Houthis, the Islamic religious-political-armed movement of Yemen, on Saturday claimed responsibility for the drone attack on two Saudi Aramco factories, which led to massive fire at the world’s largest oil processing facility. The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV broadcast the group’s statement.
As per reports, the group also threatened to widen its scope of attacks against the kingdom. Though Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry confirmed the fire was brought under control, it was however, uncertain whether the incident had caused any damages to the facility. As many as 10 drones targeted Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais.
“The industrial security teams of Aramco have started dealing with fires at two of its facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais as a result of… drones,” said the spokesman as per the local media. He further added, “The two fires have been controlled.”
Saudi Aramco, officially the Saudi Arabian Oil Company is a Saudi Arabian national petroleum and natural gas company based in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. The state-owned oil company is one of the companies in the world in terms of revenues. It operates and controls the majority of the kingdom’s refinery production and oilfields. It is said to be the most profitable company around the globe.
According to a report, in some online videos that seem to have been shot in Buqyaq one can hear gunfire sounds in the background. Flames are also seen rising out of the Abqaiq oil processing facility, rising over the skyline. It is said that the huge flames were visible from a distance.
Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry statement asserts the fire engulfed the facility after it was “targetted targeted by drones,” and that investigation is on. The Ministry’s statement was run by the Saudi Press Agency.
For over four years, Saudi Arabia has been on the forefront to lead a military coalition of the Arabs against Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen. This coalition is supporting Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the President of the internationally-recognized government of Yemen, who has been living in exile.
