Yemen the forgotten country

[angelburst29]

Saudi-led coalition bombs Yemen prison, scores killed

Air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition in southwest Yemen hit a prison complex, killing scores of people, Yemen's Houthi movement and a Red Cross official said on Sunday.

Red Cross says more than 100 killed in attack on Yemen prison
A Saudi-led coalition air strike on a prison in southwest Yemen killed at least 100 people, an official from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Sunday.

Yemeni separatists arrest dozens of government loyalists in Aden

Southern Yemeni separatists said they arrested dozens of government loyalists in Aden on Saturday after President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's forces withdrew from the port city following air strikes by the United Arab Emirates.

Suicide bomber kills separatist fighters in Yemen's Aden: witnesses
A suicide bomber on a motorcycle killed six southern separatist fighters on the outskirts of the Yemeni city of Aden on Friday, witnesses said, part of a surge of violence that has complicated a near five-year-old war and undermined U.N. peace efforts.

Islamic State claims suicide bomb attack on separatist fighters in Yemen's Aden: Amaq
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack in the Yemeni port of Aden that killed six southern separatist fighters on Friday, the militant group's Amaq news agency said.

 

[angelburst29]

Yemeni workers search for bodies at prison hit by Arab coalition

Yemeni rescue workers searched for bodies amid concrete debris and twisted steel wreckage on Monday, two days after air strikes by a Saudi-led military coalition hit a prison complex killing more than 100 people.

Saudi Arabia struggles to hold Yemen coalition together as allies face off

Saudi Arabia is struggling to hold together a military coalition fighting Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen after local allies turned on each other in a power struggle that has strained Riyadh's alliance with its main regional partner, the United Arab Emirates.

 

[angelburst29]

U.S., France, Britain may be complicit in Yemen war crimes, U.N. report says

The United States, Britain and France may be complicit in war crimes in Yemen by arming and providing intelligence and logistics support to a Saudi-led coalition that starves civilians as a war tactic, the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia boosts troop levels in south Yemen as tensions rise

Saudi Arabia has deployed more troops in southern Yemen to try to contain clashes between nominal allies in the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis that risks further fragmenting the country.

 

[angelburst29]

Yemen's government starts indirect talks with southern separatists in Saudi Arabia: officials

FILE PHOTO: Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi attends an Arab summit in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, May 31, 2019. REUTERS/Hamad l Mohammed/File Photo

Sept. 4, 2019 - Yemeni government officials have begun indirect talks with United Arab Emirates-backed southern separatists in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah to end fighting in Aden and other southern provinces, a Yemeni official said on Wednesday.

The fight for Yemen’s south has opened a new front in a multi-faceted war and threatens to further fragment Yemen, complicating efforts to end a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and pushed the nation to the brink of famine.

Yemeni government and separatist forces are both part of a Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the Iran-aligned Houthi group after it ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi from power in the capital Sanaa in 2014.

But the separatists, who seek to restore the former South Yemen republic, have seized control of the southern port of Aden and declared Sanaa government authorities unwanted in the south.

“Indirect talks have started between the government and the STC via the Saudi side; the situation is very difficult and complicated but we hope to achieve some progress,” a senior Yemeni official, stated.

 

[angelburst29]

UN expert report on Yemen based on false allegations, says Arab coalition

False accusations made against the Arab coalition in a report written by UN experts on Yemen are a continuation of accusations made in a UN report from 2018, Col. Turki Al-Maliki said. (File/AFP)

September 05, 2019 - False accusations and allegations made against the Arab coalition in a report written by UN experts on Yemen are a continuation of accusations made in a UN report from 2018, Col. Turki Al-Maliki said on Thursday.

The 2018 report was biased and lacking impartiality, Saudi Press Agency reported Al-Maliki as saying.

The coalition has previously drawn attention to issues relating to the methodology of the UN report and its over-dependence on information provided by unidentified third parties which lacked veracity, as well as allegations made in unverified reports by some non-governmental organizations.

Al-Maliki added that the report is based on allegations of international humanitarian law violations made against the coalition, and that these allegations are "completely baseless."

He added that the coalition is "fully committed" to carrying out military operations in accordance with international laws. It is also committed to carrying out investigations into allegations of violations during military operations and prosecuting those found guilty of said violations.

