2026-09-122us

[UPDATE] Houthi forces captured Mokha and Perim island in the 28-kilometer Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Saudi Arabia shut its 7-million-barrel-per-day East-West pipeline after drone strikes from Iraq.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked for direct air strikes on the Houthis. Donald Trump turned down the request, offering intelligence and targeting help instead.

Mokha and Perim island at the Bab el-Mandeb straitData: POLI

On Sept. 9, Houthi missiles and drones struck 4 Saudi cities, wounding 73 people and shutting Aramco's 400,000-barrel-a-day Jazan refinery.

What this offensive secured along the Red Sea:

  • The offensive seized 130 kilometers of coastline. It marks the largest Houthi land gain since the 2022 truce.
  • Houthi leaders declared sea lanes open to merchant ships. They barred only Saudi vessels.
  • About 200 American troops remain in the region. They provide non-combat targeting help.

U.S. makes progress reopening the Strait of Hormuz while the Iran war continues

The Gulf's chokepoint is edging back open under fire while the Red Sea's gate changes hands.

Saudi Arabian oil pipeline system hit by projectiles triggering fires

The strike on the East–West pipeline — Riyadh's 7-million-barrel-a-day bypass around both straits — set fires along the line.

White House considers using the Defense Production Act to expand oil-refining capacity

Washington's answer to the same supply squeeze: emergency powers for domestic refining.