Saudi Arabia expects imminent Iran-backed attacks

A senior Saudi official said on Thursday that intelligence reports from Saudi Arabia, the United States and other regional countries indicated that Iraqi militias and Yemen's Houthis, under the supervision of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were preparing imminent coordinated attacks from the north and south. The attacks could target civilian and economic sites, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports. Saudi Arabia observed drones and missiles being moved, suggesting coordinated operations. The official said the planned attacks could be intended to disrupt de-escalation and diplomatic efforts, which appeared to be moving in the right direction. Saudi-U.S. cooperation remained very high, including operationally with United States — United States Central Command, and Saudi Arabia was prepared to respond to any aggression. On July 29, Saudi Arabia carried out strikes with CENTCOM against Iran-backed groups in Iraq after blaming them for drone attacks on its oil facilities. Iraqi militias said they would respond. Tensions with the Houthis have escalated after the group imposed a naval blockade on the kingdom in the Red Sea and claimed attacks on Saudi shipping and military targets. Late Thursday, Houthi attacks wounded 11 civilians in southern Saudi Arabia, an unprecedented toll in over four years of hostilities, according to the Riyadh-led coalition.