Houthis Strike Saudi Cities as Middle East War Escalates

The conflict in the Middle East escalated as Iranian-backed Houthis launched missile and drone strikes on several Saudi cities, wounding 73 people and setting oil installations ablaze. The attacks marked a significant expansion of the six-month-old war.

The US military's Central Command said it destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers in response to Iran's targeting of a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that 'Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers.'

The Houthis said they had launched a broad operation deep into Saudi territory, using drones and missiles to strike a Saudi airbase in the southern city of Khamis Mushait as well as Saudi state oil company assets in the cities of Abha, Najran, and Jazan. NASA satellite images showed thick clouds of black smoke over the Jazan refinery and a column of white smoke rising from an oil distribution centre in Abha.