The US and its allies are taking steps to address rising tensions in the Middle East.
What happened
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The content of their meeting was not disclosed to the press.
The visit comes as the US is considering another round of strikes against Iran. Netanyahu has expressed his desire for regime change in Iran, and the US has been increasing pressure on the country.
In a related development, the UK has announced that it will deploy jets to defend Saudi Arabia from Houthi attacks. The Houthi rebels have been striking Saudi airports and energy infrastructure, and the UK's defensive air operations aim to protect Saudi Arabia's interests.
The situation in the region remains volatile, with Iranian operations against shipping in the Strait of Hormuz keeping pressure on energy markets. The price of Brent crude has risen to $109 per barrel, and gas prices in the US have reached $4.28 per gallon for regular gasoline and $6.32 per gallon for diesel.
