Houthis Claim Successful Strike on Saudi Oil Company Amid Escalating Tensions
Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed they successfully struck a Saudi state-run oil company in Riyadh, escalating tensions in the region.
The Houthis made the claim amid reports on Saturday that smoke was rising near a facility belonging to the company in the Saudi capital. They said in a statement that they carried out strikes with missiles and drones, resulting in fires breaking out at the targeted sites.
This comes as the Iran-backed Houthis step up their offensive against the Saudi-backed interim government in Yemen. The Houthis have expanded their control over areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a waterway located at the mouth of the Red Sea that serves as an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi state-run media reported on Friday that ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis toward southwestern Saudi Arabia were intercepted. Meanwhile, Reuters news agency quoted Middle Eastern and Western officials as saying that Saudi Arabia is planning an offensive against the Houthis in the coming weeks, with air strikes to support the operation.