Yemen’s Houthi movement said it attacked an oil facility in southwestern Saudi Arabia on Sunday, while Iran demanded major concessions from the United States before resuming negotiations and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group targeted an Aramco refinery in Jazan with a drone, describing the attack as retaliation for what he said were Saudi drone operations over Yemen’s Hajjah and Saada provinces.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry reported a fire at a facility belonging to the Aramco refinery early on Sunday. The ministry said the blaze was extinguished and there were no casualties, but did not immediately disclose what caused the fire.
The Houthis have carried out a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and shipping in the Red Sea, raising concerns that the latest escalation could further destabilise the region.
A Yemeni government official also said the Houthis attacked Mocha port, a key Red Sea facility controlled by Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Fayed al Noman, assistant undersecretary at the information ministry, said missiles and drones were fired at the port. The Houthis did not immediately comment on the allegation.
The escalation has raised fears that major fighting could return to Yemen, where a 2022 truce brought an extended pause to the country’s main front lines after years of civil war.
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