Saudi Arabia has shut down its East-West oil pipeline after an aerial attack, as Houthi forces tighten their grip on Red Sea shipping and threaten to deepen disruptions to regional energy supplies.
The 1,200-kilometre pipeline was closed as a precaution after a drone attack on Thursday in the Riyadh and Medina regions. Saudi Arabia and Iraq said the attack originated in Iraq, where Iran-backed militias operate.
The pipeline has carried between four million and five million barrels of oil a day in recent months, equivalent to about 4% to 5% of global supply, according to analysts and ship-tracking firms.
The closure comes as Houthi forces advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. Four Yemeni government sources told Reuters that the Houthis seized the strategic island of Perim on Friday at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
That development adds to pressure on energy markets already affected by disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Global oil prices have risen above US$100 a barrel, while Saudi crude supply has fallen to its lowest level in more than three decades, according to the International Energy Agency.
Saudi Arabia has so far refrained from retaliating over the pipeline attack following a request from Iraq’s prime minister. However, Riyadh said it reserved the right to take measures to protect its interests.
The escalation has also prompted Saudi Arabia to seek US military assistance against the Houthis. Sources told Reuters that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked US President Donald Trump for help, while Washington has so far offered intelligence sharing and targeting support rather than direct military action.
The Houthis have said maritime navigation remains safe for shipping, except for Saudi vessels covered by a previously announced ban.
The latest developments raise concerns over further disruption to two key energy routes at a time when shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is already severely constrained.
