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Houthi rebels struck the headquarters of Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, damaging executive offices. The attack, part of a broader wave of strikes on Saudi infrastructure, has disrupted aviation and raised oil prices.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck the headquarters of the Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran, according to regional officials. The overnight strike damaged the offices of the firm's chief executive and other top officials, marking a significant escalation in attacks on high-profile Saudi targets.
The attack occurred on Tuesday night, causing a "limited fire" at the Aramco administrative building, according to the Saudi energy ministry. Two regional officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the strike damaged the building's top three floors. One official noted that the CEO’s office was among those hit.
The Financial Times reported that the building is home to Aramco’s Oil Supply Planning and Scheduling department, described as a "nerve centre" of the company's operations, as well as hubs for corporate executives, finance, and legal departments. Aramco declined to comment on the incident.
The strike on Dhahran was part of a series of attacks claimed by the Houthis. Brigadier General Yahya Sare’e, a military spokesperson for the Houthis, said in an X post that the group targeted the Aramco headquarters, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and Aramco’s Riyadh refinery. The Houthis described these sites as "legitimate targets" and urged global shipping companies, citizens, and employees to evacuate.
The Saudi-led coalition, which supports the internationally recognized government in Yemen, reported intercepting multiple projectiles. Major General Turki al-Maliki, a coalition spokesperson, said ballistic missile strikes on Haradh and Dhahran were intercepted, with fragments falling into a residential area in Dhahran. On Wednesday, Saudi civil defense authorities reported that debris from an intercepted strike in Riyadh injured one person.
The attacks have disrupted aviation across Saudi Arabia. More than 3,000 flights scheduled to depart from airports across the kingdom have been canceled or listed as not operating in the past week, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. King Khalid International Airport has been targeted multiple times, with strikes in the past week killing at least 18 people and wounding more than 300 others.
The escalation has rattled global markets. Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose 0.5 per cent on Wednesday to $106.22. The attack coincided with the World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh, where executives from major oil companies including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies pulled out due to security concerns.
Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis' political bureau, told The Associated Press that regional and international powers, including Oman, Russia, and China, have reached out to stop the attacks as part of a ceasefire deal. "We're welcoming any mediation that leads to an end of the war and the blockade between Sanaa and Riyadh," al-Bukhaiti said. "We're ready for a comprehensive end of the war and the blockade from both sides, not just a temporary ceasefire."
The strike on Aramco’s headquarters demonstrates the Houthis' growing ability to penetrate Saudi air defenses and target critical economic infrastructure. The attacks have revived Yemen's civil war after four years of relative calm and increased pressure on the United States, with President Donald Trump evaluating whether the U.S. should join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. The conflict has also highlighted Saudi Arabia's struggle to intercept missiles and drones, with regional officials noting the kingdom is running low on interceptors.
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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