Iran defends Yemeni rebel attack on Saudi Arabia's oil sites

Saudi Crown Prince MBS said that "only a fool would attack" major Saudi oil sites

SAUDI-ARAMCO/FIRE Smoke is seen following a fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia on Saturday | Reuters

The September 14 assault on Saudi Arabia's oil sites at Aramco, the kingdom says, was “unquestionably sponsored by Iran,” though the Yemeni rebels Houthis took responsibility for the missile-and-drone attack.

Saudi Arabia has been at war with the Houthis since March 2015.

Iran, while denying being responsible for the attack said that it was an act of “legitimate defence,” and has warned any retaliatory attack targeting it will result in an "all-out war."

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Monday called Saudi accusations "baseless," adding that Iran supports the Houthis through "spiritual and political" means.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told in an interview that aired Sunday that "only a fool would attack" major Saudi oil sites and urged "strong and firm action to deter Iran."

Houthi rebels on September 29 said that they killed 500 Saudi soldiers and taken 2,000 hostages in a major assault near the Saudi border. There was little evidence to back up these claims. Saudi officials have not acknowledged the attack yet.

An unverified video of Saudi vehicles on fire was released by the rebel forces. Wounded and dead soldiers were also shown. According to military officials from the Yemeni government, who are also fighting the rebels, the group claimed to have captured were in fact fighters recruited informally by the Saudi-led coalition to fight the Kingdom's borders.

Typically, the group would force a soldier to show his ID and speak on camera before using them as bargaining chips.