Houthis attack Aramco oil facility in Jeddah

Agencies | Jeddah

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia launched attacks yesterday on an Aramco oil facility in Jeddah, said the Arab Coalition, causing a fire in two storage tanks but no casualties.
The “hostile operations” comes as the United Nations special envoy tries to secure a temporary truce for the holy month of Ramadan that starts in April, and ahead of Riyadh hosting Yemeni parties for consultations later this month.

Reuters reported, citing an eyewitness, that a huge plume of black smoke could be seen rising over the Red Sea city where the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is taking place this weekend. Flames could be seen in live footage aired by the Ekhbariya television channel. The fire was brought under control.

“This hostile escalation targets oil facilities [and aims] to affect the security of energy,” the coalition said, adding that the Houthis target oil facilities in an attempt to impact “the artery of the global economy.”

The coalition added that the Houthis’ attacks had no impact or repercussions on ordinary life in Jeddah. Saudi state media earlier said the coalition had foiled a string of Houthi drone and rocket attacks. Saudi air defences destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards Jazan, which caused a “limited” fire at an electricity distribution plant.

The coalition warned the Houthi militia of escalating “its grave violations” after targeting the Kingdom with 16 “hostile attacks” on Friday. Three of yesterday’s 16 attacks include explosive-laden drones launched toward the Kingdom’s Najran and nine explosive-laden drones launched toward the southern, eastern and central regions of the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia’s defences intercepted and destroyed all drones, the coalition said, adding that it was “practising self-restraint” in order for the consultations among Yemen’s warring factions to succeed. “We warn the Houthis not to test the coalition’s patience,” it also said.