Yemeni employees of the United Nations agencies have been detained by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Yemen's Houthi militants have once again stirred international tensions by targeting two US warship destroyers in the Red Sea. This recent attack, involving both naval missiles and drones, has escalated concerns over the group's military capabilities and regional stability.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for the strike, vowing that they will continue to target ships in the Red Sea in sympathy with the Palestinians.

Adding to the geopolitical tensions, risks of a widening conflict have escalated as Russian refined product exports are expected to decline due to several refineries undergoing repairs following drone attacks.

The Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Wednesday night that the strike aimed at 14 Iranian-made Houthi missiles, "loaded to be fired in Houthi controlled areas in Yemen." The statement emphasised the imminent threat these missiles posed to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region, justifying the U.S. forces' exercise of their right and obligation to self-defence.

The Houthis have targeted a crucial corridor linking Asian and Mideast energy and cargo shipments to the Suez Canal onward to Europe over the Israel-Hamas war, attacks that threaten to widen that conflict into a regional conflagration.