Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia as fighting intensified along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and diplomatic efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz stalled.
The Houthis said they fired dozens of missiles and drones at a military airbase in Khamis Mushait in southern Saudi Arabia on Monday, targeting aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots. Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts in Khamis Mushait and three other southern cities, while the Saudi-led coalition said 13 civilians were wounded.
The attacks followed recent Houthi advances along Yemen’s western coastline, including the capture of Perim Island at the entrance to the Red Sea.
Saudi Oil Infrastructure Under Pressure
The escalation comes after an aerial attack on Thursday knocked Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil pipeline offline. Riyadh blamed the attack on Iran-backed militias in Iraq and has not indicated when operations will resume.
The 1,200-kilometre pipeline connects Saudi oil facilities in the Gulf with the Red Sea and was built in the 1980s to provide an alternative export route to the Strait of Hormuz.
A prolonged shutdown of the pipeline could affect infrastructure capable of carrying as much as 4 per cent of global oil supply while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily restricted.
Crude oil prices rose more than 4 per cent during Monday's session before settling around 1 per cent higher.
Saudi and Yemeni forces have increased air strikes against Houthi positions, including areas around the Red Sea port of Mocha. The Houthis, however, continue to control most of Yemen's western coastline along the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia has led a coalition fighting the Houthis since 2015. Hostilities had eased under a ceasefire in recent years before fighting resumed this month.
Hormuz Talks Postponed
Oman was scheduled to host talks on Monday involving Iran and Gulf Arab states over negotiations aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting was postponed, with Iran saying the delay came at Saudi Arabia's request.
Before the current conflict, the Strait of Hormuz handled about 20 per cent of global oil exports. The shipping route has been largely closed since the war began on February 28.
Shipping risks in the region also remain elevated following damage to the Panamanian-flagged tanker El Gaia. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said the vessel was hit by sea mines after entering a prohibited zone south of the Strait of Hormuz, while the US Central Command said the tanker had been struck by an Iranian missile last month.
The International Maritime Organization reported that the vessel was damaged on Saturday and that two seafarers were missing, but did not specify the cause of the incident.
(Reuters inputs)