Tensions across the Gulf have intensified as Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a significant wave of ballistic missiles and drones against southern Saudi Arabian cities on Tuesday.
Thirteen civilian injuries were reported in Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif.
Seven homes and two vehicles suffered damage from the attacks.
Saudi Civil Defence issued emergency alerts across Mecca, Jeddah, Taif, and Yanbu.
Houthi Claims And Airstrikes
The attacks resulted in 13 civilian injuries in Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif, while causing damage to seven homes and two vehicles. Saudi Civil Defence issued emergency alerts across Mecca, Jeddah, Taif, and Yanbu. The Houthis claimed they targeted the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, alleging hits on hangars, radars, runways, and ammunition depots. This followed a reported 50 Saudi airstrikes in Yemen over the previous 24 hours, which Houthi-run health authorities in Sanaa stated resulted in three deaths, including two children, in Taiz province.
In Yemen, the conflict has widened, with Houthi forces seizing the port of Mokha, Perim Island, and the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands. UN agencies report that 125,000 people have been displaced since early September, while the International Organization for Migration estimates 82,000 individuals have fled during the same period.
Maritime Crisis And Oil Prices
Simultaneously, a maritime crisis has emerged near the Strait of Hormuz. The Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia, which carries an Indian crew, is being towed to an Omani port following an engine room fire. While Iran's IRGC claimed the ship hit naval mines, the US Central Command stated the vessel was struck by an Iranian missile last month and a drone over the weekend. Twenty-three crew members were evacuated, and two remain missing. Furthermore, Iran has issued a list of 77 ships accused of violating Hormuz protocols, threatening potential seizure. Oil prices increased by more than 3 percent, with U.S. diesel prices reaching a record high above $6.23 per gallon.
Diplomatic Efforts And Security
Diplomatic efforts to address the Strait of Hormuz crisis have faltered, as Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi postponed a scheduled meeting between Gulf states and Iran. The move follows Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline being incapacitated in an attack attributed to Iran-backed fighters in Iraq. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with the U.S. regional commander in Jeddah as the regional security situation remains volatile.
