Houthi forces have seized the strategic Yemeni island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, while a drone attack from Iraq forced the temporary closure of Saudi Arabia’s key East-West oil pipeline, officials and sources said.
The twin developments have increased pressure on vital energy and shipping routes as the wider Middle East war continues, with the Houthis’ advance threatening another corridor used to move oil around the Arabian Peninsula.
Two sources from Yemen’s internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government said its forces had withdrawn from Perim and that the Houthis had captured the mainland coastal town of Dhubab, which faces the island.
The island lies in the Bab el-Mandeb, a strategic passage connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Houthi control of the route would give Iran, the group’s backer, greater leverage over shipping while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.
“These waters aren’t safe,” said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, an analyst at the maritime intelligence company Windward.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said navigation remained safe for all vessels except Saudi ships, which are subject to an existing ban imposed by the group.
Saudi Arabia’s 1,200-kilometre East-West pipeline was also shut temporarily after a drone strike in the Riyadh and Medina regions, state media reported, citing a source at the Saudi energy ministry. The attack caused injuries and damage that was still being assessed, the Saudi foreign ministry said.
The pipeline is the kingdom’s main alternative route for exporting oil without using the Strait of Hormuz. Ship-tracking companies and analysts said it had been carrying between four million and five million barrels a day in recent months, equivalent to about 4 per cent to 5 per cent of global supply.
Baghdad and Riyadh said the drone attack originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate. Iraq dismissed a military commander on Saturday, while its government condemned the attacks.
Saudi Arabia has so far refrained from retaliating after a request from Iraq’s prime minister. The Saudi foreign ministry said the kingdom reserved the right to “take all measures necessary” to protect its interests.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked US President Donald Trump for military assistance in calls on Thursday, according to two people familiar with the matter. Washington was said to have ruled out direct military action for now but offered intelligence and targeting support.
The Houthi advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast has included the capture of the port town of Mokha and the Hanish islands. Yemeni government forces said they would deploy weapons and aircraft against what they described as “terrorist” Houthi militias, including along the road to Mokha.
Iran denies directing the Houthis militarily, describing them publicly as an ally rather than a proxy. Two Iranian sources said, however, that Tehran had urged the group to intensify attacks on Saudi Arabia and promised additional funding, weapons and senior officers.
Oil prices fell on Friday after rising sharply the previous day, although Brent futures were trading at about 105 US dollars a barrel amid speculation over the effect of the latest attacks on regional energy supplies.
