Open Hormuz or will blow up power plants: Trump warns Iran; Houthis target Israel's military sites

The West Asia conflict has escalated following a threat from US President Donald Trump to Iran, stating that a failure to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz will result in the obliteration of its electric generating plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island. This comes as over 50,000 US troops, including the 82nd Airborne Division and Marines, are deployed in the region. Iran has responded with military footage and warnings of retaliation against US forces. The conflict has broadened, with Yemen's Houthi movement launching missile and drone strikes on Israeli military sites and threatening the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a key global trade artery. Israel has also continued airstrikes in Tehran. These developments jeopardise two critical maritime chokepoints for global oil trade. In the United States, demonstrations known as the 'No Kings' movement have occurred in numerous cities, protesting the administration's Iran policy.