A major Saudi oil pipeline was attacked on Thursday; shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait plummeted sharply. The Houthi movement claimed it captured 5,400 square kilometers in nine days.

Earlier on Friday, CCTV International News cited a video statement released by Yahya Sarea, spokesperson for Yemen’s Houthi movement, on September 11, stating that since September 3, the Houthis have launched a large-scale offensive against 'Saudi-backed forces' along Yemen’s western coast, capturing six areas across Taiz and Al Hudaydah provinces—totaling 5,400 square kilometers—in nine days. The Houthis also claimed the operation resulted in hundreds of enemy casualties or captures, and that they intercepted 32 Saudi airstrikes and shot down nine drones. According to Xinhua News Agency, after the Houthis seized the Red Sea port city of Mocha, shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait was significantly affected. At around 3:00 p.m. local time on the 10th, only six vessels transited the strait—down from 30 on the 9th, and 26 and 29 on the 8th and 7th, respectively. Xinhua reported that following the capture of Mocha, the Houthis continued advancing toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and surrounding islands, signaling potential new shifts in Red Sea shipping routes. However, signs of de-escalation emerged on Friday as well. CCTV News reported that the Houthi Supreme Political Council issued a statement declaring that hostilities had ceased across all provinces along Yemen’s Red Sea western coast, and called on all parties to pressure Saudi Arabia to prevent further escalation. Saudi pipeline attack jeopardizes alternative route to Hormuz Strait U.S. media CNN reported that on Thursday, projectiles struck facilities along Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil pipeline, triggering fires. A U.S. official disclosed that preliminary analysis indicated an adjacent pumping station had been hit. Satellite imagery showed extensive fire damage at one pumping station on Friday; another image taken on Thursday revealed a smaller fire with thick black smoke near a second pumping station. CNN noted that the perpetrator remains unidentified, and it is still unclear whether the pipeline itself sustained damage. However, a U.S. official suggested the attack may have been carried out by drones originating from Iraq. Sources also said it remains uncertain how long repairs to the damaged facilities will take. Satellite monitoring data detected nine major fires near the east-west pipeline on Thursday. Yet at least six of these locations appear to correspond to flare pits—facilities used at oil and gas sites to burn off excess hydrocarbons during emergencies—meaning not all satellite-detected fires necessarily indicate attacks. The targeted pipeline corridor serves a critical function: enabling Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz by transporting some crude oil to the Red Sea for maritime export. If this alternative route faces sustained disruption, Saudi Arabia’s capacity to mitigate risks associated with Hormuz Strait navigation would likewise be undermined. Notably, earlier on Friday, CCTV International News cited U.S. outlet Axios reporting that Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman had placed two phone calls to U.S. President Donald Trump on September 10, urging direct U.S. military action against the Houthis—requests which Trump reportedly declined. U.S. officials stated the U.S. government currently has 'no intention of launching direct military operations against the Houthis.' This indicates that, even amid attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and expanding Houthi territorial control, the United States is still refraining from opening a new direct military front against the group. Sharp decline in Bab el-Mandeb Strait traffic; Houthis publicize recent offensive 'achievements'

## Latest developments on the Iran situation (Day 198)

- **18:15**: Gaza’s Ministry of Health stated that generators at multiple hospitals in Gaza have shut down due to shortages of spare parts and fuel. - **18:30**: Iran’s Foreign Minister stated that the agreement reached with Oman does not mean the Strait of Hormuz has reopened. - **18:45**: India’s Prime Minister said that 'ordinary people' are bearing the cost as global conflicts intensify. - **18:50**: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that over 2,000 people have fled the battlefield in Yemen for Djibouti. - **19:00**: The Jerusalem Governorate announced that hundreds of Israeli settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. - **19:10**: The Houthis’ rapid advance in Yemen is 'absolutely a turning point in the regional war' (reporting and analysis by journalists, scholars, or experts). - **19:20**: The Yemeni government vowed to counter the Houthis’ occupation operations. - **19:30**: According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), the Israeli army shelled Ali Taher Forest in the Nabatieh suburb of Lebanon. - **19:45**: A senior official from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) stated that healthcare delivery on Yemen’s western coast faces a 'massive gap' amid the ongoing transition of authority. - **20:00**: According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Tehran’s chief prosecutor has filed criminal charges against members of the Baziya podcast. - **20:10**: Intense fighting continues between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces. - **20:15**: Iran’s Foreign Minister expressed hope that the Gulf meeting held in Oman would serve as the first in a series of conferences addressing regional issues. - **20:30**: Turkey’s Foreign Minister warned that closure of the Strait of Hormuz would plunge the world economy into 'crisis'. - **20:45**: Yemen’s conflict may persist long-term due to 'an extremely complex set of dynamic factors' (reporting and analysis by journalists, scholars, or experts). - **20:50**: According to Aljoumhouriya TV, citing a statement by the government-aligned National Resistance Forces, at least 1,500 soldiers have died in one month of fighting in Yemen. - **20:55**: Iran’s President stated that Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince agreed to 'set aside the past' during talks at the BRICS summit. - **21:00**: Reuters reported that the malfunction in Saudi Arabia’s oil pipeline could disrupt up to 4% of global oil supply. - **21:15**: According to local Yemeni media reports, forces allied with the government acknowledged over 500 Yemeni soldiers killed. - **21:25**: Trump stated he 'doesn’t care' whether Gulf states meet with Iran to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. - **21:30**: Iran’s Foreign Minister stated there is 'no military solution' to the Yemen crisis. - **21:45**: According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Pakistan’s Prime Minister condemned the Houthi attacks in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. - **22:00**: Israel expanded its incursion into southern Syria. - **22:15**: Professor Muhammad Elmasri of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies stated that Iran aims to reconstruct the post-war order without U.S. military influence.

MBS and Saudi Arabia Face Crisis With Key Oil Pipeline Shut for Weeks

Sep 15, 2026

Saudi Arabia closed its key East-West oil pipeline due to Houthi attacks, risking a six-week shutdown. This move threatens global fuel prices, inflation, and the kingdom's multi-trillion dollar economic diversification plans.

bloomberg

2026-09-15

MBS and Saudi Arabia Face Crisis With Key Oil Pipeline Shut for Weeks

2026-10-12

Saudi Arabia Fends Off More Attacks in Critical Moment for MBS

MBS and Saudi Arabia Face Crisis With Key Oil Pipeline Shut for Weeks

FAQ