In line with its obligations under international humanitarian law, the coalition also provides voluntary assistance to those affected by collateral damage, Al-Maliki added.

He said that the coalition continues to cooperate with all UN organisations concerned with the conflict in Yemen in order to achieve peace and stability in the country.

Saudi Arabia, UAE welcome response for southern Yemen dialogue

Fighters of the Southern Transitional Council, which seeks independence for south Yemen, sit with a southern separatist flag at the back of a pickup in Aden on August 29, 2019. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia and UAE have welcomed the response by the Legitimate Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council, on the Kingdom’s call for dialogue, saying it was “a major and positive step” towards ending the recent crisis in the governorates of Aden, Abyan and Shabwa.

The two countries said it was important to continue working under “this positive environment and in a spirit of brotherhood” to renounce division, UAE state news agency WAM reported.

In a joint statement, the governments of both countries said that they have been working in close coordination with various parties to implement a cease-fire.

They also said they have been preparing for a constructive dialogue to end the dispute and address its effects, as part of their responsibilities being in the Coalition Supporting the Legitimate Government in Yemen, and in continuation of their political and military efforts to contain the crisis.

This statement follows a previous one issued on August 26, 2019 pertaining to the events that took place in Yemen’s interim capital of Aden.

Saudi Arabia, UAE urge Yemen government and separatists to halt fighting

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates called on Yemen's separatists and the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to halt all military actions in south Yemen.

 

[Aeneas]

The Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia's biggest oil processing facility which is able to process 6,8million barrels per day:

Drone attacks trigger huge fires at Saudi Aramco oil facilities, Houthis claim responsibility

Houthi rebels in Yemen say they deployed 10 armed drones which hit two large Saudi Aramco oil facilities on Saturday morning, causing massive fires and huge clouds of smoke on the sites.

www.rt.com

Drone attacks trigger huge fires at Saudi Aramco oil facilities, Houthis claim responsibility
Published time: 14 Sep, 2019 04:46Edited time: 14 Sep, 2019 09:45
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Fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, September 14, 2019. © Reuters


Houthi rebels in Yemen say they deployed 10 armed drones which hit two large Saudi Aramco oil facilities on Saturday morning, causing massive fires and huge clouds of smoke on the sites.
The attack was carried out by the Houthi Air Force, the spokesperson for the Yemeni rebel group, Brigadier Yahya Serai, said on Al Masirah TV, vowing to “expand the operations against the Saudi regime in the future.”
The drones targeted a refinery in the city of Abqaiq in the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province, which state-run giant Aramco describes as the world’s largest oil processing plant, and a refinery at the vast Khurais oil field, around 150km from Riyadh.
Multiple videos posted on social media show an Aramco compound engulfed in flames and thick black smoke billowing from the site. In some footage, loud bangs resembling the sound of explosions can be heard in the background, along with apparent sounds of gunfire.

ZaidBenjamin الحساب البديل@ZaidBenjamin5
https://twitter.com/ZaidBenjamin5/status/1172712548170264576

The gunshots and the explosions were heard by local residents at around 3 am this morning in Aramco compound near #Buqayq, #SaudiArabia. Some people I spoke to say there were about 12 explosions that rock the area.



70
5:23 AM - Sep 14, 2019
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Nate Rosenblatt@NateRosenblatt
https://twitter.com/NateRosenblatt/status/1172695456603881472
Replying to @NateRosenblatt @thestevennabil

Here's a long video compilation showing different angles of what is supposedly the aftermath of the explosion.



35
4:15 AM - Sep 14, 2019
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Nasser@Nasser22820844
https://twitter.com/Nasser22820844/status/1172702816319791104

Abqaiq City
Saudi
Aramco
The capital of the oil industry
Explosions and fires
Now residents are evacuating the city
It has the largest community of Americans and Westerners


328
4:45 AM - Sep 14, 2019
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Riyadh acknowledged that its oil facilities were hit by drones but did not immediately name a perpetrator. The authorities said the fires on both sites are under control.

John Marquee@john_marquee
https://twitter.com/john_marquee/status/1172707368385204229
Replying to @john_marquee

The first video shows one of the explosions from the vantage point of a parking lot nearby. Bursts of gunfire are audible in the distance.

