Global Conflict Reporting

Tag: Saudi Arabia

  • Middle East war widens as Houthis launch attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

    Middle East war widens as Houthis launch attacks on Saudi oil facilities.

    On July 25 2026, Yemeni Houthi forces claim to have carried out ballistic missile strikes on two Aramco oil facilities in Saudi Arabia. 

    Image reported to be of the Aramco oil refinery in Jazan.

    In a statement released on IRGC connected media networks, Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree said the group fired ballistic missiles and drones at facilities belonging to the state oil company, Aramco, in the Red Sea towns of Yanbu and Jazan. 

    Videos released online show smoke rising from the Jazan oil refinery. 

    NASA FIRMS, a satellite program used to detect wildfires, shows fires at both Yanbun and Jazan oil refineries.

    FIRMS shot showing Jazam refinery on July 25th, 2026.
    Comparison shot from the 23. The image from the 25th shows much more than is expected. Since then the fire has spread.
    This image shows the area of fire spreading,

    These attacks were claimed by the Saudi’s and their coalition of allies as a proportionate response for Saudi-led coalitions airstrikes on Houthi military positions in Hodeidah (Hodeida) and Kamaran Island. These strikes were carried out The Houthis on July, 23 2026 struck two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and Layla, operating in the Red Sea. The strike stemmed from a blockade of the Bab al-Mandab that the Houthis had annonced beforehand.

    The Houthis in Yemen are strongly aligned with Iran who offer training, weapons and other aid. They have been uncharacteristically uninvolved with the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran, usually opting to fight alongside or at least operate as a sort of distraction. During the Israeli war in Gaza, a war that involved Iran because Iran supported Palestinian Hamas. During this time the Houthis would launch missiles into Israel as well as launch missiles at any Israeli/US alligned ships sailing.

    Update:

    As of writing this the Houthis have carried out an attack on the Aramco Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia. The plant is the largest of its kind in the world and process between 5-7 percent of the world’s global oil supply. A large fire broke out after Houthis drones struck the facility.

    NASA FIRMS shows a fire covering most of the plant. When looking at low-resolution satellite imagery from today we can see a large plume of smoke coming from a smokestack which doesn’t usually produce such a large plume. We can also see an area which appears to have been covered with firefighting foam. Another area nearby shows what appears to be ground scarring from a fire.

    Overview showing the Abqaiq oil processing facility. Think black smoke is pouring from the facility.
    Looking closer we can see areas that just today start to show signs of fire fighting foam and ground scarring.
  • US Army General speaks on transfer of patriot air defense battalion to Middle East.

    US Army General speaks on transfer of patriot air defense battalion to Middle East.

    By. Scott Jackson

    04/10/2025

    Two days ago GCR reported that a number of US cargo planes were moving equipment to the Middle East. We have some more information on that today after Admiral Samuel J. Paparo revealed today at a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee, that several Patriot battery’s had been taken from South Korea and the Indian Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) and transferred to Central Command (CENTCOM). The airlifts were cauteries out by dozens of C-17’s.

    Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

    INDOPACOM covers the pacific and Indian Ocean region and is one of the most important military commands for the U.S. as they struggle against Chinese territorial interest with Taiwan as well as other parts of the first island chain. CENTCOM on the other hand, covers the Middle East region and is currently carrying out operations against the Iranian backed Houthis in Yemen. US assets have been reported as being moved to the Middle East in a suspected threat to Iran. US president Donald Trump has made it clear that if negotiations aren’t started with Iran, concerning Irans nuclear program, bombs will be the next step.

    While Iran has little in the way of modern aircraft capable of defending against these hypothetical US strikes, what they do have is hundreds of medium and long range ballistic missiles. High level officials from the Iranian government have made threats towards U.S. military bases in the region as well as the bases of anybody who could help the US with a strike on Irans. This is where the patriot systems come in.

    Patriot missile test

    A patriot battery is made up of the following.

    6-8 launchers

    1 radar set (AN/MPQ-53 phased-array radar)

    An Engagement Control station.

    An Electrical Power Plant

    And an Antenna Mast Group.

    Patriot PAC 2 launcher in service in Israel.
    AN/MPQ-53 phased-array radar

    A patriot battalion is made up of anywhere from 4-6 battery’s and 24-48 launchers as well as the single radar, power, and Fire Control Station each.

    The Patriots in South Korea are apart of an I rig rated defense system and cover US assets in the country like Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek and Osan Air Base.

    South Korea has asked the U.S. Department of Defense to temporarily deploy substitute assets, such as alternative air defense systems or combat aircraft, on a rotational basis to cover the hole left in their air defense network with the removal of these systems between February and March. The Patriots are expected to remain in the Middle East for the next at least six months.

    The U.S. has dozens of bases and locations in the region that could come under fire in the near future as tensions rise in the region. Iran has already threatened US forces as a retaliation for a possible strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel all have their own defense networks (some supplemented by THAAD and Patriot systems.)

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