Saudi Arabia: Drone attack causes small fire at Jeddah Aramco facility late March 20; no casualties or disruptions reported

Event

The Saudi-led coalition announced late March 20 that an Al-Houthi-launched drone attack caused a small fire at an Aramco facility in Jeddah. Authorities extinguished the blaze, and the attack resulted in no casualties or disruptions to the facility's operations.

Additional cross-border attacks are almost certain to target Saudi Arabia over the coming days. Localized disruptions to transport and business operations are possible near weapon fragment impact sites.

Context

The lack of objective sources covering the conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Al-Houthi rebels makes it challenging to independently verify reports of longer-range weaponized drone and ballistic missile attacks or intercepts inside Saudi Arabia. Each side relies heavily on propaganda and misdirection in the media to shape the narrative to its policy objectives. As is often the case with reports of alleged drone or ballistic missile attacks or intercepts, neither Riyadh nor the Al-Houthi rebels provide much, if any, verifiable proof to support their respective claims.

Al-Houthi rebels have demonstrated an intent to target major population centers in Saudi Arabia with weaponized drones and ballistic missiles. While their precise tactical capabilities are unclear, the rebel group claims to possess several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) with ranges of 30-1,000 km (18-620 miles). The group, with help from Iran, also claims to possess several indigenously produced drones with ranges of 15-500 km (9-310 miles). Nevertheless, the Saudi military employs a wide array of air defense platforms and appears to have significantly mitigated the drone and ballistic missile threat in its southern border provinces; however, falling post-intercept debris remains a potentially lethal hazard.

Previous Al-Houthi cross-border attacks have resulted in civilian casualties; however, most are due to shorter-range mortar and rocket attacks concentrated within 10 km (6 miles) of the Saudi-Yemeni border.

Advice

If officials report incoming artillery fire or drone activity in the general vicinity, stay indoors away from windows and exterior walls. If possible, move to a ground floor or basement. Confirm that a thorough communication plan exists to ensure rapid accountability for all personnel operating in Saudi Arabia's border provinces. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation.