26.07.2026 13:23
A new front has opened in the Middle East war. Iran-backed Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on Aramco oil facilities in the Saudi cities of Jizan and Yanbu. While two ballistic missiles targeting Yanbu were shot down by Patriot air defense systems, thick smoke rose from the facility in Jizan. The attack has reignited tensions in the region at a time when diplomatic contacts between the US and Iran are ongoing.
Iran-backed Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on two strategic oil facilities belonging to Aramco in the Red Sea coastal cities of Jizan and Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari claimed responsibility for the attacks.
While no official statement has been made by Saudi Arabia regarding the damage caused by the attack, thick smoke was reported rising from the refinery area in Jizan.
TWO MISSILES SHOT DOWN BY PATRIOT SYSTEM
It was reported that two ballistic missiles targeting oil facilities in Yanbu, one of the most important oil export points on Saudi Arabia's western coast, were neutralized by a Greek military Patriot air defense system operating in the region under an agreement with Riyadh.
BAB EL-MANDEB STRAIT CONCERN
Following the attacks, attention turned to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. If tensions in the region escalate, the possibility of the Houthis closing the strait is considered a serious risk for international trade and energy shipments. Experts warn that the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb, along with the Strait of Hormuz, could lead to major economic problems in the global supply chain.
US-IRAN CONTACTS CONTINUE
Meanwhile, while it was noted that US airstrikes against Iran have stopped for two nights, it was stated that messages are being exchanged between Washington and Tehran through mediators. US President Donald Trump said Iran wants to make a deal, stating, "They are talking. I am ready to listen."
The Tehran administration also confirmed that various proposals have been conveyed through mediators between the parties, but reported that fundamental disagreements persist and no significant progress has been made yet.
TENSIONS WITH UKRAINE ALSO ESCALATE
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also blamed Ukraine for an attack on an Iranian ship in the Caspian Sea, which resulted in the death of a sailor and injury of another. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that long-range attacks targeted ships used for Iranian military shipments.