Last week, the Houthis surged out of their strongholds in northern Yemen to seize the Red Sea port of Mokha and several islands inside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, strengthening their control over one of the world’s most important shipping corridors despite years of Saudi, American, British and Israeli strikes.

Officials from the United States held a meeting with the Houthi leaders as the Yemeni group remains embroiled in conflict with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi planes have carried out 40 airstrikes across Yemen in the last 24 hours, Iranian state media IRIB added.

The lightning advance of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels has forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in Yemen.

Anees al Asbahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi-run Health Ministry, said in a post on X on Tuesday that Saudi airstrikes killed three people, including two children, in Yemen’s Taiz province. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify that claim.

Following a Saudi request to the United States, Israel has begun providing intelligence to Riyadh through Washington, based on the view that the Houthi threat is a regional problem.

India on Tuesday expressed serious concern over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia's civilian infrastructure and economic assets, cautioning that such strikes undermine regional stability and threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.

A Houthi spokesperson said on Monday that the Iranian-backed rebels' military operations will continue until Saudi Arabia ends its blockade on the country. Qatar on Tuesday said it's pushing for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and recent escalation in Bab el-Mandeb Strait.