Saudi Arabia temporarily closed its critical East-West pipeline after drone strikes sparked fires south of Medina on September 10, 2026. The shutdown coincided with Houthi forces seizing Yemen’s strategic Perim island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, sending global oil prices above $100 a barrel amid widening Middle East conflict.
East-West Pipeline Shutdown and the Iraq Attack Origin
Saudi Arabia shut down its vital East-West pipeline following a series of aerial strikes that struck the line in the Riyadh and Medina regions. Satellite images revealed black smoke rising from an area south of Medina as emergency and specialized technical teams moved to secure the pipeline and assess its safety in line with approved emergency response plans.
The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed that the closure served as a precautionary measure. An official source stated that the infrastructure was subjected to multiple attacks on the morning of Thursday, 10 September 2026,
resulting in a number of injuries that required medical care.
“was subjected to multiple attacks on the morning of Thursday, 10 September 2026,”
Strait of Hormuz Bypasses and Global Energy Market Pressures
The targeted pipeline, widely known as Petroline, runs approximately 1,200 kilometres (745 miles) across the Arabian Peninsula from the Abqaiq processing complex in the Eastern Province to the export terminal at Yanbu on the Red Sea. Its design capacity reached roughly 7 million barrels per day following the conversion of parallel natural gas liquids lines, though it typically moves between 4 million and 5 million barrels per day.
That volume accounts for 4% to 5% of global supply, functioning as a critical lifeline that allows Saudi Arabia to bypass a shipping logjam in the Strait of Hormuz. Tanker traffic through Hormuz has slowed to a trickle amid the broader conflict between the United States and Iran. With the Petroline conduit temporarily offline and Red Sea shipping under fire, Brent crude rose toward $105 a barrel after topping $100 earlier in the week.
The International Energy Agency reported that Saudi crude supply fell to its lowest levels in more than three decades, exacerbated by Houthi-linked attacks on commercial vessels transiting the southern end of the Red Sea.
Houthi Territorial Advances and Diplomatic Fallout
Simultaneously, Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen tightened their grip on regional shipping lanes by seizing Mayun, also known as Perim island, situated on Friday at the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Yemeni government sources confirmed the capture of the strategic island inside the 20-mile-wide passage.
The Houthi armed forces boasted of their territorial gains and declared an escalation in their fight against the kingdom, warning that maritime navigation is safe for all companies except for Saudi vessels.
Amid the mounting security and economic pressure, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice to urge Washington to launch military strikes against the Houthis. The White House rebuffed the request, as the administration is not currently looking to mount a military campaign against the group. Higher fuel prices stemming from the widened conflict have already exacted a political toll on President Trump and the Republican Party ahead of congressional elections in November.
