Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Aramco has suspended operations at the Abqaiq oil processing and stabilization facility following an attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday. The facility is one of the kingdom's largest oil processing plants, and the halt raises concerns about global energy supplies.
The Houthis have intensified strikes on Saudi oil infrastructure in recent days, also imposing a maritime blockade that threatens shipping through the Red Sea. Yemen's internationally recognized government warned that the Houthis are escalating their campaign, potentially opening a new front in the wider regional conflict. The Iran-backed group has repeatedly targeted Saudi energy sites, including in attacks that caused major output disruptions in the past.
In response to the latest assault, Yemeni officials said they are prepared for further Houthi escalation. The United Nations and other international bodies have called for restraint, as the attacks risk destabilizing oil markets and exacerbating tensions in the Middle East. No casualties have been reported from the Abqaiq attack, but the full extent of damage to the facility is still being assessed.