Saudi intercepts Houthi drones targeting civilians, Aramco plant, economic facilities

The Saudi-led coalition said early on Sunday that Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militants launched missile and drone strikes on energy and water desalination facilities in the kingdom that caused some material damage but no deaths.

It said the attacks were aimed at a water desalination plant in Al-Shaqeeq, an Aramco distribution station in Jizan, a power station in Dhahran al Janub, a gas facility in Khamis Mushait and an Aramco liquefied natural gas plant in Yanbu.

Speaking about the attack, Aramco CEO Amin Nasser on Sunday said: “There was ... a number of attacks early in the morning at our facilities. And thankfully there were no injuries or fatalities and, no impact to the company’s supply to its customers.”

“These hostile attacks and debris resulting from interceptions caused some material damage at the facilities and civilian cars and houses. There was no loss of life as of now,” said the statement carried on state media.

It did not specify which facilities incurred damages. State media posted images and videos of what appeared to be debris from the projectiles, damaged cars and structures and firefighters dousing flames.

Initial investigations showed the militants fired Iranian-made cruise missiles at the desalination plant and state oil firm Aramco’s Jizan distribution centre, the coalition said.

It said Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and nine drones.

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The coalition said that the escalation of attacks by Houthis, targeting economic and civil facilities is a response to a call for talks by the Gulf Cooperation Council.

• Saudi Arabia
• MENA