First modification:
For the second time in six days, Saudi Arabia is the target of attacks by Houthi rebels. This time, they targeted facilities of the Aramco oil company in the city of Jeddah, where a major fire broke out. The offensives also extended to the cities of Yazan, Zahran al-Janub and Samtah.
Houthi rebels continue to attack Saudi Arabia. This Friday, March 25, around five in the afternoon, local time, the rebels carried out attacks against Saudi energy facilities of the Aramco company in the city of Jeddah, venue of the free practice of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The “hostile operation” caused a fire in two storage tanks, but without casualties.
Through the Saudi state television Al-Ijbariy, the military coalition led by Riyadh that intervenes in Yemen reported that “an oil derivatives distribution station in the north of Jeddah (west of the country) was attacked with a Houthi missile.”
For his part, the military spokesman for the Yemeni rebels, Yahya Sarea, claimed responsibility for the attack in a televised message, adding that “other vital installations in the capital of the Saudi enemy” were also targeted with “a batch of missiles.”
A series of attacks by Houthi rebels
The Houthis have stepped up attacks on energy facilities in the Kingdom, one of the world’s largest oil exporters. Riyadh assured that this Friday Saudi Arabia was “target of 16 attacks” with missiles and drones.
An oil product distribution station in the Yazan region was also targeted by a rocket attack. As in Jeddah, there were no casualties. However, there is no detail about material damage.
Rebels also targeted National Water Company tanks in Zahran al-Yanub and a power station in Samtah, which suffered “limited fire.”
Saudi state media had previously said the coalition had thwarted a series of drone and rocket attacks.
Washington condemned the actions against Riyadh. Deputy State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter told a briefing that “the attacks are unacceptable.”
Porter indicated that the attacks “have affected Saudi infrastructure, as well as schools, mosques and workplaces” and “have endangered civilians, including US citizens.”
Finally, he stated that his country will continue “working with Riyadh to strengthen its defenses while working for a lasting resolution of the conflict in Yemen.”
This new wave of attacks comes just five days after two other similar operations hit seven strategic installations, including five oil and gas.
All this at a time when the United Nations special envoy to the region is trying to secure a temporary truce between Riyadh and the rebels for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in April, and four days before the start of a round of intra-Yemeni dialogue in the Saudi capital to seek a road map towards the end of the war in Yemen.
Repercussions of the attacks in the oil sector
The Saudi Ministry of Energy condemned the “sabotage attacks” and assured that these “were aimed at destabilizing the security and stability of energy supplies in the world and, therefore, negatively impacting the global economy, especially in these extremely sensitive circumstances that the world is witnessing,” he said, referring to the conflict in Ukraine.
The Saudi government warned that “it will not be responsible for any shortage of oil supply in world markets” caused by any of these actions by the Houthis, and called on the international community “to take action.”
In addition, he blamed Iran for continuing to arm the Houthis with ballistic missiles and advanced drones, stressing that the attacks “would lead to impacting the Kingdom’s production capacity and its ability to meet its obligations to global markets.” However, Tehran has denied the allegations.
The coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis ousted the Saudi-backed government from the capital, Sana’a, in late 2014.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed since the start of the conflict and many people in Yemen are on the brink of famine. The Houthis defend their attacks by saying they are fighting against a corrupt system and foreign aggression.
With EFE and Reuters
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