Yemen's Houthis attack Saudi refinery after kingdom signs defense pact

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed on Sunday they had attacked Saudi Aramco's Jazan refinery. This strike followed closely on the heels of Saudi Arabia signing a defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan, a move aimed at addressing growing regional instability linked to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

The Saudi energy ministry confirmed that a fire broke out at the refinery but was subsequently extinguished. Authorities reported no injuries and stated they were managing the incident, without specifying a cause. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree, posting on X, asserted that the Houthis used a drone to target the refinery. This is not the first time Aramco sites in Jazan, located in southwestern Saudi Arabia and processing 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily, have been targeted; previous strikes have hit Yanbu on the Red Sea as well.

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The Houthis used a drone to target the refinery

Saree also issued a separate statement claiming missile and drone strikes on Mocha, a Yemeni Red Sea port city controlled by the internationally recognized, Riyadh-backed government. Three Yemeni government sources informed Reuters that air defenses were engaged with drones launched by the Houthis toward the commercial quay and storage facilities at the port. The Houthis stated their strikes targeted Saudi troops and weapons depots in the area, though Saudi Arabia has not commented on the attacks within Yemen.

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fire had broken out at the refinery but was later extinguished with no injuries and authorities ​were dealing with the incident

Since the U.S. and Israel initiated a major escalation on February 28, Iran and its allied Shi'ite Muslim armed groups have been targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, along with blockading their energy shipments. Aramco's CEO, Amin Nasser, had previously noted that recent attacks on the company's facilities had caused some production interruptions but expressed confidence in swift operational restoration, stating the attacks had no significant operational or financial impact.

The escalating tensions, which have disrupted global energy supplies and rattled the world economy, prompted Saudi Arabia to form an alliance with Sunni Muslim U.S. allies Turkey and Pakistan on Friday. This accord aims to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression, stipulating that an attack on one ally will be considered an attack on all. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan clarified that the alliance is not directed against any specific country but serves as a general pledge for mutual security. The extent and form of support Pakistan or Turkey might offer in response to future attacks remain unclear, to be determined through consultations.

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the new alliance was not directed against Iran or any other country, but rather served as a ​general pledge to support the three allies’ security.