ISLAMABAD, 15 September 2026 (Nosheen): Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman met US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah, according to Saudi state media, as regional tensions continue to rise. The two officials discussed the latest regional developments, although Saudi and US authorities did not provide further details about the talks. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions linked to the military activities of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group and an increase in reported attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate that Houthi fighters have recently expanded their presence along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and advanced through key areas. Following the reported capture of the strategic coastal city of Mokha, the group has also expanded access to strategic islands near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, potentially giving it greater leverage over a vital Red Sea trade route. The Bab al-Mandab Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a crucial maritime route for global commerce, with ships using the passage to travel from the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea toward the Suez Canal.