Riyadh – An attack claimed by Yemeni rebels sparked a fire in a Saudi gasplant Saturday but caused no casualties or disruption to production,state-owned energy company Saudi Aramco said.
“Saudi Aramco’s response team controlled a limited fire this morning at theShaybah natural gas liquefaction facility,” the energy giant said. “Therewere no injuries and no interruptions to Saudi Aramco’s oil operations.”
The Huthi rebels have carried out a spate of cross-border missile and droneattacks targeting Saudi air bases and other facilities in recent months inwhat it says is retaliation for the Saudi-led air war in Yemen.
Early Saturday the Huthis issued a statement claiming a “massive” attackagainst a Saudi gas installation, which they said was hit by 10 drones.
A rebel spokesman, cited by the insurgent television station Al-Masirah,also vowed “fiercer and larger attacks” against Saudi Arabia should itretaliate.
The channel later broadcast a speech by rebel chief Abdelmalek al-Huthi,who said all the group’s military operations were “a legitimate response toSaudi aggression”.
Al-Huthi added that Saturday’s attack was also “a warning to the UnitedArab Emirates”, the other main pillar in the Saudi-led coalition.
The Shaybah installation lies just 30 kilometres (20 miles) from theEmirati border and hundreds of kilometres from the nearest Huthi-controlledterritory.
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said the operation was carried out at0320 GMT by “booby-trapped drones”.
“This terrorist sabotage follows a series of actions, including attacksagainst oil tankers, aimed at disrupting international oil supplies,” Falihsaid.
“These acts are not only aimed at Saudi Arabia but also against the globaleconomy.”
Tensions in the Gulf have soared since May, with US President Donald Trumpcalling off air strikes against Iran at the last minute in June after theIslamic republic downed a US drone.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have also blamed Iran for multipleattacks on tankers in the Gulf. -APP/AFP