Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi oil refinery amid Red Sea blockade

Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a missile attack on the southern Saudi Arabian city of Jazan, igniting fires and marking a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict. The Houthis' Ansarollah media reported a "Yemeni missile strike" hit the Aramco oil refinery, with social media footage appearing to confirm the damage.

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We are talking to them. I think they're being serious. I think … they are being by far the most serious that we've seen them, but that doesn't mean we get there.

This latest strike follows Saudi Arabia's airstrikes on Houthi military targets on Friday. The Saudi-led coalition's actions came after the rebels declared a maritime blockade of the Red Sea and attacked Saudi ships. The Houthis had previously claimed responsibility for attacks on two Saudi vessels earlier in the week, which Saudi Arabia confirmed involved one of the incidents.

Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the Jazan attack, but their civil defense agency issued warnings to residents in Jazan and Yanbu. Greek security sources reported that Saudi air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles launched from Yemen, which were reportedly targeting oil refineries in Yanbu.

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I think they're being serious. I think … they are being by far the most serious that we've seen them, but that doesn't mean we get there.

The flare-up introduces a new dimension to the regional conflict, occurring amidst heightened US-Iran tensions. President Donald Trump stated that talks with Iran were "most serious" he had seen, suggesting a potential de-escalation path. However, he also warned of "much higher level" strikes if a deal was not reached, indicating the volatile situation on the ground and in diplomatic channels.

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We're locked and loaded. We're ready to go.