Saudi warplanes pounded Yemen while Houthi militants launched drone and missile strikes on Saudi cities, according to Reuters reports on September 16, as an Iran-backed advance widened the Middle East war and disrupted global oil supplies. The escalation has pushed Brent crude to hover around $108 a barrel and prompted the United States to tighten travel warnings for Saudi Arabia.
Military Escalation Across Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Reuters reports that the fighting grew more intense after Houthi troops captured islands in the Bab el-Mandeb strait and moved through Yemeni towns located along the coast of the Red Sea. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the group launched fresh drone and missile strikes targeting the major Saudi Red Sea oil port of Yanbu and a southern Saudi airbase at Khamis Mushait. Saree claimed the Houthis had also shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet and stated that Saudi warplanes had carried out up to 450 air strikes on Yemen during the week.
Officials in the Saudi-backed government controlling southern Yemen acknowledged that their forces and Saudi forces were conducting air strikes on Houthi positions, though Riyadh has not officially confirmed those raids. According to Reuters, Riyadh reported that its air defences shot down a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday before it entered prohibited airspace, an action officials said crossed a red line. Houthi spokesperson Saree denied targeting Mecca, dismissing the Saudi reports as propaganda.
Did You Know? The Bab el-Mandeb strait is a crucial chokepoint for international shipping connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, making its control vital for maritime trade and global energy transit.
Global Energy Supply Crisis and Pipeline Disruption
According to Reuters, the expansion of the conflict into Yemen risks exacerbating a worldwide energy supply deficit already caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which has lasted six months and interfered with shipping via the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude hovered around $108 a barrel on Wednesday, near its highest level since May. Meanwhile, the average retail price of diesel fuel in the United States hit an all-time high above $6.30 a gallon.
Traders estimate that a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline could cut off as much as 4% of the global oil supply. The pipeline was knocked out last week by an attack blamed on Iran-aligned fighters in Iraq, serving as the main route used to divert exports away from the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on CNBC that crude oil should be flowing through the pipeline within days.
Diplomatic Dilemma for Washington and Riyadh
President Donald Trump last week to seek military support, which has so far been restricted to intelligence aid, according to Reuters. The United States previously bombed the Houthis for two months in 2025 before halting the campaign following a ceasefire described by Trump as an agreement to halt attacks on ships. In a new diplomatic touchpoint, sources told Reuters that U.S. officials held a meeting with the Houthis over the weekend in Oman, where the group stated it had no intention of attacking American vessels and remained committed to last year’s U.S. ceasefire.
As a precaution against the worsening regional conflict, the United States tightened its travel warnings for Saudi Arabia, banning government employees from traveling within 20 miles of the Yemen border, as reported by Reuters. President Trump now faces a strategic dilemma: whether to stand by and risk the Houthi advance aggravating the global energy crisis, or provide direct military support to Riyadh and risk pulling the U.S. into another costly Middle East intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia reignite?
Fighting escalated after the Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July and began firing at southern areas in the kingdom, culminating in a rapid territorial advance along the Red Sea coast.
How much of the global oil supply is threatened by the pipeline closure?
Traders indicate that a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline could cut off up to 4 per cent of the global oil supply, according to Reuters.
What military support has the United States provided to Saudi Arabia?
President Donald Trump.
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