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Saudi strikes Yemen’s Houthis after Aramco oil depot in city hosting F1 race attacked
- The Riyadh-led coalition launched a military operation in Yemen after the rebels targeted a Jeddah fuel distribution station, setting off a huge fire
- The US condemned the attacks which came as the Red Sea port city was hosting the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
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Yemen’s Houthis said they launched attacks on Saudi energy facilities on Friday and the Riyadh-led coalition said oil giant Aramco’s petroleum products distribution station in Jeddah was hit, causing a fire in two storage tanks but no casualties.
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A huge plume of black smoke could be seen rising over the Red Sea city where the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is taking place this weekend, an eyewitness said.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have escalated attacks on the kingdom’s oil facilities in recent weeks and ahead of a temporary truce for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The coalition has repeatedly said it is exercising self-restraint in the face of the attacks, but launched a military operation in Yemen early on Saturday saying it aimed to protect global energy sources and ensure supply chains.
A coalition statement on state media on Friday said the fire had been brought under control. Flames could still be seen in live footage aired by Saudi-owned Ekhbariya television channel.
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