Middle East Updates: Rubio Affirms Saudi Arabia's Right to Self-Defense Amid Houthi Attacks

Yemeni government forces have successfully recaptured the strategic port city of Mokha from the Houthis, as the Saudi-led coalition reported that 100 jets participated in the Sunday offensive. Meanwhile, Makkah pact countries are scheduled to meet in Riyadh with Houthi attacks high on the agenda.

In broader regional developments, the Iranian oil minister has resigned, and the US has pulled bombers from an England base just a week after five arrests. Italy is also planning a new Lebanon mission to replace Unifil and has called for a greater European role in securing stability in the Hormuz and Bab El Mandeb straits, with the Italian Defence Minister urging more European ships for the Red Sea mission.

Additional updates highlight Netanyahu inviting a 'hero' flydubai captain to Israel, and ongoing scrutiny over the battle for Taiz, a Yemeni city under siege for 10 years. Reports also cover life under Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon, while Trump claims Iran could be behind the flydubai incident and labels Iran's leaders 'crazy people', alongside discussions questioning whether Iraq has regained its sovereignty.