Yemen's Houthi forces claimed responsibility for a drone attack on an Aramco refinery in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, reporting a precise hit. The group stated the strike was retaliation for Saudi airspace violations.
The drone attack on a Saudi Aramco refinery highlights ongoing security risks in the region and the potential for disruptions to global energy supplies. The Houthi claims of retaliation underscore the persistent conflict in Yemen and its spillover effects.
A fire erupted at a Saudi Aramco refinery in the coastal city of Jizan, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. Authorities confirmed the blaze was extinguished and reported no casualties. Yemen's Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the incident, stating their forces targeted the facility with two drones and achieved a precise hit. The group's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, asserted the attack was in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's "breach of the airspace of the provinces of Saada and Hajjah" with drones.
Jizan, situated on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast near the Yemeni border, has been a frequent target of Houthi attacks on energy infrastructure. The Houthis had previously claimed responsibility for strikes on Aramco facilities in Jizan and oil installations in Yanbu last month. Aramco's chief executive, Amin Nasser, had indicated that while attacks caused some disruption, operations could be restored quickly, with no material operational or financial impact.
The incidents occurred amid intensifying fighting between the Houthis and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, following a period of relative calm after a 2022 truce. The Houthis, who seized Yemen's capital Sanaa in 2014, control significant parts of the country's north. The group also announced a blockade targeting Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea and threatened shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Separately, an explosion and fires were reported in the eastern Saudi city of Jubail, with local media indicating gas facilities were targeted. These events coincide with Saudi Arabia's efforts to bolster military cooperation with regional partners. On Friday, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a trilateral defense agreement, stipulating that an attack on one would be considered an attack on all three. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated the agreement was not directed at Iran and did not identify a specific common threat.