Satellite images from Monday show large fires and a heavy smoke column at the Abqaiq crude oil processing plant in Saudi Arabia, according to reports. The Houthi movement claimed responsibility for striking several crude oil processing and transportation facilities, including Abqaiq.
Monday's satellite imagery reveals large fires and a heavy smoke column at Saudi Aramco's Abqaiq crude oil processing plant, the kingdom's largest such facility. The Houthi movement has separately claimed responsibility for striking several crude oil processing and transportation facilities, including Abqaiq. The imagery provides the clearest visual confirmation yet of an incident at the site, following earlier indicators.
As The Zioneer has been tracking since early Monday, the situation at Abqaiq unfolded rapidly. At 11:28 Jerusalem, initial reports citing a single source described a suicide drone strike on Aramco facilities in the area. Minutes later, independent satellite analysis by GeoPWatch detected multiple thermal hotspots at the facility using NASA FIRMS/VIIRS data, recorded around 02:35 local time Monday. Subsequent analyst reports of satellite imagery confirmed physical damage, and footage circulating on Telegram channels showed the aftermath of an attack. The new satellite imagery now confirms large fires and a smoke plume still active at the site.
The Abqaiq incident is part of a broader wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure. The Zioneer previously reported on Houthi claims of missile strikes on Israel and the Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia, and on detected fires at the Saudi Aramco Jazan refinery following Houthi strikes. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, on Monday claimed that drone strikes had targeted multiple oil supply and transport sites across Saudi Arabia, from east to Yanbu, in retaliation for Saudi drone activity over Yemen.
No independent confirmation of the extent of damage or potential casualties has been received from Saudi authorities. The initial claim of a suicide drone strike remains unverified from official sources, though the satellite and thermal data strongly indicate a significant incident at the facility.
5 developments
- DevelopingIraqi Shia militias strike Saudi oil facilities for first time as Houthis continue attacks; satellite images show fires at Abqaiq
- StrongOil loading halted at all Iraqi export terminals after drone strike on Basra tanker
- DevelopingUS energy company HKN to close all Iraq operations due to war, official says
- DevelopingTatneft oil refinery in Nizhnekamsk halts production after Ukrainian strikes
Source and signal
- Open-source intake