Saudi warplanes launched airstrikes on Yemen, while Houthi rebels retaliated by targeting Saudi cities with drones and missiles, as reported by the Iran-backed group on Wednesday. The escalating conflict has expanded Iran’s influence in the ongoing Middle East turmoil.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the United States heightened its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia, prohibiting government personnel from traveling within a 32-kilometer radius of the Yemeni border. The Houthis, who have made significant territorial gains in Yemen recently, shared footage of their fighters seizing armored vehicles from Saudi-supported forces. The video also captured warplanes flying overhead, accompanied by massive explosions in desert areas.
Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, disclosed that the group conducted fresh drone and missile strikes on Yanbu, a major Saudi Red Sea oil port, and Khamis Mushait, a southern Saudi airbase. However, the timing of these attacks was not specified. While Saudi Arabia issued alerts for various locations on Tuesday, no new announcements were made on Wednesday.
Saudi officials and the oil company Aramco did not provide immediate responses to requests for comments regarding the situation. Saree further claimed that the Saudis carried out approximately 450 airstrikes in Yemen within the week. Although the Saudi-backed government in southern Yemen acknowledged conducting joint airstrikes with Saudi Arabia against Houthi positions, Riyadh has not officially confirmed these actions.
The Houthis have been targeting Saudi Arabia with repeated strikes, causing alarm in the southern and western regions. An attack allegedly orchestrated by Iran-aligned fighters in Iraq disrupted Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, a vital route for oil exports from the blockaded Strait of Hormuz.
Amidst these developments, the danger of a global energy supply shortage intensifies. The conflict in Yemen adds to the strain on the energy market, exacerbated by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Brent crude oil prices remained close to $108 per barrel on Wednesday, nearing levels not seen since May. Additionally, the average retail price of diesel fuel in the United States surged to a record high above $6.30 per gallon.
Traders fear that a prolonged closure of Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline could result in a significant reduction of up to four percent in global oil supply. While Saudi Arabia has not specified when operations will resume, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright indicated that oil flow through the pipeline should resume within days.
The conflict between Saudi-led coalition forces and the Houthis, ongoing since 2015, has reignited following recent escalations. The ceasefire that had temporarily quelled the violence was disrupted by the Houthis’ naval blockade declaration against Saudi Arabia in July. The conflict intensified this month as the Houthis pushed back against forces aligned with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sought military support from U.S. President Donald Trump last week, primarily receiving intelligence assistance thus far. The United States previously conducted airstrikes against the Houthis in 2025 but ceased following an agreement described as a ceasefire by Trump. The current dilemma for Trump lies in deciding whether to intervene directly to support the Saudis or risk exacerbating the global energy crisis due to the advancing Houthi insurgency.
