The Iran‑backed Houthi rebels in Yemen announced on Sunday that they launched coordinated drone and missile attacks against a Saudi military installation in the southern Jazan province and against the kingdom’s crucial East‑West oil pipeline. Saudi authorities immediately closed the 1,200‑kilometre conduit, which carries up to 5 million barrels of crude a day, citing security concerns and confirming that the pipeline strike originated from Iraqi territory.
Base attack in Jazan
According to Al Jazeera, the Houthi statement said the strike targeted a Saudi base in the town of Sharurah, aiming at “weapons depots and command‑and‑control centres”. The Saudi defence ministry reported that two people were wounded and a nearby mosque sustained damage. The Guardian added that the Houthis claimed to have used both drones and missiles in the operation, though no independent verification of the weapons used was provided.
Pipeline strike disrupts oil flow
Saudi officials confirmed that a drone attack hit the East‑West pipeline, which links the oil‑rich fields of the Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The pipeline is a strategic alternative to the main north‑south route that passes near the Strait of Hormuz. BBC and France 24 reported that the kingdom ordered the line shut within hours of the strike, warning of a possible impact on global oil markets.
“The East‑West pipeline is a lifeline for our oil exports; any disruption threatens the stability of international energy supplies,” a Saudi oil ministry spokesperson told reporters.
Iraq’s government later acknowledged that the drone originated from its territory, specifically the Maysan province bordering Iran, and announced an investigation into militia activity there, as reported by DW.com and Al Jazeera. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi said the commander of the suspected unit had been dismissed.
Wider regional ramifications
The attacks come as the Houthis have intensified operations along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, seizing a small island that overlooks the Bab al‑Mandeb strait – a choke‑point for a third of the world’s maritime oil traffic. Al Jazeera and Reuters noted that the group’s control of parts of the Yemeni coastline gives Iran a de‑facto foothold near one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. In response, Saudi Arabia has reportedly launched 129 airstrikes against Houthi positions in a 48‑hour period, according to Al Jazeera.
Energy analysts warned that the closure of the East‑West pipeline could push oil prices higher, especially as the Gulf region already faces heightened tension over Iran’s blockade of the Persian Gulf. DW.com and Fortune highlighted the risk of a supply squeeze that could ripple through global markets.
Amid the military escalation, the humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate. The New York Times recounted testimonies from displaced Yemenis who fled “in the clothes they were wearing” as fighting spreads, with hunger and disease already ravaging the population for years. The United Nations has warned that the latest Houthi advances could trigger a new wave of displacement, as described by AP News and The Guardian.
Saudi officials say their options are limited as they confront simultaneous threats from Houthi forces, Iranian‑backed militias in Iraq, and the broader geopolitical rivalry with Tehran. Politico and Responsible Statecraft note that Washington is closely monitoring the situation, fearing that an expanded Houthi foothold could draw the United States deeper into Yemen’s conflict.
