeni territory.

Iran's military chief of staff indicated that Iran was providing the Huthis "advisory and intellectual assistance and the IRGC is in charge of this". He also asserted that "we will stand by the Yemeni people until they completely ward off the aggressions". 

An Iranian official indicated that the Saudis “have sent messages to Mr. Rouhani through a head of state… we must see signs of it [goodwill] without any ambiguity, and the first sign of it is to stop the aggression against Yemen and put an end to the massacre of Yemenis”. He added that “if they genuinely sought to change their behaviour, we would welcome that”.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson announced that “Iran welcomes the Yemeni National Salvation Government’s proposal and considers it to be in favour of the establishment of stability and security in the region”. He went on to say that “sadly, Saudi Arabia is still seeking to fan the flames and continues to bombard different parts of Yemen” and called on “the Saudi government to accept this offer”. A senior Saudi official subsequently indicated that "the Kingdom did not and will not talk with the Iranians. Yemen is the affair of the Yemenis... and the reason behind the Yemeni crisis is the Iranian destabilising role of its stability and disruptive role in the political efforts". He also contended that Iran "provides its followers with weapons and missiles targeting the sons of Yemen and the security of the Kingdom and the countries of the region as part of the approach of this expansionist regime seeking to impose its control on Arab countries through its militias". He additionally advised Iran to "stop your support for terrorism, policies of chaos and destruction, interference in the internal affairs of Arab states, development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile program. Act like a normal state and not a rogue one supporting terrorism". 

A senior IRGC official asserted that “Yemen’s deterrent power in the face of enemies has become clear after the reactions to Al Saud’s attacks, and the enemies are also mindful that they will be harmed if they take any action against that country”.

In his address to the UN General Assembly, Bahrain’s foreign minister remarked that “the adoption of the Iranian regime of transitional terrorism has created networks of terrorist organisations and extremist militias, located in many places and different parts of the world such as Syria, Yemen, North Africa, the countries of the Sahara and the Sahel, South America and others. This requires us to intensify our efforts and enhance collective cooperation in order to eliminate them and prevent their return in any form”. He also applauded “the decisive course taken by the friendly U.S. in confronting Iran and its affiliates in the region, through exerting maximum pressure and imposing strict sanctions”. He went on to assert that “global energy supplies and maritime navigation in the waters of the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the region as a whole are severely threatened by the behaviour of the Iranian regime and its frequent targeting of commercial vessels in the region”, adding condemnation of the 14 September attacks on Saudi energy facilities “which Iran bears responsibility for”.  

Referring to the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo argued that Iran “took an act clearly, highly attributable. They had to know that the world would determine that it was them that conducted this strike. They didn’t use their usual method of trying to obscure this through use of a proxy force”. He added that “they had to know it was the case that the world would rally against them, and yet they still chose to do it”.

President Rouhani remarked that “the Yemeni people have a right to self-defence and they have to defend themselves, and the whole world knows that the Yemeni forces and the Yemeni army have both long-range missiles and drones”. Rouhani went on to “urge the U.S., France, Britain and Germany, who are constantly giving arms to Saudi Arabia and the Emirates to kill the Yemeni people, to stop sending weapons and to pressurise Saudi Arabia and the UAE for peace”.

IRGC Commander Hossein Salami argued that “our power is such that when a group like Ansar Allah carries out an operation, the enemy thinks it has been done by us”. He added that the Huthis were “a mutated branch of the revolution…They are an accumulated source of power that, if released, will change the whole battlefield and the enemy knows this reality”.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman argued that the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities “didn’t hit the heart of the Saudi energy industry, but rather the heart of the global energy industry”, adding that the Iranians carried out the operation because of “stupidity. There is no strategic goal… the only strategic goal is to prove that they are stupid and that is what they did”. Bin Salman also stated that “if the world does not take a strong and firm action to deter Iran, we will see further escalations that will threaten world interests. Oil supplies will be disrupted and oil prices will jump to unimaginably high numbers that we haven't seen in our lifetimes”. Bin Salman also posited that a “political and peaceful solution is much better than the military one”, while asserting that “it is the Iranians who don’t want to sit at the table” with President Trump. On Yemen, Bin Salman stated that “if Iran stops its support of the Huthi militia, the political solution will be much easier”.

A senior U.S. official stated that “we are, to the extent possible, talking with the Huthis to try and find a mutually agreeable negotiated solution to the conflict in Yemen.  We have been talking to the Huthis for some time and we will continue to do so at increasingly higher levels”. He added that “the Huthis are a significant part of the problem in Yemen, but they necessarily will be part of the solution”.

A senior Saudi official contended that “we are certain it [the 14 September attack on Saudi energy facilities] came from the north. Once the investigation is complete, we will make the announcements and we will pin the blame. But we believe Iran is responsible because these were Iranian weapons”. He went on to say that “our position is we have to be firm with Iran. We have to come up with options on how we increase the pressure on the Iranians. You have a whole list of potential options: diplomatic, economic and military”. The official added that “the Iranians are warmongering, not us. The Iranians are the ones who launched 260 ballistic missiles on Saudi Arabia and more than 150 drones. We did not launch any ballistic missiles, any drones. We did not plant any terrorist cells in Iran and we didn’t even fire one bullet in the direction of Iran… so we’re on the receiving end”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted three Huthi missiles inside the Yemeni airspace.

In a statement, France, Germany, and the UK jointly “condemn[ed] in the strongest terms the attacks on oil facilities on Saudi territory on September 14th, 2019 in Abqaiq and Khurais”. They further declared that “it is clear to us that Iran bears responsibility for this attack. There is no other plausible explanation. We support ongoing investigations to establish further details”. The E3 also urged Iran “to reverse its decisions to reduce compliance with the deal and to adhere fully to its commitments under it”. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif responded that the “E3's paralysis in fulfilling their obligations without U.S. permission has been clear since May 2018”. He added that the “solution to this deficiency is mustering will to forge an independent path—not parroting absurd U.S. claims and requests inconsistent with the JCPOA”. Zarif went on to posit that there would be “no new deal before compliance with the current one”.In a statement, Iran’s foreign ministry contended that “attributing the responsibility to the third government for an attack carried out in the course of a full-scale war between the Saudi and Yemeni sides is per se a provocative and extremely destructive move”. U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo responded by saying that “the U.S. thanks our close friends, UK, France, and Germany, for their clear articulation of Iran’s sole responsibility for the act of war against Saudi Arabia and its impact on the region and the world… this will strengthen diplomacy and the cause of peace”.

Foreign Minister Zarif described the U.S. decision to bolster its forces in Saudi Arabia as “posturing”, and added that he was “confident that Iran did not play a role” in the 14 September attacks against Saudi energy facilities. Zarif also noted in passing that “the Israelis are attacking parts of [the] Iraqi military”. He went on to state that “we’re ready to talk [with President Trump]… we need to talk about something that is permanent. That would last”. Zarif additionally warned that “I’m not confident that we can avoid a war… I’m confident that we will not start one but I’m confident that whoever starts one will not be the one who finishes it”.

Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that the 14 September attack against Saudi energy facilities “was an attack by Iran on the world. This was an act of war”. He went on state that “apparently, the Iranians are bloodthirsty and looking for war. President Trump and I, we’re looking for a diplomatic resolution to this… but make no mistake about it: we’re prepared to do the things we need to do to try to deter Iran from this kind of behaviour”. Pompeo added that sanctions “will deny them the resources to foment the exact kind of strikes that we have seen over this past summer”, and also contended that the Iranian people “will demand that their leadership behave in a way that reflects the great history of this place”.

Foreign Minister Zarif argued that “since the Saudi regime has blamed Iran – baseless as that is – for the [14 September] attacks on its oil facilities, curious that they retaliated against Hodeida in Yemen today—breaking a UN ceasefire. It is clear that even the Saudis themselves don't believe the fiction of Iranian involvement”.

U.S. Secretary of Defence Mark Esper asserted that “in recent months, Iran has increased its military activity through direct attacks and support to its proxies in the region”, adding that “all indications are that Iran was responsible for the attack” against Saudi energy facilities on 14 September. Esper announced that “in response to the Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia’s] request, the president has approved the deployment of U.S. forces, which will be defensive in nature and primarily focussed on air and missile defence. We will also work to accelerate the delivery of military equipment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to enhance their ability to defend themselves”.

Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah remarked that “Saudi Arabia is highly advised to stop the war on Yemen instead of seeking to purchase advanced air defence missile systems. All costly weapons purchased [from] the U.S. cannot protect you from [Huthi] drone attacks”. Nasrallah added that “a military aggression on Iran will never be to the benefit of Saudi Arabia and the UAE”.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had foiled “an attempt by Iran-affiliated Huthi terrorist militias to carry out an imminent hostile and terrorist act in the south of [the] Red Sea by using a remote-controlled booby-trapped boat”.

The UAE signed on to the U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct.

Iran’s President Rouhani remarked that “it is strange that the enemies of the region have not yet understood the power of the regional nations’ resistance… instead of admitting that Lebanon’s Hizbollah has high capabilities and power both in scientific and military knowledge and bravery in the field, or that a part of brave young people of Iraq have liberated different cities across the country from the hands of terrorists, and instead of admitting to the growth and greatness of nations like Syria and Yemen, they are seeking to accuse others”.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson announced that the 14 September attack on Saudi oil facilities “was launched from the north and unquestionably sponsored by Iran. We are working to know the exact launch point”. He added that the attack “did not originate from Yemen despite Iran's best efforts to make it appear so”.

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo remarked that the 14 September attack on Saudi energy facilities “didn’t come from the Huthis…This was an Iranian attack. It’s not the case that you can subcontract out the devastation of five per cent of the world’s global energy supply and think that you can absolve yourself of responsibilities”. Pompeo also indicated that “we are working to build out a coalition to develop a plan to deter” Iran. He went on to assert that “some suggest that the President’s strategy that we allowed isn’t working. I would argue just the converse of that. I would argue that what you are seeing here is a direct result of us reversing the enormous failure of the JCPOA”. Pompeo added that “55 weeks from now, the whole world can sell exactly these missile systems, conventional missile systems to the Iranian government unencumbered by any sanctions… they’d have more complex ones but for the sanctions we put in place”. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif seized on Pompeo’s characterisation of the 14 September attack as an “act of war” to posit “’act of war’ or agitation for war? Remnants of the B-Team (and ambitious allies) try to deceive President Trump into war”. Zarif also suggested “seizing [the] opportunity to end disaster in Yemen – not widening it”.

President Rouhani suggested that “the Yemeni nation was not the source of the conflict but it was Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the Americans, some European countries and the Zionist regime [i.e. Israel] that began the war and destroyed Yemen”. He also contended, referring to the 14 September attack against Saudi energy facilities, that “the Yemenis did not target a school, hospital or market, but they attacked an industrial centre to warn their enemies”. “Iran”, Rouhani added, “has never started to cut ties and disrupt relations, and if even those who have cut ties step forward, we would like to have good relations with all the nations of the region and with our neighbours”. In related remarks, Defence Minister Amir Hatami stated that “a clash has occurred between two countries. One side of the clash are the Yemenis, who have announced explicitly that they have done the job”.

Saudi Arabia signed on the U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif argued that the “U.S. is in denial if it thinks that Yemeni victims of 4.5 years of the worst war crimes wouldn't do all to strike back. Perhaps it's embarrassed that $100s of billions of its arms didn't intercept Yemeni fire”. He added that “blaming Iran won't change that. Ending the war is the only solution for all”. Zarif further stated that “the U.S. isn’t upset when its allies mercilessly bomb babies in Yemen for over four years—with its arms and its military assistance. But it is terribly upset when the victims react the only way they can—against the aggressor's oil refineries”.

In a statement on the 14 September attacks against Aramco facilities, the Saudi government said that “initial investigations have indicated that the weapons used in the attack were Iranian weapons”, adding that “investigations are still ongoing to determine the source of the attack”.

Commenting on the 14 September attack against Saudi energy facilities, President Rouhani stated that “this problem has its roots in the Yemeni invasion. We must ask those who invaded Yemen and are bombing it daily why they did it… they have destroyed Yemen and killed a large number of Yemenis, and the Yemeni people have to respond to this [sic] many acts of aggression and guns coming from the U.S. and Europe to Saudi Arabia and the UAE".

In a statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s office indicated that “Iraq denies what has been circulated by some media outlets and social media about the use of its territories to attack Saudi oil facilities by drones”.  

The Saudi government confirmed that “several explosions occurred as a result of terrorist attacks in Saudi Aramco plants in Khurais and Abqaiq… according to preliminary estimates, these explosions led to the interruption of a quantity of crude oil supplies estimated at 5.7 million barrels, or about 50 per cent of the company’s production”. The Huthis took responsibility for the operation, which they claimed was carried out using “tens of drones”. President Trump subsequently spoke to Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and, according to a Saudi readout of the conversation, “reasserted his country’s readiness to cooperate with the Kingdom, by all means conducive to maintain its security and stability”. U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo stated that “Tehran is behind nearly 100 attacks on Saudi Arabia while Rouhani and Zarif pretend to engage in diplomacy. Amid all the calls for de-escalation, Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply. There is no evidence the attacks came from Yemen”. He further called on “all nations to publicly and unequivocally condemn Iran’s attacks. The U.S. will work with our partners and allies to ensure that energy markets remain well supplied and Iran is held accountable for its aggression”. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif responded saying that “having failed at ‘maximum pressure’, Secretary Pompeo is turning to ‘max deceit’”.

The Arab Quartet Ministerial Committee for Follow-up of the Crisis with Iran and Response to its Interventions in Arab Internal Affairs, chaired by the UAE and including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the Secretary-General of the Arab League, “condemned Iran's continued support for terrorist and subversive acts in the Arab countries, including the continued firing of Iranian-made ballistic missiles from Yemeni territory into populated cities in the Kingdom”. It also denounced remarks by Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s as “intended to provoke sedition and incite hatred; and which is an extension of the dangerous role of this terrorist party, which is considered as one of the arms of Iran aiming to destabilise the security and stability in the region”. Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson responded that “the rehash of groundless accusations against [Iran’s] eternal ownership of its three islands in the Persian Gulf and the blame game by some Arab countries whose regional policies have failed are… the reason behind their failure to understand the realities of the region and the world”. He went on to say that “it is regrettable that some, instead of relying on the power of Persian Gulf states, make divergent, unfounded and undocumented allegations about the security of the region and welcome foreigners with their desperation”.

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Najran.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabi.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, argued that “Iran is using Yemen to increase its status as a regional power… Iran has provided the Huthis with hundreds of millions of dollars and an arsenal of advanced weaponry”. “Iran’s strategic alliance with the Huthis”, Hook wrote, “allows them to target Gulf nations at will with missile and UAV attacks, and to inspire, organise, and direct militant separatist groups in Saudi Arabia’s provinces”. He also posited that Iran’s “alliance with the Huthis now allows Iran to threaten ship traffic in the Bab al-Mandab strait”, and indicated that “newly declassified information shows that Hizbollah is actively supporting the Huthi cause in Yemen, bringing Iran’s proxy network full circle”. Hook went on to underscore that “the Trump administration is focused on reversing Iran’s strategic gains in the region as part of the ‘maximum pressure’ campaign”, and contended that “the Huthis have little gain and a lot to lose by continuing their partnership with Iran”.

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi ballistic missile reportedly bound for Najran.

Saudi Arabia downed a ballistic missile reportedly bound for Najran, and intercepted a Huthi drone it said was bound for Khamis Mushait.

Iran’s military chief of staff rejected the notion that Iran was sending weapons to the Huthis, contending that “how could one send a 9-meter-long missile to a country that is under blockade and is unable to receive medicine? These are illusions held by some”.

Saudi Arabia downed a trio of ballistic missiles in Najran and intercepted two Huthi drones, one of which was reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

President Rouhani remarked that “there is no military solution to the Yemeni crisis at all, and we have to try to reach a fair peace and sustainable security in the country through political dialogue”.

President Rouhani spoke by phone with his French counterpart and asserted that “if Europe cannot put its commitments into operation, Iran will take the third step in reducing its JCPOA commitments, which of course will be reversible”. He additionally underscored “that the continuation of negotiations for settling problems is the right decision and we need to continue along this path until we reach a desired point”. Rouhani also told Macron that “the leaders of the Zionist regime [i.e. Israel] have made countless miscalculations towards other countries like Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, and they are announcing their acts of aggression proudly instead of apologising”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabi.

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo met with Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman and “reiterated U.S. support for a negotiated resolution between the Republic of Yemen government and the Southern Transitional Council”. They additionally discussed “the need for stronger maritime security in order to promote freedom of navigation [and] the Iranian regime’s destabilising activities in the region”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones, one inside Yemeni airspace and the second reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait. The coalition also asserted that a ballistic missile fired by the Huthis had landed within Yemen.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabi.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones inside Yemeni airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted six ballistic missiles purportedly bound for Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait and Jizan.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that “I don’t grant Iran immunity anywhere. Iran is a state, a power, that has sworn to annihilate Israel. It’s trying to establish bases against us everywhere. In Iran itself, in Lebanon, in Syria, in Iraq, in Yemen”. Netanyahu went on to say that “we’re acting not only if necessary, we’re acting in very many theatres against a state that seeks to annihilate us. Obviously I’ve given the security forces the order and the operation freedom to do what is necessary in order to disrupt these plots by Iran”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

A U.S. CENTCOM spokesperson announced that "we are investigating reports of an attack by Iranian-backed Huthis forces on a U.S. unmanned aerial system (UAS) operating in authorised airspace over Yemen”. He further asserted that “we have been clear that Iran's provocative actions and support to militants and proxies, like the Iranian-backed Huthis, poses a serious threat to stability in the region and our partners”.

Addressing the UN Security Council, Secretary of State Pompeo reiterated that “the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies continue to foment terror and unrest in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen with devastating humanitarian consequences”, adding that “since the U.S. declared our intention to bring all Iranian oil purchases to zero in April, the ayatollah has gone all in on a campaign of extortion diplomacy”. He also indicated that “we are already tracking very closely the JCPOA provisions expiring in October of 2020, namely the UN arms embargo and the travel restrictions on Qasem Soleimani”. “Time is drawing short to continue this activity of restricting Iran’s capacity to foment its terror regime”, Pompeo argued. “The international community will have plenty of time to see how long it has until Iran is unshackled to create new turmoil, and figure out what it must do to prevent this from happening”. At a press conference, Pompeo stated that “Iran’s continued development and testing of advanced ballistic missiles in defiance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 is also an issue that the international community must address”.

A senior Saudi official confirmed that “a processing unit of Shaybah’s natural gas plant was targeted by explosive-laden [Huthi] drones, resulting in a limited fire”.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting with Yemen’s Huthis, the UK, France, Germany, and Italy.  The UK ambassador in Iran, Rob Macaire, emphasised that it was “important to have dialogue both on [the] political track and humanitarian crisis”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone inside Yemeni airspace.

National Security Advisor John Bolton asserted that Iran is “a country that never really made the key decision to give up nuclear weapons. They have not modified their widespread support for international terrorism. They've not given up their troublemaking in the Middle East, in Iraq and Syria and Yemen. They’re still a threat in the Persian Gulf to oil, they’re a threat to our forces, not just in Iraq and Syria, but now in Afghanistan”. “This is a regime really that needs a fundamental change in its behaviour”, Bolton added.

Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson stated that “the coalition of Saudi and Emirati invaders and their mercenaries, who have been unable to shatter the willpower of [Yemeni] people despite using various advanced weapons, massacre, and wreaking widespread destruction over the past five years and who have failed in the face of the fortitude and resistance of people across Yemen, are now seeking to partition Yemen with a suspicious plot”. He added that “the Islamic Republic of Iran always supports a ‘united Yemen’ and deems protecting its integrity a common responsibility of all Yemeni people”.

