Saudi Arabia Fends Off Houthi Missile Attack on Oil Refineries

Saudi Arabia's air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Houthi rebels from Yemen towards oil refineries in Yanbu on Saturday, according to Greek security sources.

The attack came hours after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it had struck Houthi military sites in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Friday, targeting facilities linked to the group's attacks on commercial shipping.

The Houthis have declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, which threatens millions of barrels of oil transported by pipeline each day to the Red Sea to bypass Iran's near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Civil Defense issued warnings for Yanbu and later said the danger had passed. There were no immediate official reports of damage, but a video shared on social media showed a large column of smoke rising from the direction of the Saudi Aramco refinery in Jizan.