Iran has claimed attacks on two major aluminium plants in the Gulf, further escalating the economic stakes of the Middle East war after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis joined the conflict. The country’s Revolutionary Guards said they fired missiles and drones at plants belonging to two of the world’s largest aluminium producers in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, targeting industries linked to the US military. The attacks have raised concerns about the war spreading to the Red Sea, with Saudi Arabia rerouting much of its oil exports to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran says it has closed to shipping from hostile powers.
The Houthis, who have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claimed their first attack of the war, firing a barrage of cruise missiles and drones at strategic sites in Israel. The US and Israel have been engaging in strikes against Iran, with the Pentagon preparing plans for weeks of ground operations. Pakistan is hosting talks with Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt to discuss de-escalation efforts.
