Smoke rises from Saudi Aramco’s oil refinery in Jazan after Houthi missile and drone strikes launched from Yemen late last month Houthi militants are escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and Red Sea shipping, threatening to turn the regional conflict into a crisis Washington can no longer contain. The group claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on the giant Aramco facility at Jazan, while attacks around the Bab al-Mandab Strait threaten a vital alternative route to the disrupted Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Oil Infrastructure Comes Under Fire Saudi authorities said a fire broke out at the Jazan refinery but was quickly extinguished, with no injuries reported. The Houthis said the attack was retaliation for Saudi actions in Yemen, while a separate operation against Saudi forces in the Red Sea port of Al-Makha reportedly killed at least seven people. The Jazan facility was also targeted in late July, raising fears that repeated attacks could threaten pipelines and export terminals on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. For Riyadh, the danger extends beyond damage to individual facilities. A sustained disruption of the Red Sea could strike at the kingdom’s ability to export the oil and gas that underpin its economy. The Houthis Are Turning the Screws The latest attacks come after incidents involving shipping around Bab al-Mandab, one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Analysts say the Houthis may be acting in coordination with Iranian and Iraqi forces, seeking to pressure Saudi Arabia while supporting Tehran. But the rebels also have their own strategic objectives, including weakening Saudi influence in Yemen and securing greater access to Hodeida. Riyadh Faces an Impossible Choice Saudi Arabia wants regional stability without appearing vulnerable. Yet allowing attacks on its territory and energy infrastructure to continue risks mounting economic and political pressure. Christopher Phillips of Queen Mary University London said the strategy could be designed to push Riyadh into pressuring Donald Trump for an agreement with Iran. That leaves Saudi Arabia facing a dangerous dilemma. Calling on Washington to intervene could deepen the conflict, but failing to act could allow the Houthis to demonstrate that they can threaten the kingdom’s most valuable economic lifeline. The Real Threat May Be the Sea Saudi Arabia’s oil exports bring in around $20bn a month, making maritime access critical. Phillips warned that the bigger danger may not be direct damage to Saudi energy supplies, but the closure of Bab al-Mandab. If exports are disrupted, Riyadh’s revenues could come under pressure rapidly — potentially turning the Houthi campaign into a problem Trump can no longer afford to ignore. How militant attacks on Saudi oil could force Trump to quit Iran war
