Reports of a possible attack on Saudi Arabia’s Petro Rabigh refining and petrochemical complex north of Jeddah emerged on Monday, although Saudi authorities have so far not confirmed that an attack took place.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing Yemeni sources, reported that an oil refinery in the Jeddah area had been attacked. So far, Tasnim appears to be the primary source for the specific claim of an attack, with no confirmation from Saudi authorities or Saudi Aramco.
There are, however, indications that a fire has occurred at the facility. Videos circulating on Telegram appear to show a significant fire involving a storage tank at the Rabigh complex, although the authenticity and timing of the footage have not been independently verified.
Satellite observations also appear to show elevated thermal activity around the facility, while imagery circulating online appears to show a smoke plume in the area. Taken together, the available imagery would appear consistent with a fire at or near storage infrastructure.
With the war in Yemen flaring up again, the risk of further Houthi strikes against critical Saudi infrastructure is also rising. The Houthis have previously targeted energy facilities across the kingdom. The last time the Rabigh refinery came under fire was in March 2022 as part of a coordinated wave of drone and missile strikes against several Saudi energy assets, including LNG facilities in Yanbu, a desalination plant in Al-Shafeeq, and an oil products terminal in Jazan.
The latest tensions come as Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced a major military campaign aimed at retaking Houthi-controlled territory and restoring government authority across the country. The offensive marks a sharp escalation in a civil war that had remained comparatively frozen for several years before fighting intensified again in recent weeks.
Oil prices were slow to react to the news, with WTI crude trading at 90.74, down 0.41% on the day, while a barrel of Brent crude changed hands for 102.16, down only 0.09% on the day.
By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com
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