Saudi Arabia warned that attacks by Iranian-affiliated militias on two oil pipelines "threatened global energy supplies"

"The Kingdom condemns this cowardly attack (…) that was not aimed only at Saudi Arabia, but the security of energy supply the world over and the international economy"The Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid Al Falih, said in statements issued by the official agency of the SPA.

"This action confirms the importance of facing all the terrorist organizations that commit these acts of sabotage, among which the Houthis in Yemen, backed by Iran"warned the Saudi minister.

In fact The oil pipeline attacked on Tuesday would provide an alternative to Saudi crude oil exports if the Hormuz Strait, at the mouth of the Gulf, was closed. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait in the event of a military confrontation with the United States.

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks using drones and missiles against Saudi cities, but it is the first time that a facility of the public company Aramco is attacked. The current state of the pipeline, called Petroline, is still unknown.

The rebels have claimed the attack in "response to the perpetrators who continue to commit genocide" against the Yemeni people, spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said. Saudi Arabia has intervened militarily since 2015 in the conflict in Yemen to help the government deal with the rebels. TheThe Houthis are supported by Iran and control large areas of western and northern Yemen, including the capital Sana'a.

The attacks took place at a time of heightened tension in the Persian Gulf after sabotage against four ships last weekend in the waters of the UAE's Exclusive Economic Zone.

These acts occurred just three days after the United States had warned that such an incident could occur and that several US warships, including the aircraft carrier "Abraham Lincoln", were in danger. settled in the area.

The United States said it took the decision to move the ships because of "clues" indicating that Iran was preparing to "conduct offensive operations against US forces and interests in the region."

With information from AFP, EFE and Reuters