Houthis claim missile strike sparked fire at Saudi's Ras Tanura refinery

On Tuesday, the Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, said it launched a ballistic missile that struck Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery, igniting a fire at the facility. Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesperson, released the statement, asserting responsibility for the attack. Saudi officials have not publicly confirmed the incident, although a source indicated that a fire near the oil terminal was brought under control early in the day.

Ras Tanura, located on the Gulf west of the Strait of Hormuz, handles the majority of Saudi oil exports, making it a strategic target. The Houthis have intensified their campaign against Saudi oil sites since September, also hitting the Red Sea port of Yanbu in earlier assaults. This escalation occurs amid the broader US-Israeli conflict with Iran, adding pressure on regional energy supplies.