Middle East War Intensifies As Houthis Strike Saudi Cities, U.S. Hits Iranian Tankers

According to Nikkei Asia, the Middle East war escalated on Tuesday as Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen struck four cities in southern Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people and setting oil installations ablaze, while U.S. forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers and Iran fired a ballistic missile at a U.S. base near Al Azraq in Jordan. The U.S. military said no Americans were harmed, and Jordan said its air defenses intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles, with two landing in unpopulated areas and causing no casualties. The Houthis said they used drones and missiles to hit a Saudi airbase in Khamis Mushait and Saudi state oil company assets in Abha, Najran and Jazan. Saudi authorities reported fires at the sites, and NASA satellite images showed smoke over the Jazan refinery and an oil distribution center in Abha. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran would lose tankers each time it tried to hit U.S. naval ships. Brent crude futures rose after the attacks, reaching their highest level since July 23, though prices stayed below $100 a barrel.