Middle EastLiveYemen forces strike Houthi targets in Sanaa, Saada amid renewed fighting

For context, the Iran war is widening into a broader regional security crisis, with tensions extending from the battlefield to vital trade and transport routes throughout the Middle East.

Key points

• Israeli forces arrested a young Palestinian man in Saida, north of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, on Saturday evening, Palestinian news agency Wafa documented.
• While making territorial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast, the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacks on Saudi territory and shipping.
• In August, the US Treasury introduced "Operation Economic Outcast", describing it as an "unprecedented, whole-of-government, economic campaign against Iran and its enablers".
• One dollar was trading at almost 2.7 million rials on Sunday, up from just over 2.6 million on Friday, according to free-market tracking website Bon-bast.com.
• Yemen's defence ministry and General Staff Command have introduced a general mobilisation and community mobilisation campaign, state news agency Saba noted.

06: 20 (IST) Oct 04. US Iran war: Washington expands sanctions campaign targeting Iran's economy.

In practice, the United States has expanded its sanctions campaign against Iran, targeting financial, commercial and other networks that Washington notes backing the Iranian administration and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In August, the US Treasury introduced "Operation Economic Outcast", describing it as an "unprecedented, whole-of-government, economic campaign against Iran and its enablers". Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked US office-holders had been sent worldwide to urge governments to take action against Iran. 06: 13 (IST) Oct 04.

Iran war: Pezeshkian notes Iran adopts 'new arrangement' to counter US sanctions.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked Saturday that Tehran had adopted a "new arrangement" to manage the country's "special conditions" as the United States intensifies sanctions targeting Iran's financial and commercial networks.

"The government has adopted a new arrangement to manage these special conditions, " Pezeshkian remarked in a post on X, accusing adversaries of trying to cut off Iran's "vital arteries" to pressure its residents. He remarked public backing and administration measures had prevented the US from achieving its objectives in the "economic war". 06: 04 (IST) Oct 04.

Iran war: Iranian rial hits new low as US sanctions deepen economic pressure.

Iran's rial has fallen to a new low against the US dollar, with the currency coming under further pressure from US sanctions and a blockade on Iranian oil exports.

One dollar was trading at almost 2.7 million rials on Sunday, up from just over 2.6 million on Friday, according to free-market tracking website Bon-bast.com. Alanchand.com put the rate at 2.695 million rials per dollar. Iranian state television remarked the central bank had begun selling up to $2 billion to backing the currency. While inflation is around 73%, the rial has lost more than half its value over the past year. 04: 43 (IST) Oct 04.

Iran war: Yemen forces say they struck Houthi targets in Sanaa, Saada.

As fighting escalated against the backdrop of the wider Iran-US war, yemen's armed forces remarked early on Sunday they had carried out strikes against Iran-aligned Houthi targets in the capital Sanaa and the group's stronghold of Saada.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised administration stated the strikes targeted "vital targets", without providing further details. Houthi-run Al Masirah TV earlier documented an attack it stated was carried out by Saudi Arabia on Sanaa. Riyadh did not immediately confirm the report.

In practice, the conflict between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed administration forces had largely remained frozen under a 2022 truce, but hostilities have resumed against the backdrop of the wider regional conflict. While making territorial gains along Yemen's Red Sea coast, the Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia in July and began attacks on Saudi territory and shipping. Saudi Arabia has responded with air strikes and backing for administration forces fighting the Houthis. 02: 46 (IST) Oct 04. Iran war: Yemen announces general mobilisation campaign.

Lieutenant-General Al-Aqili confirmed measures to implement the mobilisation order, including activating recruitment and reserve forces, organising reception centres and assigning various entities to commence their respective tasks. Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Sagheer bin Aziz remarked the declaration of general mobilisation was a national decision. 02: 44 (IST) Oct 04. Israeli forces arrest man in occupied West Bank.

According to local sources, soldiers arrested published prisoner Imran Basem Radad after raiding his home. His brother, Ramah Basem Radad, was additionally detained and interrogated before being issued. Israeli forces separately stormed the town of Allar, north of Tulkarm, blocking the movement of vehicles and Palestinians and raiding a number of homes. No arrests were documented there.

For now, middle EastLiveYemen forces strike Houthi targets in Sanaa, Saada amid renewed fighting remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.