In a meeting with a visiting Huthi delegation, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that “Saudi Arabia and UAE and their supporters have committed major crimes in Yemen and certainly won’t get their favourite results”. He added that “they seek to divide Yemen [and] this plot should be strongly resisted and a unified, coherent Yemen with sovereign integrity should be endorsed”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif told a visiting Huthi spokesperson that “the Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported Yemeni-Yemeni talks and the full implementation of the Stockholm Agreements”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

Secretary of State Pompeo spoke by phone with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed “maritime security, Yemen, countering the Iranian regime’s destabilising activity and human rights”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Abha.

The State Department issued a statement indicating that “the U.S. is deeply concerned by the outbreak of violence and deadly clashes in Aden”, going on to assert that “dialogue represents the only way to achieve a stable, unified, and prosperous Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

The U.S. State Department's spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, condemned recent attacks in southern Yemen. She further stated that “attacks such as these by the Iranian-backed Huthis, ISIS, or al-Qaeda are unacceptable”.

Reacting to a Huthi attack on a military parade in Aden, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen stated that “the synchronised targeting by the terrorist Iran-backed Huthis and its terrorist sister groups ISIS and AQAP of the security and stability of the interim capital Aden proves their unity of objective: bloodshed and non-recognition of State, laws and inviolability of man”.

Secretary of State Pompeo indicated “real progress” in efforts to address the conflict in Yemen, while adding that “it is uneven – in the end, the player who will get to play the ultimate final card there would be the Iranians”. “The Huthis have to make a decision”, Pompeo asserted. “They’ve got to decide if they want to continue down the path of being disruptive and accepting missiles and launching them into Saudi Arabia”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait.

President Rouhani asserted that “along with maintaining the security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Republic of Iran works for the safety of other waterways in the world, including the Bab al-Mandab and the Indian Ocean”. In apparent reference to the seizure by Iran of a UK-flagged tanker on 19 July, Rouhani added: “The Strait of Hormuz has a very important location; it’s not to be taken as a joke or for a country to ignore international regulations, and enter the region in the wrong direction and disregard the IRGC’s warnings, who are responsible for the security of the Strait of Hormuz”. He further asserted that “the main responsibility for protecting the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf is mainly with Iran and neighbouring countries, and is not the others’ business”.

Referring to the recent incidents, Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers stated that “any infringement on the freedom of international maritime navigation is considered a violation of the international law, and the international community must take the necessary action to reject and deter it”.

The Saudi-led coalition reportedly intercepted multiple Huthi drones bound for Asir.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Abha.

U.S. Central Command announced and Saudi Arabia confirmed that “in coordination with and at the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Secretary of Defense has authorized the movement of U.S. personnel and resources to deploy to Saudi Arabia”.

U.S. Central Command announced that it was “developing a multinational maritime effort, Operation Sentinel, to increase surveillance of and security in key waterways in the Middle East to ensure freedom of navigation”. The statement added that “this maritime security framework will enable nations to provide escort to their flagged vessels while taking advantage of the cooperation of participating nations for coordination and enhanced maritime domain awareness and surveillance”.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister jointly announced that Bahrain would host an international meeting on maritime security later in the year.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Jizan.

At a cabinet meeting, President Trump stated that with regards to Iran “a lot of progress has been made. And if they’d like to talk, then we'll see what happens.” He went on to reiterate that “they can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not looking, by the way, for regime change… and we want them to get out of Yemen”.  Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that “with respect to Iran, we’ve done three things. We’ve supported the Iranian people… we’ve continued to work with this coalition [of Gulf countries and Israel] that all understands that the largest threat to Middle East security is, in fact, the Islamic Republic of Iran… thirdly, we’ve imposed a series of sanctions on the Iranian regime”.  He added that “the Iranian regime is struggling to figure out what they're going to do with their economy because we've been terribly effective...for the first time the Iranians have said that they're prepared to negotiate about their missile program”. An Iranian spokesperson rejected Iran’s willingness to discuss its missile program, saying that “Iran’s missiles and its missiles are absolutely and under no condition negotiable with anyone or any country, period”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted three Huthi drones reportedly bound for Jizan and Abha.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait and downed another inside Yemen’s airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that “the Huthis attempted to attack a commercial ship south of the Red Sea using a booby-trapped boat with explosives”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted drones purportedly bound for an airport in Jizan.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that a Huthi attack against Abha airport injured nine civilians. The U.S. State Department's spokesperson, Morgan Ortagus, condemned the attack and asserted that “we stand firmly with our Saudi partners in defending their borders against these continued threats by the Huthis, who rely on Iranian-made weapons and technology to carry out such attacks”.

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi drone reportedly bound for Saudi Arabia within Yemen’s airspace.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Huthi drones; one was reportedly bound for Jizan while the second was said to have been bound for Asir.

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, stated that “If we do not prevent Iranians from laying down deep roots in Yemen, they will be in a position to threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab”. He went on to say that “an outlaw regime is violating basic maritime law and now represents a maritime threat across the Gulf”.

The Saudi-led coalition downed a Huthi drone, said to be bound for Saudi Arabia, inside Yemeni airspace.  

The U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UK and the UAE released a joint statement conveying “concern over escalating tensions in the region and the dangers posed by Iranian destabilising activity to peace and security both in Yemen and the broader region”. The statement went on to “call on Iran to halt any further actions which threaten regional stability, and urge diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that a Huthi attack on Abha International Airport left one killed and seven injured. Secretary of State Pompeo condemned the attack and contended that “some want to portray the Yemen conflict as an isolated civil war, without a clear aggressor. It is neither. It is spreading conflict and humanitarian disaster that was conceived of and perpetuated by the Islamic Republic of Iran… With every attack conducted by an Iranian proxy, the regime tacks another day onto its forty-year track record of spreading death and chaos in the region, and beyond”. He went on to reiterate that “we will continue our pressure campaign until Iran stops its torrent of violence and meets diplomacy with diplomacy”.

In Riyadh, the U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, stated that “Iran’s efforts to use surrogates to attack Saudi Arabia and destabilise the region needs to be countered”. He added that “our diplomacy does not give Iran the right to respond with military force, Iran needs to meet our diplomacy with diplomacy and not military force… it’s important we do everything we can do de-escalate”. Saudi Vice Minister of Defence, Khalid bin Salman, reiterated his government’s “support for the U.S. maximum pressure campaign on Iran, which came as a result of continuing Iranian hostility and terrorism”, also underlining “the dangerous role that the Iranian regime plays in Yemen”.

The Saudi-led coalition announced that a projectile fired by the Huthis hit a desalination plant in Jizan, causing no casualties or damage.  

Saudi media reported that “Iranian experts and other Huthi militants were killed during a failed attempt to launch a ballistic missile” in Sanaa.

Saudi Arabia intercepted two Huthi drones; one was reportedly bound for Abha while the second was downed before it entered Saudi airspace.

Secretary of State Pompeo reaffirmed his assessment that the 13 June tanker explosions in the Gulf of Oman "were attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran on commercial shipping, on freedom of navigation, with the clear intent to deny transit through the strait... we have high confidence with respect to who conducted these attacks as well as half a dozen other attacks throughout the world over the past 40 days". "President Trump has done everything he can to avoid war", Pompeo added. "We don't want war. We've done what we can to deter this. The Iranians should understand very clearly that we will continue to take actions that deter Iran from engaging in this kind of behaviour". He also indicated that "Iran will not get a nuclear weapon. That's the goal. That's the objective of our entire campaign with respect to Iran, and to create stability throughout the Middle East as part of that effort". In a separate interview, Pompeo, asked if there was "legal authorisation for a strike on Iran", replied: "We always have the authorisation to defend American interests. Remember, they now have attacked U.S. aircraft". He also contended that "if we relieve sanctions, their nuclear program presents an even greater risk to the U.S." 

In a statement, U.S. Central Command announced that "a U.S. MQ-9 was shot down over Yemen by what we asses[s]  to be a Huthi SA-6 surface-to-air missile on June 6, 2019. The altitude of the engagement indicated an improvement over previous Huthi capability, which we asses[s] was enabled by Iranian assistance". On the 13th, CENTCOM went on to indicate, "a modified Iranian SA-7 surface-to-air missile attempted to shoot down a U.S. MQ-9 over the Gulf of Oman to disrupt surveillance of the IRGC attack on the M/T Kokuka Courageous... the SA-7 was ineffective". 

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman declared that Saudi Arabia "does not want a war in the region, but we will not hesitate in dealing with any threat against our people, sovereignty and vital interests". He went on to state that "Iran's recklessness has reached unprecedented levels", adding that "Iran must choose between becoming a normal country that plays a constructive role in the international community or remain a rogue state and assume the international consequences of its choice". Bin Salman also stressed that "the Huthi militias prioritise Iran's agenda over the interests of Yemen and its people", arguing that attacks against the Kingdom "reflect the priorities of Tehran, not Sanaa". 

Saudi Arabia downed a Huthi drone bound for Abha. 

Saudi Arabia announced that its military had "successfully intercepted and destroyed five unmanned drone aircraft launched by Huthi militia towards Abha International Airport and Khamis Mushait". 

The Saudi-led coalition announced that "a hostile projectile fired by the Huthi militia hit the arrivals hall at Abha International Airport", injuring 26. 

Saudi Arabia shot down a pair of Huthi drones reportedly bound for Khamis Mushait. 

Following a request by Iran, the Saudi-led coalition evacuated a stricken sailor from an Iranian vessel off the Yemeni coast. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif contended that "Western publics and legislatures demand an end to the humanitarian disaster that is the Saudi-Emirati war on Yemen. But their governments provide ever more weapons used to perpetuate war crimes". "Time and again", Zarif added, "our offers of a political way out have been rebuffed. This evil cycle must stop". 

