Florida, Sept. 8 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) implicated Iran in the latest wave of Houthi strikes targeting Saudi Arabia, labelling the Yemen-based rebel group as a proxy of Tehran as regional tensions escalate following widespread attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure.

Speaking to reporters before he departed for South America, Rubio reaffirmed Washington's military commitment to Riyadh while highlighting Tehran's involvement in the escalating cross-border conflict.

"The Houthis, in many ways, are agents and proxies of the Iranians. Behind some of this is clearly the Iranian hand. The US has a very strong defensive, military relationship with Saudi Arabia. We're watching those events very closel...