Geolocated: (https://goo.gl/maps/2G3eMod4BEHD9WqJ7 …)



34
5:03 AM - Sep 14, 2019
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Saudi Arabia has led a bombing campaign in Yemen since it intervened in the nation’s civil war in 2015, assisting ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi’s fight against the Houthi rebels who control the nation’s capital, Sanaa. The campaign placed the Saudis under fire from the UN and international human rights groups, which have repeatedly stated that the airstrikes have caused mass civilian casualties.
ALSO ON RT.COMDrones strike Saudi oil pumping stations near Riyadh as Houthis claim attack
The Saudis have accused Iran of arming and directing the Houthis to launch drone and rocket attacks across the kingdom’s border. In May, armed drones caused minor damage to two Aramco pumping stations in the Eastern Province. While the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, the Saudis blamed Tehran. Iranian officials denied the allegations.

---
Wikipedia says this:

However, a moderate to severe attack on Abqaiq would slow production from an average of 6.8 million barrels (1,080,000 m3) a day to 1 million barrels (160,000 m3). The chief purpose of Abqaiq is to remove hydrogen sulfide from crude oil and reduce the vapor pressure, making the crude safe to be shipped in tankers. Abqaiq is the world's largest facility for this stabilization.[

 

[Corvus]

I remember when we had two migrants from Yemen, one said they bombed his house and he was only one who left the rubble and his parents were left inside dead. Another one had burnt skin and his down jaw was metal, also from a bombing attack. There is always a possibility of it being a lie but honestly I doubt it.

 

[Aeneas]

Hitting Saudi Arabia where it hurts the most:

U.S. Blames Iran for Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for coordinated strikes on the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, saying they marked an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply. The strikes shut down half of the kingdom’s crude production, potentially roiling petroleum prices.

www.wsj.com

Saudi Arabia Shuts Down About Half Its Oil Output After Drone Strikes
Attack on two Aramco facilities is the latest in a series targeting the kingdom’s oil assets

Smoke billowing after a fire at a Saudi Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. PHOTO: VIDEOS OBTAINED BY REUTERS/REUTERS
By
Summer Said and
Jared Malsin
Updated Sept. 14, 2019 12:07 pm ET

A coordinated drone strike hit at the heart of Saudi oil production on Saturday, sparking an enormous blaze and forcing the kingdom to shut down about half of its crude output, according to people familiar with matter.
Iran-alled Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen claimed responsibility for what would be one of their largest-ever attacks inside the kingdom.
The Saudi production shutdown amounts to a loss of about five million barrels a day, the people said, roughly 5% of the world’s daily production of crude oil. The kingdom produces 9.8 million barrels a day.
The coordinated drone strikes on facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province mark the latest in a series of attacks on the country’s petroleum assets in recent months, as tensions rise among Iran and its proxies like the Houthis, and the U.S. and partners like Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have also claimed credit for drone attacks on Saudi pipelines, tankers and other infrastructure during a four-year war.
This attack appeared to be the most effective, starting large fires at Hijra Khurais, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest oil fields, and at Abqaiq, the world’s biggest crude stabilization facility. Khurais produces 1.5 million barrels a day while Abqaiq helps produce up to 7 million barrels a day.
A Houthi spokesman said the attack involved 10 drones. Published images of the fire at the Abqaiq facility showed what appeared to be a huge blaze along with plumes of smoke.
“We promise the Saudi regime that our future operations will expand and be more painful as long as its aggression and siege continue,” the spokesman said.
The Saudi interior ministry said the fires were under control.
Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, held an emergency board meeting on Saturday to manage the unfolding crisis, the people said.
As the world’s biggest exporter of oil, Saudi officials are discussing drawing down their oil stocks to sell to foreign customers to ensure that world oil supplies aren’t disrupted, the people familiar with the matter said.
The Saudi government didn’t say who was behind the attack. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The Houthis took control of Yemen’s capital, San’a, in 2014 during a civil war. Since then, a Saudi-led coalition has fought a war to unseat the Houthis and reinstate a government supported by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other regional powers.

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. say the Houthis are financed and armed by Iran, a charge that Tehran denies.

Armed Drones Are a Growing Threat From Rebels in Yemen

Yemen’s Houthi rebels are using armed drones with startling success. WSJ reporters describe their increasing sophistication and recent confirmed attacks. Illustration: Laura Kammermann

Drones and missiles launched by the Houthis have repeatedly struck inside Saudi Arabia in recent months, hitting airports and other civilian installations. At least one drone strike was launched from neighboring Iraq, according to U.S. officials.
Saudi and American officials have blamed Iran for targeting the kingdom’s oil infrastructure, including the use of mines to damage Saudi oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman in May.

