Brent crude oil nears the $100 mark! Houthi rebels penetrate deep inland, attacking Saudi energy facilities.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated again, posing a serious threat to Saudi Arabia's energy supply security. On September 8, Houthi rebels in Yemen launched attacks on several cities in southern Saudi Arabia, setting fires at numerous energy facilities and forcing some operations to halt. International oil prices subsequently surged, with Brent crude approaching the $100 mark.

According to CCTV International News, the Saudi Ministry of Energy confirmed that civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran, and Jizan were attacked, resulting in over 70 injuries. Relevant departments are working to ensure the safety of facilities and the continuity of operations. A Houthi spokesperson stated on the same day that the group will announce a broad military operation deep into Saudi territory.

News of the attack quickly spread to the oil market. Brent crude rose 1.65% to $98.65 per barrel, nearing the $100 mark; WTI crude rose 2% to $93.31 per barrel. The Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued a security alert, urging Chinese institutions and citizens in Saudi Arabia to closely monitor the situation and take necessary security precautions.

Multiple cities were attacked simultaneously, forcing operations to be suspended.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, citing unnamed officials from the Ministry of Energy, the September 8 attacks caused fires at several energy and utility facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, temporarily disrupting operations. The Ministry of Energy stated that it is making every effort to ensure the safety of facilities, personnel, and operational continuity. Neither the Ministry of Energy nor Saudi Aramco responded to Bloomberg's inquiries.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated that the Houthi attacks affected four locations: Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran, and Jizan, injuring 73 civilians and residents. The coalition said it would respond "resolutely" to the Houthi attacks.

Houthi rebels announced an expansion of their inland operations.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarreya issued a statement on September 8, announcing that the group would soon launch a wide-ranging military operation deep inside Saudi territory, marking a significant escalation in the intensity of the conflict.

According to a previous Xinhua report, the Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile attack on a convoy of trucks carrying military supplies from Saudi Arabia to Yemeni government-controlled areas on the 7th, claiming to have used missiles developed by the group itself. That same day, Sarreya warned on social media that Saudi Arabia's increased airstrikes and reconnaissance against the Houthis, along with its provision of weapons to the Yemeni government forces, would not go unanswered.

According to Houthi reports, Saudi Arabia launched an airstrike on a prison in Hazm, the capital of Jawf province in northern Yemen, on the 7th, killing 7 people and injuring 7 others, including some women and children. As of press time, Saudi Arabia has not responded to the incident.

The Jizan refinery had previously been severely damaged.

This is not the first time the Houthis have attacked Saudi energy facilities. According to Bloomberg, in July alone, the Houthis announced an attack on the Jizan refinery complex, causing the 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery to shut down since then. Last month, the Houthis carried out two more attacks on the Jizan refinery within a week, one causing a fire and the other damaging a fuel storage tank.

Since the Houthi rebels announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, they have repeatedly attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and have continued to strike Saudi energy facilities with missiles and drones. The Saudi-led coalition has also continued to strike Houthi military targets, and the conflict is escalating in a spiral.

This attack will further exacerbate concerns in the oil market about supply disruptions. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz continue to be hampered by tensions between the US and Iran, and escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East are pushing London Brent crude prices back towards the $100 per barrel mark.

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