Middle East tensions have intensified significantly, placing Saudi Arabia's energy supply security under severe threat. On September 8, Yemen's Houthi forces launched strikes on multiple cities in southern Saudi Arabia, igniting fires at numerous energy facilities and forcing some operations to halt, which promptly drove international oil prices sharply higher with Brent crude approaching the $100 per barrel mark.

According to Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry, civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran, and Jizan were targeted, resulting in over 70 injuries. Authorities are working diligently to ensure the safety of these installations and maintain operational continuity. A Houthi spokesperson declared the same day that the group would announce extensive military operations deep within Saudi territory.

The attack news quickly rippled through the oil market. Brent crude surged 1.65% during the session to $98.65 per barrel, edging closer to the $100 threshold, while WTI crude climbed 2% to $93.31 per barrel. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a security advisory urging Chinese institutions and citizens in the kingdom to closely monitor the situation and take necessary precautions.

Coordinated Strikes Across Multiple Cities Disrupt Operations

An unnamed official from the Energy Ministry, cited by the Saudi Press Agency, confirmed that the September 8 attacks set fire to several energy and public utility installations in the southern region, temporarily disrupting their operations. The Ministry stated it is making every effort to safeguard the facilities, protect personnel, and ensure operational continuity. Neither the Ministry nor Saudi Aramco provided further comments in response to inquiries from Bloomberg.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated in a declaration that the Houthi assault spanned Abha, Khamis Mushait, Najran, and Jizan, wounding 73 civilians and residents. The coalition vowed a "decisive response" to the Houthi aggression.

Houthis Announce Expanded Strikes Further Inland

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea issued a statement on September 8, explicitly announcing that the group is preparing to launch broad military operations in the depths of Saudi territory, marking a notable escalation in conflict intensity compared to earlier phases.

According to previous reports from Xinhua News Agency, on September 7, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile attack on a convoy of trucks transporting military supplies to Yemeni government-controlled areas, claiming the use of a missile developed by the group itself. That same day, Sarea issued a warning on social media, stating that Saudi Arabia's intensified airstrikes, reconnaissance efforts, and weapons supplies to Yemeni government forces would "not go unanswered."

The Houthi-affiliated media reported that Saudi airstrikes on September 7 hit a prison in Hazm, the capital of Yemen's northern Jawf province, killing 7 people and wounding 7 others, with some women and children among the casualties. Saudi authorities had not responded to these reports at the time of writing.

Jizan Refinery Previously Sustained Heavy Damage

This is not the first time the Houthis have targeted Saudi energy infrastructure. According to Bloomberg, as recently as July, the Houthis announced an attack on the Jizan refinery complex, which has kept this 400,000-barrel-per-day facility offline since that month. Last month, the Houthis carried out two separate strikes on the Jizan refining site within a single week, with one sparking a fire and another damaging a fuel storage tank on the premises.

Following the Houthi declaration of a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20, the group has repeatedly attacked Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while continuing to target energy installations inside Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones. The Saudi-led coalition has maintained its own campaign against Houthi military targets, with both sides locked in a spiraling cycle of escalation.

The latest attacks are expected to deepen market concerns over supply disruptions. Crude oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain under persistent pressure from US-Iran tensions, and the intensifying Middle East conflict is driving London-traded Brent crude back toward the $100 per barrel mark.