Saudi Crown Prince and US Centcom chief discuss latest regional developments

US Central Command chief Adm Brad Cooper met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The meeting came as Yemen's Houthi rebels intensified attacks on the kingdom. Saudi Press Agency reported that the two discussed relations between Saudi Arabia and the US, as well as recent developments in the region.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen's north and major population centers, have been launching attacks on Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade in July. The strikes have targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea. Saudi Civil Defence issued alerts on Monday warning of potential danger in the cities of Najran, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Abha.

Later, they issued all-clear notices for the four southern cities. The southern cities have been under regular alerts since the previous week, with drone strikes targeting a 1,200km pipeline that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz and is crucial for Middle East oil exports. The Houthis also claimed to have captured Perim island in the Bab Al Mandeb, the "Gate of Tears" strait that provides access to the Red Sea's southern entrance. Saudi Arabia has not disclosed the extent of pipeline damage or how long it will remain offline.