As Saudi Arabia hosted summits of the OIC, GCC and the Arab League, Iran’s diplomatic spokesperson contended that “we deem the Saudi efforts to mobilise the views of neighbouring and Arab countries a continuation of the indecisive process that the U.S. and the Zionist regime [i.e. Israel] are pursuing against the Islamic Republic of Iran”. He further stressed that “Saudi Arabia took political and instrumental advantage of the auspicious month of Ramadan and the holy city of Mecca to make accusations against the Islamic Iran from the mouth of some participants in the conference”.

The Arab League held an extraordinary summit in Mecca convened by King Salman “to discuss the serious repercussions” of the 12 May tanker incident off the UAE coast and 14 May drone attack against a Saudi pipeline. A final communique suggested that Iranian actions “directly and dangerously threaten the security and stability in the region”, and urged “the international community to take a firm stand against Iran and its destabilizing activities in the region”.

The GCC Supreme Council issued a communique highlighting “the need that Iran spares the region the dangers of war by abiding by the international laws and conventions, stop interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region, and stop supporting terrorist groups and militias and threatening the security of maritime navigation”. The statement went on to applaud “the actions taken by the U.S. to confront Iran”.

In remarks to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf stated that “Tehran’s support for Huthi militias in Yemen is proof of Iranian interference in other nations’ affairs and this is something that Islamic countries should reject”. Describing the Fujairah incident and Saudi pipeline attacks earlier in the month as “terrorist attacks”, al-Assad urged that they “must be countered with determination”.

The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesperson indicated that “we have documented information on the supply of missiles by the Revolutionary Guard to the Huthi militia in Yemen”. He added that “over 35 Huthi terrorist acts in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea have been foiled”, and stated that “we are planning to speed up the military pace to neutralise Huthi threats”.

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone allegedly attempting to target King Abdullah Airport in Jizan.

Saudi Arabia's UN envoy urged the Security Council "to shoulder its responsibilities by taking a firm stand against the Iran-backed terrorist Huthi militias after targeting vital populated areas in the Kingdom with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles".

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Huthi drone purportedly attempting to target Najran Regional Airport.

The Saudi-led coalition asserted that "Huthi militants had tried to hit a civilian facility in Saudi Arabia's southern border province of Najran with a drone carrying explosives". 

Saudi Arabia reportedly shot down a pair of Huthi missiles; media reports posited they were intended for Mecca and Jeddah but intercepted en route at Taif. Huthi leadership subsequently responded by saying that "what the Saudi regime claims about targeting Mecca is a big lie and a despicable claim... it is well-known that the criminal Saudi regime first raises false claims and then confesses to facts that it had previously concealed".

An unidentified Huthi source was cited as indicating that the 14 May drone attack against Saudi oil facilities constituted "the beginning of military operations against 300 vital military targets", which, according to the source, "included military vital headquarters and facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia as well as their bases in Yemen". 

The Huthis' leader, Abdul-Malik al-Huthi, declared that "the enemy's persistent crimes will never weaken the will of the Yemeni nation; they are in fact steadfast in the resistance against the enemy's aggression". Al-Huthi added that "the transgressing coalition - with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates at its forefront, along with all its backers - hosts the worst genocide record in the world".

A senior Huthi official, speaking one day after drone attacks against a Saudi pipeline, reportedly "denied they were acting on Iran's behalf, but were instead defending themselves against the Saudi-led" coalition.  

The Saudi government reported that "two pump stations on the East-West pipeline were attacked by armed drones which caused a fire and minor damage to Pump Station No. 8"; a senior official stressed that "these attacks prove again that it is important for us to face terrorist entities, including the Huthi militias in Yemen that are backed by Iran". A Huthi spokesperson subsequently took responsibility for the action, stating that "this is a message to Saudi Arabia, stop your aggression. Our goal is to respond to the crimes they are committing every day against the Yemeni people".  In June, media reports citing U.S. officials suggested that the drone had been launched from Iraq.

President Trump extended the U.S national emergency regarding Yemen by one year. 

Amidst Huthi redeployments from Hodeidah and two other ports, the Iranian government suggested that the move showed the Huthis' "determination and commitment to dialogue and honouring its commitments on the one hand, and reveals the Saudi coalition's obstructionism and lack of commitment to the [Stockholm] deal on the other hand". 

Representatives of Harajat al-Nujaba, an Iraqi militia sanctioned by the U.S., met with Huthi officials 

In an advisory, the U.S Maritime Administration assessed that "since early May, there is an increased possibility that Iran and/or its regional proxies could take action against U.S. and partners interests, including oil production infrastructure, after recently threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran or its proxies could respond by targeting commercial vessels, including oil tankers, or U.S. military vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait or the Persian Gulf". 

CENTCOM's commander asserted that "as we witness the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, it's important to remember that Iran is behind the irresponsible behaviour that actually led to the overthrow of the government in Yemen and created the crisis we now have in Yemen. The humanitarian tragedy that we confront in Yemen is the child of Iranian ambition and their support for the Huthis in trying to create a Hizbollah-like state in Yemen". He also indicated that "the Iranian regime has smuggled ballistic missiles into Yemen and assisted with their construction and deployment. And they're employed by the Huthis against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as against the United Arab Emirates, threatening our partners as well as Americans who live and work there. They've also irresponsibly fired missiles into the Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea, where vital commerce and oil transport occurs". 

Secretary Pompeo explained that "were this a simple civil war in Yemen, it would be difficult to justify America having any involvement, but sadly, that's not the case. This is the terrain in which al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula exists... we have an obligation to protect America, to take down that al-Qaeda terrorist threat that is on the inside of Yemen". "Moreover", Pompeo continued, "we have the Iranians using Yemen as a platform, a platform to hold ships transiting through the strait and around and through the waters that surround Yemen, both to the south of Yemen and to the west of Yemen, holding Americans ships, ships sailing through those seas, at risk. We also have Iranian platforms... unmanned, armed aerial vehicles as well as missile systems launching missiles into Riyadh and into the Emirates, where Americans travel frequently. There are real security risks". "The Saudis have an unambiguous right to defend themselves from attacks out of Yemen", he added, "and it is not the Huthis but rather the Iranians that are responsible for that". 

A 53-45 vote in the U.S. Senate was not enough to overturn President Trump's 16 April veto on continued U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. 

Iran's diplomatic spokesperson dismissed U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo's 29 April suggestion that Iran "has chosen to direct" the Huthis against efforts to end the Yemen conflict, countering that Pompeo was in fact "cover[ing] up the crimes by the Saudi-UAE coalition in Yemen and hindering the implementation of the [peace] agreements".

Discussing Yemen, Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that "with respect to the civil war, this is Iranian-led. We should just all be very clear about that. The Huthis, who continue to refuse to comply with the agreements that they signed up for in Stockholm, Sweden, they refused to move back from the port in Hodeida, they've refused to do all of the elements that the UN have laid out, because - very clearly, it's because the Islamic Republic of Iran has chosen to direct them to do that". He also referred to congressional calls against continued U.S. military involvement in the conflict, which President Trump vetoed, saying that "the people who were the happiest when that resolution passed were [Qods force commander] Qasem Soleimani and the ayatollah [Ali Khamenei]... when they see the U.S. shrink away from this challenge that puts U.S. citizens at risk, they think they have achieved a victory". 

At a conference in Russia, a senior Saudi defence official posited that "we have to choose between the chaos that Iran spreads and stability, security and development... Iran is spreading chaos in the region through destruction and bloodshed, and by supporting the militias of Hizbollah and Huthis".  

A U.S. diplomat urged "Iran, and all countries, to respect the free flow of energy and commerce, and freedom of navigation". 

Huthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned that "our missiles are capable of reaching Riyadh and beyond Riyadh, to Dubai and Abu Dhabi... it is possible to target strategic, vital, sensitive and influential targets in the event of any escalation in Hodeida". 

Following President Trump's veto on ending U.S. military involvement in the Yemen conflict, a Huthi official claimed the move was proof "that the U.S. is not only involved in the war on Yemen but also was behind the decision to go to war... others followed that decision and execute the wishes and ambitions of the U.S.". 

President Trump vetoed S.J.Res 7, directing him "to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting Yemen". In a message to the Senate, Trump noted that "Huthis, supported by Iran, have used missiles, armed drones and explosive boats to attack civilian and military targets in... coalition countries, including areas frequented by American citizens, such as the airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In addition, the conflict in Yemen represents a 'cheap' and inexpensive way for Iran to cause trouble for the U.S. and for our ally, Saudi Arabia". He further indicated "the joint resolution would also harm the foreign policy of the U.S.", including by "embolden[ing] Iran's malign activities in Yemen". "Even the U.S. Congress wants to put an end to CENTCOM's destabilising activities in Yemen", suggested Foreign Minister Javad Zarif shortly thereafter. "But petrofinanced Netanyahu-firsters and their enabler in the White House will continue... to push for forever wars". 

The Huthis unveiled a "new locally-made ballistic missile", dubbed the Badr-F, which a spokesperson claimed "had entered in unannounced operations and hit its objectives successfully". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi drone bound for Asir. 

Responding to an interviewer's comment that "you might not like Saudi Arabia, but do you want to give Yemen to Iran?", Secretary Pompeo argued that "this has been the administration's point all along. The true threat there in the region is the Islamic Republic of Iran. We don't want to do things that benefit them". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted two Huthi drones bound for Khamis Mushait; the resultant debris reportedly wounded five civilians. 

King Salman affirmed Saudi Arabia's "total rejection of any measures that would infringe on Syrian sovereignty over the Golan". He also urged "the international community to compel Iran-backed Huthi militias to stop their aggressive practices that have caused the sufferings of the Yemeni people and threatened the security and stability of the region".  

Saudi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf asserted that "we reject President Trump's declaration on the occupied Golan, which is a Syrian Arab land". Al-Assaf also opined that "Iran's ballistic missiles pose a threat to regional and international security", adding that the Kingdom considered "Iran fully responsible for what is happening in Yemen". 

On Yemen, Secretary of State Pompeo argued that "since America's begin to assist the Saudis in their campaign, the ratio of civilian casualties to effectiveness has decreased dramatically", also noting that "the Iranians have contributed zero dollars to humanitarian assistance". "I'm hopeful", Pompeo added, "that the Iranians will lose heart and that the Huthis will see that they can have a political role there". 

A senior Huthi official noted that "we are talking with the Saudis and the UAE. The talks will either lead to peace or we will respond to them by missiles, UAVs and our popular committees".

Foreign Minister Zarif posited that "Saudi Arabia and its allies rejected Iran's peace plan for Yemen in April 2015 - claiming that victory was at hand within three weeks. On the eve of the war's shameful fifth year, a reminder that it's not too late to stop the nightmare that this war has become". 

U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo posited that the Iranian are "using the Huthis as a proxy force, but Iran is firing missiles into Saudi Arabia, endangering not only the lives of the Saudi people but all those who transit [through Saudi Arabia]". 

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, noted that "we know historically that Iran has given Hizbollah an average of $700 million a year... we have seen evidence of the impact [of U.S. sanctions] when the leader of Hizbollah makes a public appeal for charity. It speaks for itself. This is the kind of impact that we want". He added that "we know that we have denied the [Iranian] regime even in the short amount of time [since sanctions came into effect] many billions of dollars in revenue", and underscored that the U.S. held "talks with any government where we see sanctions violations or even potential sanctions violations". Hook went on to underscore that "we are... committed to ensuring that troops under Iranian command are out of Syria", and suggested Iran had a "vastly-under reported role in Yemen" despite having "no legitimate interest" in the country. "Giving [Iran] a foothold in Yemen", Hook argued, "allows them to threaten two straits of international commerce". 

Secretary Pompeo posited that "we're very hopeful that this pressure [against Iran] will convince the Huthis that they need to return to the political table, they need to have a discussion, they cannot win this militarily, and that we're determined to ensure that order is restored in Yemen". "I imagine that there's very little that the Huthis do that isn't at the direction of the ayatollah [Khamenei] or [Qods force commander] Qasem Soleimani", he added. 

A senior U.S. diplomat asserted that "Iran has provided ballistic missile to the Huthis that have been fired into Saudi Arabia, and unmanned aerial systems to Huthi groups that enable long-range, indiscriminate strikes against land-based targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates". 

A senior Iranian defence official revealed that a naval group had been deployed "in order to ensure the security of the Islamic Republic of Iran's shipping lines in the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Bab al-Mandab". 

A Huthi military spokesperson warned that "we have aerial photographs and coordinates of dozens of headquarters, facilities and military bases of the enemy... the legitimate targets of our forces extend to the capital of Saudi Arabia and to the emirate of Abu Dhabi".

Discussing a 13 March Senate vote against continued U.S. assistance to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, Secretary Pompeo remarked that "we all want this conflict to end... but the Trump administration fundamentally disagrees that curbing our assistance to the Saudi-led coalition is the right way to achieve those goals". "If you truly care about Yemeni lives", Pompeo suggested, "you'd support the Saudi-led effort to prevent Yemen from turning into a puppet state of the corrupt, brutish Islamic Republic of Iran. If we truly care about Saudi lives, you'd want to stop Iran-backed Huthis from launching missiles into Riyadh. If you truly care about Arab lives in the region, you'd support allied efforts to prevent Iran from extending its authoritarian rule from Tehran to the Mediterranean Sea and on down to Yemen. And if we truly care about American lives and livelihoods, and the lives and livelihoods of people all around the world, you'd understand that Iran and its proxies cannot be allowed to control the shipping lanes that abut Yemen". "The way to alleviate the Yemeni people's suffering", he went on to argue, "isn't to prolong the conflict by handicapping our partners in the fight, but by giving the Saudi-led coalition the support needed to defeat Iranian-backed rebels and ensure a just peace". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi drone en route to Abha; five civilians were injured by debris.

An Iranian oil tanker reportedly came under attack by pirates in speedboats; commandos from an Iranian naval patrol intervened to repulse the raid.  

CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel remarked that "the conflict in Yemen opened opportunities for Iran, which continues to provide support to the Huthis aimed at building a proxy force designed to pressure the Saudi-led coalition and expand Iranian regional influence. This support enables Huthis to launch missiles at its neighbours and target ships in the Bab al-Mandab and Red Sea; threatening Americans and our partners and raising the risk of broader regional conflict". 

Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that "the reason we sell weapons to Saudi Arabia is very straightforward: they're an important strategic partner of the U.S... that strategic relationship is absolutely vital to the U.S." He added that "as for Yemen, it's a complicated place. The Iranians have provided weapons systems to the Huthis there, where they have now built missiles that are landing in Saudi Arabia. No, no, no, America wouldn't tolerate this for a second. If the Iranians had provided missiles to a group that was launching weapons systems into Des Moines, I am confident you would demand that your government stand up and push back against that, in the same way the Saudi government is pushing back against that".

In remarks at an Arab League-EU summit in Egypt, King Salman "called for denouncing the launch of more than 200 Iranian-manufactured ballistic missiles towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressing that the Iranian activities to destablise security and stability of the maritime navigation in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea represent a direct and dangerous security of all". He also indicated that "the Iranian regime's support for [Huthi] militias and others in the region and its aggressive practices and blatant interference in the affairs of the states requires a unified international position to coerce Iran [into] respecting the rules of good neighbourliness and international law and put an end to its nuclear and ballistic program". 

A senior diplomat in the Hadi government argued in an opinion piece that "Yemenis want no part of Iran's revolution. They want a government that answers to them, not to Iran's Revolutionary Guard". "Tehran", he continued, "never consulted us when choosing Yemen as the next theatre for its revolutionary campaign... what has Iran's power play in Yemen meant for us? Iranian guns turned on Yemeni citizens. Iranian land mines on our farms. Iranian trainers teaching extremists to use Yemenis as human shields. Iranian drones firing at peaceful parades. Iranian missiles launched from our soil at neighbouring countries". "The world", he concluded, "must apply pressure on the Huthis and their Iranian enablers". 

The U.S., UK, Saudi Arabia and the UAE met for consultations regarding Yemen. A joint declaration noted that their representatives "discussed Iran's destabilising effect in Yemen, through the illicit provision of finance, ballistic missiles and advanced weaponry to the Huthis, and in the wider region". It further indicated that "the efforts to reduce illicit fuel imports by the Huthis, the ministers discussed steps to curb activity facilitating Iranian oil flows whilst at the same time, ensuring fuel flows through Red Sea ports". 

A senior U.S. defence official assessed that the Iranians "have a growing capability in cruise missiles, they have a growing capability in ballistic missiles, they have a growing capability in unmanned surfaced systems, all these things that we watch that are offensive, and destabilising in nature". He also indicated Iranian transfers by sea of "materials, weapons, arms, missiles to surrogates around the region to be able to promulgate their vision of this region with them as the predominant force... we have seen their hand in the Red Sea with unmanned systems - air systems and surface systems - so we've seen them utilise the maritime as a transport for them exporting their version of the region with them in charge". 

Secretary Pompeo, in Warsaw for the Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, described the proceedings as "absolutely historic... the first time in a quarter of a century that you had the prime minister of Israel in the same room talking about threats in the Middle East with senior Arab leaders from all across the Middle East". "This gathering is certainly about Middle East peace and stability," he explained. "You can't talk about that without talking about the threat from the Islamic Republic of Iran, whether it's Hizbollah, Hamas, the Houthis - I call them the three H's - whether it's their work against the Iraqi government... whether it's what they're doing in Syria today". Pompeo also remarked that "we don't expect the Iranian people to support the U.S. We expect them to take care of their own country... we want the Iranian people to have the opportunity to live in a prosperous, peaceful society and one that is controlled by their desires, their wishes. And if we can get that, I am very confident that these behaviours that we see in Iran will change dramatically". On Yemen, Pompeo stressed that "we have two problems - three problems really. The first problem is al-Qaeda... the second problem is Iran continuing to fund the Huthis... it provides missiles to the Huthis that they launch into airports in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates". 

CENTCOM commander Joseph Votel assessed that "the conflicts in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Libya have challenged Saudi Arabia's partners in the region, beset by the malign influence driven by experienced and well-funded Iranian proxies". He further indicated "the ballistic missile threat and armed UASs emanating from Yemeni territory continue to pose a significant risk, as the Huthis consider civil infrastructure as legitimate military targets". 

The U.S. intelligence community argued that "Iran will... continu[e] to press Saudi Arabia and the UAE by supporting the Huthis in Yemen", adding that "Iran's support to the Huthis, including supplying ballistic missiles, risks escalating the conflict and poses a serious threat to U.S. partners and interests in the region". 

Secretary Pompeo posited that "in Yemen we've assisted our coalition partners as they take the lead in preventing an Iranian expansion that would be disastrous for world trade and regional security". 

The Houthis reportedly fired two missiles towards Saudi Arabia over 24 hours, including one intercepted en route to Najran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif asserted that "Iran has not provided weapons to the Huthis in Yemen, but the Huthis are using the weapons that they received from Saudi Arabia during the term of Ali Abdullah Saleh". 

The parties in the Yemen peace consultations reached an agreement for a ceasefire in Hodeidah as well as statement of understanding on Taiz. 

Secretary Pompeo asserted that "we have hard evidence that Iran is providing missiles, training and support to the Huthis, and the Iranian-Huthi missile force is fully engaged". He added that "this poses a threat to innocent civilians - including Americans - living in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai as well as people of all nationalities who travel on civilian aircraft in that region".  

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei asserted that in Yemen, "the Saudis are committing the crimes. But the U.S. is their partner in crime... they are criminals. This is the face of the U.S." He added "the crime that al-Saud is committing by usurping Yemen will turn out to be detrimental to themselves".

