Houthis launch new strikes on Saudi Arabia

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Houthis target Saudi Arabia

Highlights

Houthis launched dozens of missiles and drones.
Saudi Arabia reported 13 civilians wounded.
The East-West Pipeline remains offline.
Up to 4% of the global oil supply could be at risk.

The Houthis said they fired dozens of missiles and drones at a military airbase in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia, targeting military infrastructure after Saudi strikes in Yemen, Reuters reported. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts in four southern cities, while the Saudi-led coalition said 13 civilians were wounded.

Houthi advance increases pressure on Saudi Arabia

The attacks follow a rapid Houthi advance along Yemen's western coastline. The group has taken Perim Island near the entrance to the Red Sea and, according to Yemeni government officials, maintains effective control over almost the entire western coast despite intensified Saudi and Yemeni airstrikes.

That expansion has become particularly significant after an aerial attack last week knocked Saudi Arabia's 1,200-kilometer East-West Pipeline offline. Riyadh blamed Iranian-backed militias in Iraq for the strike and has not indicated when the pipeline could resume operations.

The route was built to move crude from the Gulf Coast to the Red Sea, allowing Saudi exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Traders estimate that a prolonged outage could put as much as 4% of global oil supply at risk while shipping through Hormuz remains severely disrupted.

Washington holds back as diplomacy falters

The renewed fighting is also testing U.S. policy in the region. Washington has so far resisted Saudi requests for direct military intervention beyond intelligence assistance. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met U.S. regional commander Admiral Brad Cooper in Jeddah on Monday as Riyadh considered its response to the Houthi advance.

At the same time, prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough weakened. Oman postponed a planned meeting involving Iran and Gulf Arab states that was intended to address negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said the delay came at Saudi Arabia's request.

Uncertainty also surrounds maritime security. The Panamanian-flagged tanker El Gaia was recently damaged, but Iran, the U.S. military, and international shipping authorities have provided differing accounts of the incident. The International Maritime Organization said two seafarers were missing.

Energy routes face a widening security threat

The simultaneous pressure on Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, and Yemen's Red Sea coast is narrowing the region's options for moving energy safely. The Saudi pipeline was specifically designed to provide an alternative when Hormuz becomes unreliable, making its shutdown especially consequential during the current conflict.

With no timetable for restoring the pipeline and regional talks postponed, further military escalation could increase risks to Saudi exports and global energy markets. Brent crude is trading at $107.60 a barrel, while WTI stands at $103.40, reflecting continued concern over potential disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supplies.

We also reported new attacks in Hormuz and Saudi Arabia deepen the oil supply threat.

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