Houthi drones hit Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement said on Sunday, August 9, that it carried out a drone strike on Saudi Aramco's refinery in Jazan, in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry said a fire broke out at the facility and was later put out by Aramco's industrial security firefighting teams, with no injuries reported. The Houthis said the strike was a response to what they described as a Saudi blockade of Yemen, while another account said it was retaliation for a recent Saudi drone incursion into Yemeni airspace. On the same day, the group also claimed a large-scale attack on Mokha port on Yemen's Red Sea coast in Taiz province.
Key Points
- Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on X that drones targeted the Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan, a southwestern facility processing about 400,000 barrels of crude daily.
- Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry confirmed a fire at the Jazan refinery, saying it was extinguished and caused no casualties or injuries.
- The Houthis said the strike answered Saudi actions against Yemen, citing either a continuing blockade or a recent drone violation of Yemeni airspace.
- On the same day, the Houthis said they launched ballistic missiles and drones at military assembly points and weapons depots in Mokha port.
- Yemeni government-linked accounts said civilian facilities at Mokha were affected, port infrastructure was badly damaged, and some workers were briefly trapped, though no casualties were reported.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, renewed attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure and Red Sea-linked port facilities point to continued risks around oil supply routes and regional shipping stability. Any prolonged disruption in the Gulf and Red Sea could feed into energy costs, freight rates and broader market volatility watched closely in import-dependent economies.