Houthi Drone Strike Shuts Down Saudi Oil Pipeline Amid Regional Tensions

Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its East-West oil pipeline after a drone attack on Thursday. The strike targeted strategic infrastructure in Saudi Arabia amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the Houthis' tightening grip on shipping in the Red Sea.

The pipeline, which stretches for approximately 1,200 kilometers, crosses the Arabian Peninsula and allows Saudi Arabia to transport oil to the western coast while bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Tanker traffic through the waterway has fallen sharply because of the war between the United States and Iran.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy said the pipeline shutdown was a precautionary measure, as it had been transporting between 4 million and 5 million barrels of oil per day - roughly 4-5% of global supply. The attack on the pipeline came amid reports that the Houthis had seized the strategic island of Perim near the entrance to the Red Sea.

The combination of a strike on Saudi oil infrastructure and the establishment of control over the island could signal a dangerous expansion of the conflict. Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting have so far produced no results.