Yemen’s Houthi rebel group used drones as well as ballistic and cruise missiles to attack the economic and civilian establishments in southern Saudi Arabia on early Sunday, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Saudi energy service and state media said that the attack caused a temporary drop in the output, but was unable to cause any causality.
SPA reported that an Aramco facility was attacked by a drone loaded with explosives. A Khamis Mushait gas station and a power station in Al-Dahran also faced drone attacks by the rebel group. Drone strikes also hit a natural gas plant and the Yasref refinery in the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the ministry said in a statement.
The Saudi-led military coalition that has been confronting the Houthis for the past seven years, said that the attacks on Saturday night and Sunday morning had also targeted a water desalination plant in Al-Shaqeeq, a power station in Dhahran al Janub and a gas facility in Khamis Mushait.
The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, said that the group had fired ballistic and winged missiles as well as drones at Aramco facilities in the capital Riyadh, Yanbu and other areas, which was followed by attacks on vital targets in other Saudi regions.
The Saudi-led military coalition said that the initial investigations indicate that the desalination plant and Aramco’s Jizan distribution centre was hit by the rebel group using Iran-made cruise missiles. It further said that the Saudi air defences intercepted a ballistic missile and nine drones.
United Nations special envoy, Hans Grundberg is discussing a possible ceasefire and peace during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts in April, his office said on Sunday. As of now, it is unclear if both the sides have given consent to the United Nations plans.
