Key facts
- Operations at some Saudi energy facilities were halted following attacks by Yemen's Houthi group.
- The attacks wounded 73 people, including women and children.
- Fires erupted at the energy sites, and emergency teams responded.
- The Houthis targeted cities including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran.
- Brent crude futures rose to $98 a barrel, and U.S. crude futures rose to $93.65 a barrel following the news.
Operations at several energy facilities in Saudi Arabia were halted on Tuesday after attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group, which wounded 73 people. Saudi authorities described the incident as a dangerous escalation.
Fires broke out at the affected sites, prompting emergency response teams to contain the blazes and assess the damage, according to the Saudi energy ministry. The Saudi-led coalition stated that the Houthis attacked the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, with the injured including women and children.
The Houthi military spokesperson announced a broad offensive targeting Saudi Aramco facilities in Abha, Najran, and Jizan, as well as an air base in Khamis Mushait, using ballistic missiles and drones. The Financial Times reported that Aramco's Jazan oil facilities were hit in new strikes, with damage assessment underway, though Aramco has not commented.
The Saudi-led coalition vowed to respond firmly, calling the escalation dangerous. The energy ministry assured that necessary measures would be taken to ensure the safety of facilities and workers. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree had warned that the strikes would not go unanswered, citing Riyadh's recent airstrikes on Yemen.
This flare-up in violence occurs amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, contributing to a surge in oil prices. Brent crude futures rose $1 to $98 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures increased by over $2 to $93.65 a barrel following the Saudi energy ministry's statement.