Saudi Arabia: Houthi officials claim unconfirmed missile attack in Jeddah November 23

Event

Yemeni Houthi officials have claimed that they carried out a ballistic missile attack on oil facilities in the Saudi city of Jeddah early on Monday, November 23. Unconfirmed social media reports appear to show a fire burning and a significant presence of emergency services at a facility on the outskirts of the city. Saudi officials have yet to comment on the Houthi claim or confirm the incident.

A heightened security presence is to be expected in Jeddah as emergency services respond to the incident. An associated disruption to transportation and business is likely in the near term.

Context

Yemen-based Houthi rebels have launched hundreds of rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) into Saudi Arabia since 2015, when Saudi-led coalition forces intervened in the country's civil war in support of the Yemeni government. Towns and cities in the southwestern border provinces of Jizan, Asir, and Najran have frequently been targeted in such attacks, but longer-range ballistic missiles have also been launched towards Riyadh, Jeddah, and other major cities in the country. Many of these missiles, rockets, and UAVs have been intercepted by Saudi air defenses, but hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured in such attacks since the beginning of the conflict.

Advice

Those in Saudi Arabia are advised to monitor developments and heed any directives issued by local authorities. Travelers should familiarise themselves with missile attack procedures in their particular area of operations and the location of the nearest air raid shelters. In the event of a missile attack, those in the affected area are advised to seek shelter and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities