Houthi Attacks Threaten Saudi Oil Routes Amid $100 Brent Crude

Key facts

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting Saudi energy infrastructure.
• The attacks hit facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company.
• The strikes occurred in southern Saudi cities including Jazan, Najran, Abha, and Khamis Mushait.
• The Jazan refinery, capable of processing 400,000 barrels per day, was among the targeted sites.
• The attacks threaten shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.
• Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased, with only 4.9 million barrels per day in Q2 2026.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a significant attack on Saudi Arabia, utilizing dozens of ballistic missiles and drones to strike multiple energy targets, including facilities of the state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco. The assaults, which occurred in southern Saudi cities like Jazan, Najran, Abha, and Khamis Mushait, wounded 73 people and caused temporary operational halts at energy facilities and utilities. The Jazan refinery, with a capacity of approximately 400,000 barrels per day, was among the sites hit. These attacks come at a critical juncture for global energy markets, as oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have been severely restricted. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the Red Sea route via the Bab el-Mandeb strait to bypass Hormuz, but the Houthi strikes now threaten this alternative. Traffic through Hormuz has fallen dramatically from 21.6 million barrels per day before the conflict to an estimated 4.9 million barrels per day in the second quarter of 2026, while traffic through Bab el-Mandeb averaged 8.1 million barrels per day during the same period. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, stating the operation was in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes in Yemen and warning of further strikes if Riyadh's military campaign continues. The situation echoes previous warnings from President Donald Trump, who had threatened severe military punishment against Iran and the Houthis if they attacked ships again after previous incidents in the Red Sea.