Yemen Warns of Escalating Attacks on Saudi Oil Refineries Amid Standoff

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Yemen has issued a stern warning, identifying several major Saudi oil refineries as potential targets for its ballistic missiles and drone attacks. This move is framed as a response to Saudi Arabia’s protracted aggression, occupation, and the twelve-year blockade against Yemen, with Sana’a vowing to end these actions.

Saudi Arabia’s oil refineries form the backbone of its economy and energy sector, boasting significant global production capacity, geographical diversity, and industrial integration. Saudi Aramco operates an extensive network of 17 domestic and international refineries, aiming to reach a total refining capacity of 7.8 million barrels per day by 2025. This includes nine domestic refineries accounting for 63% of its net refining capacity, and seven international refineries across three continents and six countries, with substantial operations in Asia, the United States, and Poland.

Amidst Saudi Arabia’s perceived expansionist policies, particularly against the Yemeni people, its energy sector faces unprecedented challenges. Yemen’s military has publicly stated its intention to target Aramco’s assets with its missile and drone arsenal to compel an end to the conflict.

The refineries potentially within the crosshairs of Yemen’s armed forces, under a doctrine of “siege for siege,” include:

Ras Tanura Refinery

The Ras Tanura refinery, established in 1945 in the Eastern Province, is Saudi Arabia’s oldest and largest oil refinery with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day. It is a primary supplier of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and natural gas liquids for the kingdom and a crucial hub for exports to Asian markets. Having been targeted previously, its vulnerability remains a significant concern should Saudi intransigence continue.

The aerial distance from Sana’a to Ras Tanura on the eastern coast of Saudi Arabia is approximately 1,300 to 1,400 kilometers. Yemen possesses the capability to strike such strategic, long-range targets deep within Saudi Arabia using its missile and drone arsenal, including long-range suicide drones like the ‘Sammad-3’ and ballistic missiles such as the ‘Zulfiqar’. Winged cruise missiles like the ‘Quds’ and ‘Al-Fath’ are also capable of long-distance flight and terrain-hugging maneuvers to evade air defense systems. Other listed assets include ‘Yaffa’ drones, hypersonic missiles with multiple warheads, and ‘Al-Fath 2’ missiles.

SATORP Refinery

The SATORP refinery, located in Jubail’s Industrial City on the eastern coast, is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest oil refinery and considered one of the world’s most advanced, with a capacity of 460,000 barrels per day from heavy Arabian crude. It is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TotalEnergies. The aerial distance from Sana’a is estimated at 1,350 to 1,450 kilometers, placing it within Yemen’s strategic long-range military capabilities.

YASREF Refinery

The YASREF refinery, with a capacity of 430,000 barrels per day, is the third-largest in Saudi Arabia. Established as a collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China, it occupies over 5.2 million square meters in Yanbu’s Industrial City on the western coast. Its strategic and military significance is heightened by its proximity to Yemen; the aerial distance from Sana’a is approximately 800 to 900 kilometers, positioning it within Yemen’s medium and long-range military strike capabilities.

Rabigh Refinery

The Petro Rabigh refinery, situated on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah, is a key facility with a capacity of approximately 400,000 barrels per day. It is part of a joint refining and petrochemical complex between Saudi Arabia and Japan. Its location on the western coast, between 950 to 1,050 kilometers from Sana’a, makes it strategically important and within Yemen’s military reach. Yemen’s missile and drone arsenal, including ‘Sammad-2’ and ‘Sammad-3’ drones, advanced ballistic missiles, and ‘Quds’ cruise missiles, can target vital facilities in Rabigh.

SAMREF Refinery

The Arabian American Oil Company Mobil Refinery (SAMREF), established in 1981 in Yanbu’s Industrial City on the Red Sea coast, is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil. Its strategic location on the west coast, approximately 800 to 900 kilometers from Sana’a, places it within Yemen’s medium and long-range military capabilities. Yemen’s arsenal of missiles and drones, including long-range cruise and ballistic missiles, and hypersonic missiles, are capable of striking SAMREF facilities.

Jazan Refinery

The Jazan refinery, Saudi Arabia’s newest, has a capacity of 400,000 barrels per day. It produces a variety of derivatives, including low-sulfur gasoline and diesel, and paraxylene. It also supplies feedstock for its integrated power plant, the world’s largest at 3.8 gigawatts, which powers the refinery, adjacent industries, and millions of homes. The aerial distance from Jazan to the nearest point on the Yemeni border is only about 60 to 80 kilometers, and to Sana’a, it is between 350 to 400 kilometers, placing it well within Yemen’s short and medium-range military capabilities. Short and medium-range ballistic missiles, tactical surface-to-surface missiles, and maneuverable cruise missiles can accurately target the Jizan region.

