Houthis strike Saudi’s Ras Tanura refinery, blasts rock Riyadh

Yemen’s Houthis announced they struck Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery with a ballistic missile on Tuesday, causing massive fires. The attack occurred as blasts shook the capital, Riyadh, prompting text message alerts for residents to seek shelter. A resident in Al Khobar described hearing a loud bang after receiving a mobile alert. Vanguard reported a fire in the Ras Tanura area early Tuesday morning, though the extent of damage and impact on oil operations remain unclear. This facility, capable of processing 550,000 barrels per day, has been repeatedly targeted, including a drone attack in early March. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition stated it intercepted two missiles fired at Riyadh and three aimed at the Eastern Province. Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi condemned Egypt’s parliamentary decision to authorize military support for Saudi Arabia, calling it a declaration of war. He noted that while Riyadh, Ankara, and Islamabad signed a defense pact in Mecca, the Houthis remain unafraid of such alliances. The conflict, which began in 2015, intensified this month with increased attacks on Saudi oil sites and infrastructure.