A fire at a Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan was extinguished early Sunday with no injuries reported, according to the Saudi Ministry of Energy. The blaze occurred at one of Aramco’s facilities in the southwestern city, located near the Yemeni border, and was brought under control by industrial security teams.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the incident, stating they conducted a drone strike on the refinery in response to alleged Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace over Hajjah and Saada provinces. The Houthis also reported targeting the Mocha port on the Red Sea, a key facility under Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The Saudi Energy Ministry confirmed the fire at the Jazan refinery but did not specify its cause, stating only that investigations were ongoing. The ministry noted that industrial security firefighting teams had extinguished the blaze, and authorities were completing necessary procedures to address the incident.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree asserted the drone strike on the Aramco facility was a precise response to Saudi actions, framing the attack as part of broader regional tensions. The rebels have previously claimed responsibility for multiple strikes on Saudi energy infrastructure, including a July 27 attack that damaged Aramco’s Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle complex in Jazan.
Aramco chief Amin Nasser stated last week that recent attacks had caused minor production interruptions but assured that operations could be restored quickly, with no material operational or financial impact. The Jazan refinery processes 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing gasoline and ultra-light sulfur diesel.
The incident follows heightened regional tensions, including Iran’s demands for new conditions regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and reports that the Pentagon is urging U.S. defense contractors to accelerate weapons production. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that direct negotiations with the U.S. could not resume until unspecified conditions were met, though he acknowledged ongoing indirect exchanges via intermediaries.
Saudi Arabia has not officially linked the Jazan fire to the Houthi claim, nor has it provided details on the fire’s cause. The Jazan refinery, a critical component of Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure, has been a frequent target in past Houthi attacks, raising concerns about broader disruptions to regional oil and shipping stability.