Saudi Aramco refinery erupts in flames in Jizan as Houthis claim drone attack
Saudi Aramco refinery erupts in flames in Jizan as Houthis claim drone attack Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 08/09/2026 - 11:27 The Saudi energy ministry did not give a cause for the fire, while Yemen’s Houthis claimed they had targeted the site Wreckage of what Yemen’s Houthis said was a downed Saudi drone in al-Jawf governorate on 26 July 2026 (Ansar Allah media centre/AFP) Off A fire broke out…
A refinery owned by Saudi state oil company Aramco caught fire in the coastal city of Jizan on Sunday morning, according to statements from Saudi Arabia's energy ministry. The blaze was swiftly put out, and there were no reported casualties. However, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the incident, alleging that a drone strike had caused the fire.
Yemen's Houthi movement spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated that the group had targeted the Aramco refinery in Jizan with a drone, describing the attack as precise. The Houthis justified their action by citing Saudi Arabia's violation of the airspace of the provinces of Saada and Hajjah with drones. Jizan, located on the Red Sea coast near Yemen, has been a frequent target of Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure.
Despite the incident, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser expressed confidence that operations could resume quickly, stating that the attacks had caused some disruption but not a significant operational or financial impact. The fire in Jizan occurred alongside an explosion and fires in the eastern Saudi city of Jubail, potentially linked to Houthi attacks on Saudi facilities.
Amidst these events, Saudi Arabia is forging deeper military ties with regional partners, signing a defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan aimed at collective defense against common threats.
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