Houthis Seize the Red Sea, Saudi Pipeline Down for Weeks

The Iran war reaches a major new escalation as the Houthis seize control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline is forced offline for weeks.

In Episode 200 of Epic Fury: The US-Iran War Podcast, we examine how Iran-backed Houthi forces captured key positions around the Red Sea chokepoint, including Perim Island, potentially threatening one of the world’s most important shipping routes. At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s critical East-West Pipeline has suffered major damage, cutting off a key alternative route for Saudi oil exports after the Strait of Hormuz was closed.

We break down what the Houthi takeover of Bab el-Mandeb means for global shipping, Saudi oil exports, the Red Sea, and already-surging crude prices. We also examine the latest developments in Iraq after Saudi Arabia blamed Iran-backed militias for the pipeline attack, Washington’s decision not to strike the Houthis directly, and the growing pressure on Saudi Arabia to respond.

The episode also covers the stalled Oman-backed talks over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s position on negotiations, the latest US military and financial costs of the war, rising oil prices, and what the collapse of Saudi Arabia’s alternative oil routes could mean for the global economy.

In this episode:
• Houthis seize the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
• Perim Island and key Red Sea positions fall to Houthi forces
• Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline could remain offline for 3–5 weeks
• Iran-backed militias blamed for the Saudi pipeline attack
• Washington refuses to launch direct strikes against the Houthis — for now
• Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed
• Oil prices surge as fears of supply disruption grow
• Oman-backed Hormuz negotiations collapse
• US military and financial costs of the Iran war
• What happens next in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and global oil market

Epic Fury provides a daily deep dive into the US-Iran war, Iran, Israel, the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, military operations, geopolitics and the global economic consequences of the conflict.

Subscribe and follow Epic Fury: The US-Iran War Podcast for the latest developments as the war enters its next phase.