Missiles in Saudi attack ‘launched from Iran’
Riyadh, Tuesday
The US has reportedly identified locations in Iran from which drones and cruise missiles were launched against major Saudi oil facilities on Saturday.
A senior official told CBS News that the locations were in southern Iran, at the northern end of the Gulf.
Saudi air defences did not stop the drones and missiles because they were pointed southwards, to prevent attacks from Yemen, the official added.
Iran denies involvement in the attacks, which disrupted global oil supplies.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels said they had launched the drones that struck the Abqaiq oil processing plant, the world’s largest, and the Khurais oilfield.
They have attacked Saudi oil facilities before but US officials said on Sunday they believed the drones and missiles did not originate from the south or south-west, and instead were launched from the north or north-west.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani previously called the attack a reciprocal act by the “Yemeni people”.
Oil prices soared 20% after the attacks but have since pared their gains. The international benchmark used by traders, Brent crude, is currently trading at around $65.34 (£52.32).
President Donald Trump said on Monday it looked like the attacks had come from Iran, and US officials said they were gathering evidence to prove it.
Vice-President Mike Pence said on Tuesday the military was “ready to defend the interests of our allies”, and that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was en route to Saudi Arabia “to discuss our response”.
One senior official told AFP news agency they would present their evidence at the UN General Assembly next week.
The unnamed official refused to give details about the attack, but insisted the US was certain they had come from Iranian soil. - BBC
