Middle East War Escalates as Saudis Shut Down Pipeline, Houthis Tighten Grip on Red Sea

Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its east-west pipeline after it came under aerial attack on Thursday morning. The pipeline, which runs for 1,200 kilometers across the Arabian Peninsula, carries 4% to 5% of global oil supply and had been moving four million to five million barrels per day.

The Saudi energy ministry said the pipeline was shut down as a precautionary measure after the attack, which both Baghdad and Riyadh blamed on Iranian-backed militias operating in Iraq. Iraq has since dismissed a military commander in response to the attack.

The closure of the pipeline comes as Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen tightened their grip on the Red Sea, further disrupting oil shipping routes in the region. The Houthis have seized the strategic island of Perim at the mouth of the Red Sea, which has put an energy squeeze on both sides of the Arabian Peninsula and sent global oil prices above $100 per barrel.

The dual attacks on the pipeline and Perim island represent a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict, with diplomatic efforts to end the war stalled. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has requested US military help to fight the Houthis, but Washington has said it will not take direct military action for now, instead offering intelligence sharing and targeting assistance.