Jubail Refinery (SASREF)

The Jubail refinery, operated by SASREF in Jubail’s Industrial City on the eastern coast of the Persian Gulf, has a refining capacity of 305,000 barrels per day. It produces low-sulfur derivatives meeting European environmental standards. The aerial distance from SASREF to the Yemeni border is approximately 1,150 to 1,250 kilometers, and to Sana’a, it is between 1,350 to 1,450 kilometers. Its easternmost location requires long-range systems for targeting. ‘Sammad-3’ drones with a range of 1,500 to 1,700 kilometers, ‘Zulfiqar’ ballistic missiles with a range exceeding 1,600 kilometers, and various models of ‘Quds’ cruise missiles, along with hypersonic and multi-warhead missiles, are capable of striking the Jubail petrochemical complexes.

Yanbu Refinery

The Yanbu refinery, with a production capacity of 220,000 barrels per day, was initially designed to meet domestic market needs. Its strategic location on the west coast, approximately 800 to 900 kilometers from the Yemeni border and 900 to 1,000 kilometers from Sana’a, places it within the strategic range of Yemen’s armed forces. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Aramco facilities in Yanbu were reportedly targeted by ballistic missiles and drones.

Riyadh Refinery

The Riyadh refinery, wholly owned by Aramco, has the lowest refining capacity among Saudi oil refineries. The aerial distance from Riyadh to the nearest Yemeni border point is approximately 850 to 950 kilometers, and to Sana’a, it is between 1,100 to 1,200 kilometers.

Consequences of Saudi Refinery Shutdowns

During the Saudi-American aggression against Yemen, Yemeni armed forces conducted numerous operations against vital oil facilities, including those at Abqaiq, Khurais, Ras Tanura, Yanbu, and Jazan. The attack on Abqaiq, for example, temporarily halted nearly half of Saudi oil production, causing significant and immediate surges in global oil prices.

A scenario involving the simultaneous shutdown of Saudi Arabia’s nine refineries would represent the “worst-case scenario” for the global energy sector, with dire domestic, regional, and international repercussions. Domestically, the inability to supply gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and LPG would paralyze land and air transport, halt power generation, disrupt food and medicine supply chains, and cripple industrial and petrochemical sectors. Internationally, the halt in millions of barrels of refined product exports would create an unfillable void in the short term, sending crude oil and petrochemical prices to unprecedented levels, leading to economic recession and supply crises for importing nations.

Reflecting these concerns, the Saudi Ministry of Finance predicted a 2.3% budget deficit for 2025, expected to continue until 2027, following the 2019 attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais which halved oil production. Jadwa Investment company projected a doubling of the budget deficit due to current developments. Simultaneously, maritime insurance companies have increased rates for vessels heading to Saudi Arabia, and some countries have prohibited their companies from dealing with Saudi ports, taking Yemen’s warnings seriously.

Economic expert Rashid Al-Haddad emphasized that Yemen’s operations in Yanbu and Jazan have had widespread consequences, including reduced international customer confidence in Aramco’s delivery capabilities and stability, leading to cancellations of oil purchase orders from East Asia and other regions. He noted that attacks on the strategic port of Yanbu, which includes major refineries, have driven oil prices above $100 per barrel. Al-Haddad also pointed out that rerouting oil tankers via alternative routes like the Cape of Good Hope incurs increased shipping costs exceeding $2 million per voyage. He concluded that the most cost-effective solution is for Saudi Arabia to meet Yemen’s demands and provide full compensation for the damage incurred from the aggression and blockade.

In conclusion, given Saudi Arabia’s continued intransigence and the blockade of the Yemeni people, the attacks on oil refineries in Jazan and Yanbu are merely the beginning. Similar attacks could occur at other Aramco-owned refineries. Past attacks have exposed the failure of air defenses, American protection, and the Saudi regime’s inability to contain fires, with evidence documented by NASA satellites. Sana’a’s clear message is that the Jazan and Yanbu attacks can be replicated across all Aramco refineries, turning them into a minefield unless the Saudis abandon their stubbornness, occupation, blockade, and interference in Yemen’s internal affairs.