Houthis behind attack on gas facility in Saudi's Jubail region, reports Israeli media
Riyadh, August 9
Yemen's Houthis are behind the attack on a gas facility in Saudi Arabia's Jubail region, Israeli media reported, after reports emerged of an explosion and fire at an industrial facility in the kingdom's eastern region.
According to Israel's Channel 14, the Houthis had struck a Saudi Aramco gas plant in Al Jubail.
The claims came after reports of a loud explosion in the Jubail region.
Anadolu Agency reported that a loud blast was heard in the area, while Iranian state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), citing Arab sources, reported that gas facilities in Jubail Industrial City had been targeted and caught fire.
Jubail Industrial City, located on Saudi Arabia's eastern coast, is one of the Kingdom's major industrial and energy hubs, with extensive petrochemical, refining and gas-related infrastructure.
The reported incident comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows a series of attacks and threats targeting Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure.
The latest reports also come amid renewed Houthi activity in the Red Sea region and growing concerns over attacks against Saudi energy and transport infrastructure.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen and are aligned with Iran, had announced a naval blockade of Riyadh in the Red Sea, particularly along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, last month, citing the Saudi blockade of Yemen - a claim that Riyadh had rejected.
The rebel groups had previously targeted Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia has in the past accused the group of threatening its energy infrastructure and other strategic facilities.
The Houthi attack on Saudi energy facilities is the first major strike on the Kingdom,, which comes days after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed the "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" on Friday, amid escalating tensions and conflict across West Asia.
The agreement, formalised against the backdrop of mounting regional security threats, seeks to strengthen defence and military cooperation among the three countries and bolster their collective deterrence.
"The Agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression, and stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three States shall be regarded as an attack against them all. It further provides for the enhancement of all aspects of defence cooperation among the three States," the summit statement said.
While the pact does not specify detailed military obligations or operational commitments, it establishes a framework for enhanced defence cooperation and identifies the promotion of peace, stability and security in the region and beyond as its broader objective.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting that this comes right after the Mecca Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi, and Turkey. Are the Houthis making a statement? The Red Sea is already a hotspot for attacks on shipping. This is just adding fuel to the fire.
Honestly, this is concerning for India. We buy so much of our gas from Qatar and Saudi. Every time these tensions flare up, oil prices spike and our economy feels the squeeze. Hope the government has good relationships to keep supply lines safe.
The "Mecca Joint Defence Agreement" signed with Pakistan is a risky move for Saudi. Bringing Pakistan into this mess might pull them into a conflict they can't handle. As for India, we should watch this closely - Pakistan's military commitments in the Gulf could influence our own security calculations.
The Houthis control Bab-el-Mandeb, and now they are hitting more inland. This is a real escalation. If Saudi can't protect Jubail - one of their largest industrial cities - then who's safe? Oil prices will hover high and hurt everyone including India.
Let's be fair: the Houthis say they are responding to a Saudi blockade on Yemen. While I don't condone attacks on civilian infrastructure, the root cause is the ongoing Yemen war. Unless the international community pushes for a ceasefire, these strikes will just keep coming. India should call for de-escalation, not just take sides.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.