Saudi Arabia hit from two fronts as Houthis strike and oil pipeline attacked

Riyadh faces growing pressure as Yemen's Houthis target military base while Iraq investigates drone attack on vital oil route

Saudi Arabia is facing mounting pressure from two directions after Yemen's Houthis claimed a missile and drone attack on a military base while Iraq launched an investigation into a separate attack on a vital Saudi oil pipeline.

The Houthi military said its forces targeted the Sharurah military base in southern Saudi Arabia with a ballistic missile and drones, claiming they struck weapons depots and command centres.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned that larger attacks deeper inside Saudi Arabia could follow if Riyadh-backed forces continue their operations against the group in Yemen.

The claim comes as fighting between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government forces has intensified, with both sides reporting airstrikes and territorial gains.

Saudi oil lifeline hit

The more strategically important development may be thousands of kilometres away.

Drones launched from Iraq struck Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline on Thursday, hitting areas around Riyadh and Medina.

Saudi authorities shut the pipeline as a precaution.

The route is particularly important because it allows Saudi Arabia to move oil to its western coast without relying entirely on the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi authorities traced the suspected launch site to Iraq's Maysan province near the Iranian border.

The distances involved — roughly 800km from Riyadh and 1,100km from Medina — have raised questions about what type of drones were used, with reports suggesting they may have been sophisticated long-range systems rather than ordinary battlefield drones.

Iraq moves to prevent wider escalation

Baghdad is now attempting to contain the fallout.

Iraqi security forces say they have located and confiscated a drone-launching platform allegedly used in the attack and are examining the equipment to establish who was responsible.

Iraq has also been in direct contact with Saudi Arabia to share intelligence, while Iranian personnel have been allowed to participate in the investigation following a request from Tehran.

Iraq's security authorities have made their position clear: Iraqi territory should not be used as a launching pad for attacks against neighbouring countries.

The country's security leadership described this as a policy of "preventive sovereignty", saying Iraq must prevent its territory from becoming part of a wider proxy conflict.

Several border crossings with Iran were also temporarily closed for security inspections before some reopened for humanitarian traffic.

A widening regional problem

The developments underline the increasingly complicated security situation surrounding Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom is dealing with renewed Houthi activity from Yemen while simultaneously trying to establish who was behind an attack launched from Iraqi territory against one of its most important oil routes.

For Riyadh, the concern is not simply the individual attacks.

It is the possibility that Saudi Arabia could increasingly become a target from several directions as the wider regional conflict spreads.

SOURCE

.....and why not?.....Trump has given them the green light to attack (and close down the Strait) with the promise not to help the Saudis

Pure genius.

Where are the MAGA's with their we won on the 1st of March and control everything since"?

The Houthis have been quiet for months, but now the <deleted> really starts to hit the fan. This is just the beginning of the "you aint seen nothing yet" event.

Saudi Arabia could run out of oil stocks for export within days unless a drone-damaged pipeline to the Red Sea is restarted, threatening to remove up to 4% of global supply and deepen an already severe energy crisis.

Saudi stocks face a five-day countdown

The 1,200km East-West pipeline has been offline since Friday’s drone attacks, with satellite images appearing to show a badly damaged pumping station. Three industry sources said the Yanbu terminal has enough stocks to maintain exports for just five to seven days.

The pipeline normally carries around 4 million barrels a day to Yanbu — roughly 4% of global supply — allowing the world’s biggest oil exporter to bypass the crippled Strait of Hormuz.

Repairs could take six weeks

The scale of the damage remains unclear. One source said repairs could take up to six weeks, while another suggested pumping could resume sooner, potentially at reduced capacity while work continues.

Saudi Arabia has other stocks at Egypt’s Ain Sukhna and Sidi Kerir ports, but industry sources warned these reserves are also limited and cannot sustain exports indefinitely without the pipeline.

Oil surges above $108 as crisis deepens

Brent crude jumped more than 3.4% on Sunday to above $108 a barrel, its highest level since May, as traders reacted to the threat of further supply losses.

The disruption is already feeding through into petrol and diesel markets. US diesel prices passed $6 a gallon on Friday, setting a record average price.

Houthi advance tightens the pressure

The crisis comes as Iran-aligned Houthi forces attack Saudi energy infrastructure and seize territory around the Bab al-Mandab strait, creating another threat to vital oil and shipping routes.

Their capture of Perim island has strengthened their position overlooking the narrow waterway, while recent advances have brought the group closer to a major US base in Djibouti.

Diplomacy stalls as exports hang in the balance

Hopes of an immediate diplomatic breakthrough also weakened after Oman postponed a regional meeting involving Iran and Gulf states, citing the need for consensus.

Iran has been demanding permission from vessels using Hormuz and considering service fees, adding another layer of pressure as the Middle East conflict enters its seventh month.

Satellite images show extent of damage to major Saudi pipeline, amid global oil supply fears