Iraq Becomes Launch Pad for Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia's Oil Facilities

Riyadh's main crude hub has been hit by Houthi attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia's eastern province, according to assessments by Saudi Arabia and regional partners. The attacks are part of a growing trend of coordination among Iran-aligned militias, with some carried out from Iraqi territory jointly by the Houthis and Iraqi groups under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The assessments differ from official accounts, which officially blame Iraqi armed groups aligned with Iran for the attacks. Yemen's Houthis have said they carried out the attacks, while Iraq has said it is investigating. The US and Israel have targeted these militias in years past after Hamas' 2023 attack on Israel.

Farea al-Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House, noted that 'there is now direct training and coordination between members of the Axis of Resistance themselves, not just between them and Iran.' Analysts say Iraq is playing an increasingly important role as a node in this axis, particularly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon.