Yemen government officials confirmed on Thursday morning that a bomb attack against Mareb oil pipeline had led to yet another halt of activities, putting the country's petroleum industry under a strain.
Ever since 2011 uprising Yemen has been plagued by attacks against its national oil and gas interests by various factions, militias and groups to exert pressure on the government and force officials to comply with their demands.
"The bombing of the pipeline made us stop the crude pumping from the fields to the export terminal," an oil ministry official told Reuters.
Despite President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi's decision to dispatch several military units in the Mareb province and the threat of airstrikes, nor force neither negotiations with local tribal leaders made any difference, leaving Yemenis to ponder over the central government's ability to enforce law and order.
Largely dependent on its oil industry, Yemen is being held hostage by armed groups threatening to paralyze its economy.