Saudi Arabia Cancels Crude Shipments to European Customers

By Al Mayadeen English

15 Sep 2026 19:56

Saudi Arabia cancels some crude oil shipments to European customers amid disruptions to its East-West pipeline and shipping routes.

Saudi Arabia has informed its European customers of the cancellation of some crude oil shipments scheduled for loading in late September, Reuters reported citing three informed sources.

The world's largest crude oil exporter closed its East-West pipeline following a strike targeting it last week, and faces challenges from the Yemeni Armed Forces' advance in Yemen in the Red Sea area and continued shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, a Yemeni military source told al-Masirah TV that the Yemeni Armed Forces had carried out a targeted operation against Saudi troop concentrations, buildups, and reinforcements in the al-Jawf desert, north of the al-Kanais area.

The source said the operation followed sustained monitoring of Saudi forces and affiliated armed groups along the border and desert fronts, and that the strikes achieved direct hits after the targeted formations' movements had been tracked and intelligence reconnaissance completed.

YAF continues to monitor, strike Saudi mobilizations

According to the source, several members of the Saudi-backed forces were killed or wounded, and several military vehicles and equipment were destroyed or disabled at the targeted positions.

The source added that the desert region had seen extensive Saudi troop movements and repeated attempts to establish new military positions, but that continued field surveillance, precision strikes, and preemptive operations had disrupted "the enemy's" plans and inflicted successive losses in personnel and equipment.

Over the past 24 hours, Saudi warplanes carried out 54 attacks against Yemen, launching F-15 and Typhoon jets from the Khamis Mushait and Taif bases to hit Taiz, Lahj, al-Jawf, Marib, and Hajjah provinces.

Escalation timeline

The developments come as Yemeni forces engage Saudi-backed forces across several governorates after launching preemptive strikes against their military buildups, while Saudi Arabia has carried out attacks on Marib, al-Jawf, Taiz, and Hodeidah.

Earlier Monday, the Yemeni Armed Forces struck King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait using dozens of ballistic missiles and drones, targeting aircraft hangars, radars, runways, and ammunition depots. YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the operation came in response to more than 300 Saudi airstrikes launched over the previous five days from the Khamis Mushait and Taif air bases, and warned that the armed forces would continue operations inside Saudi Arabia "as long as its unjust aggression against our people continues."

Last week, Yemeni forces completed their takeover of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, captured Mayyun Island, and advanced into Dhubab district.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have maintained the equation of "blockade for blockade and escalation for escalation" in response to the Saudi aggression and the years-long blockade imposed on the country.