Gulf and Middle east news and discussions

(La Tribune via SPA, march20)

Saudi Arabia's oil giant Aramco targeted in series of plant attacks

Several attacks on oil and electricity facilities were recorded by the Saudi-led coalition on Saturday against Aramco. On Sunday, the oil giant posted a 124% increase in earnings as the conflict in Yemen rages on in the highly charged region. Saudi Arabia has announced a "temporary reduction" in oil production at one of the facilities. The war in Ukraine, which has reignited questions of dependence on fossil fuels, could have major geopolitical consequences in the region.

Tensions are escalating in the Middle East. An attack by Houthi rebels targeted a facility of oil giant Aramco in Jizan, southern Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh-led coalition in Yemen said in a statement Saturday. The rebels also targeted a desalination plant in Al-Shaqeeq, according to a coalition statement quoted by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Initial findings showed that the Houthis fired Iranian-made cruise missiles at the Aramco desalination plant and distribution centre in Jizan, the coalition said. It added that Saudi air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and nine drones.



Serial attacks

The coalition said four drones were intercepted and destroyed in the south near Yemen. This area is regularly targeted by drone and Huthi missile attacks. It then announced that the Dhahran Al-Janoub power plant near Jizan had also been attacked. The SPA released photos and a video clip showing firefighters fighting a fire at the site.

The latest announcement comes after an oil refinery in the Saudi capital Riyadh was attacked on 10 March by a drone strike, an operation claimed by the Houthis.

Earlier this week, the Houthis rejected an invitation from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to attend talks on the Yemen conflict, which will be held in Riyadh from 29 March.

Saudi Arabia is leading a military coalition in Yemen in support of the internationally recognised government, which has been engaged in a bloody conflict against the Iranian-backed Houthis since mid-2014

The war has left hundreds of thousands dead while millions have been forced to flee their homes in what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

On Wednesday, the UN expressed disappointment after a donors' conference raised $1.3 billion, well short of its stated goal of $4.27 billion. Houthi rebels often target airports and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's biggest oil exporters, amid the kingdom's leadership of the military coalition against them.



Benefits at the top

This latest attack comes as Aramco announced these results on Sunday. Global oil markets are very nervous about the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on energy supplies.

Energy giant Saudi Aramco has announced a 124% rise in net profit in 2021 compared to 2020, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, on the back of higher oil prices and global economic growth.

Saudi Aramco posted a net profit of 412.4 billion Saudi rials ($110 billion or €99 billion) in 2021, up from 183.8 billion Saudi rials ($49 billion) in 2020, according to a group statement.

The Saudi energy giant had announced a net profit of 88.2 billion dollars in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit the markets with considerable losses for the oil and aviation sectors in particular.


En Arabie saoudite, attaques en série contre des usines : le géant du pétrole Aramco pris pour cible