Saudi Arabia downs Iraq-launched drones as Houthis target oil tanker

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones launched from Iraq and a Saudi tanker came under Houthi attack. The incidents underline persistent regional tension despite a brief lull between Iran and the United States.

In Short

• Riyadh said eastern petroleum sites were targeted for a second straight day
• Iraq ordered an investigation after allegations launches originated from its territory
• Iran-backed militias denied involvement and called Saudi accusations fabricated claims

Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday that it had shot down drones fired by Iran-backed militias in Iraq for the second day in a row, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they had forced a Saudi oil tanker to turn back as part of what they call a blockade of the kingdom.

The incidents pointed to continuing tensions in the region despite a few days of relative calm between the United States and Iran after weeks of escalation around the Strait of Hormuz. Neither side has announced attacks for days.

The Saudi Defence Ministry said air defences intercepted and destroyed several drones that had tried to target petroleum facilities in the country's eastern region. It said the attacks were 'once again launched from Iraqi territory and carried out by Iran-affiliated terrorist militias'. After Saudi Arabia alleged a similar attack on Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered security agencies to investigate. The Iraqi military said Iraq was committed to 'preventing Iraqi territory from being used as a route or launching point for any attack targeting brotherly or friendly countries'.

The Iraqi militias denied any role in the drone attacks. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed groups, called the Saudi claims 'fabrications' and suggested that Monday's attacks had been carried out by the Houthis, who had themselves claimed to have targeted Saudi oil facilities.

At the same time, the Houthis said they had fired missiles at the Saudi oil tanker NCC Ghazal, forcing it to turn back. Last week, they announced a blockade of Saudi shipping, raising the risk to another key Middle East waterway through the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said a tanker reported hearing explosions while travelling in the southern Red Sea. It did not name the vessel, but said the crew and ship were safe. The rebels also fired on at least one Saudi tanker in the Red Sea last week.

Iran and the US paused their fighting over the weekend, though tensions remained high even as officials said mediators had made progress in trying to bring the two sides back to negotiations. Iran said on Tuesday that US strikes during an earlier phase of escalation had destroyed an airport and a marine control tower, and damaged 12 bridges and two tunnels, among other infrastructure. The US military had said at the time that it struck several military targets in response to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran then retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Arab countries hosting US forces.

Overall, the new drone interceptions, the claimed attack on a Saudi tanker and the fresh exchanges between Iran and the US showed that tensions in the region remain in place despite the recent lull.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends