JEDDAH-Saudi forces destroyed explosives-laden boats and launched air strikes in Yemen on Saturday after Houthi rebel drones and missiles hit targets around the country, setting off an inferno at an oil plant within sight of Jeddah’s Formula One race.
Smoke and flames rise from a Saudi Aramco oil facility in this Red Sea coastal city, following an attack by Houthi rebels. (Photo by AFP).
Three people were killed in the operation against the booby-trapped boats, according to the Saudi-led coalition, which also carried out air raids on the Yemeni cities of Sanaa and Hodeida overnight.
It marked a violent seventh anniversary of the coalition’s military intervention in Saudi Arabia’s impoverished neighbor Yemen, after the Iran-backed Houthis had seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.
Thousands of people marched in Sanaa on Saturday to denounce a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands directly or indirectly, according to the UN, and left millions on the brink of famine.
However, there were signs of diplomacy as a senior Saudi official told AFP the rebels had offered a ceasefire and peace talks in exchange for opening up Sanaa’s airport and the lifeline port of Hodeida.
“The Houthis put forward an initiative through mediators that includes a truce, opening the airport (Sanaa) and the port (Hodeida) and Yemeni-Yemeni discussions,” said the official, on condition of anonymity.
“We are waiting for it to be officially announced because they (Houthis) are constantly changing their words,” he added.
No immediate comment was available from the rebels. A Riyadh-based diplomat told AFP that Hans Grundberg, the UN’s special envoy to Yemen, had led recent efforts to reach a truce during the month of Ramadan, which begins in early April.
Four boats laden with explosives were destroyed at Salif, a Red Sea port north of Jeddah, a day after the Yemeni attacks on a televised F1 practice day spooked drivers and threw the race into doubt.
“We targeted four booby-trapped boats in Salif port, which is under preparation, and thwarted an imminent attack on oil tankers,” the coalition said, according to state television.
Drivers returned to the track for the final practice session after hours of talks with F1 and team officials late on Friday and safety assurances from the Saudi government. “Drivers are not 100 percent happy (or) fully relaxed,” said Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto. “They are still concerned but they have listened to the reassurance and they understand it’s important to stay here and try to race.”
After hours of talks with the pilots, team principals and Saudi officials on Friday, Formula One and governing body the FIA said it had received “assurances” that the race in Jeddah can be held safely. “Saudi government authorities and security agencies… have given full and detailed assurances that the event is secure,” a joint statement said. “It has been agreed with all stakeholders to maintain a clear and open dialogue throughout the event and for the future.”
Regular media interviews were cancelled on Friday during the talks over the race’s future. But the pilots’ union, the Grand Prix Drivers Association, said it was a “difficult day for Formula One and a stressful day for us Formula One drivers”.
“Perhaps it is hard to comprehend if you have never driven an F1 car on this fast and challenging Jeddah track, but on seeing the smoke from the incident it was difficult to remain a fully focused race driver and erase natural human concerns,” a statement said.
During “long discussions”, Saudi government ministers “explained how security measures were elevated to the maximum” to allow the race to go ahead, it added.
The attacks on targets including oil facilities, an electrical station and a water plant came as crude prices soar on supply fears following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s biggest oil exporters, has rebuffed calls to pump more oil in a bid to stabilize markets, sticking instead to the steady increases agreed by the OPEC+ alliance, which includes Russia. (AFP)