Houthis capture port and island near Bab el-Mandeb as Saudi pipeline halted after drone attack

Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that it has suspended oil shipments through its main east‑west pipeline after the facility was struck by unmanned aerial vehicles, prompting an immediate halt to the flow of crude. The attack, which authorities described as a coordinated drone strike, caused temporary shutdown of the line that transports petroleum from the kingdom’s interior fields to Red Sea export terminals, raising concerns about potential disruptions to global supply.

In a related development, Houthi forces seized a key port and the adjacent island at the Bab el‑Mandeb strait, wresting control from Yemeni government troops. The capture of the maritime hub, which lies on a critical chokepoint for international shipping, underscores the rebels’ expanding operational reach in the region. Iran, a long‑standing supporter of the Houthis, publicly denied any involvement in either the pipeline attack or the port seizure, stating that it had no role in the recent incidents. Both events heighten tensions in the Gulf and Red Sea corridors, with analysts monitoring possible impacts on oil markets and regional security.