This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.
Catch up on Monday’s top developments here:
- Houthi attacks injure 13 civilians across three Saudi cities
- Oil tops $107 as Gulf supply fears deepen
- Over 93,000 displaced as Yemen fighting intensifies
- Trump says he is “open” to Iran talks
- B’Tselem accuses Israel of dismantling Palestinian nationhood
Saudi attacks deepen regional energy risks
Published: Sept 15, 2026 | 01:15 GMT | Web Desk
Fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have added another layer of risk to already disrupted regional energy routes, with the Saudi-led coalition saying missiles and drones targeted civilian areas in Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif. The coalition said 13 civilians were injured and seven houses and two vehicles damaged.
The attacks came after Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was hit, forcing the Kingdom to suspend operations along a key route designed to move crude to the Red Sea without using the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry described the shutdown as a “precautionary” measure after the attack caused damage and injuries in the Riyadh and Medina regions.
The 1,200-kilometer pipeline normally carries roughly 4-5 million barrels of oil per day, making it one of Saudi Arabia’s most important alternatives to the Hormuz route. Its closure therefore leaves the Kingdom more exposed to disruption at the region’s main maritime chokepoint.
The Guardian, citing satellite imagery and other reporting, said the pipeline disruption could affect as much as 4 percent of global oil supply, while AP reported that the damaged route is expected to remain largely out of service for several weeks.
The combination of attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and continuing threats to shipping has consequently shifted the regional crisis from a security problem into a wider concern for global energy supplies.
Supply disruption
Oil markets reacted sharply as traders assessed the possibility that several Middle Eastern supply routes could remain disrupted simultaneously. Brent crude rose above $107 a barrel on September 14, while US crude also traded above $100, according to Al Jazeera.
It said Brent rose $3.21 to $107.82 a barrel, linking the increase to attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Saudi energy infrastructure shutdown. The movement came despite US President Donald Trump saying Washington was making progress in reopening Hormuz and escorting more oil through the waterway.
The market concern is not limited to the immediate loss of Saudi pipeline capacity. AP said the East-West pipeline normally carries between 2.6 million and 4 million barrels per day, equivalent to as much as 4 percent of global oil supply, and warned that its prolonged closure could deepen supply pressures.
The Guardian reported that the pipeline shutdown has already intensified fears over global energy supplies, while oil prices moved above $108 amid concerns over the combined effect of attacks on Saudi infrastructure and the disruption of maritime routes.
The critical question for markets now is how long the disruptions last. A short-lived interruption could be absorbed through inventories and alternative routes, but prolonged restrictions across Hormuz, Saudi Arabia’s pipeline network and Red Sea shipping would create a much more significant supply shock.
Hormuz shipping falls toward near standstill
Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to exceptionally low levels as attacks on tankers and uncertainty surrounding the waterway discourage shipping activity. Kpler data cited on September 14 showed just five commodity vessels crossing on Saturday and none registered on Sunday, compared with 31 over the previous weekend.
The figures are particularly striking because the waterway normally carries a major share of the world’s seaborne oil and gas. The National reported that Hormuz traffic has effectively collapsed during the conflict, with oil flows estimated at around 10 million barrels per day, compared with more than 20 million before the war.
The latest Kpler figures should nevertheless be treated as preliminary. Some vessels may be traveling with their automatic identification systems switched off, meaning they would not appear in conventional ship-tracking data. That makes the exact volume of cargo still moving through the waterway difficult to establish.
The contrast with earlier traffic is stark. Reuters data cited earlier this month showed seven commodity vessels crossing on September 10, already below the 10-day average of 14. The latest weekend figures suggest the decline has since become considerably more severe.
Trump said Monday that “oil is flowing through the Hormuz Strait” and that countries around the world should reimburse the US for its efforts after the conflict. The claim underscores the competing narratives over whether the waterway is reopening or remains effectively constrained for commercial shipping.
The second major maritime concern is the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, where Houthi advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast have raised fresh risks for vessels entering or leaving the waterway. The Houthis have seized the strategic port of Mocha and Perim Island, which sits at the center of the maritime corridor.
The National reported that traffic through Bab Al-Mandab fell to 15 crossings on Friday, down from 30 the previous day, according to preliminary Kpler data. The vessels included ships carrying crude, grains and steel, showing that the disruption extends beyond energy cargoes.
Earlier maritime data had shown the waterway performing better than Hormuz, highlighting a divergence between the two chokepoints. MarineTraffic data cited by Anadolu showed Bab Al-Mandab traffic recovering earlier in September even as Hormuz crossings declined.
