The Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for airstrikes on Saudi Arabia.
(Photo: dpa)
Dubai Before the Formula 1 race in Jeddah, a fire broke out in an oil storage facility in the Saudi Arabian city. Thick smoke could be seen in the sky from the race track on Friday. The Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a series of airstrikes on Saudi Arabia; It was not initially clear whether one of them also started the fire in the fuel depot.
The stock exchanges reacted to the reports with an increase in oil prices. The oil giant Aramco maintains several industrial plants in the port city.
Saudi Arabia and the state oil company Saudi Aramco did not immediately confirm the fire. However, the fire appeared to be raging in the same fuel depot that the Houthis had been attacking for the past few days.
The Houthis had previously announced an extensive operation deep in Saudi Arabia via their news channel Al-Masirah. Details should be announced at a later date.
Top jobs of the day
Find the best jobs now and
be notified by email.
According to a TV report, the Saudi-led military coalition in the Yemeni civil war on Friday intercepted nine drones loaded with explosive devices that the Houthis are said to have launched towards the south, east and center of the kingdom.
Formula 1 starts second training session
Despite a rocket impact, Formula 1 started the second training session. With a 15-minute delay, the first cars rolled back onto the course on the Red Sea on Friday.
The Formula 1 top wanted to wait for more information from the authorities. Before the start of the second practice session, a meeting was called with all the drivers and team bosses. Later, there should be “an official statement on how safety can be guaranteed,” said Red Bull Motorsport Director Helmut Marko on the Sky TV channel. If safety can be guaranteed for the remainder of the Grand Prix weekend, “we should drive,” added the Austrian.
Shortly before the events, the racing series held its first training session before the Grand Prix on the Red Sea scheduled for Sunday (7 p.m. CET).
Shortly after the first practice session for the Grand Prix, there was an explosion in the fuel depot near the race track.
(Photo: IMAGO/Motorsport Images)
Just last Sunday, Houthi rebels launched attacks against Saudi Arabia using a missile and drones. An Aramco plant in Jeddah was also hit, and fire broke out at an oil tank. There were no reports of casualties. The scenes on Friday were reminiscent of these events.
The organizers last said on Wednesday that despite the attacks from neighboring Yemen, they were sticking to the upcoming Formula 1 race in Jeddah. “As always, the safety of our guests has top priority,” said a spokesman. “We are in constant contact with the relevant authorities and all measures have been taken to ensure the safety of all visitors to Formula 1 (…).”
Saudi Arabia is fighting the Houthi rebels in Yemen. These also repeatedly attack targets in Saudi Arabia from the neighboring country. In the previous incident on Sunday, according to a report by state television, an “enemy missile” was intercepted by the air defense system over Jeddah. “This incident has no impact on the race weekend,” the organizers of the Grand Prix announced afterwards.
In Saudi Arabia, strict regulations usually apply to sporting events
Saudi Arabia is considered to be quite safe compared to other countries in the region, but there have also been several terrorist attacks there. At the end of 2020, the Islamic State terrorist militia claimed responsibility for an attack on a ceremony in Jeddah, in which two people were injured. Strict safety regulations usually apply to major events such as sporting events in the country.
In January, a French driver was seriously injured by an explosion in his team’s vehicle at the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. France’s judiciary initiated preliminary investigations into the case on suspicion of attempted killing in connection with terrorism. Local authorities have ruled out a criminal background.
More: The great struggle for raw materials: This is how China and Russia want to make the rest of the world dependent.