BOTH GATES ARE NOW IN THE SAME HANDS

Houthi fighters took Perim, the volcanic island that splits the Bab al-Mandab near its narrowest point, along with the coastal city of Dhubab, after government forces pulled out 2GDN Iran’s Houthi allies capture strategic island on vital oil shipping route6AAM Houthis seize strategic Perim Island in Bab el-Mandab Strait, Dhubab city. A Yemeni military source says that completes their control of the strait 6AAM Houthis seize strategic Perim Island in Bab el-Mandab Strait, Dhubab city. About 12 percent of world trade normally goes through it, and Saudi Arabia has been using that route to get its crude out since Hormuz became unusable 2GDN Iran’s Houthi allies capture strategic island on vital oil shipping route. Sanaa insists "maritime navigation is safe" 13CRD Yemeni army storms Red Sea islands, captures Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is the tell: the Houthis want the ability to close the strait acknowledged, not necessarily used.

Mohammed bin Salman called Trump twice on Thursday asking for American strikes on the Houthis and was refused both times, with the administration determined not to open a second front while it fights over Hormuz 8YNT Trump rebuffs Saudi pleas for strikes as Houthis surge, report says. What Washington will do is hand over intelligence, and CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper flew to Saudi Arabia for urgent talks 8YNT Trump rebuffs Saudi pleas for strikes as Houthis surge, report says. CNN reports more than 100 US advisers are already inside a new joint command in the kingdom, running a Maven-style real-time targeting tool for Saudi strikes 14CNN EXCLUSIVE: US expands intel, targeting support for Saudi campaign against Iranian ally. Not in the war, then, but choosing what gets hit in it.

The Israeli military used more than 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy Hezbollahs tunnel complex under the Ali al-Taher ridge, registering as a magnitude 4.1 quake on US Geological Survey instruments and felt 40km away 1CRD Israel uses 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy resistance 'nerve center' beneath Ali al-Taher ridge4BBC Israel says it has destroyed major underground Hezbollah base. Netanyahu and Israel Katz say it completes their "security zone" in southern Lebanon 1CRD Israel uses 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy resistance 'nerve center' beneath Ali al-Taher ridge. An Israeli official says about 50 Hezbollah fighters were inside and refused a chance to surrender 1CRD Israel uses 1,100 tons of explosives to destroy resistance 'nerve center' beneath Ali al-Taher ridge. Iran reportedly warned Washington last month it would respond forcefully if the ridge attacks continued, so watch that space.

"They blew the hell out of Bahrain," acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said of the Fifth Fleet's home base, which a task force is now deciding whether to repair at all 5AJE ‘Blew the hell out of it’: How Iran damaged US bases in Bahrain, Jordan. The Navy's senior officer says it will not be back in service "anytime soon," and the damage left the USS Abraham Lincoln with nowhere to dock during a nine-month deployment 5AJE ‘Blew the hell out of it’: How Iran damaged US bases in Bahrain, Jordan. Araghchis reply was a single line thanking Cao for his candour 5AJE ‘Blew the hell out of it’: How Iran damaged US bases in Bahrain, Jordan. Separately, the Wall Street Journal reports Iran has restarted underground ballistic missile production from stockpiled parts 16YNT Netanyahu: Iran is trying to rebuild its nuclear weapons capability, which is awkward for the claim that the programme was "functionally destroyed" in April.

Rates went up to 2.5 percent, the inflation forecast to 3 percent, and Christine Lagarde said inflation "will be longer lasting than we had anticipated" 17GDN ECB raises interest rates to 2.5% and warns Iran war is fuelling inflation. UK 10-year borrowing costs hit 5.36 percent, the highest since August 2007, with German and French yields at their own multi-decade peaks 17GDN ECB raises interest rates to 2.5% and warns Iran war is fuelling inflation. Dutch gas passed 80 euros a megawatt hour for the first time since January 2023 and EU storage is only 67 percent full against an 84 percent average 17GDN ECB raises interest rates to 2.5% and warns Iran war is fuelling inflation. Winter has not started yet.