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Saudi Aramco Jizan Strikes Raise Oil Supply Concerns

Financial Times Companies •
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Saudi Aramco's oil facilities in Jizan were attacked on Monday, the latest in a series of Houthi strikes targeting the kingdom's energy infrastructure. The attacks occur against a backdrop of heightened regional tension, with the Iranian-backed rebels having intensified drone and missile campaigns since declaring a blockade on Red Sea ports in July. Jizan hosts a 400,000-barrel-per-day refinery, among the country's largest.

While the company's CEO Amin Nasser previously stated earlier strikes caused no material operational or financial impact, analysts warn the escalating conflict threatens vital export routes. Oil prices rose modestly on the news, with Brent crude reaching $97.40. The Houthis have threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for Saudi exports, as they advance along the Red Sea coast toward strategic waterways.

This latest confrontation marks the fiercest fighting in Yemen in six years, as Saudi-backed forces clash with Houthi rebels. Despite previous assurances of resilience, the repeated targeting of Aramco facilities underscores the vulnerability of Saudi oil infrastructure to sustained regional instability.