More than two dozen American servicemen have been injured in Iranian attacks on a Saudi Arabian military installation, as the Middle East conflict expands with Yemen’s entry into hostilities for the first time.
Sources confirmed that 15 US personnel were wounded during a Friday strike on the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia, part of a broader week of Iranian operations targeting American forces stationed in the region.
The escalation has prompted warnings from US President Donald Trump, who suggested yesterday he may deploy troops to the area—a move Tehran has cautioned would come at considerable cost.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia has now joined the conflict after launching missiles towards Israel overnight, marking their first direct involvement in the current Israeli-US confrontation with Iran. The Israeli military reported successfully intercepting the strike, though the development has raised alarm about potential threats to commercial shipping routes in surrounding waters.
In a pre-recorded statement on Friday, Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Saree outlined circumstances under which the group would intervene militarily on behalf of Iran, stating their “fingers are on the trigger” for direct action. The conditions included continued escalation against what he termed the “Islamic Republic and the Axis of Jihad and Resistance.”
The militia has since confirmed its operations will persist until what it describes as “aggression” across multiple fronts ceases.
Overnight strikes continued across the region, hitting targets in Iran, Lebanon, Israel and Bahrain. Israeli officials have indicated plans to intensify attacks on the Islamic regime.
Iranian media reported on Saturday that residential areas came under US-Israeli bombardment, resulting in civilian casualties. According to Fars news agency, strikes on Borujerd in western Lorestan province killed seven people and wounded 36 others, whilst attacks on the northwestern city of Zanjan left five dead and seven injured, ISNA reported.
Iran’s overall casualty figures remain unclear due to restricted media access. The health ministry’s most recent official count stood at over 1,200 deaths as of 8 March, though this figure could not be independently verified. Unconfirmed reports suggest the toll may have risen above 1,900.
The widening conflict has sparked international concern about a broader regional confrontation, with multiple fronts now active and additional actors entering the hostilities. The threat to vital shipping lanes adds another dimension to an already volatile situation.
