RIYADH: A missile fired by Houthi militants in Yemen sparked an explosion and fire at a fuel distribution site near Jeddah on Monday.
The blast took place at 3.50 a.m. and causing a fire in a fuel tank at the petroleum products distribution station, north of the city, Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said.
The blast was the result of “a terrorist attack with a projectile,” the ministry said.
Firefighting teams managed to extinguish the blaze, and no injuries or loss of life occurred as a result of this attack.
Saudi Aramco’s supply of fuel to its customers was not affected.
The Arab coalition fighting to restore the internationally recognised government in Yemen said those responsible would be held to account.
“The terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia has been positively identified as the culprits of this cowardly terrorist assault,” coalition spokesman Brig.-Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said.
The attack, he said, was not just an attack on Saudi Arabia’s national assets, “but on the core of the global economy and its supply routes, as well as the security of global energy.”
He said the attack was a continuation of attacks on other oil facilities in the Kingdom, including a cruise missile and drone assault in Abqaiq and Khurais last year. Those attacks were initially claimed by the Houthis, although evidence suggested they came direct from Iran.
“Substantiated evidence proved the direct involvement of the Iranian regime in those terrorist assaults using Iranian-made advanced conventional weapons,” Al-Maliki said.
He said the coalition would act to safeguard civilians and civilian infrastructure.
“All terrorist elements who participated in plotting and executing these hostile, terrorist operations against civilians and civilian objects will be held accountable in accordance with the Customary International Humanitarian Law,” he added.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has also condemned the attack Jeddah’s fuel facility, saying it supports any measures by Saudi Arabia to protect its security.
The UAE also condemned the attack, saying it is evidence that Houthis are seeking to undermine the stability of the region.
The Yemeni foreign ministry also said the terror attack proves the Houthis' “lack of seriousness towards peace.”
The Arab League also denounced the “cowardly terrorist attack” that targeted the fuel distribution station in Jeddah.
