(Update 12:16ET): A confirmed Houthi attack, with full Houthi military statement expected to be issued soon.
Javier Blas @JavierBlas
Confirmed. The North Jeddah Bulk Plant. Domestic asset for petroleum product supply (including airport). No impact of Saudi crude exports.
It appears there have been other inbound attacks, some of which the Saudis say they've intercepted:
HOUTHI STATEMENT ON SAUDI OPERATION COMING `SHORTLY': SPOKESMAN
SAUDI ARABIA DESTROYS 2 DRONES LAUNCHED TOWARDS NAJRAN: ARABIYA
YEMEN'S HOUTHIS LAUNCHED MISSILES AND DRONES ON ARAMCO FACILITIES IN JEDDAH - MILITARY SPOKESMAN
YEMEN'S HOUTHIS MILITARY SPOKESMAN SAYS TARGETED VITAL FACILITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA'S CAPITAL
ARAB COALITION SAYS HOUTHI LAUNCHED 16 HOSTILE ATTACKS ON FRIDAY
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(Update 11:30am): as Energy Intel's Amena Bakr notes, it appears that Houthi rebels will - as widely expected - take the claim for the attack on the Aramco facility in Jeddah:
Javier Blas @JavierBlas
The biggest concern from the Jeddah attack is that it shows the Houthis of Yemen have the ability to accurately target oil installations in Saudi Arabia. Today was a domestic asset, but tomorrow could be an installation that really matters for crude exports.
Oil has spiked to session highs, slamming the Nasdaq down to session lows)...
... after breaking reports of a major fire burning uncontrollably at a Saudi Aramco facility in the port city of Jeddah. According to unconfirmed reports, a Houthi missile or possible drone strike hit the facility from Yemen. The Saudi Press Agency tweeted that a projectile fell on a power distribution station in Samtah, causing a fire; No casualties have been reported. Meanwhile, Al-Arabiya reported that a strike hit the tanks of the National Water Company in Dhahran Al-Janoub, adding that civilian vehicles and residential houses were also hit.
Today's alleged attack follows a series of recent attacks from Yemen on various Saudi sites, including a last Sunday drone and missile attack also on Jeddah.
While social media videos appear to confirm the inferno, there has not yet been an official confirmation of the reported missile strike.
Massive fire at Aramco Facility in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah following reported missile strike.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1507371292835692562
Additional footage has begun to circulate social media of smoke rising from the Aramco Site in Jeddah.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1507371122987253762
The oil tanks are still burning in Saudi Arabia, the city of Jeddah.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1507374039471464452
Large fire at Aramco facility in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia after Houthi missile attack. It's worth noting that the Formula 1 is in Jeddah this weekend.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1507371075511934983
The blaze appears to be the result of possibly the biggest Houthi attack in months that the kingdom has witnessed, also at a moment the US has said it is transferring more Patriot missile systems to defend against the attacks out of Yemen.
Poster Comment:
China should talk the Saudis out of the Yemen war. It is bad for business.