US Halts Strikes, Iran Allies Fire Missiles at Saudi Oil Targets

The conflict between the US and Iran shows signs of de-escalation for one night, but Yemen's Houthi rebels have fired missiles at Saudi oil installations on the Red Sea coast.

According to Axios, citing two unidentified sources familiar with the matter, President Donald Trump directed the military not to conduct new strikes against Iran. A senior US official said that Trump 'has always been clear that his preference is diplomacy, but he has shown Iran what will happen if they fail to come to the table in a serious way.'

The Houthi rebels have successfully struck sites belonging to Saudi state oil giant Aramco in Jizan and Yanbu. Two Asia-based trading sources said that they had been informed of potential damage to fuel and oil storage sites at Jizan.

The war may be spreading to a second major shipping route, and reigniting Yemen's own civil war. The Saudi-led military alliance has bombed Houthi military positions on Friday in the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, and the Yemeni officials said both sides in Yemen's civil war were mobilising forces along the front.