US pauses Iran strikes; Saudi-led coalition hits Houthis
The US paused airstrikes on Iran after 13 consecutive nights, while Houthi attacks from Yemen escalated and a Saudi-led coalition launched strikes on Houthi targets.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The United States has paused its airstrikes on Iran after 13 consecutive nights of attacks, while a Saudi-led coalition has launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to escalating missile and drone attacks from the Iran-backed group.
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting missiles fired from Yemen on the same morning that the coalition, including the Yemeni Air Force, struck what it described as Houthi military sites, including missile and drone launch positions. The strikes mark a significant widening of the conflict, which had been largely focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. Military analysts warn that the fighting could spill back into Yemen and potentially restart the civil war that ended with an uneasy ceasefire in 2022.
The Houthis, who are supported by Iran, have been opening a second front against Saudi Arabia, targeting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a narrow chokepoint between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The strait is crucial for Saudi oil exports, and analysts note that even the threat of an attack can effectively close it, as shipping companies and insurers change their risk calculations. The Houthis control the eastern side of the strait and have a long-range strike capability, reportedly coordinated by Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials.
Meanwhile, the pause in US strikes on Iran has raised speculation about a possible diplomatic off-ramp. Reports suggest that backchannel discussions involving Pakistan, China, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are underway to revive a fragile memorandum of understanding and negotiate the future operation of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the escalation in the Red Sea and Yemen may complicate those efforts.
The impact on global oil markets is already visible, with prices rising to $100 a barrel. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply, with only 12 to 14 tankers exiting on Thursday, compared to hundreds before the conflict. Hundreds of tankers are now waiting to pass through the strait, creating a bottleneck that threatens global energy supplies.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Sky News |
|---|---|
| Oil prices have risen to $100 a barrel. | |
| Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles fired from Yemen, and the Saudi-led coalition launched strikes on Houthi military targets. | |
| The Houthis are backed by Iran and have opened a second front against Saudi Arabia. | |
| The US paused airstrikes on Iran after 13 consecutive nights. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News focused on the strategic overspill of the US-Iran conflict into Yemen, using a military analyst to explain the widening front. The coverage emphasised the vulnerability of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the role of Iranian proxies, and the potential for a renewed Yemeni civil war. The tone was analytical and concerned, with a clear focus on the geopolitical and economic consequences, including oil prices at $100 a barrel.
- “the conflict between America and Iran has clearly now overspilled past the Strait of Hormuz”
- “it only takes even the threat of an attack against like an oil tank or a commercial ship for the shipping business and the insurance companies to shut down”
- “I think a lot of people were suspecting that Donald Trump has been, I mean, for the last week at least, he's been looking for, searching for some sort of diplomatic off-ramp for the Iranians”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.