Saudi authorities have not yet officially confirmed the attacks or the cause of the refinery blaze, which is the first strike on the 400,000 BPD facility since March 2022. The escalation follows a Houthi declaration on Oct 5 that Saudi airspace is an operations zone, warning international airlines to exit the kingdom's airspace except for flights over Mecca and Medina. The group said the attacks retaliate 60 Saudi strikes in Yemen conducted over the previous 24 hours.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Story
Houthis Hit 400,000 BPD Aramco Refinery in First Strike Since 2022
War15 days ago
Yemen's Ansar Allah forces launched a coordinated wave of strikes against Saudi oil and aviation infrastructure on Oct 5. Ballistic and cruise missiles hit the Saudi Aramco refinery in Rabigh, causing a fire centered on storage tanks with a smoke plume stretching 80 km, according to satellite imagery. NASA FIRMS measured the fire's radiative power at 126 MW at the facility. The Houthis also claimed to have struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha Airport, and the Khamis Mushait Airbase, with loud explosions reported in northern Riyadh.
Looking for more context or analysis?
Tilt chat provides reliable, tailored insights, alerts, and automations.