The Eye of Humanity Center for Rights and Development has condemned Saudi attacks targeting the Yemen Petroleum Company’s facilities at Ras Issa oil port in Hodeidah province and in Al-Sabahah, west of the capital Sana'a. The attack on Ras Issa reportedly killed two civilians and injured two others, while a separate strike targeted oil company facilities in Al-Sabahah.
In a statement, the center described the attacks as a dangerous escalation against vital economic and service infrastructure, warning that they could further worsen Yemen’s humanitarian and living conditions.
Risks to Fuel Supplies and Essential Services
The center said attacks on ports and oil facilities could not be treated as isolated military operations, given their critical role in supplying fuel, supporting transportation and public services, sustaining economic activity and meeting the daily needs of millions of Yemenis already affected by years of war, blockade and deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
It warned that the strikes could have direct consequences for fuel supplies, transportation, and the prices of goods and services. The center also raised concerns about potential environmental and public health hazards resulting from damage to oil infrastructure, warning that vulnerable households would bear a disproportionate share of the consequences.
Center Warns of Possible Violations of International Humanitarian Law
The organization held the Saudi regime responsible for the consequences of the attacks and any resulting human, material and humanitarian damage.
It said deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure or objects that do not make an effective contribution to military action, as well as conducting attacks without respecting the principles of distinction and proportionality or taking the required precautions, would constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes if the relevant legal elements were established.
The center stressed that parties to a conflict remain bound by international humanitarian law regardless of military or political justifications. It said any attack must be assessed in light of the nature of the target, its actual contribution to military action, the expected civilian harm and the precautions taken to protect civilians and civilian objects.
Warning Over Wider Humanitarian and Economic Consequences
The center warned that continued attacks on oil facilities, ports and essential economic infrastructure could threaten Yemen’s economic and human security, with repercussions extending to food supplies, medicine, transportation and public health.
It emphasized that vital infrastructure and the resources needed for everyday life should not become targets in the conflict, noting that damage to energy facilities and essential supply networks affects not only the facilities themselves but also civilians’ livelihoods and their ability to access basic necessities.
Yemen’s fuel imports and oil-related infrastructure play a crucial role in transportation, electricity generation, water supplies and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Years of Saudi aggression and restrictions on imports have placed additional pressure on the country’s economy and access to essential goods.
The reported attacks on Ras Issa and Al-Sabahah have renewed concerns over the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the potential consequences for civilians.
