Saudi Arabia Closes Oil Pipeline Following Houthi Attacks

Saudi Arabia announced that it has shut down its main oil pipeline, which was targeted by a drone, as a precautionary measure, while Yemen's Houthis seized a strategic island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Closure of the Pipeline

The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that the East-West oil pipeline was shut down following a drone attack, describing it as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the attack was carried out via drones originating from Iraq.

Iraq and Regional Reactions

Saudi Arabia stated that it would not retaliate directly to the attack in order to give the Iraqi government an opportunity to take the necessary measures. The Iraqi government condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation to be launched.

Capture of the Strategic Island

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen captured Mayun, a strategic volcanic island also known as Perim, located in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. This development is recorded as the group's largest territorial gain in the region in recent years.

Importance in Oil Exports

Built in the 1980s, the East-West pipeline plays a critical role in Saudi Arabia's oil exports following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. According to International Energy Agency data, as of early June, the country's daily oil exports from its Red Sea port had exceeded 5 million barrels.