The Houthis Are Making Gains, Threatening Saudi Arabia’s Oil Exports. Satellite Images Raise Further Concerns.

Satellite images show smoke in the vicinity of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, which the country has been using to reroute oil exports as shipments through key waterways have been targeted by Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The images have been verified by Reuters but not confirmed by Saudi Arabia, which has been sustaining repeated attacks from the Iran-backed group.

Should flows through the pipeline stop, Riyadh would see another major threat to its exports. Iran is preventing most ships from transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, and the Houthis have declared an embargo of Saudi oil in the Red Sea, targeting its ships in the waterway and striking energy infrastructure.

The Houthis also reached the island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a breakthrough that could help the group tighten its grip on the key shipping lane.

Forces from the internationally-recognized government withdrew from the island, as well as the coastal town of Dhubab, facing the island from the mainland. Hours earlier, the Houthis took the port city of Mokha, threatening maritime traffic further.

Reuters reported on Thursday that Pakistan conveyed a warning from Saudi Arabia to Iran, with Riyadh calling on Tehran to rein in on the group to prevent the crisis from escalating further.

Saudi Arabia backs the government has been launching strikes against the Houthis, which in turn have recently imposed an embargo on oil from the country transiting through the Red Sea.

Earlier this week the Houthis launched a large-scale attack against Saudi Arabia, targeting four cities and oil facilities south of Riyahd. Saudi authorities confirmed the attack, saying over 70 people, including women and children, had been wounded. Its forces then retaliated with air strikes east of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthis.

An Axios report noted on Friday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Donald Trump twice on Thursday, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as they advanced.

Trump, however, declined. Officials told the outlet that the U.S. has no plans to directly target the Houthis at the moment. Washington is increasing support to Saudi Arabia while avoiding getting involved directly.

CNN detailed that over 100 U.S. military advisers are currently in Saudi Arabia providing intelligence and targeting support to the country.