Download App

[Houthi Offensive Escalates, Saudi Energy Routes Hit Again] 1. The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels said on Wednesday that Saudi warplanes were bombing Yemen, while the group launched drones and missiles at Saudi cities. This comes after a rapid Houthi advance that has expanded Tehran's influence in the Middle East conflict. The United States has raised its travel warning level for Saudi Arabia, prohibiting government personnel from traveling within 20 miles of the Yemeni border. The Houthis have been sweeping through Yemen's Red Sea coast towns since last week and seizing islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea's outlet. 2. Houthi military spokesman Sari said the group launched a new round of drone and missile attacks on Yanbu, Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil port, and an airbase in the southern city of Khamis Mushait. Saudi officials and Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sari also claimed that the Houthis shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet, but provided no evidence. Sari said Saudi Arabia has launched as many as 450 airstrikes against Yemen this week. Officials of the Saudi-backed, Saudi-controlled government in southern Yemen have acknowledged that their forces and Saudi troops are conducting airstrikes on Houthi positions. 3. Over the past week, Houthi attacks on targets within Saudi territory have triggered alerts in southern and western Saudi cities. Last week, an attack in Iraq, attributed to pro-Iranian militants, disrupted Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, a key route for Saudi oil exports bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Riyadh claims that Saudi air defenses shot down a Houthi drone south of Mecca on Tuesday, preventing it from entering the no-fly zone over the holy city, stating that the attack crossed a "red line" threatening all Muslim holy sites. Sari (Arab leader) denied that the Houthis had targeted Mecca, calling Saudi claims propaganda. Sources say that US officials met with Houthi rebels in Oman over the weekend, who stated they had no intention of attacking US ships and would abide by last year's ceasefire agreement. 4. The spread of the war to Yemen could exacerbate the global energy supply shortage caused by the six-month-long war with Iran. Brent crude futures touched $109.72 a barrel on Monday, a near four-month high, and are currently hovering around $105. The average retail price of U.S. diesel broke through $6.30 a gallon for the first time, setting another record high. Traders said that a prolonged shutdown of Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline could disrupt up to 4% of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia has not yet specified when pipeline operations will resume, but U.S. Energy Secretary Wright stated that crude oil should be able to resume transport through the pipeline within days.