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Saudi Pipeline Shut as Houthis Seize Red Sea Island
Saudi Arabia stopped using a major oil pipeline after drones attacked it.
Saudi officials said the drones came from Iraq, while Iraq condemned the attack and ordered an investigation.
The Houthis, an armed group in Yemen, captured a small island near an important sea route.
This island sits in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where many ships travel between the Red Sea and the wider world.
The Houthis said Saudi ships would not be safe, although other companies could use the route.
This makes it harder for Saudi Arabia to move oil to customers.
Fighting has also pushed more than 46,000 people from their homes.
Iran supported calls for negotiations and an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Houthi-held areas.
The violence could end Yemen’s truce and bring back a larger civil war.
Saudi Arabia shut its East-West oil pipeline as a precaution after a drone attack reportedly originating in Iraq.
The Houthis captured Mayun, also known as Perim, inside the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The pipeline had carried roughly 4 million to 5 million barrels of oil daily, while Red Sea exports later exceeded 5 million barrels per day.
Houthi threats have reduced shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb by about 60% since attacks began in late 2023.
The escalation has displaced more than 46,000 people and threatens Yemen’s fragile truce and humanitarian situation.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia, the Houthi movement, Yemen’s internationally recognized government, Iran, Iraq, and the United States are the principal parties mentioned.
- What
- Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline after a drone attack, while the Houthis captured Mayun island near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Where
- The events involved Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Mayun island, the Red Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- When
- The pipeline was attacked Thursday, and the shutdown and island capture were reported Friday; Iraq dismissed a military commander on Saturday.
- Why
- Saudi Arabia cited precautionary security concerns, while the Houthis said their campaign responded to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Government
Houthis and Their Supporters
Cause of the conflict
Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Government
Saudi Arabia says it has offered opportunities for negotiation and has the right to defend itself against attacks on its territory, infrastructure, and shipping.
Houthis and Their Supporters
The Houthis say their campaign responds to Saudi Arabia’s yearslong blockade of Houthi-held areas in Yemen; Iran called for the blockade to end and negotiations to resume.
Maritime security
Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Government
Yemen’s internationally recognized government says it is defending freedom of navigation and has called for international support against renewed Houthi attacks.
Houthis and Their Supporters
The Houthi military spokesperson said maritime navigation was safe for all companies except Saudi vessels and pledged “escalation for escalation.”
Military response
Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Government
A Yemeni government official blamed poor coordination among government forces and allied militias for the Houthi gains; Reuters also reported that Saudi Arabia sought U.S. military help, while Washington was not willing to take direct action for now.
Houthis and Their Supporters
The Houthis’ capture of Mayun and Mokha was described in the reports as their biggest territorial advance in years along the Bab el-Mandeb coast. Iran publicly describes the Houthis as an ally but denies directing them militarily.
Key facts
- Pipeline
- Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline was built in the 1980s and runs about 1,200 kilometres across the Arabian Peninsula.
- Pipeline capacity
- Reuters reported that the pipeline had carried 4 million to 5 million barrels per day in recent months.
- Drone attack
- Saudi Arabia and Iraq said the drones originated in Iraq; Baghdad condemned the attack and ordered an investigation.
- Strategic island
- The Houthis captured Mayun, also known as Perim, a small volcanic island inside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- Shipping decline
- Shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb had fallen by about 60% since Houthi attacks began in late 2023, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
- Oil prices
- Crude prices rose above $100 per barrel during the week covered by the reports.
- Humanitarian impact
- More than 46,000 people fled their homes during the latest week of fighting, according to the United Nations migration agency.
Quotes
Saudi Ministry of Energy
Saudi government ministry explaining the pipeline shutdown
“maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels.”
firstpost.com
republicworld.com
“a precautionary measure.”
republicworld.com
Abdusattor Esoev
Mission chief in Yemen for the International Organization for Migration.
“You see the fears in their eyes, and people are scared”
firstpost.com
republicworld.com
Sources
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