Saudi Arabia attacked Houthi positions in Yemen this Saturday. The offensive took place after the group claimed attacks against two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The action comes as confrontations between the United States and Iran intensify. The escalation also raises concerns about oil transport through the region.
According to Saudi authorities, the attacks hit military facilities used by the Houthis. The group is accused of threatening commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea.
Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the targets were exclusively military.
On the same Saturday, Saudi air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Yemen. The weapons targeted oil facilities in Yanbu, according to security sources.
Yanbu is located on the Red Sea coast and hosts important structures of the Saudi oil industry. The region received emergency alerts during the attack.
Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense later said that the threat had ended. So far, no damage caused by the missiles has been officially recorded.
The Houthis had announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on Monday. The group threatened to interrupt Saudi oil transport through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The threat draws attention because Bab el-Mandeb is a strategic route for international trade. Any prolonged disruption could affect the flow of oil and increase pressure on the markets.
Current U.S. President Donald Trump also made new threats against Iran. On Thursday, he said that Tehran would be held responsible if the Houthis attacked Saudi vessels again.
“If they do that again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, claiming that the Houthis are a representative and/or instrument of Iran, and a major military punishment will be inflicted on Iran and, of course, on the Houthis themselves,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
American forces also carried out attacks against Iran during the week. Among the targets was the vessel M/T Lavine, accused of trying to break the blockade imposed on Iranian ports.
Trump also said that he is considering ordering a “massive attack” against Iran. Meanwhile, Pakistan is seeking a way to resume peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran.