Los rebeldes hutíes en Yemen afirmaron haber atacado instalaciones petroleras saudíes. Los saudíes culparon a las milicias iraquíes y se unieron a Estados Unidos en los bombardeos contra ellas. Irán lanzó misiles contra Jordania. Drones incendiaron barcos en Egipto.

Pero en realidad no es tan complicado como parece, y todo está relacionado con la guerra más amplia entre Estados Unidos e Irán, actualmente centrada en el estrecho de Ormuz.

Irán apoya a grupos terroristas en todo Medio Oriente, lo que le permite proyectar su poder mucho más allá de sus fronteras. Estados Unidos tiene miles de soldados desplegados en países árabes aliados que han sido blanco de represalias iraníes.

He aquí un análisis de por qué tantos frentes parecen estar calentándose al mismo tiempo.

El epicentro de la violencia más reciente es el estrecho de Ormuz, un paso en forma de codo que discurre entre Irán y Omán y por donde transitaba una quinta parte del petróleo y el gas comercializados en el mundo antes de la guerra.

Irán afirma controlar la vía marítima y ha atacado a barcos que intentaban utilizar una ruta alternativa supervisada por el ejército estadounidense a lo largo de la costa de Omán.

Estados Unidos ha atacado a Irán en respuesta, afirmando que el estrecho debería estar abierto a todo el tráfico internacional, como lo estaba antes del ataque estadounidense e israelí contra Irán el 28 de febrero. Cuando Estados Unidos ataca a Irán, este responde lanzando misiles y drones contra países árabes que albergan fuerzas estadounidenses, como Jordania y Kuwait.

Los intercambios de disparos de las últimas semanas provocaron el fracaso de un acuerdo provisional destinado a poner fin a la guerra. Esto ha profundizado la desconfianza entre ambas partes. En este momento, Irán parece estar más interesado en afianzar su control sobre el estrecho que en llegar a un acuerdo con Estados Unidos para el levantamiento de las sanciones internacionales.

Los hutíes de Yemen están entrando en acción

Los hutíes de Yemen, respaldados por Irán, que se mantuvieron al margen durante la fase inicial de la guerra, han declarado un bloqueo a Arabia Saudí, amenazando el tráfico marítimo a través de otra importante ruta comercial que atraviesa el estrecho de Bab el-Mandeb y el Mar Rojo hasta el Canal de Suez en Egipto.

Los hutíes también afirman haber atacado la infraestructura petrolera saudí cerca de un oleoducto que conecta el este y el oeste del país, el cual ha utilizado para transportar millones de barriles de petróleo desde que el estrecho de Ormuz fue cerrado de facto.

Las tensiones entre los hutíes y Arabia Saudí tienen su origen en un conflicto distinto, pero relacionado, que se remonta a más de una década y que parece estar reavivándose. Sin embargo, también representan un nuevo frente en el que Irán podría presionar a un aliado clave de Estados Unidos y, potencialmente, estrangular aún más el suministro energético mundial, con repercusiones que trascienden las fronteras regionales.

Ambrey, empresa de seguridad marítima, ha registrado más de 10 tránsitos que cambiaron de rumbo en el Mar Rojo y el Golfo de Adén desde que se anunció el bloqueo naval de los hutíes contra Arabia Saudí. Según los últimos datos de Ambrey, los tránsitos por Bab al-Mandeb han disminuido un 30% desde el 21 de julio en comparación con junio.

A principios de esta semana, Arabia Saudita acusó a las milicias respaldadas por Irán en Irak de lanzar ataques con drones contra sus instalaciones petroleras durante dos días consecutivos. En respuesta, aviones de combate estadounidenses y saudíes bombardearon posiciones de las milicias en Irak, causando la muerte de al menos 20 combatientes y seis asesores iraníes.

Irak mantiene estrechos lazos con Estados Unidos e Irán y lleva mucho tiempo intentando mantener un equilibrio entre ambos. Desde el inicio de la guerra, se ha encontrado literalmente en medio de un fuego cruzado. El gobierno condenó los ataques estadounidenses y saudíes, afirmando que se produjeron mientras intentaba investigar lo sucedido.

Las Fuerzas de Movilización Popular, un conjunto de grupos armados cercanos a Irán, forman parte oficialmente de las fuerzas de seguridad iraquíes, pero a menudo actúan de forma autónoma, incluso atacando a las fuerzas estadounidenses estacionadas en Irak.

