Yemen’s Huti rebels “attack drones and missiles in the Aramco oil field in eastern Saudi Arabia”

Western attack on the eastern side after three days…
Saudi Arabia “Attack gets bolder after being excluded from the US terrorist organization”

[이미지출처=EPA연합뉴스]

[아시아경제 이현우 기자] Yemeni Huti rebels said they launched drones and ballistic missile attacks on oil fields in eastern Saudi Arabia. The attack resumed three days after attacking an oil storage tank in western Saudi Arabia. The Saudi army immediately revealed that it was a retaliatory raid, and the conflict between the two sides is expected to intensify. In particular, the oil refining facilities in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia are densely populated with export ports and facilities, raising concerns about a surge in international oil prices.

According to the Associated Press and other foreign media, on the 7th (local time), Yemeni rebels Huti announced that they attacked Aramco’s major oil facilities such as Rastanura, Damdam, Asir, and Jajan in eastern Saudi Arabia. The Huti rebels claimed to have caused damage by firing 14 drones and eight ballistic missiles. According to major foreign media, two residents of Dahran, close to Dammam, reported that they heard an explosion at 8 pm on the same day, and there was an actual air raid.

After the air raid, the Saudis intercepted 12 drones and two ballistic missiles from the Yemeni Huti rebels, and announced that they had air raided the Huti rebel base in Yemen’s capital Sana area with fighters. The Saudi state broadcaster also said, “It intercepted 12 armed drones and two ballistic missiles aimed at civilians and facilities,” without revealing the exact location of the air strike.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy said, “Lastanura’s oil storage tank was attacked by a drone, but there were no casualties or losses.” Rastanura is a place where the world’s largest oil refinery and offshore oil storage facilities are concentrated.In 2019, when the Huti rebels attacked the area and the eastern area with drones and ballistic missiles, Saudi Arabia temporarily reduced its daily crude oil production to less than half.

The Saudi side criticized the US’ appeasement of the Huti rebels. The Saudi state broadcaster pointed out that “the Huti rebels have become more daring after the US lifted them from the list of terrorist organizations.” Earlier, the administration of Joe Biden made a policy of appeasement, such as stopping Saudi Arabia’s attack support for the Huti rebels and removing the Huti rebels from the list of terrorist organizations, and contacted the United Nations for ceasefire negotiations. However, the conflict is intensifying again as the Huti rebels strengthened their offensive and announced sanctions against some of the leaders of the Huti rebels.

Reporter Lee Hyun-woo [email protected]