Home · World · Sep 19 archive
Saudi Arabia Faces 'Biggest Threat' to Oil Production as Houthis Attack
Confirmed
In Short: An expert warns that Saudi Arabia is facing its 'biggest threat' ever to oil production as Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen launch cross-border attacks and seize territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital, 'This situation is really precarious for the Saudis. This is the biggest threat to their production of oil since their kingdom was founded in 1932. And this is almost existential.
Last week, Saudi Arabia temporarily closed its East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack from Iraq, which President Trump believes was orchestrated by Iran. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia intercepted a Houthi drone near Mecca.
Abdul-Hussain added, 'We see that the Saudis are trying to shop for some force to fight their war for them. And I think along the lines, they also called President Trump. It doesn't look to me that Washington is going to get involved in this one.
A senior administration official told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration remains in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Yemen over regional stability.
Trump said the Houthis had called him and made it clear they do not want to fight with the U.S., stating, 'They let us know, they don’t want to fight with us... they don’t want us to go after them.
What this adds
The Houthis have captured key coastal cities in Yemen, increasing tensions with the United States and Iran, according to a previous WarpBeat report.
Background
The Houthis have captured key coastal cities in Yemen, giving them control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait and increasing tensions with the United States and Iran.
What's confirmed
- Hussain Abdul-Hussain, a research fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital, 'This situation is really precarious for the Saudis. This is the biggest threat to their production of oil since their kingdom was founded in 1932. And this is almost existential.
- Last week, Saudi Arabia temporarily closed its East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack from Iraq, which President Trump believes was orchestrated by Iran. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia intercepted a Houthi drone near Mecca.
- Abdul-Hussain added, 'We see that the Saudis are trying to shop for some force to fight their war for them. And I think along the lines, they also called President Trump. It doesn't look to me that Washington is going to get involved in this one.
- A senior administration official told Fox News Digital that the Trump administration remains in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and Yemen over regional stability.
- Trump said the Houthis had called him and made it clear they do not want to fight with the U.S., stating, 'They let us know, they don’t want to fight with us... they don’t want us to go after them.
What's still developing
- Fox News Digital, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported on Friday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to take military action against the Houthis.
- "The Houthis announced that they're only going after Saudi ships and Saudi navigation and they made it clear that they are not going after international shipping, whether [they] are U.S. ships or European ships," he continued.