Arab states condemn Houthi drone attack on oil refinery

CAIRO－A drone strike sparked a fire at a Riyadh oil refinery, an attack claimed by Yemen's Houthi rebels that drew condemnation from Arab countries.

The attack on the refinery at dawn on Friday was the second major assault this month on Saudi energy installations, highlighting an escalation of Yemen's six-year conflict between the government and Houthi rebels.

"The Riyadh oil refinery was attacked by drones, resulting in a fire that has been brought under control," the Saudi energy ministry said, adding that no casualties were reported and oil supplies were not disrupted.

The Houthi rebels claimed to have targeted the energy company Aramco in Riyadh with six drones in response to the "brutal aggression" of the Saudi-backed military coalition in Yemen.

The ministry strongly condemned the "cowardly attack" and said the drone strikes were not just an assault on the country but the world economy and global energy security.

Earlier this month Saudi Arabia said it had thwarted a missile and drone attack on Ras Tanura, one of the world's biggest oil ports, and Aramco facilities in Dhahran city in the kingdom's east. It reported no casualties or damage.

The Arab League said Friday's attack clearly reflects "the agenda of the Houthi group and its supporters, which does not target Saudi Arabia alone but rather seeks to threaten the energy supplies, a fundamental pillar of the stability of the global economy".

The Pan-Arab organization headquartered in Cairo urged the world to exert greater pressure on the Houthi group and those behind it to stop such attacks that "seek to inflame the situation and block any serious attempt for a peaceful solution".

The Arab Parliament in Cairo described the attack as a "dangerous reprehensible escalation and extension of the terrorist acts of the Houthi militia".

Egypt condemned the attacks, saying they represent a direct threat to the security and stability of Saudi Arabia and its people, as well as global oil supplies.

The United States also condemned Friday's drone strike as an attempt "to disrupt energy supplies by targeting Saudi infrastructure".

"This behavior shows an utter lack of concern for the safety of the civilian population either working or living near the sites," said US State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter, adding that the US was "deeply concerned by the frequency of attacks on Saudi Arabia".

Xinhua - Agencies