Middle East Conflict Escalates as Houthi Rebels Report Airstrikes and Oil Prices Surge
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East escalated on Wednesday as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen reported dozens of airstrikes by Saudi-backed forces. The strikes came after a day of attacks on oil facilities and utilities in Saudi Arabia that left 73 people wounded.
According to Iranian state media, the country's forces 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 denied that American warships were hit.
The price of Brent crude oil rose past $100 a barrel on Wednesday due to the ongoing conflict. Houthi spokesman Nasruddin Amer said Saudi-backed forces launched 32 airstrikes across four Yemeni provinces overnight.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that foreign assistance is not helping Iran change the dynamics of the war, saying 'we don't believe anybody is giving Iran anything that's changing the parameters of what we're seeing.'