Houthis attack Saudi pipeline, seize key Red Sea island

Photo — Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

According to major international outlets, Saudi Arabia has shut down a crucial crude oil pipeline after it was attacked by multiple drones launched from Iraqi territory, in parallel with Iran‑backed Houthi rebels seizing a strategic island and tightening their grip on key Red Sea and Bab el‑Mandeb shipping lanes.[2][4][5][9][14][15] The Associated Press and other wires report that these moves effectively open a new front in the broader Iran conflict, directly threatening Saudi oil exports and global trade routes that carry a significant share of the world’s energy supplies.[9][15] Iraqi authorities have removed a military commander and opened investigations into the origin of the attack, while Saudi leaders are urging the United States to consider stronger military action as the crisis deepens.[5][14][15] UN statements and wider regional coverage frame the escalation as part of a more extensive pattern of Iran’s use of proxy forces across the Middle East, with intensified clashes in Yemen and Lebanon contributing to fears that the situation is pushing the region toward a much larger, destabilizing war.[9][12][13] Energy markets and policymakers are closely watching whether shipping through the Bab el‑Mandeb and nearby chokepoints can be secured, as any prolonged disruption could have significant economic and security repercussions far beyond the region.[4][10][15]

Sources: CNN, BBC, Reuters, AP, NBC News, Al Jazeera, UN News, The Guardian