US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that Iran is
behind the recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, given the Yemeni group's
close ties to Tehran.
"The Houthis, in many ways, are agents and allies of
Iran. I think the Iranian hand is clearly behind this," Rubio declared.
The official emphasized that the United States maintains a
strong defensive military relationship with Saudi Arabia and assured that
Washington is closely monitoring developments.
Rubio also noted that the conflict is not limited to attacks
on Saudi territory, as ground clashes have been reported between Yemeni forces
and the Houthis. He explained that government forces have managed to repel some
of the group's advances.
"We are monitoring this very, very closely," the
Secretary of State reiterated, referring to the situation and its potential implications
for regional security.