Saudi Arabia Warns of Coordinated Attacks by Iran-Backed Militias on Energy and Port Facilities

Saudi Arabia is preparing for coordinated attacks planned by Iran-backed militias, including Iraqi groups and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to a senior Saudi official speaking to CNN. Intelligence reports indicate these forces, directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, intend to strike the kingdom "in the very near future" from both the north and south. The potential targets are primarily civilian and economic infrastructure such as energy facilities, ports, and airports.

This warning follows recent attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the strategic Gulf of Aden and multiple missile and drone strikes launched from Yemen and Iraq. The Saudi source revealed meetings between Iraqi militias, Houthis, and IRGC members, alongside observed movements of drones and missiles, suggesting a coordinated effort. Despite the threats, Saudi Arabia plans to continue diplomatic efforts with Iraqi authorities, viewing the attacks as attempts to disrupt ongoing negotiations and possibly reflecting internal Iranian power struggles.

Shortly after the warning, the Saudi-led coalition reported that 11 civilians were injured in a Houthi attack near the Yemen border in southern Saudi Arabia. Among the wounded were seven Saudi citizens, including a woman and a four-year-old child with second-degree burns, as well as Yemeni, Egyptian, and Pakistani nationals. The coalition condemned the indiscriminate shelling of civilian targets by the Houthi militia.

In regional developments, a trilateral summit between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan is scheduled for Friday in the holy city of Mecca. The summit is expected to result in a joint defense agreement. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthis in Yemen, but the conflict has persisted, contributing to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.