The Houthis of Yemen announced that they targeted the Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia with a ballistic missile. This refinery, which is considered the largest oil refinery in Saudi Arabia, was attacked on October 27, 2023.
Details of the attack on the refinery
Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, stated that this attack has resulted in a fire at the facility. The Ras Tanura refinery, which has a daily production capacity of 550,000 barrels of oil, had previously been shut down for a period due to the war situation in the region. This refinery also has an oil transportation terminal located in the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz.
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Consequences of the attack and reactions
Saudi officials have not yet officially confirmed this attack. However, news sources have reported that the fire near the Ras Tanura terminal was brought under control in the early hours of the morning. Since the start of the war in Yemen, the Houthis have increased their attacks on Saudi Arabia, and this new attack is seen as part of the broader conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have repeatedly fired ballistic missiles and drones at airports, ports, and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. Notably, on Tuesday morning, Saudi defense officials issued an air alert in Riyadh, announcing that they intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis.
This attack also refers to the violation of the 2022 ceasefire established under the supervision of the United Nations. The Houthis control the capital of Yemen, Sana'a, and tensions between them and the Saudi coalition have increased in recent weeks.
On Monday, countries committed to the Makkah defense pact, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, met with Iranian officials in Tehran to make efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East.
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