Iran has denied striking Saudi targets or coordinating with Yemeni rebels to hit the kingdom’s oil equipment.
Disruptions in Saudi oil production could have ripple effects through the global economy, as the kingdom exports more crude petroleum than any other country.
Saudi officials have called for the international community to help protect its oil infrastructure.
Recently reimposed U.S. sanctions on Tehran have crippled its oil industry and sent its economy into a tailspin, raising fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East. The U.S. action came after President Trump pulled out of a 2015 international deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program, saying it didn’t go far enough to rein in Tehran’s regional ambitions.

 

[angelburst29]

Hitting Saudi Arabia where it hurts the most:

U.S. Blames Iran for Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Iran for coordinated strikes on the heart of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, saying they marked an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply. The strikes shut down half of the kingdom’s crude production, potentially roiling petroleum prices.

www.wsj.com

Attacks on Saudi oil facilities knock out half the kingdom's supply

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group said it attacked two plants at the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry on Saturday, knocking out more than half the Kingdom's output, in a move expected to send oil prices soaring and increase tensions in the Middle East.

Instant View: Reactions to attack on Saudi oil facilities

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group on Saturday attacked two plants at the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry in a strike that could impact about 5 million barrels per day of crude production - close to half of the kingdom's output, or 5% of global oil supply.

U.S. stands ready to tap emergency oil reserve after Saudi attacks: DOE

The Trump administration is prepared to tap U.S. emergency oil reserves if necessary after drone attacks shut oil output in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, a Department of Energy spokeswoman said.

Attacks on Saudi facilities threaten spare oil capacity, price hikes

Saturday's attacks on key Saudi Arabia processing plants will test the world's ability to handle a supply crisis as it faces the temporary loss of more than 5% of global supply from the world's biggest crude exporter.

Global spare oil capacity in U.S. hands after Saudi outage

An attack on Saudi oil facilities on Saturday is believed to have disrupted half the country's production capacity, making the United States the only real holder of the global supply cushion via its ability to raise own output or to soften sanctions against other major oil producers.

United States blames Iran for Saudi attacks, 'pretend' diplomacy

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday accused Iran of leading attacks on Saudi oil plants that have cut the kingdom's output roughly in half, as he ruled out Yemeni involvement and denounced Tehran for engaging in false diplomacy.

Saudi energy minister says attacks partially halted Aramco production

Saudi Arabian energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Sunday that attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities have partially halted crude and gas production from the world's top oil exporter.

U.S. says committed to well-supplied oil markets after attack on Saudi plants

The White House said on Saturday that the United States was committed to keeping oil markets well-supplied in the wake of an attack on Saudi Arabian oil plants by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group.

Factbox: Inside Saudi Aramco's oil operations

Saudi Arabia's oil production and exports have been disrupted.

Trump tells Saudi leader U.S. ready to help protect Saudi security: SPA

U.S. President Donald Trump told Saudi Arabia's crown prince that Washington was ready to cooperate with the kingdom to protect its security, following drone attacks on Saudi oil plants on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported.

 

[Aeneas]

The warhawks are happy to use this attack on the Saudi oil infrastructure to blame Iran and call for an attack on Iran.

Pompeo blames Iran for drone attack on Saudi oil facilities, Senator Graham urges US to strike it

A drone attack on Saudi oil facilities claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels prompted Washington to blame Tehran, with US warhawk, Senator Lindsey Graham, calling for a strike against Iran.

www.rt.com

Pompeo blames Iran for drone attack on Saudi oil facilities, Senator Graham urges US to strike it

Published time: 14 Sep, 2019 20:23Edited time: 14 Sep, 2019 20:25
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Smoke is seen following a fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, on September 14, 2019ю © Reuters

