Houthis Declare Open Season on Saudi Arabia || July 22, 2026
The Houthis are threatening Saudi oil infrastructure, but are they all bark or is there real bite behind the threats?
The Houthis largely depend upon Iranian weapons, but if Iran were able to replenish drone and missile stockpiles, they still have to get them into Yemen, evading Saudi border controls and U.S. naval monitoring. If the weapons did make their way into Houthis' hands, the question then becomes about scale.
Potshots and isolated strikes won't move the needle, but sustained strikes could overwhelm Saudi defenses. The largest concern is the Petroline, which has helped stave off the energy crisis throughout the Iran war. We'll find out soon enough what the Houthis have up their sleeves.
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Comments (24)
Peter, what's to prevent Saudi Arabia from stopping Iranian ships from entering Yemeni ports or attacking the port infrastructure itself? I'm sure MBS is not concerned about any potential infractions of international law if there is a threat to the economy or the kingdom. Also, do you foresee Saudi Arabia making Oman "an offer they can't refuse" for the development of additional oil and gas pipelines that transit from SA through Oman to an Omani port on the Indian Ocean, presumably out of range of Iranian drones from Iran and Yemen?
Looks like the Yemenis replenished their supplies
Surely the Houthi would already have a drone stockpile in Yemen?
I am curious to know what role the Russian have in the USA/Iranian war. I've heard reports they are providing targeting information but could they use thier holdings in Africa to get weapon systems to the Houthies that way?
Ah, the world was such a simpler place when Yemeni-sponsored, northbound camel caravans carried frankincense and myrrh to trade with Saudi tribal nomads living in Mecca and worshiping idols.
Why not carpet bomb Iranian rail. If they fix it bomb again. That should be easy enough.
"Carpet bomb" is not the correct term here. It is obsolete, going back to WWII and would very ineffective against railroads. Frankly, it wasn't very effective in WWII.
I realize Saudi Arabia is a current ally but I have a hard time feeling much sympathy for them when they have funded terrorists for years.
Why can’t the US interdict rail? We know the exact route, no?
Hi Peter. Even if the Houthis were able to meaningfully threaten Saudi west‑coast infrastructure, it seems that global oil prices are being held down by forces beyond the supply‑side dynamics you outlined. Case in point: China has quietly accumulated the largest strategic and commercial oil reserves in the world — likely over a billion barrels — far more than analysts previously recognized. Because these stockpiles allow Beijing to smooth out its import needs, China hasn’t had to bid up spot cargoes during recent disruptions. This reserve buffer acts as a shock absorber in the global market, preventing the kind of panic‑driven price spikes that would normally follow Red Sea instability or Iranian proxy activity. On top of that, China is experiencing genuine demand destruction due to its economic slowdown. A collapsing property sector, weaker manufacturing output, soft consumer mobility, and rapid EV adoption have all reduced structural oil consumption. So even before drawing on its massive reserves, China simply isn’t generating the demand growth that used to push global prices higher. Put together, China’s oversized reserves and weakened demand have created a powerful dampening effect — meaning that even if Yemen‑based attacks materialize, the global price response is far more muted than supply‑side analysis may suggest.
I would also like to hear more about this. Even with large reserves, I would expect China to bid up spot, because at some points even those reserves will deplete. They refine less, but could sell refined products. If there is really that much demand destruction, it would be very interesting to learn more about that.
Why don't we just summer fallow Yemen?
Women and children 😱😭😭🤬
Unfortunate that he always has to cast aspersions on the Trump admin - understand the DTS, but it becomes distracting when it is always present.
It isn't hard to find reasons to "cast aspersions" at the Trump administration. It is lead be a narcissicist that doesn't want to hear truth and populated by clowns who tell him what he wants to hear. It will go down in history as an embarrassement much like the McCarthyism of the 50's.
The idea of weapons coming to Yemen by rail through Saudi Arabia to be used on Saudi Arabia is both laughable and hilarious. But given that the simplest explanation is often the correct one, my money is on Pete Kegsbreath getting lost in the Straight of More Booze.
This is fucking gold dude.. Straight of More Booze💥
Blow up pipeline, oil becomes scarce. Oil becomes scarce, gas prices skyrocket. Gas prices skyrocket, midterms become VERY interesting.
Oil is not scarce... see oil price. Everyone, except for the people whose job is to know these things, thinks the oil price was going to the moon, but it did not. The oil market is robust and will find a way to get to market. Plus, if oil does get out of hand in the next few months, then Trump can cut exports off, and oil will drop extremely low. America is going to be fine with oil. Everyone else without oil is F*#ked.
Drones and most of their components are relatively light in weight and not that bulky. Also, Iran's Mahan Air managed to slip at least one of their A340s to land in Houthi controlled territory in recent weeks. It does not take all that much of that to move a fair number of drones around...
Thank you God bless 😁
Houthi were careful to articulate SA as their enemy target, not Israel, not USA, not anyone else. To keep it short, it seems to me this is Saudi Arabia's problem. They have a significant military force. Use it or lose it.
There’s a very simple solution to all this. The Houthis just need about $3.50
Seriously, I thought the Saudis were just bribing these people