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Yemeni Rebels Attack Southern Saudi Airport With a Drone

Yemeni Rebels Attack Southern Saudi Airport With a Drone

(Bloomberg) -- Yemen’s Houthi rebels backed by Iran said they’ve attacked Najran airport in southern Saudi Arabia with a drone, days after targeting one of Aramco’s oil facilities in the kingdom.

Saudi authorities said the explosive-laden drone attacked a “vital installation used by civilians,” according to a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. There were no immediate reports on casualties or damages.

The kingdom had earlier accused Iran of ordering the attack on Aramco, which caused a temporary suspension of an oil pipeline, but didn’t provide evidence to back their claim.

Tension between U.S. and its allies, and Iran has spiked after the Trump administration tightened its economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic. American officials say the action aims to curb Iran’s political influence in the Middle East.

Najran has been on of the hardest-hit Saudi areas by the war in Yemen. The kingdom mobilized a coalition of mostly Sunni-ruled countries in 2015 to topple the Houthis after they ousted the country’s internationally-recognized government.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mohammed Hatem in Dubai at mhatem1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alaa Shahine at asalha@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.