Houthis Target Saudi Oil Refinery Amid Escalating Tensions in Middle East
The Houthi rebel group in Yemen has claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi Arabian oil refinery, targeting Aramco's Jazan refinery early Sunday morning. The facility processes 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is one of several locations hit by the Houthis in recent months.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the US, with the strait of Hormuz remaining closed due to ongoing negotiations. On Saturday, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran and Oman were close to reaching an agreement on navigation through the strait, but emphasized that other conditions must be met before it reopens.
The closure has disrupted global energy supplies and rattled the world's economy, prompting Saudi Arabia to form a defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan in response. The alliance aims to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, stipulating that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all.