Houthis and Iraqi Militias Join Forces to Target Saudi Oil Facilities

The Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have been working together to target Saudi oil facilities, according to regional officials. This coordination signals a wider Iranian pressure campaign that could push the Gulf closer to open war.

In July, a drone swarm attack was carried out on Saudi oil facilities, which were claimed by the Houthis but blamed on the Iraqi militias. The alleged involvement of Houthi rebels in planning and executing the attack raises concerns about their growing prominence in the region.

According to officials, Houthi emissaries worked with Iraqi militias in an operations room to plan and carry out the attack. Saudi Arabia and the US then carried out joint airstrikes that killed at least 20 Iraqi fighters, six Iranian advisers, and one Houthi official.

This development comes as Iran is relying more on the Houthis and Iraqi militias after armed groups on Israel's frontiers suffered major losses in the wars following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack from Gaza. The strategy appears to be carrying risks for the region, with a wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities threatening to reignite full-scale war.