Saudi Arabia says Drone Attack on Jizan Oil Terminal Sparked Fire

Drones targeted at Saudi Arabia’s Aramco petroleum product distribution terminal in Jazan, near the border with Yemen, have sparked a fire in a storage tank.

The incident took place on March 25 at 9:08 pm (1808 GMT) and caused no casualties. The strikes came on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the Saudi-led military invention in Yemen, the Saudi energy ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

In a televised speech, Houthi military spokesman Yahia Sarie said that the rebels targeted several Aramco sites in the cities of Jizan, Ras Tanura, Yanbu and Rabigh with 18 drones and 8 ballistic missiles. He added that another salvo of 12 drones and 8 ballistic missiles was fired at King Abdel Aziz Air base in Dammam. The Houthis reportedly used Samad 3 and Qasef drones, and Zulfiqar, Badr, and Sa`ir missiles.

"Such acts of sabotage target the security of energy supplies. The attack does not only target the kingdom, but also petroleum exports, the stability of energy supply to the world, freedom of world trade, as well as the global economy,” the Saudi ministry statement read, without mentioning who was behind the attack.

Three weeks ago, Saudi forces intercepted a missile in Jizan, where Aramco is readying a 400,000 b/d refinery. The attack was claimed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.