Yemen’s Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, carried out attacks on four cities in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, causing over 70 injuries and igniting oil facilities. This development marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Houthi rebels, who have control over most of Yemen’s populated areas, including the capital, announced a broad operation deep within Saudi territory. They utilized drones and missiles to target a Saudi airbase in Khamis Mushait, as well as installations belonging to Saudi Arabia’s state oil company in Abha, Najran, and Jazan, a critical Red Sea port.
Saudi authorities reported fires at the targeted sites and disclosed that among the 73 individuals injured, women and children were also affected. The scale of casualties indicated that these attacks were some of the most severe against Saudi Arabia since the initiation of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in February.
While visual evidence of the aftermath was not immediately accessible, the Houthis shared images of an explosion involving trucks purportedly from Saudi Arabia, which they claimed to have struck at the border in another location.
The Houthi assaults on the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia could exacerbate the global economic repercussions of the conflict by disrupting energy supplies in the Middle East beyond the Strait of Hormuz, which is already under blockade.
Following a period of relative calm in August, hostilities in the Gulf have reignited, with Iran and the U.S. engaging in confrontations and driving global oil prices up to levels not seen since July. On Tuesday, Brent crude prices surged over two percent, surpassing $99 per barrel.
The ongoing conflict has led to worldwide shortages of crude oil and refined fuels, with diesel prices in the United States hitting a record high of over $5.90 per gallon. These price hikes come ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, which could impact the political landscape in the United States.
Saudi Arabia has spearheaded an Arab coalition combating the Houthi rebels in Yemen for more than a decade. Although the conflict had somewhat subsided in recent years, a ceasefire has collapsed, with the Houthis posing threats to shipping at the entrance of the Red Sea.
“The coalition is poised to take all necessary operational actions to deter this terrorist militia and firmly counter its aggressive stance,” stated Col. Turki al-Malki, the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition.
Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthis, accused Riyadh of escalating the conflict by conducting airstrikes in Yemen, vowing a retaliatory response. The situation in the Gulf has evolved into a showdown between the U.S. and Iran, with both sides banking on economic pressures from their respective blockades to force concessions from the other.
While Washington aims to enhance oil flow to global markets by navigating ships through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is imposing restrictions on exports with a blockade beyond the strait. Tehran has announced plans to establish a maritime exclusion zone extending from the U.S. blockade perimeter through the strait into the Gulf.
Tensions in the region flared up further when Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals, marking one of the deadliest bombardment incidents in recent weeks. These incidents have raised concerns about a potential resumption of Israeli military actions despite a ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in June.
Despite U.S. military actions targeting Iran’s conventional forces and its economy, Iran still possesses missiles and drones capable of threatening oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and attacking U.S. military bases in the region. Approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments used to pass through the strait before the conflict escalated.
The recent clashes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have displaced around 18,500 individuals in Taiz and Hodeida in southwestern Yemen, adding pressure on communities in southern Taiz and along the West Coast, as reported by the International Organization for Migration.
Yemen’s civil war commenced in 2014 when the Houthis captured the capital, Sanaa, and parts of northern Yemen, leading to the government’s exile. A Saudi-led coalition intervened the subsequent year to restore the government to power.
The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with UN estimates indicating that at least 150,000 people have been killed, and the nation has faced the looming threat of famine.