Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have attacked Saudi Arabia from Iraqi territory, according to assessments by Saudi Arabia and regional partners. The attacks, which included strikes on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province, were carried out in coordination with Iraqi armed groups.
Background
The Houthis have a history of ties with Iraqi groups loyal to Iran, particularly with Kataib Hezbollah. In 2024, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi announced the existence of a joint operations room between the Houthis and Iraqi factions.
The attacks also show the increasingly important role Iraq is playing as a node in the Axis of Resistance, a network of Iran-aligned militias in the region. Iraq’s large geography and vast open spaces make it easy for the Houthis and other Iran-aligned groups to hide in and launch covert attacks from.
Saudi Arabia carried out joint airstrikes with the United States on Iraqi sites on Wednesday that it said were linked to the attacks, officially blaming Iraqi armed groups aligned with Iran. Iraq has said it is investigating the claims.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
