Illustrative image, source: the Houthis media wing.
The Houthis (Ansar Allah) are preparing to launch more attacks on Yemeni oil facilities, terminals and tankers, a spokesman for the Saudi-backed wing of the Yemeni Armed Forces warned on November 30.
The spokesman, Brigadier General Abdo Magali, said that the Houthis are currently preparing to attack with help from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and are sending repeated warnings and threats.
The Houthis have already launched several attacks on Yemeni oil facilities held by the Saudi-led coalition and is local allies.
The most recent attack by the Houthis targeted al-Dabba oil terminal in the eastern province of Hadhramaut on November 21. A suicide drone hit the terminal while a tanker was docked there to load a shipment of oil. Brig. Gen. Magali said that three other drones were intercepted near the terminal on the same day.
No casualties or material losses were reported as a result of the last attack. Back then, Brig. Gen. Yahya al-Sari’, a spokesman for the Houthis, said in a statement that the drone attack thwarted an attempt to “loot” large quantities of Yemeni oil.
The Houthis threats are meant to pressure the Yemeni government to accept a recent proposal to share the national oil revenue. The group first made the proposal before the end of the UN-sponsored ceasefire in Yemen on October 2. The refusal of the Aden-based government was the main reason that prevented the renewal of the nationwide ceasefire.
The Saudi-led coalition and its allies believe that the IRGC has been supplying the Houthis with advanced offensive means that allow it to threaten oil facilities in Yemen and neighboring countries, like ballistic missiles, suicide drones and anti-ship missiles.
Currently, the Houthis maintain a partial blockade on Saudi-controlled oil ports in Yemen. This blocked will likely continue until an agreement on the national oil revenue is reached. Once this happens, the two sides may also agree to a new ceasefire.
