Yemen Escalation Near Bab el-Mandeb: Houthis seized Turbah on the Taiz–Aden road, threatening supply routes as Yemen’s internationally recognized government launched a “Dawn of Yemen” operation and asked for help; a Saudi-led coalition says it is running a major Red Sea air campaign with 100 fighter jets, claiming “air protection” over Bab el-Mandeb and hundreds of Houthi targets hit. Horn-of-Africa Security Forum: Uganda is hosting an Oct. 5–8 inaugural conference on “Military Operations Other Than War,” with Djibouti among expected participants, focusing on transnational threats, cyber/AI, drones, peace support, and legal accountability. Djibouti’s Strategic Link to Red Sea Risk: Coverage highlights how renewed Yemen fighting and Ethiopia’s Red Sea push keep Djibouti central to regional logistics and costs, as Bab el-Mandeb tensions ripple into Ethiopia’s trade reliance on Djibouti ports. China’s Overseas Military Reach: China opened a joint air support and training facility in Laos, adding to its expanding overseas footprint that already includes Djibouti. Ethiopia–Somalia Port Talks: Somalia’s president says Mogadishu could allow Ethiopia to use two or three Somali ports for imports/exports under Somali sovereignty, while Ethiopia’s “sovereign access” rhetoric faces real-world shipping and insurance constraints. Pakistan–Somalia Aftermath: Injured crew and remains from the MT Honour 25 hijacking are being repatriated via Ethiopia to Karachi, with Somalia’s Puntland forces credited for freeing the tanker and capturing pirates.