Oil Routes in Peril as Attacks Shut Saudi Pipeline and Houthis Threaten Waterway

A key Saudi Arabian oil pipeline was shut down after multiple drone strikes launched from Iraqi territory, while Iran-backed Houthi forces advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Global crude prices surged past $100 a barrel amid fears of severe energy export and shipping disruptions across vital Middle Eastern trade routes.

Pipeline Shutdown and Iraqi-Originated Drone Strikes

Saudi Arabia shut down its major cross-country East-West oil pipeline following multiple attacks on Friday. The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that the drones targeting the critical infrastructure originated from Iraqi territory.

The pipeline has served as a vital alternative route for Saudi oil exports since the Iran war disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea port at the pipeline’s end have more than doubled since the Iran war erupted.

The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed Friday that it had shut down the kingdom’s East-West oil pipeline after “multiple attacks.” The ministry’s statement said the pipeline was “shut down as a precautionary measure.”

Iraqi Government Response and Border Closures

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered an investigation into the operations command in Maysan province and dismissed its commander after authorities determined that attacks targeting Saudi Arabia were launched from a site in the province, the Iraqi government said in a statement early Saturday. Attacks on a key Saudi oil pipeline were launched from Iraqi territory, said Iraq’s government Saturday, pledging to probe further.

Houthis Capture Strategic Island and Port on Vital Red Sea Oil Route

Photo: thebulwark.com

In a related development, Iraq closed two key border crossings with Iran, halting all passenger and commercial traffic until further notice, Iran’s state-run media reported Saturday. Valiollah Hayati, the deputy governor of Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, said Iraqi officials had announced the closure of the Shalamcheh and Chazabeh crossings. Hayati urged traders, drivers and travelers not to approach the crossings until further notice, adding that relevant authorities would release additional information. Shalamcheh and Chazabeh are among the main official border crossings between Iran and Iraq.

Despite the cross-border strikes, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the kingdom would not retaliate to give the Iraqi government “an opportunity to take the necessary measures,” while reserving the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty, security and critical facilities.

Houthi Advances Along Yemen’s Red Sea Coast

Simultaneously, Houthi rebels effectively completed a rapid push to take control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline on Friday, tightening their grip on one of the world’s most important shipping routes and delivering a dramatic boost to their backers in Iran. Houthi forces captured Perim, an island in the middle of the vital Bab el Mandeb Strait, several news agencies reported, citing multiple sources. A day earlier, the Houthis captured the historic port city of Mocha. That was followed by an advance on the strategic coastal town of Dhubab and the apparent withdrawal of forces from the Saudi-backed, internationally recognized Yemeni government, from Perim, also known as Mayun.

Photo: usnews.com

Oil Tops $100 as US-Iran Attacks Escalate

The Houthis and the opposing coalition have been fighting a civil war since 2014. The conflict has simmered for years but erupted into intense fighting again in recent weeks, raising concerns of a return to all-out war and posing a serious new threat to the global economy. Effective Houthi control over Bab el Mandeb, a gateway to the Red Sea trade route that links Europe and Asia, could further imperil oil exports while granting Iran powerful new leverage in its war with the United States.

Global Energy Markets and International Escalation

Crude prices this week soared again above $100 a barrel, giving Tehran more leverage in any talks. Analysts worry that the Houthis’ seizure of Yemen’s port city of Mokha may create further complications for shipping on the Red Sea and raise oil prices.

Photo: Washington Post

Diesel hits record $6 a gallon as Houthis take key Red Sea territory

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is urging President Donald Trump to take military action against the Houthis, according to a person familiar with the matter. The president and the Crown Prince have discussed the recent escalation by the Houthis at least twice in the last 24 hours, this person said. So far, Trump has declined to conduct military strikes against the Houthis, but has agreed to provide military assistance, such as helping the Saudis to develop targeting and sharing of information, the person familiar with the matter and a U.S. official said. The discussions between President Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince were first reported by Axios. Furthermore, the U.S. military is helping its Saudi counterparts to develop and coordinate targets inside Yemen, according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the matter, after Saudi Arabia vowed a firm response to hostilities.

With regional shipping routes facing growing disruptions, analysts warn that effective Houthi control over the Bab el Mandeb Strait, combined with attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, could reduce oil supplies through another key waterway and deepen the world’s energy crisis.