Houthis claim drone attack on Saudi Aramco refinery in Jazan

Published Aug 18, 05:53 PM UTC

On August 18, 2026, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels targeted the Aramco oil refinery in Jazan, southern Saudi Arabia, with several drones, according to the Houthi news agency Saba. The attack was described as a response to airspace violations over the Yemeni governorates of Saada and Hajjah. This incident is part of an escalation that began in July 2026, when the Houthis ended a 2022 truce with Yemen's Saudi-backed government, launching attacks on both Yemeni government forces and Saudi territory. The Houthis have also announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and have targeted Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, as well as oil infrastructure and airports. The group welcomed an Iranian plane landing in Sanaa last month, triggering further tit-for-tat attacks.