A drone attack on Saudi oil facilities claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels prompted Washington to blame Tehran, with US warhawk, Senator Lindsey Graham, calling for a strike against Iran.
The smoke from the huge fires at the world’s largest oil processing plant caused by the strike had barely dissipated when officials in Washington jumped at the opportunity to use the occasion to push an anti-Iranian agenda.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blamed Tehran for what he called “an unprecedented attack on the world’s energy supply” but stopped short of suggesting any retaliatory measures.
Meanwhile Graham was quick to turn to Twitter to call for swift retaliation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1172913309697433601

https://twitter.com/x/status/1172913311458955265

The senator linked the need to stop Iran’s alleged “provocations” to the seemingly ultimate goal of Washington’s policy toward Tehran – regime change – as he said that the Islamic Republic would not stop until the consequences of its “misbehavior” would be “more real, like attacking their refineries, which will break the regime’s back.”
Riyadh denounced the drone strike as a “terrorist attack” but did not immediately name a perpetrator. Houthis claimed responsibility for the Saturday morning assault, which resulted in massive blazes at the refinery in the city of Abqaiq in the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province and another facility at the vast Khurais oil field, around 150km (93 miles) from Riyadh.
US President Donald Trump has already phoned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and offered help to the Kingdom in ensuring its security. He also said that the attack on the Saudi oil facilities could be detrimental to the American and the global economy.
ALSO ON RT.COMDrone attacks trigger huge fires at Saudi Aramco oil facilities, Houthis claim responsibility
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said, though, that the attack is unlikely to affect the global oil markets as they are “well supplied with ample commercial stocks.” Yet, it also said it is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with the Saudis and “major producer and consumer nations.”

The IEA statement came amid media reports that the attack forced Riyadh to cut oil production by as much as 5 million barrels a day, which is equivalent to roughly half of its total oil output and about five percent of the global oil supply.
The Saturday attack has become the most successful strike the Houthis have launched against the Saudis, who have been leading a bombing campaign in Yemen since it intervened in the nation’s civil war in 2015. In May, armed drones caused minor damage to two Saudi Aramco state oil companies’ pumping stations in the Eastern Province.At that time, Riyadh blamed Iran for the attack, which was claimed by the Yemeni rebels as well. Tehran denied the allegations.
The Saudi-led coalition’s military campaign in Yemen has itself been repeatedly criticized by the UN and various international human rights groups, which repeatedly pointed to the mass civilian casualties resulting from the coalition’s airstrikes.

Some sources have suggested that Trump fired Bolton, so that he could ease sanctions on Iran. Now it appears as if the warhawks are using this incident to stop Trump from getting closer to talks with Iran.

Trump's Desire to Ease Iran Sanction Regime Prompted Bolton's Departure - Report

US President Donald Trump reportedly proposed lifting tough sanctions against Iran as a means of encouraging Tehran to renegotiate the 2015 JCPOA.

sputniknews.com

US President Donald Trump reportedly proposed lifting tough sanctions against Iran as a means of encouraging Tehran to renegotiate the 2015 JCPOA.

Tump's idea, however, did not sit well with former National Security Adviser John Bolton during a Monday discussion concerning Iran in the Oval Office between the two. Bolton told Trump that he strongly disagreed with the idea of easing pressure on Tehran, NBC News reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
On Tuesday, Trump fired Bolton, stressing, however, that the two had a number of "strong" disagreements, including on Venezuela and North Korea.

Bolton has long had a hard-line stance on Iran, and opposed negotiating with Tehran. It was during his tenure that the United States withdrew from the Obama-era Joint Cooperative Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran nuclear deal in 2018, re-applied heavy sanctions on Tehran and launched a massive military buildup in the Persian Gulf.
In late August, the White House said that Trump wanted to talk to Iran's leaders about a new nuclear deal without preconditions such as sanction relief.

[...]

Tying Trump's hand fits the Deep State well as it would seem to be important for Trump and his re-election chances, to get a diplomatic victory with Iran. A war would be against what he campaigned for and also against what American voters want and this would then increase the chances that the Deep State gets a more malleable puppet in place. Looking at the democratic candidates that are being pushed then one could think that Trump has nothing to fear, but then again, perhaps the Deep State pulls a Macron, an independent candidate who is the shining light coming from no-where and in record time gets the top job. Hollywood is good at this kind of thing ;)

 

[angelburst29]

Tying Trump's hand fits the Deep State well as it would seem to be important for Trump and his re-election chances, to get a diplomatic victory with Iran.

