SANAA, Yemen – Yemeni officials say armed tribesmen have killed four soldiers protecting an oil pipeline, in another blow to one of the country’s last sources of revenue.
Oil industry and security officials say tribesmen from the province of Hadramawt clashed with the security forces on Friday while they were protecting a group of engineers sent to fix the pipeline in the southeastern region.
Militants blew up the pipeline in January, and engineers have been unable to repair it since due to ambushes. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The pipeline is crucial for Yemen’s modest oil and natural gas industry. On Wednesday, gunmen also attacked an army patrol near a gas export terminal in the nearby Shabwa province, killing four.