Saudi Arabia faces mounting threats as Houthis advance and militias attack oil infrastructure

Saudi Arabia faces a severe national security crisis as Iran-backed Houthi rebels seize the port of Mokha and Mayunn Island, threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Simultaneously, drone attacks from Iraqi militias have forced the closure of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline. These disruptions have caused Saudi oil exports to Asia to plunge from 3.4 million barrels a day in June to 128,000 in August, rattling global energy markets. Riyadh faces these mounting threats with limited options, as its primary ally, the United States, remains reluctant to intervene militarily ahead of congressional elections.

Houthi Red Sea advance

• ▪The Houthi advance along the Red Sea coast enhances the rebel group's ability to block Saudi Arabian shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
• ▪Houthi forces advanced south along Yemen's Red Sea coast, seizing the port city of Mokha and Mayunn Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces

Iraqi militia pipeline attacks

• ▪Saudi Arabia shut down its East-West pipeline on September 11, 2026, following drone attacks originating in Iraq that were blamed on Iran-backed Iraqi militias
• ▪Regional officials reported that Houthi rebels have assisted Iran-backed Iraqi militias in carrying out attacks against Saudi Arabian infrastructure

Iran regional pressure strategy

• ▪Iran responded to a February 28, 2026 joint U.S.-Israeli attack by launching missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz
• ▪The Houthi rebels declared a blockade of Saudi shipping and resumed large-scale attacks in July 2026, ending a period of relative calm since a 2022 ceasefire

US-Saudi alliance uncertainty

• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump expressed reluctance to expand military involvement in the Middle East, citing concerns over the upcoming congressional midterm elections
• ▪The U.S. military's ability to defend Gulf allies has been strained by heavy deployments around the Strait of Hormuz and a drawdown of sophisticated interceptor missiles

Saudi defense posture challenges

• ▪An anonymous Saudi official stated that Saudi Arabia will defend its territory and collaborate with international partners to maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea
• ▪Saudi Arabia's air defense capabilities face strain because Houthi weaponry has grown more sophisticated and the kingdom has fewer interceptor missiles available due to the U.S.-Iran conflict

Global energy supply crisis

• ▪Houthi attacks caused Saudi Arabian oil exports to Asia to plunge from 3.4 million barrels a day in June 2026 to 128,000 barrels a day in August 2026
• ▪At least 23 shipping vessels were struck in the Omani waterway during July and August 2026, and at least 22 sailors have been killed in the region since the war began in late February 2026

Debatable claims

• ▪Saudi Arabia should launch a new military campaign against the Houthis
• ▪The United States should expand its military intervention to protect Saudi shipping