Saudi Arabia: Iranian Weapons Used To Attack Oil Sites
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Mon, 09/16/2019
Update: It’s official — after Trump over the weekend put the ball squarely in the Saudis’ court, saying the US was “waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!” — Saudi Arabia has responded by saying it was indeed Iran, confirming that “Iranian weapons” were used to attack its oil facilities.
After the US apparently ruled out Iraq as a launching pad on Monday, following Baghdad’s firm denial, it looks like Riyadh appears to be pointing to a potential direct cruise missile or drone attack from Iran.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi military spokesman says initial investigation suggests 'Iranian weapons' used in oil installation attack.
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) September 16, 2019
An official military statement pointed to “Iranian weapons” but stopped short of naming the Islamic Republic as directly conducting the attack.
*U.S. Tells #Saudi Arabia that Oil Attacks Launched by Iran — Sources
*U.S. Rules Out Iraq as Launching Pad for Saudi Oil Attacks — #Iraqi, U.S. Officials.
*Pompeo Calling Regional Leaders, Expected to Speak to UAE Crown Prince Monday — Sources #OOTT #Iran #OPEC
— Summer Said (@summer_said) September 16, 2019
As expected, things are escalating fast and the ball is back in Trump’s court – he could be preparing to this time follow up on prior threats of being “locked and loaded”.
* * *
While US officials were quick out of the gate to allege an Iranian attack on Saudi Aramco facilities launched from Iraq early Saturday, a theory which the WSJ said was focus of an ongoing US-Saudi investigation, Iraq’s government issued a firm denial on Sunday, which followed Iran’s own denial that condemned Washington’s “maximum lies”.
Saying there was no link to Iraqi soil and the attack which caused oil prices to spike to record levels the moment markets opened, initially surging to as much as 18% before retreating after President Trump authorized use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to “keep the markets well-supplied,” the Iraqi government further vowed to “punish anyone who intended to use Iraq as a launchpad for attacks in the region.”
Despite Yemen’s Houthis themselves claiming responsibility for the precision strike using ten drones, unleashing explosions that rocked Abqaiq facility and the Khurais field, US officials have long eyed Iraq’s Shia paramilitary forces also as bad actors which Iran deploys as proxies from Iraqi soil.
Prior reports suggest Iran has indeed stationed ballistic missiles on Iraqi soil within the past year or so, within easy targeting range of key Saudi oil installations, as well as even Tel Aviv.
But crucially the Houthis have defiantly announced it’s not over: “The rebel group said its weapons could reach anywhere in Saudi Arabia. Saturday’s strikes were carried out by aircraft equipped with a new type of engine, the Houthi rebel group said,” Bloomberg reports.
The Rest…HERE
