The Brent crude barrel, a reference for the European market, recorded before the opening of the stock exchanges of the Old Continent a decline of more than 1.5%, placing itself slightly below 115 dollars per barrel. This drop occurred even after Houthi forces launched several offensives with ballistic missiles and drones against various targets in Saudi Arabia, including the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and several oil pumping stations.
At the same time, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), a reference in the United States, fell by 1.9% in the hours leading up to the start of trading in Europe, settling at 101.3 dollars per barrel.
The military spokesman for the Houthi rebels, Yahya Sari, reported this Monday through a statement that their armed forces had attacked "successfully" the airfield of the Saudi capital using a ballistic missile that, according to their version, achieved an impact "accurately."
In the same message, he explained that, simultaneously, another offensive was carried out with several unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) against oil pumping stations located in the east and west of the Saudi kingdom.
In addition, the spokesman for this Iran-backed militia detailed the execution of two other military operations directed against "concentrations of troops and weapons depots of the Saudi enemy" in the Salah al Din area, in the Aden province, and in the Al Wahat area, in the Lahij province.
According to the insurgents' account, these last attacks, also carried out with ballistic missiles, would have caused "dozens of casualties" in the Saudi ranks, as well as the destruction and fire of several vehicles.
In response, the coalition forces for Yemen, led by Saudi Arabia, announced this Monday a military operation in which "the destruction and neutralization of legitimate military targets" linked to missiles was carried out, in addition to cutting "supply lines" of the Houthi militias in Yemen, presented as retaliation for the rebel offensives both in Yemeni territory and on Saudi soil.
Specifically, the spokesman for the coalition, Turki al Maliki, stated that the operation allowed for the destruction of "five tunnels used to store ballistic missiles, four ballistic missile launchers, and a missile warehouse" along with "fortifications, personnel, and military equipment" belonging to the Houthi insurgency.