Authorities in Saudi Arabia confirmed that Yemen’s Houthis have fired missiles and drones at the heart of the Kingdom’s oil industry. The rebels from the neighboring country attacked a Saudi Aramco facility at Ras Tanura and Riyadh described it as assault stability and security of global oil supply. While announcing the strikes, Houthis stated that they also targeted the cities of Dammam, Jazan, and Asir.
Saudi’s energy minister stated that so far, the officials have recorded no fatalities in the attack on the world’s biggest offshore oil loading facility. Moreover, the ministry said in a statement published by the state-owned television, “One of the petroleum tank areas at the Ras Tanura Port in the Eastern Region, one of the largest oil ports in the world, was attacked this morning by a drone, coming from the sea.”
More:
- Saudi Arabia To Reopen Qatar Embassy In Coming Days
- Saudi Arabia Denies Meeting Between MBS and Israeli Officials
The statement further added that shrapnel from a ballistic missile fell near the company’s residential area in Dhahran. The spokesperson of the country’s energy ministry said that this was not an attack on Kingdom, but also an “assault” on the global oil supply. Meanwhile, Yahya Sarea, Houthis spokesperson, stated that the group had fired eight ballistic missiles and fourteen drones across the borders, in what he described as a “wide operation against Saudi Arabia.”
Following the reports of possible attacks in the city Dhahran, Khobar, and Dammam, Riyadh urged American citizens in the country to take precautionary steps. The attacked eastern province of the Kingdom is home to most of Aramco’s production. In response to the latest attack, the spokesperson of the Saudi-led coalition said that Riyadh would take necessary steps to protect itself, ensure the safety of maritime traffic and global oil supply. Moreover, the Saudi Defense Ministry described the strike as a “cowardly attack”.
Earlier on Sunday, the coalition forces said that they had intercepted twelve drones launched by Houthis, including two ballistic missiles fired towards Jizan. Additionally, the coalition also stated that it had conducted airstrikes against the Houthi targets in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and other regions.
