Yemen Fighting Raises New Worries for Oil Shipping
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have taken control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, raising concerns that ships carrying oil could face new dangers.
9/22/2026PERIM ISLAND, Yemen — Conflict in the Middle East is creating new worries about how oil moves around the world.
For months, Iran has limited traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that carried about 20% of the world’s oil and gas before the war. Oil producers tried other routes, including the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia’s East-West Crude Oil Pipeline.
Now those alternatives are under pressure too. Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have been fighting Saudi Arabia and Yemen government forces. The group recently took control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the port city of Mocha and an important island.
Control of this coastline could allow the Houthis to make shipping in the Red Sea more difficult. The fighting has also forced tens of thousands of people from their homes.
Meanwhile, Iran-backed militants in Iraq launched drone attacks last Thursday and Friday at Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline. Damage from the attacks forced Saudi Arabia to shut down the pipeline.
Iran’s leaders who support continuing the war appear to believe that limiting oil supplies will put pressure on the United States and its allies. Many people are watching to see how Saudi Arabia responds and whether the conflict spreads further.