Houthis, Iraqi Militias Unite Against Saudi Oil Facilities

Saudi Arabia and the United States have bombed Iran-backed militias in Iraq after blaming them for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. The Houthi rebels, another Iranian ally, helped plan and execute the two-day swarm attack, showing a new level of coordination between the Iraqi militias and the Houthis.

The Houthis' involvement was confirmed by two Saudi officials, citing intelligence, and a senior Iraqi security official. They said Houthi emissaries worked in an operations room run by Iraqi militias. The joint airstrikes killed at least 20 Iraqi fighters, six Iranian advisers, and one Houthi official.

Regional officials and experts say Iran is using the Iraqi militias and the Houthis to threaten Saudi Arabia and other American allies in the Gulf to drive up the costs of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel in February.