Scores wounded as Iran-backed Houthis attack Saudi Arabia in major regional escalation
Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a major attack on southwestern Saudi Arabia early Tuesday, targeting oil and other infrastructure in an escalation that risks widening the region’s conflicts and adding further pressure to crude prices. Saudi-led forces vowed a resolute response, saying dozens of civilians had been injured. The Saudi Energy Ministry said the … The post Scores wounded as…
Early Tuesday, a significant attack was carried out by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen against southwestern Saudi Arabia. The assault primarily targeted oil and other infrastructure, raising concerns of a potential escalation in regional conflicts and potential impacts on crude prices. Saudi-led forces vowed a resolute response, acknowledging that dozens of civilians had been injured.
The Saudi Energy Ministry reported fires at several facilities, causing temporary disruptions to some operations in the affected southern region. This marks a dramatic escalation in the Saudi-Houthi conflict, which reignited in July following the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire, with Houthi missile attacks on Saudi oil facilities and tankers in the Middle East war.
Oil prices on global markets surged by more than 1% after the attack, as traders worried about potential disruptions to Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea, which have been rerouted since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed. The attacks injured at least 73 people, including women and children, as reported by Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition Forces.
The Houthi forces targeted civilian and economic sites in the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. The Houthi military claimed that the attacks were in response to over 100 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen over the past three days, resulting in numerous casualties. They stated that they had launched "dozens of ballistic missiles and drones."
Saudi officials affirmed their legitimate right to take necessary measures to defend their sovereignty. Saudi diplomats informed US lawmakers in August of the breakdown in political channels with the Houthis and their plans to escalate against the kingdom, seeking US backing to respond. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the strong defensive relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia, and noted ongoing ground operations by Yemeni forces against the Houthis.
Despite maintaining a stance of neutrality, Saudi Arabia faced the Houthi attacks in July, ending a fragile four-year ceasefire between the rebels and the kingdom. The Houthis also imposed a blockade on Saudi shipping using the Red Sea, a crucial outlet for the kingdom's crude oil, and targeted Aramco refineries on the Red Sea coast.
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