Houthi Drone Attack Hits Saudi Aramco's Jazan Refinery Amid Regional Tensions

The Iran-aligned Houthi group has attacked Saudi Aramco's Jazan refinery in southwestern Saudi Arabia, targeting the facility two days after the kingdom signed a defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan.

The attack was carried out using a drone, according to Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Houthis. It is not clear whether either Turkey or Pakistan will join Saudi Arabia in responding to the attack.

The refinery processes 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day and has been targeted by the Houthis before, with previous attacks hitting Aramco sites in Jazan and Yanbu on the Red Sea. The Saudi energy ministry reported a fire at the refinery but stated that it was quickly extinguished without causing any injuries.

The defense pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan aims to strengthen collective deterrence against aggression and stipulates that an attack on one of the three countries would be considered an attack on all. The Houthis have declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, citing what they claim is a Saudi siege on them, which Riyadh denies.