Yemen rebels strike oil depot in Saudi city hosting F1 race

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) :

Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked an oil depot on Friday in the Saudi city of Jiddah, ahead of a Formula One (F1) race in the kingdom. It was the rebels’ highest-profile assault yet, though Saudi authorities pledged the upcoming grand prix would go on as scheduled.

The attack targeted the same fuel depot that the Houthis had attacked in recent days, the North Jiddah Bulk Plant that sits just southeast of the city’s international airport and is a crucial hub for Muslim pilgrims heading to Mecca. No injuries were reported in the attack.

HOSTILE OPERATION

The Saudi Arabian Oil Co, known as Saudi Aramco, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Saudi authorities acknowledged a “hostile operation” by the Houthis targeting the depot, without describing the weapon used in the attack.

In Yemen, Saudi Arabia leads a coalition battling the Iran-backed Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital of Sanaa in September 2014. The kingdom, which entered the war in 2015, has been internationally criticised for its airstrikes killings that have killed scores of civilians – something the Houthis point to as they launch drones, missiles and mortars into the kingdom.