Armed tribesmen bombed Yemen’s main oil pipeline on Saturday, halting crude flow to the country’s main export terminal less than a month after it was repaired, oil and local officials said.
The attack occurred in the Serwah district in the central oil-producing province of Maarib, they said, and caused a huge fire that prompted the closure of the pipeline and stopped oil flow from the Maarib fields to the Ras Isa oil terminal on the Red Sea.
Yemen, which relies on crude exports to finance up to 70 percent of its budget, has suffered frequent bombings of its main pipeline in recent years. The last one took place on Dec. 26 and the pipeline was repaired on Jan. 5.
Disgruntled tribesmen stage these attacks to pressure the government to provide jobs, settle land disputes or free relatives from prison.
Such lawlessness is a global concern, particularly for the United States and its Gulf Arab allies, because of Yemen’s strategic position next to oil exporter Saudi Arabia and to main shipping lanes.
Yemen is also home to one of al Qaeda’s most active wings.
Before a spate of attacks that began in 2011, the 270-mile Maarib pipeline carried around 110,000 barrels per day to Ras Isa.

Yemen’s main oil pipeline bombed, crude flow stops

Armed tribesmen bombed Yemen’s main oil pipeline on Saturday, halting crude flow to the country’s main export terminal. (File photo: Reuters)
Reuters, Sanaa
Saturday 01 February 2014
Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:42 - GMT 06:42
DAY | WEEK |
-
6019 Views Coronavirus cases in the UAE surge as authorities detect 3,407 new infections
-
4015 Views Coronavirus: Pfizer to temporarily reduce vaccine deliveries to Europe
-
2011 Views US will impose sanctions on Iran over conventional arms, metals industry: Sources
-
1331 Views Coronavirus: Jordan’s King Abdullah receives COVID-19 vaccine
-
1038 Views WhatsApp says no one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8
-
945 Views Palestinians to hold first elections in 15 years, presidential vote on July 31
-
21875 Views Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince reveals project ‘THE LINE’ in futuristic city of NEOM
-
11764 Views Oman Sultan issues new law organizing succession, naming of crown prince
-
9543 Views Coronavirus: UAE reports 3,362 new COVID-19 cases, total hits 239,587
-
7033 Views COVID-19: Saudi Arabia warns against travel to 12 countries without permission
-
6832 Views Trump supporter Jake Angeli seen in horned fur hat charged in Capitol violence
-
6366 Views Coronavirus: UAE records 2,404 new COVID-19 cases as cases continue to rapidly rise
SHOW MORE