Yemeni Houthis Attack Saudi Arabian Energy Facilities, Oil Refinery Production Hit

RIYADH, March 20 – A Yemeni Houthi group linked to Iran fired missiles and drones at Saudi energy and water desalination facilities, causing a temporary drop in refinery output but no casualties, the Saudi Energy Ministry said on Sunday.

Drone strikes hit a petroleum product distribution terminal in the southern Jizan region, a natural gas production plant and a Yasref oil refinery in the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the ministry said in a statement.

“The attack on the Yasref facilities resulted in a temporary reduction in refinery production, which will be offset by inventory,” the report said, referring to Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco (2222.SE) and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec) .

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser reported on the firm’s earnings that the attacks had not affected its deliveries to customers. read more nL2N2VN03N]

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis had previously said the Saturday night and Sunday morning attacks also targeted a desalination plant in al-Shaqiq, a power station in Dhahran al-Janub and a gas facility in Khamis Mushait.

It states that the attacks and debris from the intercepted shells caused property damage but did not result in any loss of life.

A member of the Saudi Civil Defense is seen at the site of what the Saudi-led coalition claims was a drone attack by a Yemeni Houthi group linked to Iran that targeted the Al-Shaqiq desalination plant and an Aramco facility in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, on March 20. , 2022. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group fired ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, at Aramco facilities in the capital Riyadh, Yanbu and “other areas”, followed by strikes on “vital targets” in other regions of Saudi Arabia.

The coalition said an initial investigation found the group used Iranian-made cruise missiles at an Aramco desalination plant and distribution center in Jizan. The report said Saudi air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile and nine drones.

State media released images and videos of shell debris, damaged vehicles and buildings, and firefighters putting out the fire.

POSSIBLE CEREACE

Saudi Arabia has struggled to extricate itself from a seven-year conflict that has left tens of thousands dead and millions of Yemenis on the brink of starvation. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have also endangered the kingdom’s airports, oil facilities and resulted in several civilian deaths.

UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg is discussing a possible truce during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in April, his office said on Sunday. It was unclear whether both sides agreed with the UN’s plans. More

The Houthis ousted the Yemeni government from the capital Sana’a in late 2014, prompting the alliance to intervene. The conflict is seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression.

Reporting by Moataz Mohamed, Yasmine Hussein and Omar Fahmy in Cairo and Saeed Azhar and Maha El Dahan in Dubai. Written by Gaida Gantus. Editing: Francis Kerry and Mark Potter.

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