Saudi officials warn that Iraqi militia factions, coordinating with Iran‑backed Houthi forces and reportedly involving some IRGC members, are planning multiple near‑term attacks on the kingdom. Intelligence indicates the strikes could target civilian and economic infrastructure, particularly energy facilities, ports and airports. The alert comes amid de‑escalation talks involving Iran and after a Houthi‑claimed attack on a Saudi oil tanker. Saudi Arabia reported 11 civilians wounded in a recent Houthi strike near the Yemen border.
Saudi Warns Of Imminent Coordinated Attacks On Ports And Airports By Iraq-Based Militias And Iran‑Backed Houthis
A satellite view of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital trade route linking the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Suez Canal, and Mediterranean. It is also a hotspot for piracy and regional conflict, raising risks for global shipping, energy markets, and international commerce. - Gallo Images/Getty Images/File
Saudi officials have warned that some Iraqi militia factions, working in coordination with Iran‑backed Houthi forces and reportedly guided by members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), are planning multiple coordinated attacks against targets in the kingdom in the near term, a Saudi official told CNN.
Intelligence and Allegations
The warning is based on "multiple intelligence reports" shared by Saudi Arabia, the United States and regional partners. Saudi authorities say they have detected meetings between Iraqi operatives, Houthi representatives and certain IRGC members, along with observed movements of drones and missiles that authorities believe signal planned strikes.
"Saudi Arabia will take all necessary measures to deal with any aggression," the official said.
Officials told CNN that the planned operations appear designed to strike both from the north (Iraq) and the south (Yemen), and that likely targets would be primarily civilian and economic infrastructure — including energy facilities, ports and airports — though no specific locations were disclosed.
Recent Attacks And Casualties
The alert follows a Houthi claim of responsibility for an attack on a Saudi oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, a vital shipping lane. In recent weeks, Saudi territory has also experienced missile and drone strikes attributed to the Houthis and Iran‑aligned militias operating from Iraq.
Shortly after the Saudi official's statement, the Saudi‑led coalition reported that 11 civilians were injured in a Houthi attack in southern Saudi Arabia near the Yemen border. Among the wounded were seven Saudi nationals — including a woman and a 4‑year‑old child who sustained second‑degree burns — as well as one Yemeni, two Egyptians and a Pakistani. The coalition described the assault as indiscriminate shelling against civilian objects.
Diplomacy, De‑Escalation And Regional Responses
Officials said the intelligence was especially alarming because it surfaced while Riyadh was pursuing de‑escalation and negotiations involving Iran that appeared to be making progress. Saudi authorities said they would continue diplomatic contacts, including with Iraqi officials, even as they prepared defensive measures. Specific details of those responses were not disclosed.
Regional sources say Saudi Arabia will host a summit in Mecca with Turkey and Pakistan, where the countries are expected to announce a joint defense agreement. Analysts say such cooperation would reflect rising regional concern about cross‑border militia activity and threats to commercial and civilian infrastructure.
Background
Saudi Arabia led a military intervention against the Houthis in Yemen in 2015. The campaign failed to dislodge the group from northern Yemen and helped create a prolonged humanitarian crisis. The recent intelligence report highlights the risk that the broader Middle East conflict could widen through linked militia operations across national borders.
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