Scope, precision of Saudi oil attacks show Iran to blame: U.S. officials

The scope and precision of drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities show they were launched from a west-northwest direction rather than from Yemen to the south, where Houthi rebels claimed responsibility, senior U.S. administration officials said on Sunday.

Kremlin warns against 'hasty conclusions' over attacks in Saudi Arabia

Russia on Monday urged countries in the Middle East and outside the region not to draw "hasty conclusions" on who staged the attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

Iran dismisses U.S. claim it was behind Saudi oil strikes, says ready for war
Iran rejected accusations by the United States that it was behind attacks on Saudi oil plants that risk disrupting world energy supplies and warned on Sunday that U.S. bases and aircraft carriers in the region were in range of its missiles.

Iran rejects 'baseless' accusations it had role in Saudi oil attacks

Iran said on Monday accusations that it had a role in the attack on Saudi oil installations were "unacceptable" and "baseless", state television reported, after a senior U.S. official said the Islamic Republic was behind it.

Iran says it's ready to work for Yemen peace with U.N. and others
Iran is ready to cooperate with the United Nations and countries seeking peace and stability in Yemen and the region, an Iranian government spokesman said on Monday, after weekend attacks on Saudi oil sites claimed by Yemeni forces aligned with Tehran.

Pompeo told Iraqi PM U.S. information affirms Saudi not attacked from Iraq: Baghdad statement

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi that the United States has information confirming Baghdad's denial that Iraqi territory was used to launch an attack on Saudi oil facilities, Iraq said on Monday.

Biggest oil price surge since 1991 as 'locked and loaded' U.S. points finger at Iran for attack

An attack on Saudi Arabia that shut 5% of global crude output caused the biggest surge in oil prices since 1991, after U.S. officials blamed Iran and President Donald Trump said Washington was "locked and loaded" to retaliate.

Trump pledges to help allies in Middle East after Saudi attacks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States would help its allies despite U.S. energy independence, after Washington blamed Iran for an attack on Saudi Arabia that has closed 5% of global crude output.

Saudi energy minister says attacks partially halted Aramco production

Saudi Arabian energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Sunday that attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities have partially halted crude and gas production from the world's top oil exporter.

EU says need to determine Saudi attack facts before establishing blame
The European Commission said on Monday it was important to determine the facts behind the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities before establishing who was responsible.

Saudi Aramco swaps crude on tanker to heavy from light grade: source
Saudi Aramco has changed the type of crude loading onto a tanker due to go to Asia to Arab Heavy from Arab Light, a source familiar with the matter said.

Saudi, Gulf stocks fall after attacks on Aramco oil plants

Saudi stocks fell sharply on Sunday, after attacks on two plants at the heart of the kingdom's oil industry a day earlier knocked out more than half of Saudi crude output.

~~~ There are oil stockpiles - in reserve - to rely on. Back during the Obama administration and the shipping industry was hit and China stopped some trade with the U.S., there were oil reserve tankers sitting off in Coastal waters (San Diego and the Carolina's). Our currency is back by crude oil, so there is a heavy stockpile in reserve. Plus, the Saudi's purchased the largest oil refinery in Texas, about 2 years ago.

Enough oil in global stockpiles to replace lost Saudi barrels: Russia

There is enough oil in global stockpiles to replace barrels Saudi Arabia has temporary lost due to attacks on its oil facilities, Russia's energy minister Alexander Novak, an ally of Riyadh in a pact to curb supply, told reporters on Monday.

U.S. energy secretary says oil market robust after attack on Saudi plants

The oil market is resilient and will react positively to the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on Monday, blaming the attack firmly on Iran.

Trump authorizes release of U.S. oil reserves if needed because of Saudi attacks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he authorized the release of oil from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) if needed in a quantity to be determined because of Saturday's attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities.

German petrol prices at pumps stable after Aramco attack: industry group
The attacks against oil refineries in Saudi Arabia have so far had no impact on prices at filling stations in Germany, the country's Petroleum Industry Association said on Monday.

~~~ Does any one really believe Iran would go out of it's way to bomb a Saudi refinery - just so Rouhani had an excuse NOT to meet with Trump at the UN Summit in New York, later this month? Maybe, it was a bunch of Saudi's that just broke into a British Palace and stole a $5 million gold 18-carat toilet (so they didn't have to yank out one of their own) to help cover the costs of recovery/repair to the refinery? There's no facts - backing up - either claim!