Las fuerzas estadounidenses tienen previsto finalizar su retirada del país a finales de septiembre, y el gobierno iraquí se ha comprometido a desarmar a los actores no estatales o a integrarlos en el ejército. Sin embargo, estos esfuerzos podrían estancarse mientras la guerra continúa.

Las fuerzas estadounidenses restantes están desplegadas en la región semiautónoma kurda de Irak, donde también operan grupos armados disidentes kurdos iraníes. Irán ha atacado a ambas regiones a lo largo de la guerra.

El miércoles, un ataque con drones contra el puerto egipcio de Damietta, en el Mediterráneo, incendió dos buques de gas natural, entre ellos una instalación flotante de almacenamiento propiedad de Estados Unidos.

Nadie ha reivindicado el ataque y los hutíes han negado su responsabilidad.

Egipto, un estrecho aliado de Estados Unidos y mediador regional, es uno de los pocos países de Oriente Medio que ha evitado la intervención militar en la guerra.

Israel, que participó en el bombardeo inicial de Irán, que duró varias semanas, y que fue blanco repetido de misiles iraníes al principio del conflicto, se ha mantenido al margen desde el acuerdo de paz provisional.

El grupo terrorista Hezbollah, respaldado por Irán, lanzó cohetes contra el norte de Israel poco después del estallido de la guerra. Israel respondió con bombardeos aéreos y una invasión terrestre. Desde entonces, ha ocupado, despoblado y destruido gran parte del sur del Líbano, argumentando que tales medidas son necesarias para erradicar a los militantes.

La tregua del 20 de junio se ha mantenido en gran medida. Israel y el gobierno libanés están implementando las etapas iniciales de un acuerdo que contempla la retirada de las fuerzas israelíes y el despliegue del ejército libanés. El acuerdo también estipula el desarme de Hezbollah. El grupo ha rechazado el acuerdo y podría resistir violentamente cualquier intento de desarmarlo por la fuerza.

Cualquier ataque de Irán, Hebzbollah o Israel podría reavivar esas hostilidades, reabriendo un nuevo frente.

(AP)

Conservatives aren’t willing to forgive and forget the COVID-19 lockdowns — a fact made clear online as fury erupted during and after Dr. Anthony Fauci’s appearance before Congress on Wednesday where he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Those who opposed the lockdowns, which Fauci bragged about helping implement in his now-infamous diary but extensively denied implementing publicly, had a field day online recalling the policies pushed by the one-time White House health advisor.

«Reminder how insane the world was in 2021,» Dr. Mollie James, a trauma surgeon and internet personality, said on X. She was commenting on a video of professional golfer Jon Rahm, who was forced to withdraw from a PGA Tour event while holding a six-stroke lead because he tested positive for the virus while he was on the golf course.

The winner of that tournament earned north of $1.6 million.

FAUCI PRIVATELY TOOK CREDIT FOR COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS DESPITE PUBLIC DENIAL, NEWLY EXPOSED DIARY ENTRIES REVEAL

«Never forget that California arrested a man for paddleboarding alone to keep him safe from COVID,» recalled conservative activist Alex Lorusso, who goes by @alx on X. «Most retarded time period in human history.»

The Malibu paddleboarder, who was alone on the water, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of disobeying a lifeguard after allegedly violating Los Angeles’ lockdown orders. 

«Dr. Fauci isn’t the only guilty one,» Rep. Lance Gooden, D-Texas, said on X. «Democrats went as far as filling outdoor skate parks with sand to enforce their draconian COVID-19 lockdowns. Americans should never forget what they did.»

Along with the post, he added a viral video showing a backhoe shoveling sand into a Venice Beach skate park.

Dr. Anthony Fauci listens during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Fauci declined to answer questions, asserting his Fifth Amendment right. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

LEGACY MEDIA COVERS ANTHONY FAUCI DIARY BY CRITICIZING DONALD TRUMP INSTEAD OF FAUCI’S DISHONESTY

Kelly McCarty, a very outspoken critic of lockdowns and mRNA vaccines, posted a video of Ohio mother Alecia Ketts being tased and arrested by a school resource officer after refusing to wear a mask while watching a football game outside.

Ketts was with her children at the time. She later pleaded no contest to a trespassing charge.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, referenced Ketts during his Wednesday grilling of Fauci, who was ordered to appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Moreno attributed his run for Senate to COVID-era government restrictions.

