Iran-backed fighters in Yemen and Iraq are joining forces to threaten the Gulf, officials say

Regional officials report that Iran-backed fighters in Yemen and Iraq are joining forces to pose a coordinated threat to the Gulf region. This development follows events in July when Saudi Arabia and the United States conducted airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

The retaliatory strikes in July occurred after authorities blamed those Iraqi militias for drone attacks targeting Saudi oil facilities. Notably, those same drone attacks had been publicly claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are recognized as another Iranian-allied group.