Thieves steal $5 million gold toilet from Britain's Blenheim Palace

Iran says Rouhani and Trump won't be meeting at U.N.

Iran said on Monday President Hassan Rouhani will not meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the United Nations, a day after the White House left open the possibility of talks between them.

Trump says 'incorrect' he is willing to meet Iran with 'no conditions'
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to play down the chances that he might be willing to meet with Iranian officials, saying reports that he would do so without conditions were not accurate.

Iran's Zarif says U.S., allies are 'stuck in Yemen'

Iran's foreign minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said on Sunday that the United States and its allies were "stuck in Yemen" and that blaming Tehran "won't end the disaster".

 

[angelburst29]

Evidence points to Iran weapons used in Saudi strike, says alliance, as oil jumps

An attack on Saudi Arabia that triggered the biggest jump in oil prices in almost 30 years was carried out with Iranian weapons, a Saudi-led coalition said on Monday, as President Donald Trump said Washington was "locked and loaded" to hit back.

Evidence indicates Iranian arms used in Saudi attack, say Saudis

The Saudi-led military coalition battling Yemen's Houthi movement said on Monday that the attack on Saudi Arabian oil plants was carried out with Iranian weapons and was not launched from Yemen according to preliminary findings.

U.N. aid chief says Saudi Arabia to pay $500 million for Yemen aid next week

United Nations aid chief Mark Lowcock said Saudi Arabia plans to pay $500 million next week of a pledge it made in February to help fund a humanitarian response in Yemen, which the world body has described as the world's worst aid crisis.

U.N. Yemen envoy says 'not entirely clear' who is behind Saudi oil attack

United Nations Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths told the U.N. Security Council on Monday that it was "not entirely clear" who was behind Saturday's attack on Saudi oil facilities but he said it had increased the chances of a regional conflict.

U.S. envoy tells U.N. Security Council indications Iran behind Saudi oil attacks

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft told the Security Council on Monday that emerging information on attacks on Saudi oil facilities "indicates that responsibility lies with Iran" and that there is no evidence the attack came from Yemen.

Too soon to say if U.S. emergency oil release needed, Perry tells CNBC

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on Monday it was too soon say whether the United States would have to tap its emergency petroleum reserves following weekend attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities that shook global oil markets.

U.S. considers more intel sharing with Saudi Arabia after attack: sources

The United States is considering increasing its intelligence sharing with Saudi Arabia after Saturday's attack on Saudi oil facilities, which halved the kingdom's production and jolted world oil markets, U.S. officials told Reuters.

 

[angelburst29]

Putin proposes Russian weapons for Saudi Arabia after oil industry attacks

Russia is ready to help Saudi Arabia following attacks on the Saudi oil industry if needed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks with leaders of Turkey and Iran in Ankara on Monday, and proposed Russian weapons for purchase.

Saudi Arabia to invite U.N. experts to investigate oil attack: statement

Saudi Arabia will invite international experts including from the United Nations to participate in investigating an attack on its oil facilities and called on the world to condemn those behind it, its foreign ministry said on Monday.

Beleaguered U.S. energy shares soar after attacks on Saudi facilities

Shares of U.S. energy companies surged on Monday as a jump in oil prices in the wake of attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities gave new juice to a sector that has been a chronic underperformer.

U.S. crude export demand surges after attack on Saudi facilities
U.S. crude export demand at the Gulf Coast surged on Monday, traders said, as the window to export crude profitably to Asia and Europe was thrown open after attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities took out 5% of global oil supplies.

Trump says U.S. does not need Middle East oil, but cargoes keep coming

Amid a flurry of Twitter posts on Monday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump turned to the weekend attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities and assured his audience the United States had become such a big producer it no longer needed oil from the Middle East. (See tweet

https://twitter.com/x/status/1173560246863876096

)

Trump says he does not want war after attack on Saudi oil facilities
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday said it looked like Iran was behind attacks on oil plants in Saudi Arabia but stressed he did not want to go to war, as the attacks sent oil prices soaring and raised fears of a new Middle East conflict.

Chevron CEO: Saudi oil strikes won't have much short-term impact on U.S. oil production

Attacks on Saudi oil plants will not have much impact on U.S. oil production in the short term, Chevron Chief Executive Michael Wirth told CNBC in an interview on Monday.

