Houthis claim successful strike on Saudi oil company

Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed they successfully struck a Saudi state-run oil company in Riyadh.

The Houthis made the claim amid reports on Saturday that smoke was rising near a company facility in the Saudi capital. They said in a statement that they carried out strikes with missiles and drones, resulting in fires breaking out at the targeted sites.

This comes as the Iran-backed Houthis step up their offensive against the Saudi-backed interim government in Yemen. The Houthis have expanded their control over areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The waterway is located at the mouth of the Red Sea, which serves as an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz. The move has raised concerns about instability in the global energy market.

Saudi state-run media said ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis toward southwestern Saudi Arabia were intercepted on Friday.

Meanwhile, Reuters news agency reported, quoting Middle Eastern and Western officials, that Saudi Arabia is planning an offensive against the Houthis in the coming weeks. Riyadh will reportedly support the operation with air strikes.

The report also said the options being considered are either a focused attack on the area around Bab el-Mandeb or a broader offensive that also includes attacks on multiple fronts in Yemen.

Concerns are growing about increasing military tensions.