Yemeni army targets Aramco facilities, King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia

Yemeni armed forces have claimed responsibility for new large-scale missile and drone strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities and a major airbase in the kingdom, in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes and the ongoing blockade of Yemen.

Yemeni army spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a televised statement on Wednesday afternoon that the country’s aerospace units had carried out two “qualitative” operations, targeting Aramco oil installations in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu and King Khalid Air Base near Khamis Mushait, about 884 kilometers south of the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

He noted that dozens of domestically manufactured Yemeni ballistic missiles and combat drones were employed to target Aramco facilities, which caused huge blazes and widespread destruction at the site.

Saree added that a barrage of ballistic missiles also hit military installations and infrastructure inside the airbase in Khamis Mushait, emphasizing that the aerial attack was precise and struck its designated targets accurately.

He highlighted that the Yemeni armed forces will continue defending their country and will teach the Saudi enemy unforgettable lessons.

“We will continue our military operations deep inside Saudi territory, target Saudi military buildups, and uphold the siege-for-siege and escalation-for-escalation equation until the aggression ceases and the siege on our beloved country is completely lifted,” the Yemeni military spokesperson stated.

Saudi Red Sea oil shipments halted amid pipeline damage, war on Yemen

Saudi Arabia has suspended crude loadings at Yanbu and canceled some European cargoes after damage to its East-West pipeline.

Saree said that Saudi warplanes have conducted more than 450 airstrikes on multiple locations across Yemen throughout the week.

Yemeni forces shoot down ‘hostile’ Saudi drone over Ma’rib

Later on Wednesday, Yemeni armed forces said they had shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone over the central province of Ma’rib, amid intensified fighting and exchanges of fire in several areas of the country.

Saree said in a statement the drone was brought down while carrying out “a hostile mission.” He identified the aircraft as a Saudi-operated Wing Loong II armed reconnaissance drone, saying it was hit with a “suitable weapon.”

Meanwhile, al-Masirah television channel, citing local sources, reported that Saudi drones had carried out an airstrike against al-Sheikh area in the Manbah district of Yemen’s northwestern province of Sa’ada.
 
There were no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.

The Sana’a administration declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia on July 20, in response to “an unfair and tyrannical siege” on Yemen lasting nearly 12 years.

The Yemeni military has announced a number of successful operations aimed at ships linked to Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a blockade on Yemen and launched a sweeping military campaign, backed by military, political, and logistical support from the United States and several Western countries.

The blockade has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis. However, Saudi Arabia has failed to achieve its stated objective of reinstating a puppet regime that serves its interests.

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