US Allies Targeted by Iran-Backed Houthi Forces in Escalating Attacks

US allies in the region have been targeted by Iranian-backed Houthi forces in a series of escalating attacks. The Houthis launched strikes on four Saudi cities, wounding 73 people and setting oil installations ablaze in southern Saudi Arabia.

The US military's Central Command said it had destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers on Tuesday, after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a US Navy warship with ballistic missiles twice over the previous two days.

Iran then retaliated by launching a ballistic missile attack on a US base near Al Azraq town in eastern Jordan. The global oil markets have absorbed the impact of the Saudi attacks, pushing the price of benchmark Brent crude oil to its highest level since July 23.