Yemen's Houthis Claim Drone Strike on Saudi Oil Refinery

Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility on Sunday for a drone strike targeting a Saudi Aramco refinery on the Red Sea coast in Jazan, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Energy Ministry acknowledged a fire at the facility, which was subsequently extinguished by security teams without any reported casualties.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the rebels "successfully targeted the Aramco refinery" with a "precise drone strike." He asserted that the attack was in retaliation for alleged Saudi incursions into northwestern Yemen. This incident marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict, which has seen renewed hostilities in recent weeks and is part of a broader regional tension.

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We successfully targeted the Aramco refinery... with a precise drone strike.

The attack follows the Houthis' announcement in late July of a blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea. This vital waterway for hydrocarbon transport has become a focal point since the Strait of Hormuz became effectively controlled by Iran. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia since a 2022 truce, with Jazan having been previously struck last month.

In addition to targeting Saudi Arabia, the rebel movement has also engaged Yemeni government forces, who are supported by Riyadh. The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with at least 58 government soldiers killed in an attack on a military camp in central Yemen recently. Amidst this tense regional climate, Saudi Arabia has sought to bolster its alliances, signing a mutual defense pact with Pakistan and Turkey on Friday.

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Aramco's security teams extinguished the fire that broke out at dawn.