Attack on Saudi Arabia 'unprecedented': U.S. defense secretary

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Monday the recent attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities was "unprecedented" and the United States, along with its allies, was working to defend the "international rules-based order that is being undermined by Iran."

U.S. lawmakers blast Iran, wary of war, after Saudi oil attack

Members of the U.S. Congress blasted Iran after the attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities, but expressed wariness about U.S. military action, especially before they have a clearer picture of who was behind it.

U.S. Senate leader McConnell wants consequences on Iran for Saudi oil attack

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Iran on Monday for the weekend attack on a Saudi Arabian oil facility and called for an international response.

 

[Aeneas]

While the US likes to blame Iran and the warhawks are salivating with the prospect of a war, then a view from Russian TV is sobering and instructive. It does not cast blame at the drop of a hat. It also gives an idea about how the Russian audience is better served with more balanced news than their US counterparts.

 

[angelburst29]

Two photos and a slideshow that claims to show the damage. Through all the smoke and fire - the facility looks heavily damaged, yet there are reports the plants have allowed employees back in and recovery is faster then first thought - the facilities are processing 2 million barrels a day and should be fully recovered by the end of the month (within 13 days). So, how bad was the damage?

On the other hand, Pelosi called an emergency meeting, VP Pence is "weighing best response", an oil exec is threating "consequences" and fingers are pointing at Iran? Are some in Washington - blowing this incident "way out of proportion"?

Trump says he does not want war after attack on Saudi oil facilities

U.S. seeks U.N. action on Saudi attacks despite likely Russian opposition


Slideshow (11 Images)
Trump says he does not want war after attack on Saudi oil facilities

Saudi oil attacks came from southwest Iran, U.S. official says, raising tensions


Costly Saudi defenses prove no match for drones, cruise missiles


Exclusive: Saudi oil output to return faster than first thought - sources
Saudi Arabia's oil output will be fully restored quicker than thought following weekend attacks on production facilities, two sources briefed on developments said on Tuesday, taking two or three weeks not months as initial indications suggested.

Aramco's Abqaiq plants have restored 2 million bpd capacity: company source
Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq processing plants have restored 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of capacity following attacks on Saturday, and they are expected to be back at normal capacity by the end of the month, a company source told Reuters on Tuesday.

Saudi's Aramco allows employees to enter Abqaiq compound: Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco allowed employees to enter Abqaiq compound for the first time since the Saturday attack, State-owned Al Arabiya reported on Tuesday citing its own sources.

Saudi king says kingdom is capable of responding to attacks

Saudi King Salman said on Tuesday that Riyadh was capable of dealing with the consequences of attacks on its installations.

Saudi Arabia to restore oil output fully by end of September: energy minister

Saudi Arabia will restore its lost oil production by the end of September and has managed to recover supplies to customers to the levels they were at prior to weekend attacks on its facilities by drawing from its huge oil inventories.

Saudi energy minister says no urgent OPEC meeting: Al Arabiya TV

There will be no urgent OPEC meeting, the‮ ‬Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said, Al Arabiya television reported on Tuesday after the weekend attacks on its facilities.

U.S. tells Saudi Arabia: nuclear push depends on snap inspections deal

The United States will only provide Saudi Arabia with nuclear technology if the kingdom signs an agreement with the U.N. atomic watchdog that allows for intrusive snap inspections, U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry repeated on Tuesday.

U.S. House Speaker Pelosi requests intelligence briefings on Saudi attacks

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has requested a briefing for all House members on the Saudi Aramco attacks and Iran, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

U.S. weighing best response to Saudi oil attacks: Pence

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday the United States was reviewing evidence that suggests Iran was behind the attacks on Saudi oil facilities and stands ready to defend its interests and allies in the Middle East.

Total CEO: Attack on Saudi oil facilities will have consequences

Total <TOTF.PA> CEO Patrick Pouyanne said on Tuesday last weekend's attacks on Saudi oil production facilities will have consequences, adding that he feared the situation in the Middle East might deteriorate further.

Aramco IPO will be ready within coming 12 months: chairman

Saudi Aramco chairman Yassir al-Rumayyan said on Tuesday a planned initial public offering (IPO) of the state oil giant would be ready within the coming 12 months and that the kingdom was committed to the listing.