In one of the most intense barrages of drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia’s critical energy facilities, Yemen’s Houthi rebels unleashed on Sunday a series of strikes, temporarily cutting oil production at one location, and sparking a fire at another.
Some facilities belonging to the Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company, a JV between Saudi Aramco, and the China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) were among the targeted Saudi Arabian energy sites along with other energy companies.
During the attack on Aramco’s distribution station in the port city of Jiddah. a fuel tank was hit and ignited a fire.
Aramco’s CEO Amin H Nasser said in a statement several hours after the attack that the attacks had no impact on oil supplies.
However – according to the information from the Saudi Ministry of Energy – although the assault on Yasref facilities has led to a temporary reduction in the refinery’s production, that reduction would be compensated for from the inventory.
No casualties were reported on sites during the incident marking a serious escalation of rebel attacks on the kingdom although civilian homes and vehicles were also allegedly damaged during the barrage.
The Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen said that their defense has managed to destroy a remotely piloted boat packed with explosives, which the Houthis dispatched in the busy southern Red Sea.
Houthi spokesperson Yehia Sarie has confirmed that the rebels have undertaken a wide and large military operation against Saudi Arabia as retaliation for its aggression and blockade against Yemen.
Condemning the barrage against civilian infrastructure later on Sunday, the White House accused the Houthi rebels of conducting terrorist attacks enabled by Iran, which supplies them with missile and UAV components, training, and expertise in violation of UNSC resolutions prohibiting weapons import into Yemen.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also reiterated in the statement that the US fully supports its Saudi partners in defending their territory from Houthi attacks.
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