Houthi militants launched fresh missile strikes across Saudi Arabia, causing a limited fire at Aramco's Dhahran complex and injuring four in Riyadh. The escalation follows deadly weekend attacks on King Khalid International Airport.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Houthi militants launched a fresh wave of missile strikes across Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, targeting energy infrastructure and the capital, Riyadh. The attacks follow a deadly weekend assault on King Khalid International Airport that killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300 others.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry stated that an attack on the headquarters of state oil firm Aramco sparked a "limited fire" at the company's complex in the eastern city of Dhahran. The ministry confirmed there were no casualties or deaths resulting from the fire.
According to a company source who spoke to the Reuters news agency, a ballistic missile struck the top floors of an office building at the site. The Dhahran complex serves as a major operation for Aramco, which is the world's largest oil company.
In the capital, Saudi authorities reported that four people were injured by falling debris following two intercepted Houthi missile attacks. The country's civil defense agency identified the injured as two women, a man, and a child. Fifteen homes suffered damage in the capital.
Residents in Riyadh received phone alerts warning of a "hostile aerial threat" before hearing powerful explosions. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen stated that it intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched toward Riyadh on Monday evening. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the strike on King Khalid International Airport was "precise," though Saudi authorities reported the projectile was intercepted.
The Saudi-led coalition responded by striking targets in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Tuesday. Houthi-run broadcaster Al Masirah reported that the coalition targeted a fuel facility belonging to the Yemeni Oil Company. A coalition spokesperson stated that the Houthis were using the facility for storing missiles and drones.
The Yemeni Oil Company said the storage facilities at the site were empty and that the strike did not affect oil reserves or supplies to residents. Locals reported hearing strong explosions in Sanaa hours after the coalition urged people to leave the area.
The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted aviation in the region. Operations at King Khalid International Airport were suspended until at least October 17, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation. More than 6,000 flights into Saudi Arabia have been cancelled since Thursday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman addressed the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh, stating, "The word fear in the Saudi dictionary does not exist." He vowed a serious response to the attacks, which disrupted the conference and led to the withdrawal of chief executives from major oil companies including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell, and BP.
The escalation marks a significant intensification of the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis, breaking a ceasefire that had largely held since 2022. The targeting of critical energy infrastructure and major aviation hubs raises concerns about global oil supply stability and the safety of international travel in the region. The United States has indicated it may join Saudi Arabia in retaliatory strikes, while the United Arab Emirates has called for revived joint Gulf security action.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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