Fire Erupts At Saudi Aramco Refinery In Jazan After Houthi Missile Attack

A fire broke out at the Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Jazan on Saturday following what appeared to be a Houthi missile and drone attack, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement. Satellite data from NASA’s FIRMS monitoring system detected multiple fire hotspots at the site, with thick smoke visible in reports circulating online.

Saudi Civil Defense Issues Brief Warnings

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued early warnings for residents in Yanbu and Jazan about a potential danger, though the alerts were lifted shortly after with no immediate reports of casualties or damage. Regional media reported at least five explosions in Jazan, and commercial flights in the area were diverted or placed in holding patterns. Houthi media claimed responsibility for the strike, describing it as retaliation for earlier Saudi strikes on Hodeidah.

Escalation Follows Saudi Strikes And Red Sea Blockade

The attack comes after the Saudi-led coalition struck Houthi military targets in Hodeidah on Friday in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis had earlier announced a blockade on vessels heading to Saudi Arabia, and a Saudi-owned ship was struck this week, sustaining minor damage. Yemen’s internationally recognized government condemned the Houthi actions, accusing the group of serving Iran’s regional interests through continued attacks on maritime routes.

Red Sea Route Critical To Saudi Oil Exports

Shipping data shows nearly all of Saudi Arabia’s seaborne crude exports currently pass through the Red Sea port of Yanbu, highlighting the economic stakes as the conflict threatens a fragile 2022 truce between the Houthis and Yemen’s government.