RIYADH: Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said on Tuesday that it had launched an attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the kingdom’s major oil facilities located on the Gulf coast.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia had contained a fire near the Ras Tanura oil export terminal following an attack in the area, Bloomberg News reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday near facilities operated by Saudi state oil company Aramco, according to the report. The extent of any damage was not immediately clear.
The Houthi claim and the reported fire raised fresh concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure amid escalating regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Ballistic Missiles
The Saudi-led coalition said early Tuesday that its air defences had intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
The announcement did not identify the intended targets or provide details about possible casualties or damage.
On Monday, the coalition also said it had intercepted and destroyed three drones over the Riyadh region and southern Saudi Arabia. It did not identify their origin or intended targets.
The coalition separately announced strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, saying the operations had destroyed ballistic missile launchers, storage tunnels and a missile depot.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the operations were aimed at dismantling the group’s ballistic missile network and disrupting its supply routes.
Houthis Claim Attacks on Saudi Oil Facilities and Riyadh Airport
Oil Infrastructure Faces Growing Security Risks
Ras Tanura is a major component of Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, making security incidents in the area a concern for global energy markets.
The Gulf region is particularly sensitive to military escalation because of its importance to international oil production and exports. Any significant disruption to energy facilities or shipping routes could affect supply expectations and put pressure on oil prices.
However, the extent of the reported fire near Ras Tanura and its impact on operations remained unclear in the initial reports.
Renewed Fighting Raises Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia has intensified military operations against the Houthis following the group’s reported capture of strategic areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast last month and its advance towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The narrow waterway is a major international shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. It is particularly important for commercial traffic moving between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, including energy shipments.
The renewed fighting has also threatened the relative calm established by a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022. That arrangement largely halted attacks between the Saudi-led coalition, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, and the Houthis, who control the capital, Sanaa.
The latest escalation comes amid the wider US-Israeli war on Iran, adding another potential flashpoint to an already volatile regional security situation.
With Saudi energy infrastructure and important maritime routes under heightened scrutiny, further military developments could have consequences extending beyond Yemen and the Arabian Peninsula.
