Iran-backed Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi Arabia as Middle East war widens

Key Points:

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels vowed retaliation against Saudi Arabia after Riyadh struck Houthi military targets in Yemen’s Hodeida and Kamaran island, accusing the kingdom of targeting civilian infrastructure.
• The Saudi-led coalition said its strikes targeted Houthi sites threatening Red Sea commercial vessels, following Houthi attacks on Saudi ships and a maritime blockade announced by the rebels.
• US President Donald Trump stated he had not decided on launching major strikes on Iran, despite reports of discussions about a large-scale military operation amid ongoing tensions.
• The US military disabled a merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade of Iran’s ports and shot down explosives-laden drones near Irbil, Iraq, amid escalating regional hostilities.
• Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, while Bahrain and Jordan reported intercepting Iranian aerial attacks, highlighting the widening conflict in the Middle East.