Saudi Arabia Vows Firm Response to Houthi Attacks Amid Regional Tensions

Saudi Arabia has vowed a "firm" response to Houthi attacks on its territory, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The Saudi Civil Defense issued warnings for Jeddah, Taif, and Mecca due to the threat. The Saudi-led coalition reported that Houthi drone and missile attacks on Monday injured 13 civilians in southern Saudi Arabia. Qatar warned that a Houthi closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait would be "catastrophic."

In other international developments, Iran's Foreign Minister will visit Beijing this week for talks with his Chinese counterpart. Oman is handling a fire-damaged oil tanker, with two crew members still missing. Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary rejected dialogue with the U.S. despite President Trump's openness, while the U.S. Department of Defense acknowledged ammunition shortages linked to the conflict in Iran. A ship was hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Palestinian territories, a Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, with the Israeli military claiming the man attempted to seize a soldier's weapon. The UN called for international investigators to access Gaza to gather evidence amid the recovery of hundreds of bodies from rubble. In Syria, protests erupted in Qamishli over fuel price hikes.

In the U.S., President Trump nominated Wesley Hunt as the ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Diesel prices hit a record high, and the U.S. increased tariffs on Canadian goods. A Nicaraguan journalist critical of his government was detained by U.S. immigration authorities. Lithuania reported a NATO fighter jet shot down a drone over its territory. Russia welcomed Trump's idea of a ceasefire in Ukraine, while Ukraine reported an offensive in the Donetsk region. China urged the U.S. to cease space warfare preparations and imposed travel restrictions on citizens deemed a threat to national security. Belarus was accused of using its judiciary to suppress dissent. Japan is searching for a lost Global Hawk drone. A court in Bangladesh sentenced former ruling party leaders to death. Thailand accused Cambodia of playing the victim in a maritime dispute. The Panama Canal plans to reduce ship transits due to the El Niño phenomenon.