Houthis Target Saudi Oil Facilities in Escalating Conflict

The conflict between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia has escalated with the Houthis launching missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. The targets were Aramco sites in Jizan and Yanbu, according to a video statement by military spokesman Yahya Saree.

Saudi Arabia's civil defense issued warnings for Jizan and Yanbu after the Houthis threatened to expand their response if attacked again. A surface-to-air battery operated by Greek personnel downed two ballistic missiles and a drone targeting Yanbu on Saturday morning.

The attacks signal the emergence of a new front in the Middle East war, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February. The conflict has been ongoing since 2015, with hundreds of thousands killed and a major humanitarian crisis triggered.