Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched attacks on four southern cities in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, injuring more than 70 people and igniting fires at oil facilities an escalation that signals a major widening of the six-month-old Middle East conflict.
At the same time, U.S. forces struck multiple Iranian tankers connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, responding to Iranian efforts to target a U.S. Navy warship, according to a U.S. official. This marks the resumption of U.S. military action against Iran after a two-day pause.
Iranian media confirmed several attacks. The Tasnim news agency reported that a U.S. missile hit an Iranian tanker about 4 miles (6 km) from Kharg Island, a key oil terminal, while state television claimed a second tanker was targeted near Jask in the Gulf of Oman.
In response, the IRGC threatened to strike oil tankers docked at Kuwaiti and Bahraini ports, warning crews to evacuate, according to statements carried by state media.
In Saudi Arabia, the Houthis who control much of Yemen’s populated areas, including the capital announced a large-scale operation deep inside Saudi territory.
They used drones and missiles to hit a Saudi airbase in Khamis Mushait and facilities belonging to the state oil company in Abha, Najran, and Jazan. Saudi officials reported fires at the attack sites, with women and children among the 73 people injured.
The high number of casualties points to one of the largest attacks on Saudi Arabia since the U.S. and Israel began their offensive against Iran in February. Due to strict media controls in Saudi Arabia, there were no independently verified images or eyewitness accounts available from the affected cities. (Reuters/NAN)
