Saudi Arabia blames Iran for ordering pipeline attack as coalition strikes Sanaa

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir directly blamed Iran for Houthi drone attacks on the kingdom’s oil infrastructure on Thursday just hours after the Arab Coalition struck Houthi military targets in Sanaa in retaliation.

Air strikes by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition struck nine military targets across the Houthi-rebel held Yemeni capital, in an apparent response to a Houthi drone attack on Saudi oil installations.

Mr Al Jubeir also said the Houthis are “an indivisible part of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and subject to the IRGC’s orders,” a connection he said was confirmed by the strikes on Saudi Aramco infrastructure.

Residents said the air strikes started early on Thursday, bombing military sides belonging to the Houthi rebels who have been at war with the Yemeni government and Arab Coalition since 2015. Houthi-run television downplayed the strike count, saying there were only six.

The Arab Coalition, which includes the UAE and Saudi Arabia, launched an operation “neutralising the ability of the Houthi militia to carry out acts of aggression,” Al Arabiya reported, citing a coalition statement.

It urged civilians to avoid target areas and there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The strikes come two days after seven drones struck Saudi oil infrastructure in the kingdom, leading to the temporary closure of the strategic East-West pipeline. Saudi Arabia said Houthis were responsible for the attack and rebels are reported to have celebrated the strikes.

Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister of Defence Khalid bin Salman also said on Thursday that Iranian orders were behind the Houthi strikes, the most direct accusation against the country in relation to the incident yet.

The strikes on the Saudi Aramco pumping infrastructure show the Houthi rebels are an “Iranian tool”, the minister said.

On Wednesday evening, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash urged restraint during “a very brittle situation”.

Mr Gargash said the UAE and Arab Coalition would “hit back hard” whenever the civilian population or infrastructure of a member was hit by the Iran-linked Yemeni rebels.

Four tankers off the UAE coast were struck by projectiles on Sunday night, but it is not clear if the incidents were connected. An investigation into the maritime attack is being carried out by Emirati officials and several allies of the UAE who sent help.

Countries around the world have expressed concern at the attacks, both of which target oil infrastructure.