Saudi authorities say Houthi attacks on energy facilities in the south of the kingdom wounded 73 civilians, including women and children, and disrupted operations at Aramco’s Jazan refinery (Dawn).
Where
The southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran — all within a few hundred kilometres of the Yemeni border, and all previously targeted during the war.
What each side says
The Saudi foreign ministry condemned the “terrorist Houthi militia’s targeting of civilian and economic” sites and said Riyadh would “take all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty.”
The energy ministry said “the needed measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the facilities and workers.”
Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said “the coalition will take all necessary operational measures to deter this terrorist militia.”
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group would announce “a broad operation deep into Saudi territory” and accused Riyadh of “escalatory steps.”
Pakistan’s position
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the “cowardly attack” and expressed Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia.
That is not a formality. Saudi Arabia is Pakistan’s largest source of remittances and has repeatedly provided deposit support to the State Bank. A Saudi energy emergency is a Pakistani balance-of-payments question.
The market
Brent rose about $1 to $98 a barrel on the initial reports and traded near $99 later; US crude futures gained more than $2 to $93.65.
Pakistani equities fell on the same news, and the fuel price increase that took effect here today was calculated before it.
What is not established
Saudi authorities have given no figure for how much refining capacity was affected, or for how long. “Disrupted” is the word used; it is not the same as halted, and no independent assessment of damage has been published.
The attacks coincide with escalating US-Iran tensions and stalled negotiations. Whether they were coordinated with Tehran, or timed to it, is asserted by no party on the record.
[Image: Houthi Media Centre via Reuters]
