Saudi Arabia and Houthis exchange border strikes as oil supply concerns grow
Fresh Saudi-Houthi attacks, a tanker fire in the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea evacuations heightened concerns over Gulf oil supplies.
Taif, Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement exchanged fresh strikes on Thursday, while Yemenis used boats in the Red Sea to flee fighting as the wider Middle East war raised concerns over global oil supplies.
Saudi civil defence said a Yemeni resident was killed by debris from an intercepted drone over Taif, the first death announced by Riyadh in repeated Houthi attacks since fighting escalated last week.
Strikes in Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Houthi-controlled television reported Saudi airstrikes in Yemen’s Hajjah province, near the Saudi border and the Red Sea coast, as well as near Taiz further inland to the south.
Saudi Arabia said more than 80 people had previously been wounded in Houthi attacks.
Tanker fire in Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker caught fire after being hit while attempting what it described as an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media.
The Guards Navy said the tanker halted after the fire.
Oil route concerns
The expansion of the conflict to Yemen and Saudi Arabia has increased concerns over oil supplies, putting at risk the main alternative Red Sea route for Gulf exports while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained.
US President Donald Trump has rejected Saudi requests for military support against the Houthis, who agreed to a ceasefire with the United States last year after Washington bombed the group for two months.
Trump weighs Iran action
Trump said on Thursday that he was approaching a critical decision on whether to resume large-scale attacks on Iran.
“I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them or do I not? It’s a big decision. Anything could happen with me,” Trump said in an interview with Axios.
The president faces potential political losses for his Republican Party in November’s midterm elections, partly due to higher energy prices since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February. Trump has previously threatened major new attacks that did not materialise.
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