Saudi Aramco has suspended operations at its 400,000-barrel-per-day Jazan refinery following a Houthi military strike that damaged key facilities, according to intelligence reports reviewed by Reuters. The attack, which occurred on July 27, targeted the refinery's Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle complex and tank farm, resulting in visible smoke plumes captured on video and verified by news outlets. The incident marks another in a series of attacks on energy infrastructure in the region.
The company estimates repairs will take approximately two weeks, with tentative completion expected by August 15. This timeline remains subject to assessment of damage severity and logistics for replacement parts. The temporary shutdown removes a significant portion of regional refining capacity from global markets at a time of elevated energy price sensitivity.
The strike underscores ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the vulnerability of critical energy assets to military action. Such disruptions can have ripple effects across international oil markets and highlight the strategic importance of infrastructure protection in one of the world's most critical energy-producing regions.