Ukraine and Saudi Arabia Join Iran Conflict

The conflict between Iran and its adversaries has taken an unexpected turn as Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have entered the fray, striking Iranian targets in the Caspian Sea and Yemen. The Ukrainian military claimed that its July 26 drone attack on an Iranian vessel targeted a Russian warship, but President Volodymyr Zelensky later stated that his country intends to continue long-range strikes against 'vessels used in military cargo shipments involving Iran.'

The Saudi jets bombed airfields in Yemen as a warning to the Iranians not to airlift any new military supplies to the Houthi rebels. The Houthis, supported by Iran, have been attempting to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which would paralyze the approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil that Saudi Arabia exports daily through that route.

The Iranian decision to ferry Shahed drones across the Caspian Sea was critical in sustaining the firepower of Russian troops in Ukraine. However, this has also made Iran a target for Ukrainians and Saudis alike. The US and Israel exercise almost complete control over Iran's airspace, making the Caspian route the only direct way for Iran and Russia to trade.