The Houthi rebels claimed to have attacked Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Aramco's Jizan refinery using drones.
On August 9, Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Houthi rebels, stated, "We successfully struck the Aramco refinery in Jizan with drones," adding that the attack was carried out with precision. He claimed the assault was a response to Saudi incursions into northwestern Yemen.
Saudi authorities reported a fire at a facility associated with the Aramco refinery in Jizan early that morning, stating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that firefighting efforts were underway. No casualties were reported, but the cause of the fire and the extent of damage to the facility were not disclosed.
Jizan is located on the southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia, approximately 60 kilometers from the Yemeni border. Its geographical position places it within the range of Houthi attacks, which have targeted Saudi oil facilities in the past.
On July 25, the Houthis claimed to have struck the Aramco refinery in Jizan with missiles in retaliation for Saudi attacks on the Hodeidah port, which they control. Following that incident, operations at the facility were temporarily halted two days later.
The Jizan refinery has a processing capacity of up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day and includes refining, petrochemical facilities, and a gas combined cycle power plant.
Clashes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have intensified recently. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has supported the internationally recognized Yemeni government in the civil war against the Houthis, and hostilities have continued even after a ceasefire in 2022.
As the conflict between the U.S. and Iran drags on, regional tensions are escalating. The Iran-backed Houthis have recently declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and have attacked Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia has responded with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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