2026 Iran War: 2026-09-16

Reuters reported, citing five sources, that US officials met Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in Oman over the weekend after the group seized a stretch of Red Sea coast. Middle East Spectator said the US offered not to provide air support to Saudi-backed forces or strike Houthi-held areas if Bab al-Mandab stays open to shipping. No public US confirmation of the reported terms was available in this window.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Marib province, BBC reported, while denying Saudi claims of a drone aimed at Mecca. Multiple outlets carried the claim; some Houthi-aligned accounts later circulated video said to show a missile hit and wreckage. The Saudi-led coalition had not confirmed any aircraft loss in immediate responses.

The House voted 220-204 late Tuesday for a war powers resolution that would stop further Iran combat without congressional approval, Al Jazeera reported. All Democrats and seven Republicans backed it, including three first-time GOP yes votes. Prior similar measures have not reached the president's desk; Trump is expected to veto if one does.

The Defense Department inspector general said US forces spent more than $22 billion on munitions from February to June, creating strategic inventory shortfalls and industrial base bottlenecks. The report conflicts with President Trump statements that supplies are virtually unlimited. The White House said the military still has more than enough munitions. A separate CBO estimate put total war costs at about $38 billion.

Oman Maritime Security Centre said the Panama-flagged El Gaia was attacked north of Musandam, with a fire in the engine room; two sailors are missing and 23 were rescued. Iran said the tanker hit mines on a restricted route. The US said the vessel was hit by an Iranian missile earlier and again by a drone, rejecting the mine account. UKMTO reported a projectile strike and fire in the strait over the weekend.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces destroyed the drone before it entered restricted airspace on Tuesday evening. Riyadh called pilgrim security a red line. A Houthi military source denied any threat to Mecca or other holy sites and rejected the Saudi account as misinformation.

Al Jazeera live coverage said Saudi Arabia stopped oil loadings at Yanbu days after pausing East-West pipeline operations following drone attacks. The report links the stoppage to Red Sea and pipeline disruption already tracked in earlier WarEcho entries.