DID Press: Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has intensified pressure on Saudi Arabia’s oil sector by targeting parts of the kingdom’s strategic East–West oil pipeline, with Yemeni military sources claiming the operation highlights vulnerabilities in Saudi energy infrastructure.
According to sources affiliated with Sanaa, recent attacks have targeted sections of pipelines and related facilities along the main oil transportation route, known as the East–West Pipeline, which carries crude oil from Saudi Arabia’s eastern region to the Red Sea port of Yanbu.
The pipeline is considered a key alternative export route for Saudi oil, particularly amid concerns over security risks around the Strait of Hormuz. The route has the capacity to transport millions of barrels of crude oil and plays an important role in maintaining the flexibility of Saudi energy exports.
Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen’s armed forces, announced on July 27 that the operation was carried out using drones and did not involve ballistic missiles. He said the attacks targeted dispersed points along oil transportation routes and were conducted in response to what he described as Saudi drone operations against Yemen.
Although Sanaa’s official statement did not directly name the East–West Pipeline, observers said the reported targets appeared linked to Saudi Arabia’s crude oil transportation network. The incident has drawn comparisons with the 2019 drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, which temporarily disrupted around 5.7 million barrels of daily oil production.
A military source in Sanaa claimed the operation demonstrated that Saudi Arabia’s critical energy infrastructure remains vulnerable despite regional and international security partnerships. The source said the ability to strike facilities deep inside Saudi territory represents a continued challenge for Riyadh’s security arrangements.
The reported attacks came amid claims by Yemeni sources of reduced activity at Yanbu port following maritime restrictions in the Red Sea. Saudi authorities, however, have not confirmed the extent of any impact on oil exports or port operations.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defense systems intercepted several attacking drones. Saudi defense spokesman Turki Al-Maliki claimed the attack was launched from Iraqi territory, an allegation that has not been independently verified.
Officials in Sanaa warned Saudi investors about potential security risks, saying continued attacks could affect confidence in the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.