The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Houthis attack Saudi defence ministry in Riyadh; bomb airport, airbase & refinery
Yemen's Houthis claimed on Tuesday that they had attacked Saudi Arabia's defence ministry in the kingdom's capital, Riyadh, in an assault that could mark a major escalation in the searing war between the arch-enemies.
Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed an assault on Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry in Riyadh, describing the attack as a potential major escalation in the regional conflict. The claim came amid broader assertions of strikes against military targets inside the kingdom.
The group said it also targeted two military transport aircraft at Najran airport and an airbase in Khamis Mushait, as part of the same operation. Saudi authorities have not confirmed the attacks on those facilities.
In a separate statement, the Houthis said they repelled an advance by forces described as Saudi-backed from the southern Bab el-Mandeb Strait, reporting use of ballistic missiles and heavy weapons and claiming large casualties and damage to military vehicles.
The Houthis then claimed a strike on Ras Tanura oil refinery, described by the group’s official spokesperson as having triggered a fire at the facility. Saudi authorities have not independently confirmed the refinery attack.
The Ras Tanura refinery is a key node for Saudi oil exports, and past actions have raised concerns about security at the kingdom’s export infrastructure. Bloomberg cited an unnamed source saying a fire near Ras Tanura was contained in the early hours of the day.