Iran War Escalates: Houthis Strike Israel, U.S. Marines Deploy to Middle East

Tensions in the Middle East have reached a critical point as Yemen's Houthi rebels launched their first missile attacks on Israel since the conflict began, signaling a dangerous expansion of the Iran-linked war. The strikes come despite additional U.S. Marine forces arriving in the region and Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting American military operations could wrap up within weeks.

The war, which erupted after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has since spread aggressively across the region — claiming thousands of lives and triggering the largest disruption to global energy supplies in history. Brent crude oil prices have surged more than 50% since hostilities began, rattling international financial markets and raising fears of a prolonged conflict.

Israel carried out fresh strikes on Tehran, targeting government infrastructure, while also resuming its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Meanwhile, Iran intensified its own attacks across the Gulf, hitting targets in Saudi Arabia and wounding 12 U.S. military personnel in one of the most serious breaches of American air defenses recorded so far.

The Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies — remains effectively closed due to Iranian threats against tankers, sending shockwaves through global energy markets. President Trump has threatened to target Iranian power stations if the strait is not reopened, though he extended his deadline by another 10 days.

Diplomatic efforts are underway, with Pakistan hosting talks involving Turkish and Saudi officials aimed at reducing regional tensions. Iran has also granted safe passage to select Pakistani-flagged vessels through the strait.

Back home, anti-war protests erupted in cities across the United States, reflecting growing public opposition as the conflict weighs heavily on Trump's Republican Party ahead of November's midterm elections.