Saudi Arabia issued widespread security alerts Tuesday, including warnings affecting Mecca and Jeddah, as attacks by Iran-aligned forces intensify and the wider Middle East conflict threatens critical global oil routes.
The alerts were later lifted, and Saudi authorities did not immediately report confirmed damage from incoming projectiles. However, Reuters reported that the warning in Mecca was the first of the war for the city.
The development comes after a week of escalating attacks involving Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
Houthis Intensify Attacks on Saudi Arabia
The Houthis said they launched dozens of missiles and drones toward a Saudi military air base in southern Saudi Arabia.
A Saudi-led coalition said 13 civilians were wounded in attacks Monday.
The escalation follows renewed fighting in Yemen, where Houthi forces have expanded their control along the country’s western Red Sea coast.
That expansion is raising new concerns about the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another critical route for global shipping.
Saudi Oil Routes Under Pressure
The crisis is increasingly becoming an energy story as well.
Saudi Arabia’s approximately 1,200-kilometer East-West Pipeline was knocked offline following an attack last week.
The pipeline has become especially important because it allows Saudi crude to reach the Red Sea while avoiding the heavily disrupted Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters reported Tuesday that crude loadings at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu export hub had been suspended and some late-September shipments to European customers were canceled.
Oil Prices Surge
Energy markets reacted sharply.
Brent crude settled at $108.75 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude climbed to $105.83.
The average retail price of diesel in the United States has also climbed to record territory as disruption across Middle Eastern energy routes continues.
The situation matters directly to American consumers because prolonged disruption to global oil supplies can translate into higher fuel and transportation costs in the United States.
U.S. Faces Another Middle East Decision
The expanding conflict also creates another challenge for Washington.
Saudi Arabia has sought U.S. assistance as threats to its territory and energy infrastructure increase.
So far, U.S. assistance has included intelligence support, according to Reuters.
With fighting spreading toward another critical maritime route, Washington faces growing pressure to balance support for regional partners against the risk of becoming more deeply involved in another theater of the conflict.
The coming days could be crucial for both regional security and global energy markets.