Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said on Tuesday it had attacked Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the kingdom’s major oil facilities on the Gulf coast.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia contained a fire near its largest oil export terminal at Ras Tanura following an attack in the region, Bloomberg News reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
The fire broke out early Tuesday near facilities operated by Saudi state oil company Aramco. The extent of any damage remained unclear, according to the report.
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Houthi Missiles
The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province early Tuesday.
The coalition did not identify the intended targets or provide details about possible casualties or damage.
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On Monday, the coalition reported intercepting and destroying three drones over the Riyadh region and southern Saudi Arabia. It did not identify their origin or intended targets.
The coalition also announced strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, claiming that its operations destroyed ballistic missile launchers, storage tunnels and a missile depot.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the operations aimed to dismantle the group’s ballistic missile network and disrupt its supply routes.
Fighting Threatens Regional Oil and Shipping Routes
Saudi Arabia has intensified strikes against the Houthis since the group captured strategic areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast last month and advanced towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The strait is a major international shipping route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Disruption could affect maritime trade and energy shipments moving between the Gulf and global markets.
The renewed fighting has also undermined the United Nations-brokered truce established in 2022, which largely halted attacks between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis. The coalition supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government, while the Houthis control the capital, Sanaa.
The latest escalation adds another dimension to the wider regional conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, raising further concerns about security around critical energy infrastructure and international shipping routes.
