IRAN WAR LIVE UPDATES: U.S. STRIKES ABATE, EVEN AS TRUMP CONSIDERS ESCALATION

U.S. forces announced that they had not carried out any new overnight strikes on southern Iran, marking the first lull in attacks in roughly two weeks, while President Trump reportedly weighed the possibility of escalating U.S. involvement in the region.

Despite the pause in U.S. military activity, tensions in the Middle East remain high. Saudi-led coalition forces have been conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets in the Red Sea, and Houthi rebels in Yemen have vowed retaliation after the coalition struck the port city of Hodeidah. The cessation of U.S. strikes comes as Houthi blockade of Saudi maritime traffic threatens to widen the conflict, according to coverage from Deutsche Welle and the South China Morning Post.

The Iranian conflict has escalated over recent months with multiple proxy confrontations between U.S. allies and Iranian-backed groups, underscoring the fragile security environment in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula.

• U.S. forces paused new overnight attacks on southern Iran for the first time in about two weeks, according to NYT > World News.
• Saudi-led coalition has struck Houthi targets over the Red Sea, prompting a vow of retaliation from Houthi rebels in Yemen.
• Houthi blockade of Saudi maritime traffic could broaden the conflict, as reported by Deutsche Welle and the South China Morning Post.

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