New Front in US-Iran Conflict: Houthis Attack Saudi Oil Facilities

The Houthi group in Yemen has attacked two of Saudi Arabia’s most important oil facilities on its Red Sea coast using missiles and drones. This is being described as a major escalation of the conflict that has reignited in the region following the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran. However, the skies over Iran — the epicenter of the war — remained quiet for a second consecutive night, and as of Sunday morning, no new US airstrikes on Iran had been reported.
Starting July 11, the US had carried out airstrikes on Iran for 13 consecutive nights. These operations began after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. As tensions escalated, both sides declared the interim peace agreement reached in June null and void, while the proposed second round of talks meant to finalize a comprehensive peace deal also appeared to be on the verge of collapse. However, there have been no new US airstrikes on Iran since Friday, and early signs suggest that Washington and Tehran are in contact through mediators and may return to meaningful negotiations.
Effects of the War Spreading Beyond the Region
Even if a fragile ceasefire is reached in the future, the fallout from this war is fueling new tensions in various parts of the world. Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz have severely disrupted exports of oil and raw materials used in fertilizer production, driving up global energy prices and raising fears of a food security crisis in several vulnerable countries.
In response to the attacks on Iran in March, Lebanon’s Iran-backed group Hezbollah resumed missile attacks on Israel, prompting Israel to launch a large-scale military operation in southern Lebanon that displaced nearly 1.2 million people.
Tensions Between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis Flare Up Again
Now another regional conflict has reignited, with US ally Saudi Arabia once again facing off against the Houthi movement, which controls most of northern and western Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. Saudi Arabia and its regional allies had intervened in the civil war against the Houthis in 2015, which had relatively subsided following a 2022 ceasefire.
Fears of a Global Crisis
The ceasefire collapsed this month after the Houthis fired ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia, following a strike aimed at preventing an Iranian aircraft from landing at Sanaa airport. Last Monday, the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, while on Friday night the Saudi air force carried out airstrikes on the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah, raising fears of further escalation in the region.