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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia temporarily suspends all oil shipments transiting through an important Red Sea waterway, accusing Iranian rebel allies of attacking two oil tankers on Wednesday.
Stop crude shipments in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait – which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden – marks a new escalation in the war between an Arab military coalition and the Houthi rebels for control of the Yemen. Saudi Arabia is trying to push up oil exports in an effort to keep the world well-supplied with oil as the United States clutch rival Riyadh, Iran, with new sanctions that could reduce its oil exports.
very large crude oil carriers operated by Saudi National Shipping Corp. in the Red Sea on Wednesday. One of the ships suffered minimal damage. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said all oil exports across the southern Red Sea would be interrupted "until the situation becomes clearer and maritime transit ".
The Saudi-led Arab coalition is engaged in a battle for control of Hodeidah, a major port in Yemen where most of the humanitarian aid reaches the people of the country but, according to the Saudis, also serves as a conduit for the weapons of Iran. Tehran refused to support the Houthis.
Houthi-affiliated naval forces declared that they were targeting Saudi military vessels, not tankers.
"The Threat to International Security and Peace and Threatens the Security of the Red Sea is Saudi Yemeni rebels are increasingly targeting Saudi oil facilities, threatening the kingdom's economic engine and adding a new layer of geopolitical tension that is helping to push oil prices to their highest levels since 2014.
The barrage of attacks ended the three-year conflict with the Houthis, uncomfortably close to the heart of the economy Saudi Arabia, crystallizing risks for the oil industry in the region.By striking a blow to Saudi wealth, the Houthis hope to inflict disproportionate damage to an enemy who is stronger militarily but has not been able to dislodge the rebels.
Saudi Arabia is leading a warring military coalition since 2015 with the Houthis, whom they see as proxies for their regional rival, Iran. The Houthis control the capital, San, since the ousting of a Saudi-backed government, and ongoing skirmishes along the porous border of the two countries have kept the coalition engaged in the conflict.
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Mohammed Alkibsi
contributed to this article in Sanaa, Yemen.
Writes to Summer tells [email protected]
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