Yanbu North Terminal Struck by Aerial Attack in Saudi Arabia
Yanbu North Terminal in Saudi Arabia's Yanbu Industrial Port has reportedly been struck by an aerial attack, causing a port fire and temporarily halting loading operations. The incident occurred on October 1st, with a nearby oil tanker master reporting the strike. An unidentified projectile is believed to have hit the terminal, sparking a fire and prompting authorities to suspend loading.
The terminal is a major crude oil export facility, with a capacity of around 1.5 million barrels per day. It had only recently resumed operations after drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to shut its East-West Pipeline on September 11th. The pipeline restarted on the 22nd, and tanker loading resumed several days later.
No casualties or extent of damage have been confirmed in the attack. Maritime security firms report that the master of a Liberian-flagged tanker first reported the incident. There has been no public confirmation from Saudi Aramco or port authorities attributing the attack to any particular party.