Saudi military presents evidence of Iranian involvement in oil facility attacks

Iranian-made cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were used in the 14 September attacks on the Abqaiq and Khurais oil facilities but were not launched from Yemen as claimed, Saudi military spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said in a press briefing four days later.

Col Maliki stands in front of the remnants of two of the three missiles that he said crashed before they reached Abqaiq. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images)

“The attack was launched from the north and was unquestionably sponsored by Iran,” he said. “The evidence throughout my display and briefing makes this undeniable.”

The attack was claimed by the Iranian-backed Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah (Houthis), which said it involved 10 UAVs of three different types – including two new ones – that were launched from three different locations.

The US government had already released satellite imagery showing significantly more than 10 impact points at the two oil facilities.

Col Maliki said 18 UAVs targeted Abqaiq, with three cruise missiles falling short of the facility, and another four cruise missiles hitting Khurais. The remnants of several of the UAVs and cruise missiles used in the attack were displayed during his briefing.

He identified the cruise missile type as the Iranian-made Ya Ali, which he previously said was used against Abha International Airport on 12 June. Ansar Allah claimed that attack and subsequently displayed a ground-launched cruise missile it calls the Quds that it said was used to carry out the Abha attack.