Houthis Hit Saudi Aramco Sites in Jizan and Yanbu, Fires Break Out

Just before dawn on July 25, Saudi Civil Defense broadcast emergency warnings across Jizan and Yanbu provinces as Houthi missiles and drones began landing on Saudi Aramco facilities, setting a refinery on fire. The group claimed it launched dozens of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones in the attack. Fires broke out in Jizan. NASA's FIRMS satellite imagery confirmed a thermal anomaly at the Aramco refinery there.

Five explosions were reported. Commercial flights to both cities diverted or entered holding patterns until the threat passed. Civil Defense declared the danger had passed in both provinces not long after the warnings went out.

The Houthis said the attack was retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on Hodeidah port and Kamaran Island on July 24. Saudi Arabia had not released casualty or damage figures as of the time of this report.

The shipping context extends beyond this report: our guides explain the importance of maritime chokepoints, how conflict changes shipping routes, and why ships take longer routes.