Yemen's Houthi forces reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday, September 11, 2026, according to Yemeni government sources. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy announced a temporary shutdown of its 1,200-kilometer East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack that Saudi officials said originated in Iraq. The ministry described the closure as a precautionary measure while damage and injuries are assessed.
These events occur six months after the start of a conflict involving U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia, a leading oil exporter, had turned to the Red Sea and the East-West pipeline as primary alternative routes for crude exports. The Houthi advance follows their capture of the coastal city of Mocha and the Hanish islands on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Saudi officials stated that drones launched from Iraq targeted the pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions. While Iraq's government condemned the attacks, Saudi Arabia indicated it has not yet retaliated following a request from the Iraqi prime minister. In Yemen, government sources confirmed their forces withdrew from Perim and the mainland town of Dhubab. The U.N. migration agency reported Friday that the surge in fighting has displaced more than 46,000 people this week, a figure that has more than doubled in seven days.
The closure of the East-West pipeline and the Houthi presence at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait affect global energy markets and shipping logistics. The pipeline previously transported 4 million to 5 million barrels of oil per day, representing approximately 4% to 5% of the total global supply. Because the Strait of Hormuz is already restricted, Houthi threats to the 17-mile-wide Bab el-Mandeb channel have forced exporters to use longer paths around Africa or through Egypt, which increases transit times for fuel deliveries.
For consumers and businesses, these disruptions have contributed to crude oil prices being on track to end the week above $100 per barrel for the first time since May. In the United States, diesel prices have exceeded $6 per gallon. These rising costs are occurring before the November U.S. congressional elections. In Yemen, the localized impact is humanitarian; 40 million people in the region face the risk of renewed civil war, which previously resulted in 150,000 deaths and widespread famine.
The International Energy Agency stated on Friday that Saudi crude supply fell to its lowest level in more than 30 years, partly due to attacks on ships by Houthi-linked groups. Yemeni government forces have announced plans to deploy aircraft and weapons to retake captured areas, including the road to Mocha. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman requested U.S. military assistance on Thursday, but sources indicate Washington has limited its support to intelligence sharing and targeting rather than direct action. Market analysts will monitor whether the pipeline remains closed past the current assessment period.