Houthi Movement Claims Attacks on Aramco, Saudi Arabia Silent Again

Yemen’s Ansar Allah launches another attack on Saudi Aramco, sending a warning to Saudi Arabia and its allies that it will not yield for as long as Saudis continue their unjust incursion. 

Yemeni Houthi movement claims that they’ve managed to score yet another victory against Saudi Arabia with their drones targeting the Saudi Aramco facilities and their missiles bringing down Saudis military installations near the city of Jazan. According to Ansar Allah’s spokesman, the movement launched more than a dozen drones and missiles against Aramco installations, causing the fire that was reported by some media outlets earlier today. If there is any truth to their claims, it is safe to assume that they weren’t simply bragging about Patriot Anti-Missile battery grid during their attack. Saudi Arabia still hasn’t confirmed anything though there were murmurs about numerous drones wrecks found near the Jazan University, corroborating Houthis claims.

In direct contrast with Saudi Arabia’s silence, the coalition however confirmed the attacks, though not without distorting the facts. In a released statement by their speaker Turki al-Maliki said that the Houthis were indeed responsible for the attacks against their positions though they were quick to steer the news in another direction by claiming that the Houthis were targeting civilian areas which constitutes “war crimes”. Houthis however consistently have refuted such claims, saying that even from a strategic perspective, it would yield much better results if they keep the pressure on Saudi Aramco which is vital for the economy rather than to spread terror which does nothing to deter an autocratic monarchy from stopping an illegal incursion. 

Although many such attacks seem to be politically motivated by any move on part of war leaders, it appears however the recent uptick in the number of attacks against Saudi Arabia seems to have something to do with the third parties, patrons of war or proxies. In the case of Yemen this sudden surge could be somewhat traced back to U.S. secret logistical support given to Saudi Arabia. Though Ansar Allah has managed to secure great victories during the campaign, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen continues to worsen, all thanks to the fuel blockade imposed on the port of Hodeidah, having an extremely negative impact on the food shortage and the exacerbation of famine within the country. At the same time, not only the Americans have refused to condemn the attack, they haven’t ceased their support for Saudi Arabia either.

American lawmakers however weren’t blind to what was going on, urging Biden to press Saudi Arabia hard so as to lift its blockade on the port. In a letter written to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, several U.S. representatives argued that Blinken should push for the lifting of sanctions. Additionally, a group of more than 70 congressional Democrats had previously argued that Biden himself must intervene to stop Saudi Arabia from committing more genocide. In spite of these attempts, Biden still refuses to force Saudi Arabia hands just as he did the same in response to Khashoggi’s murder, possibly prioritizing diplomatic and economic reasons over that of the Yemenis welfare.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had previously acknowledged that more than 20 million Yemenis were in need of direct humanitarian assistance and more than 16 million are expected to deal with malnutrition in a few years thanks to the food shortage and famine. With each passing day the number of dead and injured rises up while the standards get lower and lower. Against all odds however the people of Yemen have resisted and have proven that they will continue to do so for as long as it takes. Saudi Arabia on the other hand is playing a losing game, desperately trying to save face or drag some other countries like the U.S. down with itself. Knowing this, how much longer will any of them put of with this facade is a matter of better judgement.