Infrastructure strikes hit Yemeni water project and Saudi Aramco refinery

Tensions in the region have escalated following a series of strikes targeting critical infrastructure in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. In Hodeidah province, the Yemeni Ministry of Electricity, Energy, and Water reported that Saudi airstrikes targeted the Al-Salif Water Project. The ministry stated that five airstrikes destroyed the main reservoir, the solar energy project, and emergency generators, resulting in the complete shutdown of the facility and several injuries.

Simultaneously, Houthi forces struck the Saudi Aramco Jazan refinery on August 9, causing a fire. While no casualties were reported and the blaze was contained, this marks the second strike on the Jazan complex in approximately two weeks. This follows a pattern of attacks throughout 2026 on various Saudi energy sites, including the Abqaiq crude stabilization plant. Although Saudi authorities and Aramco CEO Amin Nasser maintain that production and export schedules have been restored quickly, the repeated strikes continue to introduce risk to global oil markets.