Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Saudi oil ports and air bases

The Houthis, a Yemeni armed group backed by Iran, confirmed on the 16th that its armed men launched drones and missiles into Saudi cities after Saudi Arabian warplanes violently bombed Yemen. Previously, the youth movement rapidly advanced and further expanded Tehran's scope of influence in the Middle East war, leading to continued escalation of conflicts between the two parties.

Reuters reported that as the war expanded to new battlefields, the United States further tightened its travel warning to Saudi Arabia, banning government employees from traveling within about 32 kilometers of the Yemeni border, indicating that the conflict continues to worsen.

Please read on...

Since last week, the youth movement has rapidly captured many towns along the Red Sea coast of Yemen and seized many islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the mouth of the Red Sea. Video of the battlefield released by the youth movement showed armed men seizing armored vehicles from Saudi-backed forces. The video also shows fighter jets flying overhead, huge explosions in the desert, and thick smoke rising into the sky.

Yahya Saree, spokesman for the youth movement, said on the 16th that the organization once again used drones and missiles to attack Yanbu, the main oil port on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, and an air base in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia.

Sarea did not say when the attack occurred. Saudi Arabia issued alerts for multiple locations, including two cities, on the 15th, but did not issue similar alerts on the 16th.

Saraya also revealed earlier that the youth movement shot down a Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jet, but did not immediately provide relevant evidence.

Sarea pointed out that Saudi Arabia has launched as many as 450 air strikes on Yemen this week. Officials in the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, which controls southern Yemen, have admitted that their forces and Saudi Arabian forces are carrying out air strikes on youth movement strongholds, although Riyadh has not confirmed the actions.

In the past week, youth movements have launched multiple attacks into Saudi Arabia, causing sirens to sound in many cities in southern and western Saudi Arabia.

In addition, an attack last week blamed on pro-Iranian militants in Iraq also caused the suspension of operations of Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline. This pipeline is the main pipeline used by Saudi Arabia to reroute oil for export when the Strait of Hormuz is blocked.

Riyadh stated that on the 15th, a Youth Movement drone almost broke into the restricted airspace of the holy city of Mecca and was shot down by the Saudi air defense system south of Mecca. Saudi Arabia described the attack as crossing a "red line" that threatens sacred religious sites for all Muslims.

In this regard, youth movement spokesman Saraya denied that the organization had targeted Mecca and said that Saudi Arabia had set a trap for propaganda purposes.

Sources told Reuters in recent days that U.S. officials held talks with the youth movement in Oman over the weekend. The youth movement said at the meeting that it had no intention of attacking U.S. ships and pledged to abide by the ceasefire agreement reached with the United States last year.