Middle East Conflict Escalates as Houthi Rebels Claim Airstrikes
The conflict in the Middle East has escalated further as the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed that Saudi-backed forces launched dozens of airstrikes across four provinces overnight. The airstrikes come after a day of intense clashes between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces in Yemen, which shattered a four-year truce in the country's civil war.
The Houthi spokesman Nasruddin Amer stated on social media that the strikes targeted Taiz, Hodeida, Jawf, and Marib provinces. The spokesperson did not report any immediate damage or injuries from the airstrikes.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that the country's forces had struck eight oil tankers and two U.S. vessels in retaliation for U.S. strikes on five Iranian tankers on Tuesday. However, the U.S. Central Command disputed this claim, stating that all attempted attacks failed.
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil has surpassed $100 due to the ongoing conflict. The United Nations and Turkey have condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg stating that the missile and drone attacks threaten to widen the conflict and put civilians at grave risk.