Conflict & Security
Houthis claim drone attacks on Saudi oil sites as Riyadh reports interceptions
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Monday that they had launched drone attacks against Saudi oil infrastructure, while Saudi Arabia said its forces intercepted several drones aimed at petroleum facilities.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said drones targeted “sensitive” sites and infrastructure used to transport crude oil from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu on the Red Sea.
Yanbu is the western endpoint of Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline.
Saree said the operation was carried out in response to alleged incursions by Saudi drones.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said separately that its forces intercepted and destroyed several drones launched from Iraq by Iran-backed groups.
It said the drones were aimed at petroleum facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia and at targets near Riyadh.
A statement carried by an official Saudi broadcaster called on Iraq to prevent its territory from being used to launch attacks against the kingdom.
The reports did not establish whether the Houthi claim concerned the same drones Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted.
Update
Yemen's Houthi rebels said they launched drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure on Monday.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said several drones struck sensitive targets and points involved in crude oil supply and transport from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu.
The Houthis said the attacks were in response to incursions by Saudi drones.
Source note: AFP news report published on 27 July 2026 at 13:16:46 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It is unclear whether the Houthi claim concerns the same drones Saudi Arabia said it intercepted and destroyed.
There was no confirmed report in the supplied material of damage or casualties from the claimed Houthi attacks.
Saudi Arabia attributed the drones it reported to Iran-backed groups launching from Iraq, while the Houthi statement claimed Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.
Source
AFP news report published on .