Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi forces announced that they had targeted several Saudi crude oil transport facilities along the pipeline route running from the country’s Eastern Province to the port of Yanbu using drones.
Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, claimed on Monday, July 27, 2026, that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for what he described as “violations of Yemeni airspace by Saudi drones.”
In response, the Saudi Ministry of Defense announced that its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed several attacking drones. According to Riyadh, the drones were launched “by Iran-backed armed groups” and originated “from Iraqi airspace.”
The ministry stated that the drones were intended to attack oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, as well as the capital, Riyadh.
The Saudi Ministry of Defense emphasized that, under the “legitimate right to self-defence,” it reserves the right to respond to these attacks at an appropriate time and place.
