Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels threaten new attacks on Saudi Arabian oil sites

The Houthis captured the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014 and have been fighting against a Saudi-led coalition since 2015

A spokesman for the rebels urged foreigners to stay away from the Saudi’s energy infrastructure as it remains ‘within reach’

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Fighters loyal to Yemen's Houthi rebels in Sanaa. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:08pm, 16 Sep 2019Updated: 2:24am, 17 Sep 2019

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who claimed responsibility for devastating weekend attacks on Saudi oil facilities, threatened on Monday to carry out more strikes and urged foreigners to stay away.

“We assure the Saudi regime that our long hand can reach any place we want at any time we choose,” Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement.

Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree. Photo: AFP

Strikes on two Saudi facilities on Saturday halted half the kingdom’s oil production and sent shock waves through energy markets. The US has blamed Iran for the attacks, saying there was no evidence they were launched from Yemen.

The Houthis, who captured the Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014, have been fighting against a Saudi-led coalition that intervened the following year in support of the internationally recognised government.

The rebels have repeatedly targeted key Saudi infrastructure in the past several months with explosive-laden drones.