Houthis Claim Drone Attack on Saudi Oil Refinery Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a drone attack on an oil refinery in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, a city located on the Red Sea coast. The attack occurred on Sunday morning, with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Energy stating that a fire broke out at the refinery and was brought under control by industrial safety and firefighting teams. No one was injured in the incident.
Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthi rebel group, stated that the attack was in response to the infiltration of Saudi drones in northwestern Yemen. This is not the first time the refinery has been targeted by the Houthis; a similar attack occurred in July. The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing for over a decade, with Saudi Arabia supporting the internationally recognized government.
The Houthi rebels control large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a. They have also been targeting ships traveling through the Red Sea and Saudi oil infrastructure, amid rising regional tensions in the Middle East. The risk to shipping and oil infrastructure comes as tensions between Iran and the United States over the security of the Strait of Hormuz continue.