Saudi Arabia Attacks: Houthis Claim Strikes on Riyadh Airport and Aramco Facilities

Yemen’s Houthi group said on Sunday that it had targeted King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Aramco oil storage tanks and the financial centre in Riyadh, the kingdom’s capital, Xinhua reported.

Earlier, falling debris damaged an administrative building belonging to state oil giant Saudi Aramco in Riyadh following an attempted attack. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said the incident caused limited damage, with no injuries or fatalities.

A Reuters witness reported blown-out windows across several floors of the Aramco Tower in the King Abdullah Financial District, one of the tallest buildings in the capital.

The incident followed an announcement by the Saudi-led coalition that it had intercepted two missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthis towards Riyadh. Aramco was not immediately available for comment, while the Houthis had not issued an immediate statement on the reported damage.

Several loud explosions were heard in Riyadh on Sunday, according to a Reuters witness. The sounds came shortly after Saudi Civil Defence issued an early-warning alert about a potential threat. Authorities later announced that the danger had passed.

The Saudi-led coalition subsequently said it had intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles over Riyadh and the kingdom’s southern region.

Warnings in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province

Saudi Civil Defence also issued and later lifted warnings in several areas of the oil-rich Eastern Province, including Dhahran, where Saudi Aramco is headquartered.

The Eastern Province holds most of Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas reserves. Aramco’s headquarters sustained extensive damage in an attack in October.

Saudi authorities also reported that an attack on King Khalid International Airport on October 10 killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.

The latest escalation has shattered a United Nations-brokered truce reached in 2022, which had largely halted fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia led a coalition of Arab states into Yemen in 2015 to restore the internationally recognised government after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa.

The renewed hostilities followed reports of deadly Saudi airstrikes near Sanaa on Saturday. The Houthi-run health ministry said at least 33 people were killed and 39 wounded in the attacks.

The Houthi-run Saba news agency reported that the strikes hit homes in Bani Hushaysh, a Houthi stronghold east of Sanaa. It said most of those killed were women and children.

Reuters could not independently verify the account. Saudi Arabia’s Center for International Communication said it was investigating the report.

Abdul-Aziz al-Dailami, director of Sehatuna Hospital in Sanaa, said several victims remained trapped beneath the rubble, including emergency responders.

He told Reuters that rescuers had come under further attack while trying to reach victims. He also reported receiving critically injured people with head, chest and leg injuries.

Yemeni army reports 875 operations against Houthis

Separately, Yemen’s internationally recognised government forces said on Saturday that they had conducted 875 operations against the Houthis in recent hours.

Military spokesman Majed al-Nazili claimed the operations had killed or incapacitated 130 Houthi fighters and commanders.

In a statement on X, he said the campaign, named Operation Dawn of Yemen, targeted Houthi positions, reinforcements and military equipment. Warplanes, drones and artillery supported the operations.

Al-Nazili said the forces had destroyed or damaged 50 military vehicles and pieces of equipment, including missile launchers.

In southwestern Taiz province, government troops and allied Popular Resistance fighters continued efforts to repel Houthi attacks and target the group’s positions.

Other units reportedly struck Houthi positions and reinforcements in Marib and Al-Jawf provinces. Government-aligned forces also continued operations on southern and western fronts.

The Yemeni military said its forces were taking precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Houthis had not immediately commented on the military’s claims.