Houthi rebels seize Red Sea island and other Mideast developments

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have captured a strategic island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The move threatens Saudi oil exports through a key commercial lane. Saudi Arabia responded with airstrikes on the airport in Mokha, which the Houthis seized Thursday. Iran has called for an end to Saudi Arabia's blockade of Yemen and urged a return to negotiations. Meanwhile, the AI company Anthropic has blocked users in northern Yemen over advanced missile development efforts.

Anthropic identified users running weapons programs using its AI models, including missile guidance and navigation systems.

Read the original report at Apnews.