Houthi Rebels Claim Drone Attack on Refinery Along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Coast

Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a drone attack on an oil processing facility located in Jizan, along Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. The Saudi Ministry of Energy reported that the fire at the refinery has been brought under control and that no injuries have occurred as a result of the incident. Yahya Sari, the spokesperson for the Houthi rebels, stated that the attack was conducted in response to Saudi drone strikes.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Energy, a fire broke out early Sunday morning at a section of the refinery in Jizan, and industrial safety and fire control teams successfully contained the blaze. The ministry confirmed that there were no casualties and has yet to disclose the cause of the fire.

The Houthi rebels had also reportedly targeted the same refinery in an attack last July. Saudi Arabia has been engaged in Yemen’s civil war for over a decade, supporting the internationally recognized government in Yemen. Following a ceasefire in 2022, the conflict had seen relative calm but has recently escalated tensions once again.