1 hr ago
Houthi Advance and Saudi Pipeline Shutdown Threaten Gulf Oil
The Houthis, an armed group in Yemen, moved onto an important island near a major shipping route.
This route is called the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Control of the strait could make it harder for ships carrying oil and other goods to pass.
Saudi Arabia also temporarily stopped an important oil pipeline after drones attacked it.
That pipeline normally carries millions of barrels of oil each day without using the Strait of Hormuz.
These events could reduce the amount of oil reaching world markets.
Saudi Arabia asked the United States for help, but the United States reportedly offered information rather than sending troops.
The Houthis said most ships could still travel safely, while other reports said their attacks had already affected Saudi oil supplies.
The fighting has added pressure to oil prices and increased fears about global energy supplies.
Houthi forces reportedly reached Perim island and captured the nearby mainland town of Dhubab in Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces withdrew from Perim and said they planned a counter-offensive against Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its 1,200-kilometer East-West oil pipeline after drone attacks reportedly originating from Iraq.
The pipeline had been transporting 4 million to 5 million barrels of oil per day, or about 4% to 5% of global supply.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked U.S. President Donald Trump for military assistance; Washington reportedly offered intelligence and targeting support but declined direct action for now.
- Who
- Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces, Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United States are central to the report.
- What
- Houthi forces reportedly seized Perim island and nearby territory while drone attacks temporarily shut Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline.
- Where
- The events occurred around Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea coast, and in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and Medina regions.
- When
- The developments were reported on Friday, September 11, during a war that the article says began six months earlier.
- Why
- The Houthi advance could threaten a major global shipping corridor, while the pipeline attack further restricted routes for Gulf oil exports.
Saudi-backed forces and international concerns
Houthis and Iranian position
Control of the Red Sea corridor
Saudi-backed forces and international concerns
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces said Houthi control of Perim, Dhubab, and other coastal areas threatened a vital shipping route and announced plans for a counter-offensive.
Houthis and Iranian position
The Houthis advanced along the Red Sea coast and said maritime navigation remained safe for all shipping except Saudi vessels covered by a previously announced ban.
Iran’s role
Saudi-backed forces and international concerns
Saudi and U.S.-aligned sources said Iran’s Revolutionary Guards provided guidance and that Iran urged the Houthis to intensify attacks, while Saudi Arabia sought U.S. assistance.
Houthis and Iranian position
Iran publicly describes the Houthis as an ally rather than a proxy and denies directing their military operations.
Response to pipeline attacks
Saudi-backed forces and international concerns
Saudi Arabia said it reserved the right to take necessary measures to protect its interests but did not retaliate after Iraq’s prime minister requested restraint; Iraq condemned the attacks.
Houthis and Iranian position
The attackers were not identified, and no group publicly claimed responsibility in the report; the Houthis’ statement focused on maritime restrictions involving Saudi vessels.
Key facts
- Strategic location
- Perim island lies in Yemen’s Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global shipping route.
- Pipeline length
- Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline is 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) long.
- Pipeline capacity in recent months
- The pipeline shipped approximately 4 million to 5 million barrels per day.
- Share of global supply
- That pipeline volume represented about 4% to 5% of global oil supply, according to analysts and ship-tracking companies.
- Reported drone origin
- Saudi Arabia said the drones targeting the pipeline came from Iraq, but it did not identify the attackers.
- U.S. response
- Washington reportedly declined direct military action for now but offered intelligence sharing and targeting assistance.
- Oil prices
- Oil prices were on track to finish the week above $100 per barrel for the first time since mid-May.
Sources
Related news
Houthis Reach Perim as Trump Rejects Saudi Strike Request
Saudi Arabia Shuts East-West Pipeline After Reported Attacks
Saudi Arabia Shuts East-West Oil Pipeline After Drone Attacks
Saudi Arabia Says Iraqi Drones Hit Pipeline, Delays Retaliation
Houthis Seize Yemen’s Mocha, Raising Fresh Red Sea Shipping Risks
MBS Asked Trump Twice for Houthi Strikes; Trump Declined
TSX Recovers on Technology Rally Despite Weekly Losses
