Houthi Drones Strike Saudi Oil Facility Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have taken another turn as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi fighters launched an aerial assault on Saudi Arabia's Jazan refinery, a critical facility processing 400,000 barrels of crude oil daily. This attack follows a defense pact between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, sparked by growing instability linked to US-Israeli conflicts with Iran.
The Saudi energy ministry confirmed that a fire broke out at the Jazan refinery but was quickly contained, resulting in no casualties. Military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the Houthis used drones to target the refinery. This is not the first time Aramco's southwestern facility has been hit, with other sites like Yanbu also being targeted.
Aramco CEO Amin Nasser assured that the attack would have no material operational or financial impact on the company. Turkey's Foreign Minister reassured that their new alliance with Saudi Arabia is a protective measure, not a direct opposition to Iran.