CNN reports that Saudi Arabia is preparing for the possibility of immediate attacks from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen, which could target ports, energy facilities, and airports.
CNN reported Friday morning that Saudi Arabia is preparing for the possibility of immediate attacks from pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen, with potential targets including ports, energy facilities, and airports. The report, citing a Saudi official, indicates a high state of alert in the kingdom. This development follows a night of escalating warnings and comes as regional tensions remain elevated.
The first reports of a planned combined attack emerged Thursday evening, when an unverified report claimed Iran, the Houthis, and allied militias were preparing a strike on Saudi Arabia "very soon." That was quickly followed by a Saudi source telling Al-Arabiya that Iran and its proxies were preparing an attack. By Thursday night, a senior Saudi official told Reuters that the targets included energy facilities, ports, and airports. Concurrently, a Saudi official told CNN that the kingdom was bracing for coordinated attacks, and Iraqi security forces were reportedly deployed in Baghdad to prevent the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces from escalating. Later that evening, Saudi briefings identified movement of missiles and drones for potential launch, and another Saudi official warned of imminent combined strikes. The current CNN report consolidates the target list.
The Houthi movement, which The Zioneer has reported on as a central pillar of the Iranian-led "Axis of Resistance," has been escalating its campaign against Saudi Arabia. As The Zioneer reported on July 27, Iraqi Shia militias joined Houthi strikes on Saudi oil facilities, with fires reported at the Abqaiq facility. On July 30, The Zioneer reported that a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia from Iraq was coordinated with local groups and under IRGC oversight. Additionally, on July 25, The Zioneer reported that the United States, Israel, and Gulf states were preparing for a joint military operation against Iran and the Houthis.
The reports remain attributed to Saudi officials and have not been independently verified. The exact timing and scope of any potential attack remain unclear. The Iraqi deployment suggests some efforts to contain escalation, but the threat level remains high.
11 developments
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia prepares 'violent wave' of strikes against Houthis, warns of Iranian attack plans
- ConfirmedSaudi Arabia reportedly preparing large-scale military operation against Houthis in Yemen
- DevelopingSaudi Arabia takes Iran, Houthi threats 'very seriously,' regional sources say
- DevelopingHananel Aviv: Iraqi Shiite Militias Join Houthis in Striking Saudi Oil Targets
Source and signal
- Open-source intake