Polish military says it has launched precautionary military air operations after Russian air strikes on Ukraine.

Wed Aug 19—Major European equity indices closed mixed: Germany's DAX fell 59.64 pts (-0.23%) to 26,092.05; UK's FTSE 100 rose 10.76 pts (+0.10%) to 10,738.80; France's CAC 40 fell 7.45 pts (-0.09%) to 8,501.91; STOXX 50 fell 25.72 pts (-0.40%) to 6,442.45; Spain's IBEX 35 fell 109.83 pts (-0.55%) to 19,825.07; Italy's FTSE MIB fell 384.84 pts (-0.73%) to 52,633.00.

Houthi military spokesman Sari said the group has adopted three strategies: retaliatory blockade, strikes on Saudi military concentrations wherever they are found, and defending Yemeni sovereignty. Since announcing a ban on Saudi maritime navigation on July 20, the Houthis said they have struck eight Saudi oil tankers — five in the Red Sea and three in the Gulf of Aden/Arabian Sea — and prevented 48 Saudi tankers from transiting, forcing them to return (34 in the Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean, 14 in the Red Sea). He said the Houthis have conducted nine military operations targeting Yanbu, Najran, Jizan, Abha and Saudi oil supply facilities, and 14 operations against what they described as Saudi military concentrations in Ruweik, Ablah, Wadiya, Marib and Mocha. Sari warned against further Saudi escalation, saying any full-scale escalation will be met in kind, and called on Riyadh to lift the blockade, end the offensive, withdraw foreign forces and restore Yemeni control of resources.