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Saudi East-West Oil Pipeline Attacked Again Amid Houthi Conflict — AI-generated representative image: A desert crude oil pipeline with emergency responders near a small fire, illustrating reported attacks on Saudi energy infras

Editorial Team

Energy ministry confirms fire on strategic crude route as Houthis deny involvement in escalating Yemen conflict

A major Saudi oil pipeline carrying millions of barrels of crude across the Arabian Peninsula came under renewed attack on Monday, the Saudi Energy Ministry said, as cited by the Saudi Press Agency. The East-West route was targeted in the Medina region, causing a small fire, though no casualties were reported and operations remained unaffected.

The incident occurred during intense fighting with Yemen's Houthi rebels and places a vital export route for the world's largest crude oil exporter under renewed pressure.

The 1,200 km pipeline runs from Saudi Arabia's oil-producing east to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and has become critical to global energy supply. Riyadh has rerouted roughly four million barrels per day through the route, about 4% of global oil supply, since the US-Israeli war against Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Latest Escalation and Conflicting Claims

On Tuesday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree denied responsibility for the Medina attack, calling allegations of the group's involvement a "blatant lie." He said Houthi forces had instead targeted pumping stations along the same pipeline near Riyadh.

Saree said the group carried out four operations involving ballistic missiles and drones, describing them as retaliation for Saudi strikes on Yemen, including attacks on a market in Taiz and a village near Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition said its air defenses intercepted two Houthi missiles fired towards Riyadh, another towards the south, and a drone over the oil-rich Eastern Province on Tuesday.

Background of the Renewed Conflict

Fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis resumed in July after a truce dating back to 2022 collapsed. Tensions reignited when Saudi-backed government forces struck Sanaa Airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The rebels subsequently declared an end to de-escalation and announced a naval blockade of the kingdom.

The pipeline route was closed for several days in September following drone strikes that Riyadh blamed on Iraqi militias. The Houthis also claimed a strike on a pumping station in October.

Since the conflict resumed, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked Saudi airports and energy facilities. In October, the Saudi-led coalition said 20 strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh over ten days killed at least 17 people and injured more than 300.

Casualties and Further Strikes

On Saturday, airstrikes blamed on the Saudi-led coalition reportedly killed 33 people, including 13 children and eight women, east of Sanaa, according to the Houthi-run Health Ministry. A market attack in Taiz province on Friday killed at least 30, with the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces blaming each other.

The Houthi-run Saba news agency reported that Saudi airstrikes hit a gas station and an oil facility in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, killing at least one person and injuring nine, according to the Houthi Health Ministry.

On Sunday, the Houthis claimed an attack on Saudi Aramco's offices in Riyadh, where debris from intercepted missiles damaged the building in the King Abdullah Financial District.

Current Status and Regional Risks

The Houthis have also advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast towards Bab el-Mandeb, a major shipping route linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, adding to pressure on regional maritime trade. No immediate change to Saudi oil operations has been confirmed following the Medina attack.