Saudi Energy Infrastructure Keeps Getting Hit. Riyadh Has Now Shut Down a Key Pipeline.

Saudi Arabia said on Friday that it shut down its East-West Pipeline as precaution after sustaining multiple attacks.

Citing an official source at the Ministry of Energy, the country said that the attacks "resulted in a number of injuries, and medical care was provided to those affected."

"The source said emergency and specialised technical teams responded immediately following the attacks, taking the necessary measures to secure the pipeline and assess its safety in line with approved safety procedures and emergency response plans, in coordination with the relevant authorities," the document added.

Satellite images published earlier on Friday showed smoke in the vicinity of the pipeline, which Saudi Arabia has been using to reroute oil exports as shipments through key waterways have been targeted by Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The development marks another major threat to Riyadh's oil exports, as 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 had also 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.

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 also 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.