Houthi attacks hit Saudi energy sites, 73 wounded

RIYADH: A fresh wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia has wounded 73 people, including women and children, and disrupted operations at some energy facilities, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the Yemeni rebels and the kingdom.

Saudi authorities said the attacks targeted civilian and economic sites in the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. Fires broke out at some locations, prompting emergency and firefighting teams to rush to the affected areas.

The Saudi energy ministry said authorities were working to contain the consequences of the attacks and assess damage while taking measures to protect facilities and workers.

The latest violence has raised concerns beyond Saudi Arabia because the kingdom is the world’s largest oil exporter and a major player in global energy markets. Oil prices moved higher following news of the attacks, with Brent crude approaching $98 a barrel and US crude trading above $93.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry condemned what it described as attacks on civilian and economic infrastructure and vowed to take measures to defend the country’s sovereignty.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen also warned that it would respond firmly. Coalition spokesman Maj Gen Turki al-Malki described the attacks as a dangerous escalation and said necessary operational measures would be taken to confront the threat.

The Houthis have not immediately provided their own account of the reported 73 casualties. However, the group has accused Saudi Arabia of escalating military operations in Yemen and has threatened further attacks deep inside Saudi territory.

The latest confrontation comes amid a broader deterioration in Yemen. Fighting between Houthi forces and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government has intensified in recent weeks, threatening to undermine the relative calm that had followed a truce in 2022.

The Houthis control Sanaa and large parts of northern Yemen. The group has also targeted shipping in and around the Red Sea, raising concerns over one of the world’s important maritime trade routes.

Reports have also emerged that Saudi energy infrastructure, including facilities in Jazan, has come under renewed attack. The Financial Times reported that Aramco facilities in Jazan were hit, although Reuters said it could not immediately independently verify the report and Aramco had not commented.

The escalation is unfolding against the backdrop of a much wider Middle Eastern confrontation involving the United States and Iran. Tehran has warned that Gulf energy infrastructure could become vulnerable if attacks on Iranian assets continue, adding another layer of uncertainty to already tense oil markets.

For Saudi Arabia, the latest attacks pose a difficult security and economic challenge. Any sustained disruption to oil production, processing or shipping could have consequences well beyond the region, potentially pushing energy prices higher and increasing pressure on governments already dealing with economic uncertainty.

The renewed violence also places Saudi Arabia in a delicate position as it seeks to protect its territory while avoiding a broader regional conflict.

With 73 people injured and energy facilities disrupted, Tuesday’s attacks have underlined how quickly Yemen’s unresolved conflict can spill across borders — and how closely the security of the Gulf remains tied to global energy markets.