Iran-Backed Houthis Attack Saudi Oil Facility Causing A Fire
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched attacks on Saudi energy facilities on Friday and the Saudi-led coalition said a facility of oil giant Aramco was hit.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched attacks on Saudi energy facilities on Friday and the Saudi-led coalition said a facility of oil giant Aramco was hit.
The attack caused a fire at a petroleum products distribution station in Jeddah where two tanks were set ablaze, but there were no casualties.
A huge plume of black smoke could be seen rising over the Red Sea city where the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is taking place this weekend, an eyewitness said.
Unverified videos shared on social media showed fire raging in oil tanks in an Aramco facility on the outskirts of Jeddah.
There was no immediate comment from Aramco or the energy ministry when contacted by Reuters.
The Iran-aligned Houthis who have been battling a coalition led by Saudi Arabia for seven years launched missiles on Aramco's facilities in Jeddah and drones at Ras Tanura and Rabigh refineries, the group's military spokesman said. He said they also targeted "vital facilities" in the capital Riyadh.
Saudi state media had earlier reported that a string of drone and rocket attacks by the Houthis was foiled by the coalition.
Saudi air defenses also intercepted and destroyed a ballistic rocket launched towards the port city of Jazan, which caused a "limited" fire to break out at an electricity distribution plant, state media reported.
Reporting by Reuters
