Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Facilities as US Pauses Strikes on Iran

Iran-aligned Houthi militants launched surprise attacks on Saudi oil installations at two Red Sea ports, raising fears that the conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel could widen to another major shipping route.

The attacks came as the United States paused its airstrikes against Iranian targets for the first time in nearly two weeks, offering no immediate explanation for the pause after 13 consecutive nights of escalating strikes.

Saudi-backed forces struck Houthi missile and drone launch sites and weapons depots in Yemen's Marib and al-Jawf provinces, as both sides mobilised forces along the country's front lines, raising fears that Yemen's fragile ceasefire could unravel completely.