Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Facilities Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen 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.

In a prerecorded statement, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesperson, said the attack targeted facilities in the Red Sea cities of Yanbu and Jizan that belong to Aramco, the world's largest oil company.

Saudi Arabia's civil defense reported multiple alerts sounding in both cities, but the kingdom did not comment further on the incident. The Houthis have threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping if their demands are not met, which would severely impact global trade.