Yemen rebels claim attacks on Saudi Aramco

Yemen's Iran-linked rebels on Friday said they had attacked "sensitive targets" and that "they had hit their objectives with high precision." The targets were Aramco oil facilities in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

However, Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted the ballistic missiles.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, with Iranian support, have been locked in a devastating power struggle for several years with the country's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, which is leading a military campaign against the insurgents.

Last September, the Houthis claimed attacks on a major Saudi oil facility, that set them ablaze, caused oil prices to spike and cut national production in half.

Houthi rebel spokesman Yahya Sarea said the latest drone and missile attacks had targeted facilities of the state oil giant Saudi Aramco and "other sensitive targets" in the kingdom's western province of Yanbu.

"They had hit their objectives with high precision," he added in a press statement without giving additional information.

His comments came just hours after a spokesman for the Saudi-led alliance said air defenses had intercepted ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards Saudi cities. No casualties or damage were reported.

Saudi Arabia and the United States blamed the September attacks on Iran, a regional rival of Saudi Arabia. Iran has denied involvement.

jsi/aw (Reuters, dpa)

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