Evidence points to Iran involvement in Saudi oil attack
- 5 years ago
SAUDI ARABIA — Iran has dismissed accusations from the United States that it was behind the recent attacks on Saudi energy facilities.
Reuters reports that two Saudi Arabia oil facilities run by state-owned company Aramco were set ablaze following drone strikes early Saturday morning.
The attack cut more than half of the country's oil output, or roughly five percent of the global oil supply.
The BBC reports that Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they deployed 10 drones to strike the Abqaiq oil processing plant and Khurais oil field.
Riyadh has said Iran arms the Houthis, a charge both parties deny, according to Reuters.
The New York Times reports that satellite images released by the U.S. government show at least 17 points of impact to key infrastructure at the two sites.
A senior administration official told CNN the strikes appeared to have come from the north or northwest, which is consistent with an attack from Iraq or Iran, rather than Yemen.
The possible use of cruise missiles with the drones also indicate a level of scope, precision, and sophistication the Houthis alone could not have been capable of.
In a tweet on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said "there is reason to believe we know the culprit" and that the U.S. is "locked and loaded" to respond, pending verification from the Kingdom.
Both Iraq and Iran have denied involvement, according to DW. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi has called the allegations from the U.S. "pointless," dismissing them as "maximum lies."
Reuters reports that two Saudi Arabia oil facilities run by state-owned company Aramco were set ablaze following drone strikes early Saturday morning.
The attack cut more than half of the country's oil output, or roughly five percent of the global oil supply.
The BBC reports that Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they deployed 10 drones to strike the Abqaiq oil processing plant and Khurais oil field.
Riyadh has said Iran arms the Houthis, a charge both parties deny, according to Reuters.
The New York Times reports that satellite images released by the U.S. government show at least 17 points of impact to key infrastructure at the two sites.
A senior administration official told CNN the strikes appeared to have come from the north or northwest, which is consistent with an attack from Iraq or Iran, rather than Yemen.
The possible use of cruise missiles with the drones also indicate a level of scope, precision, and sophistication the Houthis alone could not have been capable of.
In a tweet on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said "there is reason to believe we know the culprit" and that the U.S. is "locked and loaded" to respond, pending verification from the Kingdom.
Both Iraq and Iran have denied involvement, according to DW. Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi has called the allegations from the U.S. "pointless," dismissing them as "maximum lies."