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif lauded progress in the UN-brokered Yemen peace consultations, adding that "it is well past time for foreign aggressors to end their airstrikes and crimes against humanity". 

A senior U.S. diplomat indicated that "looking down the road we seek a stable and unified Yemen that fosters rather than drains regional and global stability... there is no place in a future Yemen for an Iranian-backed threat to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and vital international economic quarters". He went on to note that "early recovery efforts are underway but full-scale reconstruction can only occur in a peaceful environment. For that reason we want to close the space for malign Iranian influence". 

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson issued a statement asserting that "the U.S. has caused one of the biggest human catastrophes in Yemen... through providing financial and political support and giving weapons to the aggressor forces". 

Commenting on Iran's role in Yemen diplomacy, a U.S. diplomat stated that "if Iran wants to be helpful, the first thing it needs to do is to respect all of the UN arms embargoes and stop providing arms and related materiel and technical assistance, training, financial or other assistance related to military activities to, or for the benefit of, the Huthis". 

Peace consultations on Yemen, convened by the UN, began in Sweden. 

Ahead of UN-brokered negotiations on Yemen, Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that it "welcomes the initiative, offers its support for the dialogue, and calls on all Yemeni sides to participate constructively and responsibly". The statement included a call for "pressure on those parties arming the aggressors". 

A senior Iranian military remarked that the Huthis "are powerful enough and have good defence equipment that do not need other countries' help... given the blockade of Yemen and the large number of [Yemeni] missiles, how is it possible for the Islamic Republic to give missiles to the Yemeni army"? 

Iran's defence minister, Amir Hatami, maintained that Iran's assistance to the Huthis "is spiritual and advisory" in nature.

A senior Iranian naval official indicated that "53 Iranian naval squadrons comprising warships and destroyers have a constant presence in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab". 

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif asserted that "after untold human suffering and war crimes by the Saudi coalition and its U.S. accomplices, and efforts to whitewash their crimes with absurd allegations against Iran", Tehran's peace plan for Yemen, outlined in 2015, "remains the only viable option". 

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, posited that since late 2017, "Iran's support of the Huthi militants has deepened". Showcasing various Iranian weapons purportedly intended for or provided to the Huthis, he argued that "Iran has been funding, arming and training the Huthis, which has allowed them to continue to fight well beyond what would have made any sense at all". "We must be careful not to affirm Iran's role as a legitimate political actor in Yemen", Hook added. "We cannot watch a new version of Lebanese Hizbollah slowly emerge in the Arabian Peninsula... give Iran a free hand in Yemen and it can threaten to close both straits [i.e. Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab] and commit acts of maritime aggression with impunity". 

Following Huthis claims of a missile strike against the Saudi military in Najran, Saudi Arabia countered that it had, in fact, located and destroyed a Huthi launch site after "the Huthi militia attempted to fire a ballistic missile towards the kingdom". 

In remarks to congress, Secretary Pompeo described "three vital missions" for the U.S. in Yemen, the first of which "is to assist the Saudis and the Emiratis in their fight against Iranian-backed Huthi fighters". "Iran", suggested Pompeo, "wants to establish a version of Lebanese Hizbollah on the Arabian Peninsula so the mullahs in Tehran can control seaborne trade through strategic waterways like the Bab al-Mandab Strait... the U.S. interest in this first mission is to counter Iran's regional ambitions and to help our allies and partners protect themselves". Citing the defeat of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula as a second goal, Pompeo then described the third objective as "protect[ing] Americans working in Saudi Arabia or transiting the strategic waterways around Yemen". "All we would achieve from an American drawdown", argued Pompeo, "is a stronger Iran and a reinvigorated ISIS and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula". 

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif recalled Saudi financial support for Iraq against Iran during the Iran-Iraq war, indicating that assistance which purportedly facilitated Iraqi airstrikes was "one reason we feel for Yemeni civilians targeted by the latest Saudi coalition". 

A senior IRGC official opined that "Yemen will be a quagmire for the Al-Saud regime and U.S. policies... the Yemeni nation is awake and we support them". 

The Huthis declared "our initiative... to half missile and drone strikes on the countries of aggression". 

Foreign Minister Zarif opined "from the first day we have shown our willingness to resolved the crisis in Yemen... there should be a wide ceasefire on the ground and, ultimately, all sides will understand the need for an end to military operations, to deliver aid to civilians and support the formation of an inclusive Yemeni government and an inter-Yemeni dialogue". 

Citing improvements in "its capability to independently conduct in-flight refueling in Yemen", the Saudi-led coalition announced that it had, "in consultation with the U.S.... requested cessation of in-flight refueling support for its operations in Yemen". In a statement, Secretary of Defence James Mattis indicated that "we support the decision... to use the Coalition's own military capabilities to conduct in-flight refueling in support of operations in Yemen", adding that "the U.S. will also continue working with the Coalition and Yemen to minimise civilian casualties and expand urgent humanitarian efforts throughout the country". 

In an op-ed, a senior Huthi official maintained that "Saudi leaders are reckless and have no interest in diplomacy. The U.S. has the clout to bring an end to the conflict - but it has decided to protect a corrupt ally". The Hadi government's foreign minister blasted the publication of the article by the Washington Post, asserting that "Iran's proxy terrorist[s] are now finding ways into the American press". 

Addressing Secretary Pompeo, who in a 7 November interview laid much of the blame for the situation in Yemen on Iran, Foreign Minister Zarif riposted that "it's the Yemenis themselves who're responsible for [the] famine they're facing. They should've simply allowed your butcher clients... to annihilate them [without] resisting". 

A spokesperson for the Hadi government claimed that the Huthis have "terrorist intentions to target international navigation paths and global trade in Bab al-Mandab and south of the Red Sea, and to blow up the Safer oil tank at Ras Isa". 

Secretary Pompeo argued that "the challenge in Yemen is in large part the responsibility of the Iranian leadership". He went on to suggest "a fundamental difference in the humanitarian nature" of Iran and Saudi Arabia, positing that "Iran causes death and destruction inside of Yemen and does nothing to prevent the starvation, and the Saudis provide... missions of dollars - as do the Emiratis - to mitigate this risk and this harm". A political solution, Pompeo added, "can't happen unless the Iranian decide that the Huthis will no longer engage in violence there". 

The Huthi leader, Abd-al-Malik al-Huthi, asserted that "the U.S. role in the military operations against our nation is pivotal. All fiendish plots against Yemen are hatched by the U.S., Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates... Washington is speaking of peace at the same time that it is directing the Yemen war". 

The Hadi government announced itself "ready to immediately launch talks on the process of confidence-building". 

Secretary Pompeo asserted that "the time is now for the cessation of hostilities" in Yemen, "including missile and UAV strikes from Huthi-controlled areas into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Subsequently, Coalition air strikes must cease in all populated areas in Yemen". 

Huthi forces unveiled an upgraded version of the Badr-1 ballistic missile, dubbed the Badr-1P.

U.S. Secretary of Defence James Mattis posited that "we stand against Iran's unsafe, even reckless behaviour in the maritime domain, like the July attacks on international shipping by Iranian-supplied Huthis in the Bab al-Mandab. These behaviours flout freedom of navigation and disrupt maritime security and global trade". 

Secretary Pompeo maintained that Huthi missiles fired at Saudi Arabia and the UAE "are coming from and the hardware and software that supports them are coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran... so what you have is a proxy war being engaged in by Iran against Saudi Arabia and the Emirates". Pompeo went on to assert that "our ask of Iran is just to simply become a normal country. Stop exporting terror, stop using proxy forces to create chaos around the world, and then we will welcome them back into the league of nations. And we're just - we're waiting on them to do that". 

Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi declared that "we have shouldered responsibility so as not to leave the Yemeni people to be led according to Iran's plan that wants to build the Persian empire". Hadi also indicated that "there are [people who are in custody] in Yemen from the IRGC and... Lebanese Hizbollah". 

The commander of U.S. Central Command, Joseph Votel, indicated that "Iran continues to export missiles, rockets and unmanned aerial systems to the Huthis". 

The Saudi Navy reportedly sank two "booby-trapped [Huthi] boats heading toward the port of Jizan". 

The Huthis claimed to have struck Dubai International Airport using a Samad-3 drone; the airport indicated that it was "operating as normal without any interruption".  

A minister in the Hadi government called on Lebanon "to intervene to stop the subversive and inciting activities of the Iranian Huthi militias in Lebanon under the cover of political, security and financial support from Hizbollah". 

At the UN, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, posited that "all attempts at peace that are made with [the Huthis] are doomed to fail", adding that "peace cannot be obtained by cajoling those gangsters as some member states do".

A senior U.S. diplomat characterised the establishment of Middle East Strategic Alliance as providing a "strong shield against threats in the Gulf", and described Iran as the "number one threat". He also suggested that "Iran is getting away with literally murder" in Yemen, adding that "it's incumbent on all of us to raise the cost to Iran". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan; pro-Huthi media claimed that the Badr-1 had "left huge human and material losses among the enemy's ranks". 

Saudi Arabia's U.S. ambassador asserted that "the security of Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Horn of Africa is vital for KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], the region and the world. Around fifteen per cent of the world's trade passes through this area and KSA will keep working towards safeguarding the region from instability whether it's from piracy or Iran's militias".

The U.S. special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, indicated that "there is... mounting evidence that Iran is providing ballistic missile technology to the Huthis in Yemen". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan.

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Najran. 

Iran and the EU/E4 met in Brussels for talks about Yemen, the third in a series of discussions on regional issues. 

The U.S. secretary of state "certified to Congress... that the governments of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are undertaking demonstrable actions to reduce the risk of harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure resulting from military operations of these governments" in Yemen. The decision was subsequently endorsed by the Pentagon. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Najran. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired toward Jizan. 

