Riyadh, 27 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed responsibility for an attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery, raising concerns about the security of the kingdom’s energy infrastructure and vital oil export routes. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group launched a ballistic missile strike on Tuesday and claimed that the attack caused a fire at the refinery site. However, Saudi authorities had not officially confirmed the reported attack, and key details remained unverified. Located along Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast, Ras Tanura is the kingdom’s largest oil refinery and a major hub for its petroleum industry. Saudi Arabia relies on two principal ports, Ras Tanura on the Gulf and Yanbu on the Red Sea, for nearly all its oil exports. According to reports, the Houthis have increasingly targeted Saudi Arabia since September, with the latest claim emerging amid the wider US-Israeli war involving Iran and rising regional tensions. Saudi Arabia’s oil export infrastructure is vital to global energy supplies, and any disruption to major facilities could raise concerns among energy markets and shipping operators. However, the available reports did not confirm damage to the refinery or any interruption to oil exports. Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter, that Saudi Arabia had contained a fire near the Ras Tanura oil terminal during the early hours of the day. The report did not establish whether the fire was caused by the claimed Houthi attack. The latest development follows other reported Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, while a Saudi-led coalition has also said it intercepted missiles and drones aimed at the kingdom. Saudi authorities have yet to publicly confirm the latest refinery attack, and further details about the incident remain unclear.