Reuters: Saudi Arabia halts oil loadings at Red Sea port

Reuters news agency says oil loadings have been suspended at a Red Sea export hub, following an attack on a pipeline in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia temporarily closed the pipeline carrying crude oil to the port of Yanbu after it was damaged by drones last Thursday. The pipeline was being used as a route to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia had suspended oil loadings at Yanbu, citing shipping industry sources.

In neighboring Yemen, Houthi rebels are ramping up their offensive against the Saudi-backed interim government. The Iran-backed fighters have expanded their control of areas around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping waterway in the Red Sea.

The Houthis claimed in a statement on Wednesday that they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet and damaged an oil-related facility in Yanbu with ballistic missiles and other weapons.

The Saudi side has not commented on these developments.

The closure of the pipeline and the attacks on Saudi oil-related facilities are raising concerns about global oil supplies.

WTI crude oil futures remain above 100 dollars per barrel.