Houthis Strike Saudi Oil Refinery Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a drone strike on an oil refinery at Jizan, Saudi Arabia. The attack occurred just two days after Riyadh formed an alliance with Turkey and Pakistan to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression.

The Houthis have been targeting Saudi energy facilities since February 28, when the US and Israel began attacking Iran. Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr said that the Strait of Hormuz would not reopen until the US changed its behavior, including ending its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The US did not immediately comment on the demands, which also include permanently ending its war against Tehran and its armed allies in the region. The situation remains tense, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz depends on other conditions as well.