Houthi Attack on Saudi Refinery Escalates Middle East Conflict
The conflict in the Middle East escalated on Sunday as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis attacked Saudi Aramco's Jazan refinery, targeting a key facility that processes 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The attack comes just two days after Saudi Arabia signed a defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan to counter growing regional instability.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed the group used a drone to target the refinery, citing a previous siege by Saudi forces as justification for their actions. This is not the first time Aramco sites in Jazan have been targeted, with the Houthis striking similar facilities before.
Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are negotiating an agreement that would define new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that has been shut down due to US sanctions and military tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that the agreement is in its final stages but will not be implemented until the US meets certain conditions.