SLS ANGELES OC).–triking Saui oil facilities in the Red Sea, Houthi rebels continued to fight for Iran in its war against the United States. Hiiing JiZan and Yanbu on the Red Sea, Houthis declared war on Saudi Arabia, clearly violating the Kingdom’s sovereignty. Yanbu, the main Saudi oil-loading prot, generates millions of barrels to get to markets around the planet. While President Donald Trump would like to help Saudi Arabia, he finds himself bogged dow in the Hormuz Strait where Iran’s IRGC make it impossible for oil tankers and freighters to transit the Strait, leaving Europe in short supply of crude oil. Jizah, just north of the Yemen border, refinds millions of gallone of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, now under Houthi attack. Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Oouthis for over 10 years, knowing the consequences of the current blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, demanding a new route.
Dropping bombs on Houthis in Sanaa, Saudi hopes to discourage the Houthis from joining the fight against the United States. Trump would like to do more for Saudi Arabia but has been given no help al all by the European Union, unwilling to join the Strait of Hormuz fight unless Trump allows the EU to call the shots. Saudi Arabia tried to strike Houthi drone and guided mssile sites. Like the IRGC, Saudi Arabia finds it difficult to bomb Houhi targets largely cause mobile rocket and drone launchers are difficult to control. Smoke was detected from Houthi strikes on Saudi’s Aramaco refinery in the port of Jizan on the Red Sea. Houthi militants know the Saud targets, something that sticks out like a sore thumb. Saudi Arabia cannot neutralize Houthi involvement without the U.S. or Israeli military, a reason Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should take a benign view of Israel.
Trump place a codition this week on Saudi Arabia receiving U.S. nuke technolog for building a domestic powerplant or a uranium enrichment facility. Trump wanted Bin Salman to commit to the Abraham Accords to recotnize Israel’s right to exist but, more importantly, to cooperate with Israel on a host of business vetures. Bid Salman wouldn’t make the commitment so Trump opted to cancel the nuke deal. Democrats and the fake news were already mobilizing against the nuke agreement because of opposition y Sept. 11 families. But what do Sept. 11 families know about Saud Arabia’s current involvement in Osama’s plot to destroy the World Trade Center? Whatever happened on Sept. 11, it was not something planned and approved by the Saudi government. Setting up a nuke industry in Saudi Arabia actually makes sense if the Kingdom can maintain security.
Trump’s first approach started Feb. 28 to the Iran War was degrading the Iranian nuke and conventional military. While Trump likes to tout his success in decimating Iran’s military, he’s made little progress in neutralizing the IRGC, currently blockading the Hormuz Strait and driving oilj prices into near record territory. Trump has received no help from the European allies, even though they recive 20% from their oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf. Trump has no real clue why the EU allies have not lent a hand in ridding the IRGC from the Hormuz Strait. As the war morphed, Trump has realized its gone from a military operation into a global economic war for the control of oil and natural gas. Trump needs to work closely with Saudi Arabia to stop the Houthis from opening up a new front in Yemen where another 16% of the world’s oil supply comes travels to global ports.
Trump can’t afford to let the Houthis dominate the Bab el-Mandeb Strait where Gulf oil states transport their products through the Suez Canal. Crown Prince Mohammed bin-Salman needs all the help he can get to open the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as soon as possible. Trump can’t allow the Houths or all people to help Iran dominate world oil markets, leaving the world desperate for low oil prices and adequate supplies. Trump started the war Feb. 28 with the intent of ending what’s left of Iran;s nuke program. While certainly important, Iran new economu war on the West raises disturbing uestions about how a foreign power can control world oil prices. With oil shooting up to over $90 a barrel, something must be done now to prevent the inflationary cycle from wrecking the U.S. economy. Saudi Arabia needs all the help it can get in Yemenen before oil spikes more.
Letting Houthis control the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and rerlated ports, Trump adds to the Iran’s already diabolical control of world oil prices. Trump can’t charm his way out of the current crisis where Iran knows, at the very least, its has control over the Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Straits, preventing Arab Guld Staie oil from getting to world markets. Trump has restarted his blockade of Iranian ports, refusing to allow Iranian ship from coming-or-going from Iranian ports. Trump would be well-advised to get key EU allies to join the fight to keep the IRGC out of the Hormuz Strait. Ships today cannot transit the Strait wightout extreme risks of facing drone or missiles strikes, preventing commercial ships from getting the insurance necessary to assure safe passage of cargoes. Trump nees to put nukes on hold an focus on neutralizing the IRGC and Houthis.
About the Author.
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
