Red Sea Power Shift: Iran-backed Houthis seized Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mocha as government forces withdrew, tightening their grip near Bab al-Mandeb and raising fears of disruption to one of the world’s key shipping and oil routes. UN Security Council Pressure: The UN Security Council condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and warned Yemen is sliding back toward full-scale war, with the Saudi envoy pushing back against calls for de-escalation while support to the Houthis continues. Saudi-US Friction: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to strike the Houthis, but the US reportedly refused direct action, instead expanding intelligence and non-kinetic support as US Central Command coordinated with Riyadh. Yemen Frontline Moves: Yemen’s army declared a “kill zone” around the Taiz–Mocha road, warning civilians to avoid it amid escalating fighting. Energy Shock Spillover: Oil prices surged above $100 as markets priced in longer Middle East supply risks, while global bonds and stocks tumbled on inflation and rate-hike fears. Tech & Security: Anthropic said a Yemen-based weapons engineering cell used Claude AI to develop missile guidance software, though it claimed the weapon test failed. Regional Diplomacy: Pakistan warned Iran to rein in Houthi attacks after missile strikes hit Saudi oil facilities, citing defense pacts and mediation efforts.