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Houthis in Yemen Claim Drone Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities Houthis in Yemen Claim Drone Attack on Saudi Oil Facilities
(30 minutes later)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Saturday that it had launched 10 drones in the “biggest attack” on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, but a Saudi official said it had caused only a “minor” fire and no casualties.DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Saturday that it had launched 10 drones in the “biggest attack” on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, but a Saudi official said it had caused only a “minor” fire and no casualties.
Speaking to Houthi-run television station, Al Masirah, a Houthi spokesman described the attack on Shaybah, close to the United Arab Emirates border, as being launched “in the depths” of Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter. The report did not say when the attack took place.Speaking to Houthi-run television station, Al Masirah, a Houthi spokesman described the attack on Shaybah, close to the United Arab Emirates border, as being launched “in the depths” of Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter. The report did not say when the attack took place.
“We promise the Saudi regime and the powers of aggression bigger and wider operations if the aggression continues,” the spokesman was quoted as saying.“We promise the Saudi regime and the powers of aggression bigger and wider operations if the aggression continues,” the spokesman was quoted as saying.
Video footage published by the semiofficial Iranian news agency Mehr showed what it said were drone attacks on Saudi facilities.Video footage published by the semiofficial Iranian news agency Mehr showed what it said were drone attacks on Saudi facilities.
The attack caused a “minor” fire at a gas plant, a Saudi industry official told Reuters. The attack was carried out “most probably” by three drones, the official said, adding that it had had no impact on oil production.The attack caused a “minor” fire at a gas plant, a Saudi industry official told Reuters. The attack was carried out “most probably” by three drones, the official said, adding that it had had no impact on oil production.
The state oil giant Aramco said in a statement to reporters that it had “controlled a limited fire this morning at the Shaybah NGL facility” after the drone attack. “There were no injuries and no interruptions to Saudi Aramco’s oil operations.”
Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition fired flares over the city of Aden, in southern Yemen, at dawn Saturday near camps occupied by southern separatist fighters who last weekend took over most of the Aden, a blow to the country’s internationally recognized government and to efforts by Saudi Arabia to put it back in control of all of Yemen.Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition fired flares over the city of Aden, in southern Yemen, at dawn Saturday near camps occupied by southern separatist fighters who last weekend took over most of the Aden, a blow to the country’s internationally recognized government and to efforts by Saudi Arabia to put it back in control of all of Yemen.
The coalition renewed a call overnight for the separatist forces to withdraw from all sites they had recently captured in Aden. The coalition is battling the Iran-aligned Houthis to try to restore Yemen’s government, which the Houthi movement ousted from power in 2014. The war has been in military stalemate for years.The coalition renewed a call overnight for the separatist forces to withdraw from all sites they had recently captured in Aden. The coalition is battling the Iran-aligned Houthis to try to restore Yemen’s government, which the Houthi movement ousted from power in 2014. The war has been in military stalemate for years.
The separatist Southern Transitional Council said that its forces had already moved away from the presidential palace and the central bank, and were vacating other government institutions. They said the forces would not leave the government military camps that give them effective control of the city.The separatist Southern Transitional Council said that its forces had already moved away from the presidential palace and the central bank, and were vacating other government institutions. They said the forces would not leave the government military camps that give them effective control of the city.
“We will not retreat, we will not budge, and planes will not scare us,” one of the brigades fighting as part of the southern separatists said in a statement issued on Saturday in response to the flares and low-flying warplanes.“We will not retreat, we will not budge, and planes will not scare us,” one of the brigades fighting as part of the southern separatists said in a statement issued on Saturday in response to the flares and low-flying warplanes.
The Houthis have escalated cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent months. The claim of an oil field attack comes a day after the Houthis’ military spokesman said the group launched drone attacks on the international airport in Abha, Saudi Arabia, halting air traffic.The Houthis have escalated cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent months. The claim of an oil field attack comes a day after the Houthis’ military spokesman said the group launched drone attacks on the international airport in Abha, Saudi Arabia, halting air traffic.
The Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the reported attacks or disruption to traffic at the airport, which is about 95 miles from the Yemen border. Later Friday, Saudi state television cited the coalition as saying that a Houthi drone targeting the kingdom had been intercepted and downed. The airport was not mentioned.The Saudi authorities did not immediately comment on the reported attacks or disruption to traffic at the airport, which is about 95 miles from the Yemen border. Later Friday, Saudi state television cited the coalition as saying that a Houthi drone targeting the kingdom had been intercepted and downed. The airport was not mentioned.
On Saturday, Al Masirah, the Houthi channel, reported that ten drones had targeted Aramco’s Shaybah oil field and refinery. On Saturday, Al Masirah, the Houthi channel, reported that 10 drones had targeted Aramco’s Shaybah oil field and refinery. In May, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack on two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia that caused a small fire, but it did not disrupt oil output or exports of crude and petroleum products.
In May, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a drone attack on two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia that caused a small fire, but it did not disrupt oil output or exports of crude and petroleum products.
The coalition has responded to the drone attacks with airstrikes on Houthi targets in Sanaa and other areas held by the group, which controls most large urban centers in Yemen.The coalition has responded to the drone attacks with airstrikes on Houthi targets in Sanaa and other areas held by the group, which controls most large urban centers in Yemen.
The violence is complicating United Nations-led efforts to ease tensions in order to pave the way for talks to end the war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed millions to the brink of famine.The violence is complicating United Nations-led efforts to ease tensions in order to pave the way for talks to end the war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed millions to the brink of famine.
The conflict is widely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The conflict is widely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with the missiles and drones used in attacks on Saudi cities, a charge both Iran and the group reject. The Houthis say they manufacture their own weapons and are fighting a corrupt system.
Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with the missiles and drones used in attacks on Saudi cities, a charge both Iran and the group reject. The Houthis say they manufacture their own weapons and are fighting a corrupt system.
The Aden crisis has also exposed strains in the coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to try to restore the Saudi-backed government. The separatists are backed by the United Arab Emirates, a member of the coalition.The Aden crisis has also exposed strains in the coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to try to restore the Saudi-backed government. The separatists are backed by the United Arab Emirates, a member of the coalition.