Red Sea & Bab al-Mandab: Yemen’s Houthis told the EU they will not target European ships and claim they won’t disrupt freedom of navigation through the strait, even as clashes intensify and Yemeni forces report taking the Jabal Numan range in Lahj. Humanitarian shock: UNICEF warns acute malnutrition is rising fast in Yemen, projecting about 500,000 children facing severe wasting in 2026 amid disrupted healthcare. UN pressure on Houthis: The UN Security Council condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, demanded an immediate halt to escalation, and warned of worsening displacement and the need for unhindered humanitarian access. Saudi response & regional coordination: Saudi Arabia says it will hold urgent chiefs-of-staff talks with Turkey and Pakistan under the Mecca defense pact after missile attacks, while Saudi air defenses report intercepting multiple ballistic missiles. Energy market spillovers: Oil prices and shipping risk remain sensitive to Yemen-linked Red Sea disruptions, with reports of rerouted crude flows and Saudi pipeline restart efforts affecting supply expectations. Diplomacy over Hormuz: Iran reiterated it will not budge on its nuclear stance even if the US accepts a proposal to reopen Hormuz within seven days—keeping uncertainty high for regional trade routes.