Saudi Pipeline Hit by Drones as Oil Exports Face Double Blockade Threat

[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 Saudi Arabia's core overland pipeline also targeted by drone attacks, oil export routes for major producers are facing the threat of a dual blockade. As the situation escalates urgently, Gulf oil-producing nations have decided to launch direct negotiations with Iran.

Reporter Gwak Sang-eun has the details.

[Reporter]

Black smoke rises near Medina in western Saudi Arabia.

Zooming in reveals a burned-out oil pump station.

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

Serving as a critical infrastructure facility for Saudi Arabia to reroute oil toward the Red Sea after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil have been transported daily through this pipeline.

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

While the perpetrators have not yet been identified, the possibility of involvement by pro-Iranian Iraqi militias is being raised.

The situation in the Red Sea is also worsening.

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 flaunted their influence by releasing a series of videos.

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

While the Houthis claimed navigation in the Red Sea is safe for all vessels except Saudi ships,

[Yahya Saree/Houthi Rebel Spokesperson : Our forces confirm that maritime navigation for all companies is safe, excluding ships of Saudi Arabia.]

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.

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

This 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 천웅
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.