Houthis report Saudi reprisals after oil sites set ablaze in wave of strikes

Saudi Arabia retaliated against Yemen's Houthi rebels after the armed group targeted oil facilities and other sites, resulting in dozens of injuries, according to the rebels' Almasirah TV station. The strikes occurred following the end of a four-year truce in July, amidst a broader Middle East conflict between the United States and Iran.

The attacks targeted provinces of Taiz and Marib, where intense fighting had already been underway for days. Houthis reported a temporary shutdown of oil sites and the injury of 73 individuals. Saudi officials had vowed to respond to the attacks. The escalation of the conflict in Yemen, where hundreds have died in recent days, has raised concerns over the potential impact on oil prices, which surged towards $100 per barrel on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, stated that the door to diplomacy remains open, but warned that the kingdom is prepared to defend itself and support measures that secure Yemen's interests, security, and stability. Houthi attacks on oil infrastructure and Saudi tankers have put pressure on the world's top oil exporter.