Saudi Arabia-Houthi Clashes Threaten Red Sea Oil Shipment

The conflict in the Middle East has escalated as Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi rebels engage in direct fighting. The clashes have affected oil shipments in the Red Sea, with the Houthis striking Saudi oil sites at Jizan and Yanbu ports.

The installations belong to Saudi Aramco, which is responsible for the country's crude oil exports. According to Reuters, sources reported potential damages to fuel and oil storage sites at Jizan, including a 400,000 b/d refinery situated on the Red Sea coast near the Yemeni border.

Riyadh relies heavily on its East-West Pipeline, which transports about 70% of its crude exports through the Red Sea terminal at Yanbu. This is to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis have also claimed to have shot down a Turkish-made drone belonging to Saudi forces.