Saudi Arabia: Two explosive-laden Al Houthi boats cause fire at oil facility
Arab coalition destroys five drones targeting the kingdom
Cairo: A fire erupted at an oil facility in south-western Saudi Arabia caused by two explosives-laden boats launched by Yemen’s Iran-allied Al Houthi militia this week, according to a Saudi official source.
The boats, which were destroyed, caused a fire near a platform at a plant for the distribution of oil products in the region of Jizan, the source at the Saudi Energy Ministry added.
“This operation resulted in a fire in the floating hoses of the platform,” the source said.
The remote-controlled boats were launched by Al Houthis in the Red Sea and destroyed by an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia. “The fire was dealt with according to rules. There were no casualties,” the source added, according to the Saudi news agency SPA.
“The kingdom condemns this cowardly attack. This terrorist and subversive act and others targeting vital installations not only aim at the kingdom, but also security of oil exports and stability of global energy supplies,” the source added.
Five drones
In recent months, the coalition forces have intercepted dozens of drones fired by Al Houthis in the direction of Saudi Arabia.
A coalition spokesman said early Friday that the alliance forces had intercepted and destroyed on Thursday five explosives-laden drones launched by Al Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia.
Al Houthis have plunged Yemen into a devastating war after they toppled the internationally recognised government there and seized the capital Sana’a and other parts of the impoverished country in late 2014.