Houthis claim attacks on Saudi oil facilities, airbase

Yemen’s Houthi movement on Wednesday claimed that it had carried out attacks targeting Saudi energy facilities in Yanbu and an airbase in Khamis Mushait, escalating tensions in the region.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had launched attacks against what he described as Saudi military and strategic targets. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the claims.

The developments came amid a broader escalation involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United States, with reports of drone and missile activity across the region.

Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the IRGC, Iranian air defence systems detected the drone at around 2:29am local time on Wednesday before intercepting and destroying it. Iranian state media described it as the 52nd MQ-9 drone claimed to have been brought down by Iranian forces.

The US military had not immediately issued a response to the Iranian claim.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance said Washington would pursue its own interests in the Middle East while maintaining its partnership with Israel.

Speaking on the All-In Podcast, Vance said the United States did not always agree with Israel and should not allow its Middle East policy to become subordinate to the Israeli government. He said Washington would cooperate with its partners where interests aligned but would also maintain the ability to disagree.

In another development, Houthi forces claimed to have shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemen’s Ma’rib province. Saree said the aircraft was conducting what he called hostile operations in support of Saudi-aligned forces.

The Houthis also claimed that another Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighter aircraft were forced to withdraw while searching for the wreckage of the downed aircraft. Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the claims.

Tensions also rose over reports of a drone near Makkah. The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis before it entered restricted airspace around the holy city.

Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said the drone was intercepted on Tuesday evening and that its wreckage fell south of Makkah. He warned that the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims remained a red line.

The Houthis rejected the Saudi-led coalition’s account, with a Houthi official denying that the group had targeted Makkah.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the reported attacks and expressed concern over threats to holy sites and civilians.

At the same time, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington was intensifying economic pressure on Iran. He said the United States was pursuing a major campaign aimed at isolating Iran financially and targeting entities accused of helping Tehran bypass sanctions.

Bessent told the House Financial Services Committee that Washington would strengthen enforcement against businesses and financial networks facilitating Iranian trade. He said additional measures against alleged sanctions facilitators were expected to begin taking effect on September 23.

Iran, meanwhile, described the approval of its membership in the General Committee of an International Atomic Energy Agency conference as a political setback for Washington. Iranian envoy Reza Najafi said the United States had opposed Iran’s membership, but the matter was ultimately put to a vote and Iran’s inclusion was approved.