Thick smoke rose over the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah on Friday as the kingdom's air defences intercepted waves of Houthi strikes in a major escalation of near-daily attacks.
The National’s reporter at the scene of the explosion at an Aramco depot near the airport in Jeddah said thick, black smoke was billowing across the city.
The Saudi-led coalition said that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels hit two holding tanks at the Aramco terminal in Jeddah. A Houthi spokesman confirmed the group was responsible for the attacks.
Brig Gen Turki Al Malki, coalition spokesman, said the Aramco oil distribution plant was hit at 5.25pm local time, which led to a fire at the site. The fire was brought under control by a civil defence team with no casualties reported.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that the oil distribution plant in Jeddah as well as Al Mukhtara station in Jazan had been hit by a projectile.
“The kingdom stresses the importance of the international community being aware of the danger of Iran continuing to provide the terrorist Houthi militias with ballistic missile and advanced drone technologies, with which they target oil and gas production sites and their derivatives in the kingdom,” a ministry source said.
The Iran-backed Yemeni rebels fired at least 16 projectiles at civilian infrastructure in the regions of Jeddah, Najran, Jazan and Dhahran Al Janub.
Although the coalition said its forces had shot down the projectiles, the Houthi attacks caused a small fire at an electricity distribution station in the Jazan town of Samtah. There was also flooding around a national water company site in Dhahran Al Janub, after it was hit.
Images released by the Saudi Press Agency also showed some damage to civilian vehicles, residential areas and shops in Dhahran Al Janub.
The coalition, which supports Yemen's internationally recognised government, said six drones were destroyed in the early hours of Friday and three others were intercepted later in the day before the attacks on Jazan and Dhahran Al Janub.
The coalition said it launched air strikes early on Saturday against "sources of threat" in Sanaa, the rebel-held Yemeni capital, and the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
"The military operation will continue until its objectives are achieved," the coalition said in a statement quoted by SPA.
The coalition said earlier the Houthis should bear the consequences of their "hostile behaviour".
It said the operation to stop attacks on oil installations and "protect global energy sources" was in its early stages, and asked civilians to stay away from oil sites or terminals in Hodeidah.
Attack before Formula One weekend
The attack on the Aramco terminal in Jeddah took place 19 kilometres from the circuit hosting Formula One’s Saudi Grand Prix.
Formula One says the race will continue "as planned" after a meeting with drivers and team bosses.
"We have received total assurance that the country’s safety is first," Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali told reporters.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said the sport had to stand together.
"Any act of terrorism cannot be condoned," the Briton told Sky Sports F1. "The sport shouldn’t be bullied into a position and a situation like that just isn’t acceptable."
Some fans told The National they were terrified and had left as soon as they heard the explosion.
“They are purposely doing this to Saudi Arabia while it is hosting a world-class event [Formula One] to try to tarnish its reputation and give an impression that it's unsafe when in fact, that is not true,” said Fatima, a visitor to the Formula One track.
“I was scared for my life and my family, we all made calls home to let our families know we are safe. I am devastated and shaken.”
Rockets were also fired towards Najran and Jazan near the Yemeni border, Saudi state media reported.
“The hostile attempts deliberately target civilian infrastructure and energy installations, and the continuation of the Houthis’ hostilities threatens regional and international security,” the coalition said.
“We support the Gulf and international stance for the success of the Yemeni talks while the Houthis are trying to thwart them,” the coalition added.
Earlier this week, the coalition destroyed two explosive-laden boats that the Houthis were reportedly planning to use in attacks on oil tankers in the southern Red Sea.
The UAE strongly condemned the rebels' attacks on civilian targets and vital economic facilities in Saudi Arabia and called for an international response to stop them.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said these recurrent attacks "reflected the Houthis terrorist militias' blatant defiance of the international community and their disregard of the efforts made to end the Yemeni crisis".
"This disregard of all international laws and norms requires a deterrent response to all that threatens the security, safety and lives of civilians," the ministry said in a statement on the state Wam news agency.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the attacks on its ally and said Washington would continue to work with Riyadh to strengthen its defences while working for a durable resolution to the conflict in Yemen.
"At a time when the parties should be focused on de-escalation and bringing needed life-saving relief to the Yemeni people ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the Houthis continue their destructive behaviour and reckless terrorist attacks striking civilian infrastructure," Mr Blinken said.
Oil prices rebound after attack
The strikes come days after Houthi attacks damaged critical energy plants in the kingdom, temporarily cutting Saudi Arabia's oil production and pushing the already high Brent benchmark oil price up to $114.68 per barrel.
Oil prices rose on Friday, rebounding from early losses as traders rushed to buy. Brent crude rose $1.20, or 0.7 per cent, to $119.92 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.04, or 0.9 per cent, to $113.34.
Both had dropped more than $3 earlier and the benchmarks were heading for their first weekly gains in three weeks.
Brent was on track for a 10 per cent weekly jump and WTI for an 8 per cent rise.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Read more about the coronavirus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
Three ways to limit your social media use
Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.
1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.
2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information.
3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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UNpaid bills:
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019
USA – $1.055 billion
Brazil – $143 million
Argentina – $52 million
Mexico – $36 million
Iran – $27 million
Israel – $18 million
Venezuela – $17 million
Korea – $10 million
Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019
USA – $2.38 billion
Brazil – $287 million
Spain – $110 million
France – $103 million
Ukraine – $100 million
PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