More than three dozen people were injured in Saudi Arabia from the debris of a Huthi missile launched at Najran. According to the Saudi-led coalition, the Huthis "have so far fired 189 ballistic missiles toward and kingdom and these have resulted in the death of a total of 112 civilians, including [Saudi] citizens and expatriates, and injury of hundreds of others". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a pair of Huthi missiles aimed at Jizan. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile aimed at Jizan. 

The Huthis claimed to have attacked a Saudi military vessel. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired toward Najran; seven people were injured by the debris. 

The USS Dunham uncovered a cache of weapons aboard an unflagged dhow in the Gulf of Aden. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired towards Najran. 

A report by UN-appointed experts on Yemen tallied nearly 17,000 civilian casualties in Yemen between March 2015 and June 2018, and found that "coalition air strikes have caused most of the documented civilian casualties". The Saudi-led coalition and their Yemeni allies denounced the report. 

The UAE rubbished claims of a Huthi drone attack against Dubai International Airport. 

The Saudi-led coalition claimed to have thwarted an attempt by the Huthis to strike a commercial ship with a bomb-laden speedboat; pro-Huthi media indicated that "a special operation" had taken place and "achieved its aims in high accuracy". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan; pro-Huthi media claimed that two Zilzal-1s had been launched. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan; pro-Huthi media claimed that the Badr-1 struck a Saudi army camp. 

The leader of Hizbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, met with senior Huthi officials in Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan.   

The Saudi-led coalition announced "that it had destroyed the SAM Type-6 air defence system of [the] Huthi militias in Sanaa", stating that "we will prevent terrorist organisations from acquiring capabilities that threaten air navigation". 

A senior Huthi official stated: "that the aggressor countries, [namely] the U.S., Saudi Arabia and the UAE and their allies, did not accept the [unilateral Huthi] ceasefire confirms that they are terrorist breeders and war merchants who have ruined Yemen and committed war crimes against this nation on a daily basis". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Najran. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted two Huthi missiles fired at Jizan. 

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., Khalid bin Salman, seized on comments by an IRGC official to argue that "there should be no more doubt about the Iranian regime's menacing role in Yemen... its belligerent use of proxy warfare threatens global trade and is a continuation of their outlawed and globally condemned behaviour since 1979". The comments, which suggested that Iran had instructed the Huthis to carry out attacks against Saudi vessels, had been clarified by Iranian media as a misquote. 

Iran blasted an 8 August communique issued by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation which, inter alia, urged the UN Security Council "to hold the Huthi militias and their Iranian sponsors accountable for their countless crimes against international law". The foreign ministry complained that Iranian representatives "cannot attend the meetings of the... OIC as Saudi Arabia refuses to grant visas to them, and these kinds of statements are issued under the pressure posed by Saudi Arabia in an unfair and partial manner". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi Badr-1 missile fired at Jizan; debris reportedly killed one and injured eleven. The following day, the Saudi-led coalition carried out airstrikes in Yemen "to target the militants responsible for planning and targeting civilians, which resulted in killing and injuring them, last night in Jizan". According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, these resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile targeting Najran. 

The Saudi government announced that it had "resumed oil shipments through Bab al-Mandab", which were suspended on 25 July following Huthi attacks against two Saudi tankers. 

Iran's foreign ministry asserted that "blasting, killing and taking revenge from the innocent people and attacking civilian targets.... to compensate for Saudi Arabia and its allies' prolonged failures in Yemen is nothing but a war crime, and the silence of the international community has worsened the situation of civilians in war-torn Yemen". 

Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked that "at the start of the week we witnessed a sharp clash with Iranian proxies who tried to obstruct international navigation in the straits at the entrance to the Red Sea. If Iran tries to block the Bab al-Mandab, I am convinced that it will find itself facing a determined international coalition to prevent this. This coalition would also include the State of Israel and all its arms".  

The Huthis announced a "unilateral halt in naval military operations" for two weeks beginning on 1 August, adding that it "could be extended and include all fronts if this move is reciprocated by the leadership of the coalition". 

Saudi Arabia's UN envoy noted in letters to the Secretary-General and Security Council president that "the Security Council's inaction... has allowed Iran to arm the terrorist Huthi militias with several ballistic missiles, drones and sea mines". 

A senior Huthi official remarked that their forces are "not after bombarding [other countries], but cannot also sit back. From now on, the capitals of the Arab coalition members will no longer be safe". 

Pro-Huthi media reported that the Huthis conducted "three raids on Abu Dhabi International Airport" using a Sammad-3 drone, in an operation that a Huthi spokesman asserted "shows our forces are no paper tiger like our enemies claim". The UAE dismissed the claims. 

A senior Huthi official asserted that "our missiles are capable of targeting ports in other members countries of the aggressive Saudi-led coalition [than Saudi Arabia]. 

Saudi Aramco announced that it had "temporarily halted all oil shipments through Bab al-Mandeb with immediate effect" after the Huthis attacked two tankers, causing "minimal damage" to one of the vessels. In a statement, the UAE asserted that "this cowardly attack mirrors the negative and dangerous role played by Iran in support of these coup militias and insisting on its hostile practices through providing the Huthi terrorists with weapons, equipment and ballistic missiles that threaten peace and security in the region". 

A Huthi attack against a Saudi oil tanker caused "slight damage" to the ship; pro-Huthi media claimed to have targeted a Saudi military vessel and a senior Huthi official referred to the operation as "a turning point in the confrontation line with the aggression". 

A senior Saudi diplomat maintainted that "today, Saudis live within minutes of new Iranian missiles pointed at them by the Huthis in Yemen. More than 160 Iranian missiles have been fired into Saudi Arabia".

A Huthi military official declared that "our drones' flights deep into Saudi Arabia and the attacks on the economic companies of this regime were our response to the massive heliborne operation [carried out by Saudi-led forces] on the west coast region to take control of Hodeida". He added that "all military, economic and political sites of Saudi Arabia and the UAE are within the range of our weapons".

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan; pro-Huthi media reported that the Badr-1 was aimed at Jizan airport. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Najran. 

The Huthi leader, Abd-al-Malik al-Huthi, rejected claims that the Huthis receive weapons and equipment from Iran through Hodeida. He also declared that "we are ready to stop rocket attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE if they stopped the bombing on our country".

The Huthis claimed to have attacked an Aramco facility in Riyadh using a newly-developed droned dubbed Sammad-2; a Huthi official called the operation "a successful and special experience". Aramco reported "a minor fire" at its refinery in the Saudi capital, which it said was "due to an operational incident". 

Saudi Arabia's envoy to the U.S. posited that "the advancement of the Yemeni forces on multiple fronts... is a testament that the people of Yemen are more than ever united on the goal of restoring peace to their country and expelling all Iranian influence". He added that Saudi Arabia "will continue to lead the Coalition's efforts towards achieving a political solution... until then we will continue to stand with brethren in Yemen against Iran's expansionist agenda". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile aimed at Najran; pro-Huthi media indicated that the target was a Saudi military facility.

The Huthi leader, Abd-al-Malik al-Huthi, asserted that "enemies are targeting all aspects of our lives. We must firmly resist their all-out aggression. They want us to recognise a despotic regime installed by the U.S. and Israel. The primary goal of the Saudi-led war on Yemen is to control us. Our only choice is to fight off aggressors". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile aimed at Jizan; pro-Huthi media reported that the Badr-1 was intended for Jizan Economic City. 

The secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, remarked that "I do hope that there is ultimately a political resolution [in Yemen]... but at the end of the day it is going to require a global effort to convince the Iranians that this kind of meddling, this kind of interference, this kind of promotion of violence directed at Arab countries doesn't make sense for them". 

The Saudi-led coalition claimed to have "evidence suggesting Hizbollah had been training elements of the Huthi militia". 

In a letter to his Lebanese counterpart, Yemen's foreign minister condemned remarks from Hizbollah's leadership supporting the Huthis. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired toward Jizan. 

A Huthi military official warned that "if [the Saudi-led coalition] intensify their attacks and aggression against innocent civilians in the residential areas of Yemen, we will also increase our military operations... and will target all important Saudi and Emirate political, economic and military positions with ballistic missiles". 

The Huthis announced that they had produced "underground ballistic missile launchers that cannot be targeted by the Saudi-led coalition's warplanes".

A Huthi missile strike reportedly injured a child in Jizan. 

The IRGC's commander, Mohammad Ali Jafari, argued that "the ignorant Arab coalition is bogged down in Yemen's quagmire and is facing defeat and scandal [in Hodeida]".  

The Huthis rejected the UAE foreign minister's 1 July announcement that the coalition has "paused our campaign" in Hodeida, arguing that it "comes within the misleading practiced by the coalition countries to trick international public opinion and to cover up their failure in the western coast battle". 

The UAE foreign minister, Anwar Garagh, asserted that "the Coalition has paused the advance on the city and post [of Hodeida] on June 23 for a week to allow the UN envoy to secure an unconditional [Huthi] withdrawal from Hodeida". 

The Huthis "announced a successful test of a short-range ballistic missile", adding that "the new ballistic missile carries specifications [that] will be revealed in the coming days". 

The Saudi-led coalition claimed to have killed 8 Hizbollah fighters in clashes against Huthi forces in Saada.

Yemeni forces claimed to have apprehended seven Hizbollah members in Yemen's northern governorate of Saada. 

The Huthi spokesman, Mohammad Abdulsalam, threatened that "our rockets will reach places that the enemy will not expect... the longer the aggression and war continue, the greater our ballistic missile capabilities". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted two Huthi missiles aimed at Riyadh; pro-Huthi media claimed that multiple Burkan missiles "hit an information centre of [the] Saudi defence ministry and other vital royal targets accurately".  

A senior Iranian official suggested that "the Emiratis and Saudis should know that if they continue this unequal war [in Yemen], they will suffer more than today".

The UAE exhibited captured weaponry that it claimed constitutes "physical evidence of Iranian support for the Huthi militias fighting in Yemen". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile aimed at Khamis Mushait; pro-Huthi media claimed that a Badr-1 had been fired at a Saudi Aramco facility in Abha. 

The Huthis claimed to have seized a vessel "with French military personnel aboard". 

A Huthi official asserted that "there is not even a single Iranian individual fighting in Yemen". 

A Huthi missile fired toward Jizan caused one civilian injury.

The Huthi leader, Abd-al-Malik al-Huthi, pledged that "the west coast [of Yemen] will turn into a great swamp that overwhelms the invaders and the oppressors". 

Following the launch of the Saudi-led coalition's offensive against Hodeida, Iran declared that "the crisis in Yemen has no military solution and resorting to force would lead nowhere". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile aimed at Khamis Mushait. 

Huthi forces claimed to have struck a UAE military vessel "carrying troops prepared for landing on Hodeida coast". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile aimed at Jizan; pro-Huthi media claimed the Badr-1 successfully hit King Faisal Military City. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at Jizan. 

Three Saudi civilians were killed in Jizan by what authorities described as a "projectile launched by the Huthi militia". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi ballistic missile aimed at Yanbu.

A Huthi military official threatened that "from now on Abu Dhabi is no longer safe, it will be within our ballistic missiles' range". 

Discussing the situation in Yemen, the U.S. defence secretary, Jim Mattis, argued that "the threat to the Red Sea shipping was pretty obvious when you saw the tanker get hit by an Iranian-supplied missile to the Huthis [in early April]".

Yemen's pro-Hadi military tallied the total number of naval mines cleared since January 2016 at 160.

A Huthi military official warned that "the coming days could witness major confrontations" with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia shot down a Huthi drone bound for Abha International Airport. Pro-Huthi media subsequently claimed that "the Yemeni army has recently developed dozens of combat drones".

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile aimed at Najran; pro-Huthi media claimed the Badr-1 struck a "military camp".  

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile bound for Jizan; pro-Huthi media claimed to have struck the port with a Badr-1. 

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions designations against five Iranians "who have provided ballistic missile-related technical expertise to Yemen's Huthis, and who have transferred weapons not seen in Yemen prior to the current conflict". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired toward Jizan; pro-Huthi media claimed to have hit the airport with a Badr-1 and caused "considerable material losses". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired toward Khamis Mushait; a second missile landed without causing damage or casualties.  

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile launched at Jizan.

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan. 

Saudi Arabia reported the interception of Huthi missiles fired towards Jizan, Najran, and Riyadh. 

A Huthi military official threatened that "If Saudi Arabia continues to kill the people of Yemen... Saudi vessels and sites at the Bab el-Mandeb strait will become military targets".  

Saudi Arabia intercepted two Huthi missiles fired towards Najran. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted four Huthi ballistic missiles directed at Jizan; pro-Huthi media claimed to have launched eight Badr-1s.  

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Najran. 

Huthi sources announced the death on 19 April of the head of the supreme political council, Saleh Somad, in an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition.  

Saudi Arabia shot down two ballistic missiles that, according to pro-Huthi media, were targeting an Aramco facility in Jizan. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Najran. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile intended for Jizan; pro-Huthi media indicated the Badr-1 was targeting Jizan airport. 

The Saudi-led coalition put the tally of Huthi missiles fired towards Saudi Arabia at 119, and warned that "if the Huthis continue targeting industrial or residential facilities, the response will be hard and painful". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile intended for Najran. Pro-Huthi media reported that the missile, a Badr-1, had been aimed at a power plant.

At an Arab League summit in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia's King Salman reiterated "our strong condemnation of Iran's terrorist acts in the Arab region". He also indicated that the number of Huthi missiles fired at Saudi Arabia since 2015 was 116. Iran's foreign ministry censured his comments the following day. 

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi ballistic missile fired from Saada towards Jizan.

Saudi Arabia intercepted a Huthi missile intended for an Aramco facility in Jizan. 

The Abqaiq, a Saudi super tanker, reportedly suffered "some minor damage" as the result of a Huthi attack in international waters. 

Debris from an intercepted Huthi missile injured one person in Najran.  

Iranian and Saudi diplomats sent dueling letters to the UN over the situation in Yemen.  

A UN security council statement condemned the 25 March Huthi missile strikes against Saudi Arabia, adding "grave concern at the reports of continuing violations of the arms embargo". 

According to a report by Conflict Armament Research, "multiple strands of information suggest that Iran orchestrated the transfer of technology and materiel to Huthi forces in Yemen to assist in the manufacture of RCIEDs [radio-controlled improvised explosive devices]". 

Saudi Arabia intercepted seven Huthi missiles reportedly fired towards Riyadh, Jizan, Najran, and Khamis Mushait. Debris killed one and injured two in Riyadh. 

The secretary of Iran's supreme national security council, Ali Shamkhani, called for "the beginning of Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue for the development of new political structures based on the vote and desires of the people of Yemen".

The U.S. strongly criticized Russia's veto of a UN Security Council resolution which "would have called out Iran for its actions" in Yemen. Iran accused the U.S. and UK of having "misuse[d] Security Council procedures to advance their political agenda". A different resolution on Yemen, submitted by Russia, passed unanimously. 

The UK circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution, backed by the U.S. and France, which would reportedly "condemn Iran for failing to stop ballistic missiles from falling into the hands of Yemen's Huthi group and commit to take action over the sanctions violations".  

Javad Zarif met with the Huthi spokesman, Mohammad Abdulsalam, in Tehran, and called "for an immediate stop to the war and bombing of [Yemen] by the Saudi-led coalition". 

 A Huthi missile fired at Khamis Mushait was reportedly intercepted by Saudi Arabia. 

As the UN security council viewed what Washington suggests is "first-hand evidence... of Iran's illegal weapons program", various Iranian officials continued to deny providing missiles to the Huthis. 

Saudi Arabia claimed to have intercepted a Huthi missile fired at Jizan.

A UN panel found Iran in violation of the 2015 weapons embargo. Their report noted that "Iran is in non-compliance with [the embargo] in that it failed to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to the Huthi-Saleh alliance". 

Huthi forces claimed to have fired a Qaher 2-M missile at Najran. The missile was reportedly intercepted. 

Head of Huthi political council, Saleh Somad, warned that they will block Red Sea shipping lanes if the Saudi-led coalition continues their push towards Hoedida port.  

Another Huthi missile launch towards Najran was intercepted, after the Saudi-led coalition put the total number of Huthi missiles fired at Saudi Arabia at 86.

The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted another ballistic missile over Riyadh. The Huthis claimed responsibility and said it was aimed at al-Yamama royal palace. The coalition spokesman argued that the launch "proves the continued involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting [the] Huthi armed group with qualitative capabilities in a clear and blatant defiance of... UN resolution[s]". In a televised address from Sanaa, the leader of the Huthis, Abd-al-Malik al-Huthi, threatened: "as long as you [ie, the Saudi-led coalition] continue to target Sanaa, we will strike Riyadh and Abu Dhabi".

Iran's foreign minister, Javad Zarif, disseminated a seven-page report arguing that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have “instigated a humanitarian catastrophe” in Yemen, to which the U.S. is “directly complicit”. The report also dismisses charges of Iranian missile transfers to the Huthis as “alternative facts”. 

The UN Secretary-General released the fourth biannual report regarding Security Council Resolution 2231's implementation. The report notes Saudi Arabia's assessment regarding the Iranian origin of missiles fired from Yemen at Saudi Arabia in July and November 2017, but adds that "the Secretariat is still analysing the information collected"

The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Ali Jafari, argued that Saleh’s killing pre-empted a Saudi coup plot against the Huthis.

Huthi fighters killed Saleh.

The Huthis claimed to have struck a UAE nuclear power plant with a missile; the UAE denied this had happened.

General Jafari, stated that “Iran only provides advisory and spiritual assistances to Yemen… and this help will continue”.

Hizbollah’s secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, denied in a televised speech that Hizbollah had provided military assistance to the Huthis. “I confirm… no ballistic missiles, no advanced weapons and no guns… we did not send weapons to Yemen”.

The Arab League met in Cairo and issued a resolution highly critical of Iran. The Saudi foreign minister, Adel Jubeir, stated during the meeting that Saudi Arabia “will not stand by and will not hesitate to defend its security”, while the Arab League’s secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, raised the prospect of a “draft Arab resolution” regarding Iran for the UN Security Council’s consideration.

Washington reportedly released $205 million in frozen Yemeni assets to the Hadi government. 

U.S. military officials asserted that the Huthi missiles fired against Riyadh had Iranian origins.

Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, called for implementation of a four-point peace plan for Yemen initially proposed by Tehran in 2015, which calls for a ceasefire, humanitarian assistance, inter-Yemeni dialogue and an inclusive government.

The White House released a statement affirming its support for Saudi Arabia. The statement notes that “Houthi missile strikes against Saudi Arabia, enabled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, threaten regional security and undermine UN efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict”.

Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, criticised the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen, asking: “How should the Yemeni nation respond to bombardment on such a scale? They are told not to use their own weapons. Well, stop the bombing and see whether or not the Yemeni nation responds positively”.

The Huthis threaten further attacks on Saudi and Emirati ports and airports.

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Muhammad bin Salman, said that the missile attack on 4 November “may be considered an act of war”.

The Saudi embassy in Washington published a factsheet entitled “Facts about Iranian Involvement in Houthi Aggression against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”.  It stated that Riyadh had “conclusively proven” that the missile used in the 4 November attack “was an Iranian made Qiam ballistic missile”. The statement goes on to make several other charges of Iranian involvement with the Huthis, such as training and providing drones.

The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards rejected charges of an Iranian role in the 4 November missile attack. General Jafari stated that “shipping missiles to Yemen is not even possible and these missiles that are being launched belong to Yemen”.

Huthi/Saleh forces in Yemen fired a Burkan 2-H long-range ballistic missile at the Saudi capital, Riyadh.