Saudi Arabia said Tuesday that it shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for a second day, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around as part of their self-styled blockade of the kingdom. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The attacks underscored lingering tensions despite a period of calm between the United States and Iran, neither of which has announced attacks for days following weeks of escalation over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Saudi Defense Ministry said drones launched from Iraq were directed at the kingdom's northern regions and were destroyed by air defenses. The attacks may have targeted Saudi oil infrastructure.
The Houthis claimed to have forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn around in the Red Sea as part of their maritime blockade. The tanker was Saudi-owned, and its crew was unharmed.
These events show that regional instability continues despite the de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran. Saudi Arabia and its allies condemn Iran's actions in the region and call on the international community to hold it accountable.