Yemen's Houthis claim missile, drone attacks at Saudi oil refineries

2021-04-12 12:05:39 GMT2021-04-12 20:05:39(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

SANAA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi militia on Monday claimed responsibility for launching 15 explosive-laden drones and two ballistic missiles toward oil refineries and military targets in the southwest and northeast of Saudi Arabia.

"Ten drones targeted Aramco refineries in the cities of Jeddah and Jubail," Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea said in a statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV.

"Five other drones and two ballistic missiles targeted military sites in the cites of Khamis Mushait and Jizan," he said, adding "the operation began yesterday evening until today morning."

The Houthi spokesman added Sunday's attack "hit the targets successfully."

However, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported Sunday night that the Saudi-led coalition had intercepted and destroyed six bomb-laden drones and a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi militia from Yemen toward Saudi southern border cities.

The attack against Saudi Arabia came a day after the Houthi militia lost dozens of fighters in a battle with the Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in the northwest of Yemen's central province of Marib, according to Yemeni government military sources.

The Houthis launched in February a major offensive to capture the oil-rich province. They have since stepped up cross-border missile and drone attacks against Saudi cities and oil facilities. Most of the attacks were reportedly foiled by the coalition.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of several northern Yemeni provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem

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