UK commits to increasing military support to fight Houthis

The UK defence secretary announces a major expansion of military support for Saudi Arabia to include defensive patrols by the Royal Air Force, coinciding with a three-day state visit by Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to London.

Talks between the United States and Iran are prolonged as both countries refuse to concede on Tehran's nuclear programme.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says the American troops he visited in Israel are ready to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon.

British King Charles III welcomed Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, crown prince, and deputy prime minister with full military honours at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.

It marks the Omani monarchy's first state visit to the UK in 44 years.

King Charles commended Oman's long-standing commitment "as a trusted interlocutor to all parties" during a state banquet, stating its efforts to keep open one of the world's most important shipping route have been "of great service to the whole international community."

Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defence has announced deploying Typhoon warplanes to fly "defensive air missions" to help protect Saudi airspace but they won't attack Houthi targets on the ground.

Secretary of Defence Wes Streeting says, "Today I've informed Parliament that we'll be deploying the RAF (Royal Air Force) with Typhoons to mount defensive counter air activity against what is outrageous Houthi escalation that we've seen in recent weeks."

"People here at home are feeling in their pockets and at the pumps the price of regional instability and conflict in the Middle East."

"We know that this war will not end through military means. We know we need a diplomatic resolution, but in the meantime I think we have a responsibility to support our allies and protect civilians," says Streeting.

Two explosions were heard in Riyadh Tuesday morning.

While the Saudi-led coalition declares intercepting a drone and a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh, the kingdom has been struggling to defend against Houthi offensives.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reveals in a TV interview Tehran has received no response from the two sides to its mediation offer to curb the fighting.

In Yemen, an official from its internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, reports the deaths of 73 recruits from the Houthi attack on the al-Alam military camp Monday, the deadliest since the resurgence of the conflict over the summer.

Taiz City, a strategic gateway to the south, is also facing deadly siege that the UN human rights chief says is putting civilians at "grave risk."

With an Iranian diplomat vowing the Islamic Republic will not leave any US attack unanswered and will respond with equal or greater force, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says on Tuesday American forces stationed in Mideast are prepared to take further action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The remarks come as Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir seeks progress in diplomatic efforts in Tehran.

Iran's top security official General Mohsen Rezaei reportedly tells Munir in a meeting they will not negotiate with Washington until it takes steps to build trust and fulfil Tehran's demands.