Iran-US war latest: Trump says he has no regrets about starting war after Houthis capture key Red Sea port

Iran-US war latest: Trump says he has no regrets about starting war after Houthis capture key Red Sea port The capture could give Iran another potential point of leverage in its war with the US - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Donald Trump has said he does not regret launching the war against Iran, despite concerns that the conflict and rising oil and gas prices could hurt Republicans in the November midterm elections. “I don’t believe in the word ‘regret’,” he said in an interview with Fox News, adding that if he had to do it again “I would do exactly as I did”. Oil prices have touched $108 a barrel for the first time since May after Iran-backed Houthi militants captured Yemen’s strategic port city of Mokha, raising fears it could bring them closer to targeting shipping through a critical waterway to the Red Sea. It puts the Houthis closer to their goal of targeting shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb waterway and could give Iran another potential point of leverage in its war with the US. Mokha is around 50 miles from Bab el-Mandeb, a geopolitical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden and through which about 12 per cent of the world’s goods are typically shipped. Meanwhile, Iranian officials mocked the US military after claiming they captured a cutting-edge sea drone and “picked it up like a plastic bottle”. US expands intelligence support for Saudi fight against Houthis - report More than 100 US military advisers are in Saudi Arabia providing intelligence and targeting support as the kingdom fights Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, according to CNN. The US is helping Saudi forces use real-time battlefield intelligence and providing “geospatial” targeting support, but is not directly taking part in strikes, refuelling Saudi aircraft or providing other operational assistance, the outlet reported. The deployment comes after recent Houthi advances, including the seizure of a strategic Red Sea port, raising fears that the group could threaten the Bab el-Mandeb, a key global shipping route. US officials cited by CNN believe hundreds of Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers are in Yemen helping the Houthis, potentially with the aim of closing the waterway. Saudi crown prince calls Trump to urge him to launch strikes against Houthis - report Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called Donald Trump twice on Thursday to urge the US president to launch strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis, according to two US officials cited by Axios. The request came as Houthi forces advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and moved closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping chokepoint. Trump reportedly declined to order US strikes, however. The Axios report says that Washington is instead increasing support for Saudi Arabia while trying to avoid getting directly involved in the wider Saudi-Houthi conflict. A senior Trump administration official said the US priority was keeping the Red Sea open while leaving the broader fight to regional allies. The Saudi request marks a sharp reversal from July, when Riyadh had told Washington it could deal with the Houthi threat itself. The situation has deteriorated since then, with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces retreating as the Houthis advance towards the coast. Iran claims to have captured US ‘sail drone’ near Strait of Hormuz Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says its navy intercepted a US-operated surface drone near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The Guard said it had “thwarted an aggressive mission” involving the drone, which is designed to resemble a sailboat, according to Al Jazeera. Washington has not yet commented on the claim. Trump says he does not regret Iran war despite midterm election risks Donald Trump has said he does not regret launching the war against Iran, despite concerns that the conflict and rising oil and gas prices could hurt Republicans in the November midterm elections. “I don’t believe in the word ‘regret’. You can always question yourself a little bit,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. “If I had it do again, I would do exactly as I did,” Trump said. Trump rejected suggestions that the war had left some of his supporters demoralised, saying: “I don’t think they’re demoralised. I think they’re very proud of the fact that I’m not letting Iran have a nuclear weapon.” Trump also repeated his claim that the war would end immediately after the midterm elections. “It ends right after the election,” he said, while accusing Tehran of trying to influence the vote. Iran hints at withdrawal from nuclear non-proliferation treaty The “political moves” by the UN’s nuclear watchdog could push countries to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader has warned. Mohsen Rezaei made the comments a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-member Board of Governors passed a resolution referring Iran to the UN Security Council over its alleged breaches of nuclear non-proliferation obligations. White House advisers tell Trump the Iran war could last his entire term - report Donald Trump has said that the Iran war will end soon after the November midterm elections, claiming Tehran is trying to influence the vote. “I think the war is going to end immediately after the election because they can’t hold out any longer,” Trump told reporters. “They’re desperate to try and affect the election.” But the Wall Street Journal reported that senior White House advisers, including JD Vance and Marco Rubio, have warned him privately that the war could continue until the end of his presidency in January 2029. Democratic senator accuses Trump of ‘lying’ about end of Iran war Democratic senator Ed Markey has accused Donald Trump of lying about the “unwinnable Iran war”. In a post on X, he wrote: “Trump claims that his illegal and unwinnable Iran war will end right after the midterm elections,” he said. “He’s lying.” “His own advisors know better. This war of choice will drag on until Trump leaves office unless Congress cuts off funding,” he added. “We cannot wait two more years to end this disaster.” Yemen risks a return to civil war as Iran-backed rebels target a crucial shipping route Yemen is moving closer to a return to civil war. The escalating events in the Arab world's poorest country are closely linked to the war in Iran and global efforts to ship oil out of the Gulf region. Here’s a look at an emerging conflict involving an Iranian-backed rebel group's efforts to keep neighboring Saudi Arabia from using a crucial shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, and how that could tear Yemen apart once more. What’s happening could return Yemen to civil war Yemen is home to over 40 million people who fear a return to the civil war that killed 150,000 and brought many others to the brink of famine in one of the world’s most sprawling humanitarian crises. A ceasefire with Yemen’s internationally recognized government and a wider coalition backed by the Saudis began in 2022. Now that truce is buckling. Read more: Yemen risks a return to civil war as Iran-backed rebels target a crucial shipping route Residents flee Mokha after Houthis take control Residents have said Houthi forces could be seen throughout Mokha on Thursday, as locals fled the city after their capture. Mokha resident Amin al-Mohammdi said roads from the west coast leading to Mokha were closed and shops were shuttered. Local Mohamed Salem said he saw vehicles belonging to Houthi forces in the streets. Three doctors told the AP they fled a Mokha hospital after it was seized by the Houthis. The doctors spoke on condition of anonymity, citing fears for their safety. They said other residents were fleeing south, toward the city of Aden, which is controlled by the Saudi-backed forces. Internal White House warnings caution Trump that Iran war could last years: report Internal White House warnings caution Trump that Iran war could last years: report Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments