RIYADH: Houthis attacked Saudi oil sites in Jizan and Yanbu as the United States paused strikes on Iran, threatening a second major energy route through the Red Sea.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the Yemen-based group targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in both Red Sea cities on Saturday, July 25.
Video verified by Reuters showed a large column of smoke rising from the direction of Aramco’s Jizan refinery. Two trading sources reported possible damage to fuel and oil-storage facilities, but Aramco did not confirm any damage or immediately comment, according to a Reuters report.
Saudi air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at oil installations in Yanbu, Greek security sources said. A Greek-operated Patriot battery reportedly carried out the interceptions.
Smoke has been seen coming from a Saudi Arabian oil refinery in Jazan after reports of a Houthi missile attack and air defence activity.
The Iran-backed Houthis said they had launched a series of attacks on the country in retaliation to Friday’s Saudi strikes on Hodeidah. pic.twitter.com/P88heLGtOO
— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) July 25, 2026Yanbu has become Saudi Arabia’s main alternative oil-export route while Iran restricts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The Jizan refinery can process up to 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
The attacks followed Saudi-led coalition strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen’s Hodeidah province. Forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognised government also targeted alleged missile sites and weapons depots in Marib and al-Jawf.
Meanwhile, the United States conducted no strikes on Iran for the first night in two weeks after 13 consecutive nights of attacks. The White House and Pentagon did not publicly explain the pause.
Read: Trump Halts US Strikes on Iran as Hormuz Talks Advance
Axios reported that President Donald Trump ordered the military to suspend new strikes. However, the US Central Command continued enforcing its blockade against vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports.
The conflict also reached the Caspian Sea. Iran accused Ukraine of attacking an Iranian commercial vessel, killing one sailor and injuring another. Tehran summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires, but the Iranian statement provided no publicly verifiable evidence identifying the attacker.
The Houthis previously declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. Group leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi has warned that all Saudi oil facilities could become targets.
