Houthis Claim Missile Strike on Saudi Ras Tanura Refinery

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declared on Tuesday that a ballistic missile had struck Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia's largest oil refinery. They also claimed hits on the Saudi Ministry of Defense and on Abha International Airport, The Jerusalem Post reported. The claims came a day after Tehran hosted senior Saudi security officials for talks that Iran said would take up what it calls "Israeli expansion," as reported on Monday. Saudi authorities have confirmed none of the strikes.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the missile set off a fire at Ras Tanura, a complex that also contains a shipping terminal. He said a second ballistic missile struck the defense ministry and that a drone hit Abha airport.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree (Belqees TV/Wikimedia)

A person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News that the Saudis had brought a blaze near the Ras Tanura terminal under control.

The Houthis further claimed attacks on two military transport jets at Najran Airport and on an airbase in Khamis Mushait. Riyadh did not immediately confirm those strikes. The group also said it had pushed back an advance from the southern approaches to the Bab al-Mandab Strait by forces it described as Saudi-backed.

The Saudi-led coalition stated that it had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles that the Houthis fired toward Riyadh.

Al Masirah TV, a channel affiliated with the Houthis, reported that Saudi Arabia had carried out strikes on the Yemeni city of Mocha. Riyadh offered no immediate confirmation of that report either.

Abha has been hit before. On October 7, Houthi strikes on Abha International and Riyadh's King Khalid International had killed three people and wounded 36 over 48 hours, according to the Saudi civil aviation authority. Saree also warned international airlines at the time to stay out of Saudi airspace.