The Iranian-backed Houthi militant group claimed responsibility for a drone strike targeting a Saudi Aramco oil facility in Jazan on Sunday, according to reports confirmed by the Saudi Energy Ministry and international news outlets. The escalation follows a series of cross-border attacks that threaten fragile waterways and regional stability.
Houthi Strikes Hit Saudi Oil Facility and Red Sea Port
Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Houthis, stated that the group targeted an Aramco refinery in Jazan using a drone, framing the attack as retaliation for Saudi drones breaching Yemeni airspace over the Hajjah and Saada provinces, according to reporting by Associated Press. The Saudi Energy Ministry reported a fire at an Aramco facility early Sunday morning. The ministry confirmed that authorities extinguished the blaze quickly and that no casualties occurred, though officials did not specify the exact cause of the fire.
In addition to the refinery strike, Houthi forces launched missiles and drones at the Mocha port on the Red Sea, according to Fayed al-Noman, assistant undersecretary of the Yemeni information ministry. The strikes caused severe damage to port buildings, the pier, commercial goods, and food supplies. Mocha serves as a vital shipping hub for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, handling maritime traffic that bypasses Houthi-controlled ports in Hodeida. The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the port attack, stating they deployed a large number of ballistic missiles and drones against military infrastructure in the area.
Iran Issues New Demands Regarding the Strait of Hormuz
As maritime tensions mount, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States changes its regional policy. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of the council and a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, outlined strict conditions through Iran’s state broadcaster, as reported by ABC News.
Iran’s demands include a permanent end to military actions by the United States and its regional allies, the lifting of naval blockades on Iranian ports, the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the area, complete compensation for war damages, the removal of sanctions, and the unconditional release of frozen Iranian assets. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Iran and Oman are working to finalize a temporary agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed interim deal would allow vessels to transit the waterway toll-free via designated routes near Iran and Oman, aiming to restore a prior framework and restart negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
Pentagon Responds to Depleted U.S. Munitions Stockpiles
In Washington, the Pentagon is accelerating weapons production to address supply strains resulting from ongoing Middle East conflicts. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the Department of Defense is actively focused on boosting munitions acquisitions to meet urgent military demands, as reported by Associated Press.
A recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates that the conflict with Iran has depleted U.S. military stockpiles of advanced missile interceptors. Parnell noted that the push for accelerated delivery schedules is part of a broader military modernization initiative that predates the current five-month-old conflict.
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