Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched fresh missile strikes against Saudi Arabia while taking control of Perim Island near the Red Sea. President Donald Trump weighed military intervention before ultimately halting planned airstrikes.
The security landscape in the Middle East shifted sharply as Yemeni officials confirmed that Houthi forces expanded their Red Sea campaign and intensified missile barrages on southern Saudi cities. The offensive placed heavy pressure on Riyadh, which faced concurrent infrastructure threats, missile strikes near the capital, and a prolonged shutdown of its east-west oil pipeline following a separate attack.
Escalating Houthi Attacks and Regional Oil Supply Disruptions
The Houthis stated they fired dozens of missiles and drones at a military airbase in Khamis Mushait, targeting hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots. The Saudi-led coalition reported that thirteen civilians were wounded across four southern cities where emergency alerts were issued. Compounding these security breaches, a Houthi drone was also intercepted near the holy city.
In addition to southern strikes, ballistic missiles were fired near Riyadh, and a large plume of black smoke rose from fuel storage areas at King Khalid International Airport, as reported by Reuters. Having recruited up to 350,000 fighters, the Houthis captured strategic locations including Perim Island and areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
These advances compounded energy supply fears. A shutdown of the Saudi East-West Pipeline—which was built in the 1980s to bypass the Strait of Hormuz—threatened to cut off as much as 4% of global oil supply while the Hormuz waterway remained largely blockaded by Iran. Crude oil prices briefly soared to about $100 per barrel before dipping slightly on Monday.
Washington Deliberates Military Action While Alliances Fracture
The sudden escalation triggered intense diplomatic and military deliberations in Washington. According to The New York Times, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged U.S. intervention during a phone call on Thursday, September 17. President Trump initially instructed the Pentagon to prepare for airstrikes, and military commanders approved target lists as troops loaded bombs onto warplanes.
Photo: Nypost
However, by Sunday, September 20, Trump reversed the decision and halted the operation. Most of the president’s inner circle opposed opening another front against the Houthis while U.S. forces remained engaged in a wider war with Iran. Trump noted that the Houthis had contacted Washington to assure him they would not target U.S. interests, and intelligence support remained the limit of direct American military assistance.
Regional defense pacts also showed signs of strain. Pakistan and Turkey had signed the Mecca Agreement in August, vowing to defend Riyadh in the event of an attack. Yet nuclear-armed Pakistan declined to intervene, arguing that the current fighting stemmed from a pre-existing civil war that predated the agreement. Running low on missile interceptors, Saudi Arabia also turned to France, Britain, and Egypt for air support.
Stalled Diplomacy and Maritime Volatility in the Gulf
Diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region suffered immediate setbacks. Oman had scheduled a meeting on Monday between Iran and Gulf states to negotiate reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried 20% of global oil exports. Oman announced the meeting’s postponement, with Iran stating the delay was requested by Saudi Arabia.
Simultaneously, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, dismissed President Trump’s assertions that Tehran was eager for a quick deal, writing on X that there would be No talks until Iran’s conditions are met.
Maritime security remained deeply volatile. Conflicting accounts emerged regarding the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker El Gaia. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the vessel was struck by sea mines in a prohibited zone south of the Strait of Hormuz, whereas the U.S. military’s Central Command countered that the tanker was struck by an Iranian missile last month and rendered inoperable. The United Nations’ International Maritime Organization reported the ship was damaged on Saturday with two seafarers missing, highlighting the persistent dangers facing commercial shipping in the world’s most critical oil corridor.
Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia; oil supplies halted | Trump and Iranian President | Yasir Rashid Vlog
