Houthis Fire Missiles at Saudi in Escalating Middle East Tensions

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia in response to airstrikes on the strategic Red Sea city of Hodeida, escalating tensions over vital shipping routes in the Middle East. The Houthis' military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said the attack targeted facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan that belong to Aramco, the world's largest oil company.

The Saudi-led coalition opposing the rebels claimed it struck 'legitimate military targets' in Hodeida province that 'were linked to threats to commercial vessels in the Red Sea.'

In a separate statement, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, called for 'diplomacy and dialogue' to solve the Yemen conflict without 'military confrontations.'

The Houthis have threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom's blockade on Yemen.