Saudi Arabia Has Few Options Against Iran And Allies

September 12, 2026 4:21 am

[AP]-Houthi rebels in Yemen are advancing toward a crucial trade chokepoint. Attacks blamed on Iraqi militias forced the closure of a major pipeline. Iran and its allies are unleashing a nightmare scenario for Saudi Arabia and unsettling global markets. Control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could allow the Iran-backed rebels to cut off another major export route for Saudi oil as Iran disrupts the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudis could use U.S. support to fight back. But President Donald Trump seems reluctant to widen an already unpopular and stalemated war in the Middle East.