US-Iran conflict expands beyond battlefield as Red Sea attacks open new front

The US-Iran conflict has expanded beyond direct military strikes between the two sides, with Iranian-aligned militants in Yemen targeting shipping routes in the Red Sea. The development comes as Washington and Tehran continue to escalate military pressure, fuelling concerns that neither side can secure a decisive military advantage through force.The conflict widened this week after Houthi militants in Yemen began striking ships passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key Red Sea chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The attacks helped push oil prices above $100 a barrel for the first time in two months on Thursday.The US has also intensified its bombing campaign in Iran, carrying out strikes across the country during the most intense phase of fighting since US President