A person passes a storefront with a sign posted that masks are required on Oak Street in Copiague, New York on May 18, 2022. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)

TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM FAUCI’S HEARING: PAUL BOOTS LAWYER, MORENO ERUPTS AS CONTEMPT VOTE LOOMS

During the Senate hearing, Fauci pleaded the Fifth 111 times. He refused to answer a single question posed by the senators, including what day of the week it was and what color tie he was wearing.

Podcast host Alex Lace noted to his nearly 58,000 X followers the time when high school track runners were forced to wear masks during meets.

«I s— you not. During COVID they forced high school track teams to run outdoors… in masks,» he said, later adding, «Never forget what they did.»

Demonstrators protest lockdown measures during the COVID-19 outbreak at the New York State Capitol in Albany, April 22, 2020. (Reuters/Bryan R Smith)

Popular X user Chaya Raichik, who runs the LibsOfTikTok account, also posted an image of news headlines detailing politicians and public figures who broke their own lockdown rules.

Examples include Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer apparently bucking her own rules to party at a dive bar; Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom attending a party at swanky Napa Valley restaurant French Laundry while his own lockdown orders lingered; and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser officiating an indoor wedding without a mask mere hours after issuing an indoor mask order.

«It’s insane that any of these people were ever taken seriously again after this,» the post was captioned.

Spain is deploying its military to the North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants overwhelmed the territory’s border with Morocco, prompting a major security response as officials confirmed at least nine people died during the crossings.

The Spanish government said the Armed Forces will support the Civil Guard in restoring order after local officials warned the city could no longer handle the influx. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska are expected to visit Ceuta as Madrid scrambles to contain the crisis.

The surge marks one of the largest migrant waves to hit Ceuta since 2021, when more than 8,000 people entered the Spanish territory over two days, triggering a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco.

«The situation is absolute chaos,» Rachid Sbihi, who heads an association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, told The Associated Press. «It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing.»

WHITE HOUSE BLASTS SPANISH GOVERNMENT AS THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS SURGE FROM MOROCCO, EMERGENCY REQUEST DENIED

Spain’s government delegation in Ceuta said at least nine people died Thursday, though officials did not immediately explain the circumstances. According to the AP, bodies were seen floating in the water as rescue and security operations continued.

Video from the area showed large groups of migrants entering Ceuta through the Tarajal border area, with many arriving by swimming around coastal barriers separating Morocco from Spanish territory. Most appeared to be young men, though families with women and children were also among those crossing.

OVERCROWDED MIGRANT VESSEL WITH 240 PEOPLE ON BOARD INTERCEPTED NEAR TURKS AND CAICOS

Spanish security forces stand guard as people attempt to cross from the Moroccan town of Fnideq into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on July 30, 2026. Spain announced it would deploy its military after thousands of migrants surged into the territory. (AP Photo/undefined)

Spanish authorities said Morocco is cooperating with efforts to regain control of the border. Spain’s Interior Ministry said Moroccan police have intercepted numerous migrants attempting to cross and that both governments are working to return those who entered the territory illegally as quickly as possible.

Authorities have not identified a single cause for the sudden surge, though Ceuta officials have pointed to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limits the immediate return of migrants who arrive by sea without due process. Some migration advocates, however, questioned whether the ruling alone could explain the dramatic increase, arguing many migrants would likely have been unaware of the decision.

The crisis has reverberated beyond Spain. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy’s participation in the Schengen open-border agreement with Spain, saying the move would be necessary «to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens.»

EU ADMITS IT ‘DIDN’T HAVE CONTROL’ ON MIGRATION AS BLOC RUSHES CRACKDOWN AHEAD OF NEW RULES

Security forces stand guard along the border as people attempt to cross from the Moroccan town of Fnideq into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta on July 30, 2026. Spain later announced it would deploy its military following the mass migrant surge. (AP Photo/undefined)

Ceuta, a small Spanish territory on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, has long been one of Europe’s most active migration flashpoints. 

Migrants from across Africa regularly attempt to reach the enclave by swimming from Morocco or scaling the heavily fortified border fence in hopes of gaining entry into the European Union.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said nearly 3,000 migrants had entered Ceuta by land or sea this year through mid-July, before this week’s crossings dramatically increased those figures.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Spain’s Embassy in Washington, the Department of Homeland Security, the Center for Immigration Studies and the Migration Policy Institute for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.