Explosions on Kharg Island and Aramco Attacks Push Oil Prices Near $100

Tensions Escalate at Bab-el-Mandeb Following Hormuz

Amid a series of explosions reported on Kharg Island, Iran's primary oil export hub, clashes between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's pro-Iranian Houthi rebels are intensifying. As concerns over supply disruptions expand from the Strait of Hormuz to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—the gateway to the Red Sea—international oil prices have nearly reached the $100 per barrel mark.

According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency and other sources on September 8 (local time), multiple explosions were heard in some areas of Kharg Island in the Gulf region that day. Explosions were also reported in Jask, Hormozgan Province, in southern Iran. Jask is a region that borders the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The cause of the explosions and the extent of the damage have not yet been confirmed. However, since Kharg Island is densely packed with key infrastructure handling the vast majority of Iran's oil exports, there are concerns that any actual damage to these facilities could significantly disrupt oil supply.

Escalating Attacks Between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis... Fears of All-out War

The clashes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi rebels appear at risk of escalating into a full-scale war. The Houthis have launched drone and missile attacks on four southern Saudi regions: Khamis Mushait, Abha, Najran, and Jizan. Targets included Saudi air force bases as well as the refineries and power facilities of Saudi Arabia's national oil company Aramco.

Saudi authorities announced that 73 civilians, including women and children, were injured in these attacks. The Saudi Ministry of Energy explained that fires broke out at some energy facilities, causing brief operational shutdowns.

Saudi Arabia has vowed retaliation against the Houthi rebels. Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, described the attacks as a "dangerous escalation" and declared that "all necessary measures will be taken to address the source of the threat." Saudi fighter jets reportedly carried out retaliatory airstrikes near Sanaa, the Yemeni capital under Houthi control, as well as in Taiz and Marib.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, speaking from Moscow, Russia, said, "I don't believe the door to diplomacy is closed," but also emphasized, "Saudi Arabia will not hesitate to take measures to defend the country and safeguard its interests."

The Houthi rebels claimed these attacks were in retaliation for a large-scale Saudi airstrike campaign. Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesperson, asserted that Saudi Arabia had conducted 121 airstrikes over the past three days in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, and alleged that a prison in Al Hazm, Al Jawf Province, had been bombed, resulting in numerous casualties among both inmates and visitors. Saudi Arabia has not issued an official response to these claims.

Battle Over Bab el-Mandeb, the Hormuz Detour 

Saudi Arabia's national oil company Aramco.

At the center of the current conflict is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. In July, the Houthi rebels declared a blockade of Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, and have recently attempted to advance through western Taiz and southern Hudaydah toward the port city of Mocha and the direction of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

As tensions between the U.S. and Iran have disrupted the transport of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic value of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has grown further. For Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and export oil along the Red Sea coast, it must secure the safety of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and its surrounding maritime routes.

The United States has accused Iran of backing the Houthi offensive. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "The Houthis are, in many respects, an Iranian proxy," adding, "Iran's involvement in this crisis is unmistakable." He also noted that the United States and Saudi Arabia maintain a robust defense and military alliance and are closely monitoring the situation.

Ibrahim Jalal, a researcher specializing in Yemen and Gulf issues, noted that the Houthis have ramped up their offensive on Saudi Arabia, Red Sea shipping, and internal Yemeni fronts over the past month, analyzing that "with U.S.-Iran negotiations at an impasse, they are seeking to maximize their leverage over Red Sea and maritime security issues."

Meanwhile, as tensions rise in the oil transport straits, international oil prices have climbed. On September 8, November Brent crude on the London ICE Futures Exchange closed at $97.92 per barrel, up 0.95% from the previous session. During trading, the price soared to $99.46 per barrel, marking the highest level since July 24. October West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange finished at $93.03 per barrel, up $1.55 (1.69%) from the previous session.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.