Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched attacks on four cities in southern Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, injuring at least 73 people and setting oil facilities ablaze in what appeared to mark a significant expansion of the six-month-old Middle East conflict.
The coordinated strikes targeted several locations in the kingdom, a key US ally, raising fresh concerns that the conflict could draw more countries directly into the escalating regional confrontation.
Authorities reported that more than 70 people were injured in the attacks, while fires broke out at oil installations following the strikes.
The attacks represent one of the most serious Houthi operations against Saudi Arabia since the wider regional conflict intensified, underscoring fears that the war is spreading beyond its original areas of confrontation.
Saudi emergency and security authorities were deployed to affected locations to contain the fires, assist victims and assess the extent of the damage.
The Houthi escalation is expected to heighten pressure on Saudi Arabia and its allies as the Middle East conflict enters another dangerous phase, with concerns growing over the security of major energy infrastructure and the possibility of further attacks across the region.
