RIYADH (Reuters) – Houthi rebels in Yemen said they launched a series of attacks on oil installations in Saudi Arabia on Friday using drones and missiles.
One caused a fire without causing any casualties in two storage tanks at a distribution terminal of the Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia, the military coalition said under Saudi command fighting in Yemen.
A large column of smoke rose above the Red Sea port, not far from the circuit hosting this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix, which will take place as planned according to a source familiar with the matter .
In a statement, the military coalition said the fire had been brought under control.
Quoted by the official agency SPA, the Saudi Ministry of Energy condemned “these sabotages”, reaffirming that it would not bear responsibility for any disruptions in the world’s oil supply.
The ministry also denounced Iran’s continued delivery of ballistic missiles and drones to Shia Houthi rebels. Tehran denies arming the Houthis.
Aramco did not immediately comment.
A Houthi spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said the armed group had launched drone and missile attacks on Aramco facilities in Jeddah and refineries in Ras Tanoura and Rabigh, as well as “vital” installations in Riyadh, the Saudi capital.
According to Saudi media, the Saudi anti-aircraft defense foiled a series of attacks using drones and rockets and also destroyed a ballistic missile launched in the direction of Djizan, which caused a “limited” fire on a station. electric.
The United States and France condemned these attacks, which according to the Quai d’Orsay illustrate “the seriousness of the threat that the proliferation of drones and missiles poses to the entire region, and the need to strengthen the dialogue on regional security”.
(Report Maha El Dahan, French version Bertrand Boucey and Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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