Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they attacked a Saudi Arabian oil facility and an air base with missiles and drones.
In a statement on the 16th, the Houthis said they carried out two military operations targeting a facility of state oil company Saudi Aramco in Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia and the Khamis Mushait air base in the country's southwest.
In the first operation, the group said it struck the Aramco facility with dozens of ballistic missiles and attack drones. The Houthis said the strike caused a large fire and extensive damage, but they released no specific evidence. Yanbu is the terminus of a pipeline that runs east to west across Saudi Arabia and is a key hub for crude exports through the Red Sea. Its strategic importance is significant because it allows crude to be shipped without passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the second operation, the group said it hit its target at the Khamis Mushait air base with multiple ballistic missiles. The Houthis described the attacks as retaliation for Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Yemen and warned that they would continue military operations against Saudi territory until the attacks stop and the blockade of Yemen is fully lifted.
The Houthis also said they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province in northeastern Yemen the same day. They provided no photos or video to support the claim. The Saudi government and Aramco have not officially confirmed any damage.
