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Iran tells Houthis to prepare Red Sea disruption if US hits infrastructure
The report says missiles and drones have been deployed near Bab el-Mandeb, and Houthi actions could target Saudi oil facilities and ports.
Iran has reportedly instructed Yemen’s Houthi forces to prepare to disrupt the Red Sea oil route if the United States attacks Iranian power infrastructure, according to OilPrice. The outlet says missiles and drones have been deployed near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Houthi units awaiting an order reportedly linked to Iran’s IRGC to begin attacks on shipping as of late Thursday.
OilPrice frames the move as part of Tehran’s pressure campaign on key oil routes, describing it as adding the Houthis to pressure points beyond Iran’s Hormuz leverage. The report also notes that on July 13 Yemeni government forces struck the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing, after which the Houthis responded with ballistic missiles and drones against Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia.
OilPrice adds that on July 16 Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi warned Saudi oil facilities, ports, airports, and other critical infrastructure would become missile and drone targets if Riyadh does not stop what it is accused of doing, signaling a breakdown in Gulf relations following the end of a relative calm since the 2022 truce.