That resilience is now under pressure as Houthi forces expand their control over territory overlooking the Red Sea. Analysts quoted by The National said the positions around Perim and Dhubab give the Houthis greater ability to monitor or pressure shipping moving through the waterway.
The emerging picture is therefore one of two strategic maritime chokepoints facing simultaneous pressure: Hormuz is experiencing an extraordinary collapse in tracked commercial traffic, while Bab Al-Mandab is coming under renewed threat as the Yemen conflict spreads toward the Red Sea.
Unprecedented pressure
Taken together, the developments have created a particularly difficult environment for global energy markets. Saudi Arabia’s main alternative route around Hormuz has been disrupted, Hormuz itself is seeing exceptionally low commercial traffic, and shipping through Bab Al-Mandab faces renewed security concerns.
The significance is not simply the amount of oil currently moving. It is the loss of flexibility available to producers and traders when one route is disrupted. Saudi Arabia built the East-West pipeline precisely to reduce dependence on Hormuz, but the latest attack has temporarily undermined that alternative.
At the same time, uncertainty over “dark” maritime movements makes it difficult to determine the full scale of cargo still moving through Hormuz. The gap between visible shipping activity and actual flows has become an important variable for traders assessing the supply outlook.
The immediate market response has been higher crude prices, with Brent moving above $107 and WTI above $100. But the longer-term concern is whether the disrup
Pakistan’s regional peace role gains Lebanon praise
Published: Sept 15, 2026 | 00:30 GMT | by Web Desk
Lebanese Interior and Municipalities Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar appreciated Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and stability during his meeting with Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at GHQ, ISPR said. The two sides discussed the evolving regional security environment and prospects for strengthening bilateral security cooperation.
The Lebanese minister also “acknowledged the professionalism and sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism,” according to the military’s media wing. The remarks came amid continuing instability and hostilities across Lebanon and the wider Middle East, with Islamabad repeatedly calling for de-escalation and peaceful resolution of regional disputes.
During his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, Al-Hajjar separately expressed appreciation for “Pakistan’s support for Lebanon and the role Pakistan has played in the region,” the President’s Office said. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in security, law enforcement and counter-narcotics, while Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s support for diplomatic efforts for “de-escalation, sustainable peace” and resolving disputes through dialogue and international law.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Al-Hajjar thanked Pakistan for the warm reception and reaffirmed Lebanon’s desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Shehbaz, meanwhile, condemned Israel’s aggression against Lebanon, expressed solidarity with the Lebanese people and reiterated Pakistan’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The minister’s separate talks with Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi centered on security coordination between the two countries, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. Al-Hajjar described security cooperation as “a fundamental pillar in protecting stability and strengthening the ability of security institutions to confront shared challenges,” while the two sides discussed exchanging expertise and information amid regional and international security challenges.
Monday at a glance
Published: Sept 15, 2026 | 00:15 GMT | by Web Desk
Monday saw the Middle East conflict deepen across multiple fronts, with fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, intensifying fighting in Yemen and continued Israeli military activity in Gaza, the West Bank and southern Lebanon. The Saudi-led coalition said Houthi missile and drone attacks targeted Khamis Mushait, Abha and Taif, injuring 13 civilians, while the Houthis claimed Saudi forces carried out 54 strikes across Yemen.
The humanitarian toll continued to grow, with the International Organization for Migration saying more than 93,000 people had been newly displaced in Yemen, particularly in Taiz and Lahj. In Gaza, more than 10 people were reported injured after a drone struck a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians, while Israeli forces carried out raids, detentions and movement restrictions across the occupied West Bank and shelling in southern Lebanon.
The conflict also continued to reverberate through global energy markets, with Brent crude rising above $107 a barrel and both major benchmarks remaining above $100. Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline remained shut after drone attacks, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz stayed severely disrupted. Iran also said it had downed a US drone over the strategic waterway.
Diplomatic signals emerged alongside the escalation. US President Donald Trump said he was “open” to engaging with Iran, while also claiming oil was flowing through Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran and the UAE had agreed to “turn the page” following their meeting in India, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is due in Egypt on Tuesday for talks with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
Israel’s conduct in the occupied Palestinian territories also remained under international scrutiny. Israeli rights group B’Tselem accused Israel of pursuing a broader project aimed at “eliminating” Palestinian nationhood, while UN reporting continued to document civilian casualties, displacement and restrictions on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
For earlier developments, read our Sept 14 live blog here.