Crude Oil Near $99/barrel As Houthi Attacks Shut Down Saudi Energy Sites, Over 70 Injured

Operations across multiple energy facilities in Saudi Arabia ground to a halt on Tuesday after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement launched a wave of strikes, leaving at least 73 people injured and igniting blazes at key infrastructure sites. Immediately after the attack Brent Crude Oil Futures Contract in London reached $99 dollars a barrel. It is up by 1.5% in Tuesday’s trading. Traders fear it to cross $100 a barrel.

The attacks targeted critical installation zones in the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran. Firefighting crews and emergency responders rushed to contain the fires and assess the structural damage across affected processing plants.

Operations Halted as Fires Break Out

The Saudi energy ministry confirmed that the strikes forced operational shutdowns across several installations in the world's leading crude oil exporting nation. Officials stated that emergency teams stepped in immediately to contain the blazes and prevent further cascade failures across the supply network.

"The concerned authorities are dealing with the repercussions of the attacks," the energy ministry said in a statement. "The needed measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the facilities and workers and the continuation of work according to the approved operational plans."

Reports indicate that state oil giant Saudi Aramco's facilities in Jazan were among the infrastructure hit during the barrage, with engineers assessing the extent of physical damage to refining and storage units.

Coalition Vows Retaliation Against Escalation

Responding to the strikes, the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen labelled the assault a direct threat to regional stability and global energy security. Coalition officials confirmed that at least 73 people suffered injuries across the four targeted southern districts.

The alliance pledged an immediate, heavy-handed military response to deter further strikes on key economic infrastructure.

"The coalition will take all necessary operational measures to deter this terrorist militia and resolutely confronts its hostile approach," coalition spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Malki said.

Escalating Conflict Threatens Global Supply Chains

The latest barrage marks a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the Yemeni rebel movement and Riyadh. The Houthis, who hold sway over Yemen's most populous territories and northern highlands, have steadily expanded their strike radius since declaring a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July, previously targeting commercial and energy vessels passing through Red Sea shipping corridors.

Visuals released from the border zone showed commercial transport vehicles engulfed in flames following strikes near the Al-Wadiah border crossing, underlining the growing threat to cross-border logistics and trade routes.

With operations temporarily suspended at crucial energy hubs, market analysts are closely watching the potential fallout on global crude prices and supply routes originating from the Gulf region. Saudi military authorities have placed air defense systems on high alert across the southern provinces as emergency crews continue clearance operations at the damaged sites.