A fighter loyal to Yemen's Houthi movement walks over depictions of the ‘Israeli’ and US during a demonstration at the Sanaa University campus.
Day 149 | Houthis target Saudi oil as new Middle East front
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they had launched missile and drone salvos against Saudi Arabia's oil facilities on Saturday, as fighting between regional allies of the United States and Iran intensified on a new front.
In a video statement, military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group targeted sites operated by the Saudi oil giant Aramco in Jizan and Yanbu, threatening to expand the group's response if attacked by the Gulf monarchy.
Earlier, the Houthis’ media had said a strike on Jizan had sparked fires. A video circulating on social media showed dark clouds rising above a refinery belonging to Aramco in the city.
The Iran-backed group had accused US ally Saudi Arabia of a "dangerous escalation" after Riyadh struck Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday.
The renewed exchange of fire between the US and Iranian allies signals the emergence of a new front in the Middle East war following US and ‘Israeli’ strikes on Iran at the end of February.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted Tehran could not be blamed for the situation, and offered to help start a dialogue between the Houthis and the Saudis, arguing that "there is no military solution to the issue".
The threat to shipping comes in parallel with Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has become the central flashpoint between Tehran and Washington amid renewed hostilities between the two sides.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Saturday their forces stopped four ships attempting to transit the strategic chokepoint over the past 24 hours.
Kuwait denies involvement in alleged strikes on Iran
Kuwait on Saturday firmly rejected a Wall Street Journal report claiming that it and Bahrain had carried out secret airstrikes against Iranian military targets earlier this month.
The denial came from Kuwait’s ambassador to the United States, Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, who described the allegations as unfounded.
In a statement reported by Kuwait Times, the ambassador said: “The State of Kuwait has not participated in any military operations against Iran, nor has it permitted its territory to be used to launch offensive operations against any neighboring state.”
Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah also sent a formal letter to the newspaper’s editorial board, calling the claims “entirely false” and urging a correction.
The Wall Street Journal report, published Friday and citing people familiar with the matter, stated that Bahrain and Kuwait secretly sent fighter jets to attack drone- and missile-storage depots and other military sites inside Iran early in July.
It described the action as the first known direct retaliatory strikes by either country against Tehran. The United Arab Emirates allegedly provided intelligence on targets and defensive air cover, according to the report, which could not be verified entirely.
Iran has focused much of its recent retaliatory fire on Bahrain and Kuwait, both of which host major US military bases.
The Journal noted that the two Gulf states have relatively small air forces but did not want to allow continued attacks without a response.
Bahrain’s government has not publicly commented on the report.
The broader conflict between the United States and Iran is now in its fifth month, with no clear resolution in sight.
Gulf Arab states have absorbed significant punishment, facing disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, damage to infrastructure, and economic pressure.
CENTCOM says disabled ship trying to break blockade on Iran
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said that it redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to break the blockade on Iran, as of Saturday.
It adds that it “disabled” two vessels that didn’t comply, and boarded another two to “ensure total compliance”.
“Earlier today, U.S. forces completed a verification boarding aboard Comoros-flagged M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea, and the tanker is now continuing its journey,” CENTCOM adds in the statement.
“CENTCOM forces disabled Mozambique-flagged M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman, July 24, after the crew attempted to violate the blockade multiple times and ignored repeated warnings. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,” CENTCOM continued.
The U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect. As of July 25, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn't comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 25, 2026
Earlier today, U.S. forces completed a verification… pic.twitter.com/eyp1N2B9sO
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