For the second time, the Houthi militia has claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi oil facilities that were reportedly carried out by Iranian-backed entities. This pattern echoes a previous incident, raising questions about the militia's role and the origin of the assaults.
Saudi Ministry of Defense spokesperson, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, announced on Monday that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed several drones targeting oil facilities in the Eastern Province and Riyadh. He stated that the attack originated from inside Iraqi territory and was executed by "terrorist militias affiliated with Iran," asserting Saudi Arabia's right to defend its security and resources.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, deeming the use of Iraqi territory as a launchpad a threat to regional security and stability. Riyadh urged the Iraqi government to take decisive measures to prevent its territory from being exploited for cross-border attacks.
Less than an hour after the Saudi announcement, the Houthi militia's military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack. He alleged that drones targeted facilities and points related to crude oil supply and transportation from eastern Saudi Arabia to Yanbu, stating it was a response to alleged Saudi drone incursions into Yemeni airspace. However, the Saudi confirmation that the attacks originated from Iraq contradicts the Houthi narrative.
The manner in which the Houthi militia claimed responsibility, via a brief tweet by Yahya Saree on the platform "X," deviates from their usual practice of issuing detailed statements. Typically, the militia pre-announces such claims with a video statement from Saree. This unusual approach for such a significant event brings to mind a similar incident seven years ago where the Houthi militia falsely claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
The incident in question involved attacks on two Aramco facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais in September 2019. These assaults, carried out by approximately 25 drones and cruise missiles, caused significant damage and partial disruption to Saudi oil exports. At the time, the Houthi militia swiftly claimed responsibility, mirroring Monday's events. However, investigations revealed the falsity of their claims. Saudi defense officials presented debris as evidence of Iranian aggression, stating the drones and missiles were launched from the north, either from Iran or Iraq, not Yemen.
Further corroboration came from a UN Security Council Panel of Experts report in mid-2020, which concluded that the attacks on Aramco facilities did not originate from Yemeni territory. The report suggested it was unlikely the Houthi group was responsible, as the estimated range of the weapons used would not permit launches from Houthi-controlled areas. Experts also dismissed the possibility of the advanced weapons being manufactured in Yemen, noting that the targeted oil facilities were attacked from the northwest and northeast, not from the south.
