Iran and Houthis Strike Saudi and UAE Oil Infrastructure
Iran and Houthi forces attacked critical oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the UAE as Iran maintains the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Government of Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, demanding the United States meet seven specific conditions to restore maritime traffic. While Tehran proposed a seven-day restoration plan during the UN General Assembly, the two nations remain deadlocked over implementation. This diplomatic freeze coincides with a surge in regional kinetic strikes targeting energy infrastructure.
In Yemen, the Saudi-backed government launched a major military operation to reclaim territory near the Bab Al Mandab strait from the Iran-aligned Houthis. In retaliation, the Houthis, also known as Ansarallah, launched missiles and drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Khurais, specifically targeting the East-West Pipeline near Abqaiq. The Houthis claim these actions respond to daily Saudi airstrikes on Yemeni civilian markets and water pipelines.
Simultaneously, Iran targeted the Bu Hasa field, one of the largest onshore oil and gas fields in the United Arab Emirates, which feeds the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline. Analysts indicate that the combined strikes on the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Saudi infrastructure could remove up to 13 million barrels of oil per day from the global market. These escalations have pushed Brent crude prices above $100 a barrel and caused significant aviation disruptions at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports.
