Houthis Seize Red Sea Island as Saudi Oil Pipeline Stops

Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended operations on a major oil pipeline on Friday after it was targeted by drones, a move that came a day after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized a strategically important island near the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

The developments have added a new dimension to the wider regional conflict involving Iran and raised concerns over global energy supplies and maritime security.

The Houthis’ reported capture of Mayun, also known as Perim, marks their most significant territorial advance in several years near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital international shipping route. Their growing presence in the area could strengthen Iran’s ability to disrupt energy markets and increase pressure on the United States.

Saudi Arabia said it suspended operations on the East-West pipeline as a safety precaution following the drone attack. The Energy Ministry described the move as preventive.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said several of the drones involved in the attack had originated from Iraq. In a statement, Riyadh said it would refrain from retaliating to give the Iraqi government time to take appropriate action.

Iraq condemned the attack and announced an investigation.

Saudi Arabia and the United States carried out strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq in July after accusing them of launching drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. The Houthis had claimed responsibility for some of those attacks. Regional officials said the Houthis had assisted Iraqi militias in organising and carrying out the operations.

East-West Pipeline Gains Importance

Constructed during the 1980s, the East-West pipeline has become increasingly important to Saudi Arabia as the kingdom seeks alternatives to transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has attacked ships during the conflict.

By early June, Saudi oil shipments through the Red Sea port connected to the pipeline had risen to more than 5 million barrels per day, more than twice the previous level, according to the International Energy Agency.

The Houthis seized Mayun, a small volcanic island located inside the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The island is strategically positioned along one of the world’s major maritime routes.

The capture was confirmed by a senior official from Yemen’s internationally recognised government and a Houthi representative. Both spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has increasingly relied on Red Sea routes to transport crude as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. However, Houthi attempts to restrict traffic through the 28-kilometre Bab el-Mandeb passage have complicated those efforts.

In a statement on Friday, Houthi forces celebrated their advances along the coast but did not specifically mention Mayun, Mokha or the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. They threatened further escalation in response to Saudi actions and said maritime traffic would remain safe for all companies except Saudi vessels.

The developments have unsettled global markets. Oil prices climbed above $100 per barrel this week, potentially strengthening Iran’s position in future negotiations.

Yemen Government Criticises Saudi Response

The Houthis have attacked Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea since announcing a blockade in July. They have also targeted oil facilities inside Saudi Arabia, describing their actions as retaliation for Riyadh’s long-running blockade of Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

After the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha on Thursday, Saudi forces reportedly carried out an airstrike on its airport, according to Houthi media. No casualties or significant damage were immediately reported.

A senior official from Yemen’s internationally recognised government said officials were surprised that Saudi aircraft had not prevented the Houthi takeover of Mokha, located roughly 80 kilometres from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The official suggested that Saudi Arabia may not have received approval from Washington to launch a major air campaign. The official also blamed poor coordination among Yemen’s government forces and allied militias, saying the lack of cooperation had given the Houthis a major strategic advantage.

Shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has fallen by around 60 percent since the Houthis began attacking selected vessels in late 2023 in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Traffic increased this year as Saudi Arabia sought alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, but renewed Houthi threats have reduced activity, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

Saudi Arabia has consequently considered another route, transporting oil northward through the Red Sea and then towards the Mediterranean, either through the Suez Canal or via a pipeline crossing Egypt. Both options create a considerably longer journey for Saudi customers in Asia.

The Houthis have also threatened those routes and attacked a Saudi ship in the northern Red Sea in late August.

Iran Calls for Renewed Saudi-Houthi Talks

Iranian authorities on Friday called on Saudi Arabia to end its blockade of Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen and urged both sides to resume negotiations.

The Houthis’ importance to Iran was further highlighted on Wednesday when a spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said any agreement between Iran and the United States should also address Yemen. It was the first clear statement from Iran linking Yemen to the negotiations.

Saudi Arabia said it had consistently provided opportunities for dialogue but maintained that it had the right to protect itself.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia had spoken on Thursday about diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring regional stability.

Escalation Raises Fears of Renewed Civil War

As Houthi fighters advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government appealed to the international community for assistance.

In a statement issued on Friday following a meeting the previous day, Yemen’s National Defense Council said the country was at the forefront of efforts to protect freedom of navigation. It also condemned the Houthis’ renewed attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The latest escalation threatens to undermine a fragile truce that has largely kept Yemen’s civil war under control since 2022.

The conflict has already had devastating consequences for Yemen’s population of about 40 million, killing an estimated 150,000 people and leaving millions at risk of famine.

The recent increase in violence has also caused a major displacement crisis. More than 46,000 people fled their homes during the past week, according to the UN migration agency.

Abdusattor Esoev, the International Organization for Migration’s mission chief in Yemen, said displaced families were leaving with only whatever possessions they could quickly carry. He said the number of displaced people had more than doubled during the week and could rise substantially.

Medical professionals were among those forced to flee. Lou Cormack, Yemen coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, said the organisation was working to keep Mokha’s hospital functioning after most of its staff had departed.

The Houthis have been fighting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2014, when they took control of large parts of northern and central Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. Saudi Arabia intervened the following year to support the Yemeni government.