Saudi-Led Coalition Strikes Yemen in Retaliation for Houthi Attacks on Oil Tankers
The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran escalated further this week after Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on the port city of Hodeida in Yemen in response to attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The Houthis, who have been backed by Iran since 2015, targeted the tankers with cruise missiles, causing significant damage and disrupting global energy supplies. In retaliation, the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes on Hodeida, targeting military targets and facilities belonging to the state telecommunications corporation.
The attacks on the oil tankers and the subsequent airstrikes on Hodeida have sent shockwaves through the global economy, with Brent crude oil prices rising to around $96 a barrel. The US has also increased its military presence in the region, with the U.S. Central Command saying that it has redirected 12 vessels and fired on another merchant vessel that was trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports.
The conflict has already taken a significant human toll, with at least 6,000 mariners stranded around the Strait of Hormuz and over 3,400 people killed since the war began. The US and Iran have shown no signs of backing down, with both sides accusing each other of aggression and threats.