West Asia war LIVE: Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi's Jizan; U.S. military 'disables' tanker trying to evade Iran port blockade

Image for representational purposes. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed a missile attack on the southern Saudi city of Jizan on Saturday (July 25, 2026) , after vowing retaliation against the kingdom for attacks this week. It came after U.S. ally Riyadh struck Houthi military targets, following the Yemeni group announcing a maritime blockade of the top oil producer and hitting its ships in the Red Sea.The flare-up marks a new front of the West Asia war that has engulfed the region following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February, and comes on top of Iran’s parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Riyadh’s only other maritime route.Escalation trap: On the U.S. and the war with IranMeanwhile, the U.S. and Iran showed no sign of backing away from their conflict after as they continue to trade strikes. With fighting flaring again and diplomacy uncertain, both sides made moves suggesting an escalation was possible. Earlier on Friday (July 24, 2026), U.S. President Donald Trump described negotiations with Iran as “by far the most serious that we’ve seen”. Trump added that he’s “not in a hurry” to end the war. U.S.U.S. House of Representatives again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in IranVowing that Iran “will not bow to U.S.” bullying, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted ongoing discussions with two global powers often at odds with Americans — China and Russia — and warned in an interview with the semiofficial news outlet Tasnim that the Islamic Republic is “neither intimidated by threats nor will we yield to pressure.” Follow LIVE updates hereKey Updates Houthis claim missile attack on southern Saudi Arabia Trump says Israeli PM Netanyahu will visit U.S. next week July 25, 2026 09:24 Houthis claim missile attack on southern Saudi ArabiaYemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed a missile attack on the southern Saudi city of Jizan on Saturday (July 25, 2026), the group’s Ansarollah media posted on Telegram.Saudi Arabia earlier issued brief warnings to residents in Jizan and Yanbu after the rebels vowed to retaliate against the kingdom for attacks this week.AFPJuly 25, 2026 09:18 Trump says Israeli PM Netanyahu will visit U.S. next weekPresident Donald Trump has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit ⁠the U.S. next week. Mr. Trump’s comments came in his speech at the White ‌House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Friday (July 24), while he was falsely ‌casting U.S. Senator Chuck ‌Schumer ⁠as Palestinian.“I am going ⁠to send him (Schumer) a beautiful Palestinian outfit tomorrow, so he can greet Bibi Netanyahu when ‌he comes to town next week,” Mr. Trump said.“He turned Palestinian,” Mr. Trump said of Mr. Schumer, who is Jewish, ‌while also joking that sharia law was Mr. Schumer’s “new founding.”ReutersJuly 25, 2026 09:16 Houthis vow retaliation for Saudi strikes as conflict deepensIran-backed Houthi rebels vowed to retaliate against Saudi Arabia on Saturday (July 25, 2026) after they accused the kingdom of targeting civilian infrastructure, as the West Asia war widens across the region.Riyadh struck Houthi military targets in Hodeida on Friday (July 24), with rebel media reporting two wounded after the Yemeni group announced a maritime blockade of the top oil producer and hit its ships.The flare-up marks a new front of the war that has engulfed the region following US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February, and comes on top of Iran’s parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Riyadh’s only other maritime route.“The Saudi enemy’s targeting of civilian facilities in Hodeida and Kamaran island constitutes a dangerous escalation,” the Houthis’ Ansarollah media posted on Telegram.“We affirm that these recent crimes will not go unanswered.”AFPJuly 25, 2026 09:15 U.S. military says fires on tanker trying to evade Iran port blockadeThe U.S. military said it had fired on and disabled a tanker ship that was attempting to evade the American blockade on Iranian ports.“We disabled the tanker after the crew attempted to run the blockade at least four times prior,” said Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command.“The crew was repeatedly warned, didn’t comply, and U.S. forces on scene disabled the ship after firing into its engine room,” he said. “The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”AFP Published - July 25, 2026 09:10 am IST