Brent oil nears the 100 mark as Houthi forces penetrate inland and strike Saudi energy facilities

The situation in the Middle East has escalated again, with Saudi Arabia's energy supply security facing serious threats. On September 8, the Yemeni Houthi forces launched attacks on several cities in southern Saudi Arabia, causing fires at multiple energy facilities and forcing the suspension of some operations. International oil prices rose sharply as a result, with Brent crude approaching the $100 threshold.

According to CCTV International News, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy confirmed that civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran, and Jizan were attacked, resulting in over 70 people injured. Relevant departments are working hard to ensure the safety of the facilities and the continuity of operations. On the same day, a Houthi spokesperson stated that the organization would soon announce extensive military operations deep into Saudi territory.

News of the attacks quickly affected the oil market. Brent crude oil rose by 1.65% on the day, reaching $98.65 per barrel and nearing the $100 milestone; WTI crude oil increased by 2% to $93.31 per barrel. The Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued a safety alert, urging Chinese institutions and citizens in Saudi Arabia to closely monitor the situation and take necessary safety precautions.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, citing unnamed officials from the Ministry of Energy, the September 8 attacks caused fires at several energy and public facilities in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, resulting in a temporary suspension of related operations. The Ministry of Energy stated it is making every effort to ensure the safety of facilities, personnel, and operational continuity. Neither the Ministry of Energy nor Saudi Aramco provided further responses to Bloomberg's inquiries.

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

On September 8, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a statement explicitly declaring that the group will soon launch extensive military operations deep within Saudi territory, marking a significant escalation in the intensity of the conflict compared to before.

According to Xinhua News Agency, on September 7, the Houthi forces launched a ballistic missile attack on a convoy of trucks transporting military supplies to areas controlled by the Yemeni government forces in Saudi Arabia, claiming to have used domestically developed missiles. Saree issued a warning on social media that same day, saying that Saudi Arabia increased its airstrikes and reconnaissance against the Houthis and was supplying weapons to the Yemeni government forces, stating that Saudi military actions "will not go unanswered."

According to reports from the Houthi side, on September 7, Saudi forces launched an airstrike on a prison in Hazm, the capital of Al-Jawf province in northern Yemen, resulting in 7 deaths and 7 injuries, with some women and children among the casualties. As of press time, Saudi authorities had not yet responded to this.

This is not the first time the Houthi forces have targeted Saudi energy facilities. According to Bloomberg, in July alone, the Houthis announced that they had attacked the Jizan refining complex, causing the refinery—which has a daily processing capacity of 400,000 barrels—to be shut down since July. Last month, the Houthis carried out two attacks on the Jizan refining facility within a week, one of which caused a fire and the other damaged a fuel storage tank at the plant.

After the Houthis announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, they carried out multiple attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and continued to use missiles and drones against energy facilities inside Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led multinational coalition has also continued to strike Houthi military targets, with both sides' conflict escalating in a spiral.

This latest attack will further deepen the oil market's concerns about supply disruptions. Crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz continue to be constrained by heightened US-Iran tensions, and increasing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is pushing London Brent oil prices back toward the $100 per barrel threshold.