Houthis Launch Another Attack on Pumping Stations Along Crucial Saudi East-West

On Tuesday, the Houthis initiated another significant missile barrage deep within Saudi Arabia, though the Saudi authorities have not yet acknowledged the fresh assault or publicly evaluated potential harm - though alerts of missile strikes have been reported in the kingdom. The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, announced a renewed target on King Khalid International Airport, along with several pumping stations along Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline.

Additionally, Saree reported fresh assaults on an Aramco facility in Abqaiq and the Riyadh financial district. He further stated that the Houthis targeted Saudi enemy troop concentrations under the command of Saudi officer Badr al-Harbi in the al-Mudharabah and Ras al-Arah districts, resulting in a substantial number of casualties.

It remains uncertain whether the attack on the financial district occurred on the previous day, when a Houthi strike damaged an Aramco office in Riyadh. Undoubtedly, these trans-boundary attacks are occurring frequently, and the Saudis appear powerless to stop them, with no substantial military assistance arriving from Western allies such as the US or UK, only minimal aid, for instance, intelligence cooperation.

Saudi authorities confirmed on Tuesday that missile defenses are operational, with air defenses intercepting and neutralizing several missiles targeting southern Saudi Arabia and Riyadh. Furthermore, the coalition successfully intercepted a drone over Saudi Arabia's oil-rich Eastern Province. This development is causing considerable economic strain for the kingdom, during a critical period as Gulf states strive for a reputation of stability and attractiveness for investment.

Saree cautions investors and companies against maintaining their investments in Saudi Arabia. In the interim, standard and high-profile events hosted in the kingdom continue to be canceled due to the Yemeni spill-over and the persistent Houthi aerial attack threat. Numerous high-profile international events scheduled for September, October, and November have been suspended or postponed.

The ongoing war situation related to both Iran and Yemen is expected to inflict billions in losses for Saudi Arabia, including due to the attacks on Aramco facilities. Meanwhile, the Houthis are blocking all Saudi- and Israeli-related shipping off Yemen's coast in the Red Sea, and there is no indication that the situation is improving.