Drones struck Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia yesterday apparently causing large fires. The Houthis claimed responsibility but the Saudis blamed Iraqi militia groups causing heartburn in Baghdad. The Houthis said drone strikes on “a number of targets and sensitive points for the supply and transport of crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu” were in response to the Saudis violating Yemeni airspace with drones. At the same time, Islamic Resistance in Iraq denied responsibility for the attack on Abqaiq refinery, saying that the attack was actually carried out by Yemen, and that Saudi Arabia is too cowardly to respond to the Yemeni Armed Forces, therefore blaming the attack on Iraqis.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense said on Monday that Saudi Arabia’s air defenses intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraqi territory by Iran-backed militias, reported Al Arabiya. There appears to be no official confirmation that the Abqaiq refinery was actually hit. There is satellite imagery showing a huge column of smoke streaming out of the facility circulating widely on social media and in news reports. There are also reports circulating today that Aramco has suspended operations at both Abqaiq and the refinery in Jizan, which the Houthis hit two days earlier and is reported to still be burning.
