Saudi Oil Pipeline Shut Down Amid Yemen Conflict
Saudi Arabia has shut down its major East-West oil pipeline after it was attacked amid fighting in Yemen, citing security concerns.
The pipeline, built in the 1980s, plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's ability to export oil following disruptions in key shipping lanes. The shutdown comes as Houthi rebels in Yemen have seized coastal territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening Saudi oil exports through a key shipping lane.
The Houthis' capture of Mayun island inside the strait has given them control over a strategic location and opened a new front in the conflict. The group's leader vowed 'escalation for escalation' in their confrontation with Saudi Arabia, while declaring that 'maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels.'
The fighting risks escalating into a broader civil war in Yemen, where 40 million people are at risk of being affected. The surge in violence has already displaced over 46,000 people, and aid groups are scrambling to keep essential services running.