Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Facilities Amid Escalating Conflict

The conflict in the Middle East escalated as Iran-backed Houthis launched strikes on Saudi oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu. The group fired 'dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones' which successfully hit their targets, according to spokesperson Yahya Saree.

The Houthis also confirmed that the military blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains in effect. They struck two Saudi-flagged commercial tankers in the Red Sea earlier this week, but had not struck any ships since then, bringing some calm to the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that his country had struck a ship carrying arms for Iran. The contents of the shipment were unclear, but Russia is a close ally of Iran and vice versa. Iran had provided many Shahed attack drones to Russia in the first couple years of the war.