Saudi Pipeline Hit by Drone Attack, Threatening Double Blockade on Oil Exports

[Anchor]

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are rapidly seizing key cities along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital chokepoint in the Red Sea. With a major onshore oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia also targeted by drone attacks, oil-producing nations face the threat of a double blockade on their crude export routes. As the situation escalates urgently, Gulf oil producers have decided to enter direct negotiations with Iran.

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the details.

[Reporter]

Black smoke billows near Medina in western Saudi Arabia.

Zooming in reveals a burned-out oil pumping station.

On the 10th local time, Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline was struck by multiple drone attacks.

Serving as a crucial infrastructure that allows Saudi Arabia to reroute its crude oil toward the Red Sea after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 5 million barrels of oil per day have been transported through this pipeline.

Saudi Arabia stated that the drones used in the attack originated from Iraqi territory.

While the perpetrator has not yet been confirmed, suspicions have been raised regarding the involvement of Iran-backed Iraqi militias.

The situation in the Red Sea is also deteriorating.

Having seized Yemen's major coastal strongholds, including Mayun Island—a strategic chokepoint in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the entrance of the Red Sea—the Houthi rebels have continued to release videos to flaunt their influence.

[Houthi Rebel: This is the entrance to the Khaled bin Walid camp in Mocha, secured after driving out the remnants of Saudi enemy mercenaries.]

The Houthis claimed that maritime navigation in the Red Sea is safe except for Saudi vessels,

[Yahya Saree / Houthi Rebel Spokesperson: Our forces confirm that maritime navigation for all companies is safe, with the exception of Saudi Arabian vessels.]

However, concerns are growing that even the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could be blockaded.

Iran reaffirmed its support for the Houthis and urged Saudi Arabia to negotiate with them.

Amid these developments, six Gulf oil-producing nations are scheduled to meet with Iran in Oman on the 14th.

This move is interpreted as an attempt to find a solution through direct talks with Iran, driven by a growing sense of crisis that relying solely on the United States could prolong the blockade of oil export routes.

(Video by Jung Sung-hoon, Design by Seo Seung-hyun and Park Chun-woong)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.