Yemen's Houthi rebels announced plans to blockade the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime route for Saudi Arabian oil exports. The announcement follows ten days of military exchanges between the United States and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. Regional experts note that Middle Eastern nations are exploring overland pipeline projects to bypass maritime chokepoints, though these projects are years from completion.
In Washington, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee today. The Biden administration is requesting approximately $90 billion in funding, primarily for military operations related to the conflict with Iran. The hearing follows the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in Jordan and reports from the Pentagon that approximately 100 servicemembers have been injured in the past two weeks.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing its investigation into a Cyclospora outbreak that has resulted in more than 1,600 confirmed cases. Although the FDA recently retracted a test result that was found to be a false-positive, the agency maintained its recommendation that consumers avoid iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms' Mexico facilities. The FDA stated that other data supports the company's current voluntary recall while the search for the exact source of the parasite continues.