Houthis claim oil facility strike near Saudi capital as tensions escalate

The Houthi movement announced it had struck an oil facility near Saudi Arabia's capital, adding to escalating military operations between the group and the Saudi-led coalition. The claim comes as Saudi forces intensified their aerial campaign against Houthi-held areas in Sanaa and surrounding regions.

Details regarding the facility targeted and the extent of any damage remain unclear. The Houthis have previously conducted drone and missile attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, though many have been intercepted by coalition air defenses.

Saudi Arabia and its allies have maintained an air campaign in Yemen since 2015 following the Houthis' takeover of much of the country's north. The group, which receives support from Iran, has responded with periodic attacks on Saudi territory and regional shipping lanes.

The escalating tit-for-tat attacks underscore the entrenched nature of the conflict, which has ravaged Yemen's economy and created what the United Nations has described as a humanitarian crisis. International efforts to broker a ceasefire have achieved limited success, with both sides exchanging blame for obstruction.