Houthis seize Mokha and Red Sea island as Saudi Arabia shuts key oil pipeline after drone attacks

September 12, 2026 at 08:22 PM2 min

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Houthi forces seized the Red Sea port of Mokha and a nearby island from Saudi-backed government forces, tightening their blockade of Saudi shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia shut down its east-west oil pipeline on Friday after drone attacks originating in Iraq, where Iran-backed militias operate. The developments have cut Saudi oil exports to Asia by roughly half, from 3 million barrels per day to 1.5 million.

Key Facts

Houthi forces captured the Red Sea port city of Mokha and a nearby island from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces over two days.
Saudi Arabia shut down its east-west oil pipeline on Friday after drone attacks originating in Iraq.
Saudi oil exports to Asia have fallen from about 3 million barrels per day to 1.5 million due to Houthi attacks.
A Saudi official said the kingdom would defend itself and work with partners, including the United States, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Former U.S. ambassador Michael Ratney called the developments 'incredibly frustrating' for Saudi Arabia.

Houthi Advance

Houthi rebels seized the Red Sea port city of Mokha and a nearby island from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces over the past two days. The capture enhances the Houthis' ability to block Saudi oil shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for exports to Asia and Europe. The Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi shipping in July and resumed large-scale attacks for the first time in four years. Regional officials told The Associated Press that the Houthis have helped Iraqi militias carry out attacks against Saudi Arabia.

Pipeline Shutdown

Saudi Arabia shut down the pipeline that carries oil from its eastern fields to the Red Sea on Friday after drone attacks originating in Iraq. The pipeline closure cuts off a key alternative export route that Saudi Arabia had used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran effectively shut down in February. Saudi oil exports to Asia have dropped from around 3 million barrels per day to 1.5 million barrels per day as a result of Houthi attacks. The Saudi government did not respond to a request for comment, but an anonymous official said the kingdom would defend itself and work with partners including the United States to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

Regional Fallout

Former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney said the latest developments are 'incredibly frustrating' for the kingdom. Ratney noted that despite Saudi Arabia's antipathy toward Iran, the war was one the kingdom had never asked for and had great trepidation about. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to transform Saudi Arabia into a global business hub have suffered major setbacks since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel triggered successive wars. When the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz and jolting the world economy.