Key facts
- Yemen's Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia from Iraq this week, with coordination from Iraqi groups and supervision from Iran's IRGC.
- Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed militias in Iraq of launching drone attacks on its oil facilities.
- U.S. and Saudi forces responded by bombing militia sites in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers.
- Iraq's government stated it neither approved nor had prior knowledge of the U.S.-Saudi strikes on its territory.
- A drone attack on Egypt's port of Damietta set two natural gas vessels ablaze, with no group claiming responsibility.
Yemen's Houthi rebels, with coordination from Iraqi groups and supervision from Iran's IRGC, attacked Saudi Arabia from Iraq this week, according to regional officials. This escalation is part of a broader regional conflict involving Iran and its supported groups, with the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waterways becoming a focal point.
The Houthis have declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea, and claim to have attacked Saudi oil infrastructure. Maritime security firm Ambrey reported a 30% decrease in Bab al-Mandeb transits since July 21 compared to June, with over 10 vessels reportedly turning back in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Saudi Arabia accused Iran-backed militias in Iraq of launching drone attacks on its oil facilities. In response, U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft bombed militia sites in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. Iraq, which maintains ties with both the U.S. and Iran, condemned the strikes.
Separately, a drone attack on Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta set two natural gas vessels ablaze. No group has claimed responsibility for this attack, and the Houthis have denied involvement. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group fired rockets into northern Israel shortly after the conflict's outbreak, leading to Israeli retaliatory actions.
The broader conflict is centered around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil and gas transit route. Iran asserts control over the waterway and has targeted ships using alternative routes overseen by the U.S. military. The U.S. has responded with strikes against Iran, leading to retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran against countries hosting U.S. forces.