Fears over global energy security have been reignited after Yemen's Houthi movement carried out a massive missile and drone assault on a critical Saudi military installation. The attack, compounded by reported damage to Saudi Arabia's key East-West oil pipeline, sent international oil prices sharply higher on Thursday.

According to reports, the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah TV stated on the 14th that the group targeted King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, southwestern Saudi Arabia, with dozens of ballistic missiles and drones. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed the operation, aimed at aircraft hangars, radar systems, runways, and ammunition depots, was "precise and direct, inflicting significant losses."

In a parallel development, Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline was forced to shut down following an attack on a pumping station. Citing Saudi oil traders, reports suggest that if the pipeline cannot resume operations within days, the Kingdom's export inventories could run dry, potentially impacting around 4% of the global oil supply.

Reacting to these events, international benchmark Brent crude climbed over 4% to $109.18 per barrel. Adding to the market's anxiety, a regional meeting scheduled for Monday in Salalah, Oman, was postponed, and negotiations concerning shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have hit another deadlock, exacerbating worries about Middle East energy transit routes.

Attack Escalation: Houthis Cite Retaliation for Saudi Airstrikes

Spokesman Saree said the operation was in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's intensifying aerial campaign against Yemen. Recent weeks have seen Saudi F-15 and Typhoon fighters, launching from Khamis Mushait and Taif air bases, conduct over 300 airstrikes across several Yemeni provinces.

In response, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense issued security alerts for multiple cities in the southwest near the Yemeni border. Residents of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and other towns reportedly received safety notifications on their phones late on the 13th and early on the 14th.

Saree also noted that within the preceding 24 hours, Saudi warplanes had executed 58 airstrikes across six Yemeni provinces, with F-15s operating from King Khalid Air Base playing a significant role.

Controlling Bab el-Mandeb: Houthis Expand Threat to Red Sea Shipping

This latest strike comes on the heels of a strategic military advance by the Houthis in western Yemen. Reports indicate the group secured control of the remaining coastline and seized Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb strait over the weekend, tightening their grip on this vital southern entrance to the Red Sea.

Following this advance, the Houthi-controlled territory now lies just 32 kilometers from a major US military base in Djibouti. This shift geographically expands the Houthis' influence over Red Sea shipping and heightens the potential for regional military confrontation.

While the Houthis claim their blockade, a countermeasure against the Saudi-led coalition's restrictions on their areas, targets only Saudi vessels, shipping companies remain on high alert. A growing number of vessels are opting to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding at least 20 days to voyages and further inflating transportation costs and straining global supply chains.

Pipeline Attack: Saudi Oil Exports Face Supply Disruption

Beyond the direct military conflict, the closure of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline is amplifying concerns about global oil supply. This crucial artery connects the Kingdom's eastern oil-producing regions to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. It serves as a critical alternative export route, particularly vital when passage through the Strait of Hormuz is threatened.

The shutdown is attributed to a destructive attack on a pumping station. Saudi oil traders have cautioned that without a quick restoration, export inventories could be depleted within days, potentially removing up to 4% of the world's oil from the market.

The buffer in supply is tight, as Saudi oil inventories were already near their lowest levels in three decades prior to the attack. Citing insiders, reports suggest that repairs to the damaged pumping station could take five to six weeks, implying that the supply risk could persist for some time.

Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions have encountered a setback. A planned meeting between Iranian and Persian Gulf state foreign ministers in Oman has been postponed. An Iranian foreign ministry official stated that, at the request of some regional countries and by mutual agreement with Oman, the meeting would be rescheduled. The gathering was intended to discuss a proposal for joint Iranian-Omani management of vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Its postponement signals that regional mediation has yet to yield tangible progress at a time when shipping risks are simultaneously rising in both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.