Riyadh, Oct 13 — An administrative building of Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, in Dhahran was attacked on Tuesday, prompting a limited fire, according to a statement from the Energy Ministry. No injuries or fatalities were reported as authorities responded to the incident.
A source within the company indicated that the facility was struck by a ballistic missile, which hit an office tower and damaged its upper floors. The source also reported a fire at the building. The Aramco complex serves as a critical operations center overseeing a vast network of oil infrastructure across the region.
The attack coincides with a significant escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi forces from Yemen. Over the past week, the Houthis have launched multiple ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting key installations in Saudi Arabia, including strikes on Riyadh’s international airport that resulted in 13 fatalities from an incident on Saturday.
Saturday’s assault was noted as the deadliest missile attack on Saudi Arabia in a decade, disrupting flights nationwide. Following Tuesday’s missile strike, residents near the Aramco complex reported hearing loud explosions.
The Saudi-led coalition announced that fragments of an intercepted missile fell into a residential area in Dhahran, without providing further specifics. Meanwhile, Saudi Civil Defense reported four injuries in Riyadh linked to debris from two Houthi missiles that were brought down during interception efforts, damaging 15 homes in the area.
The Houthis have threatened further retaliatory actions against Saudi Arabia, particularly in response to the kingdom’s ongoing military operations in Yemen. Their spokesperson, Yahya Saree, specifically mentioned potential targets, including the Aramco headquarters in Dhahran and a refinery in Riyadh. This warning came amid reports of intensified Saudi airstrikes in Yemen, particularly against fuel depots.
On Tuesday, the Saudi cabinet, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, issued a statement asserting that the Houthis would face repercussions for their recent attacks on Saudi territory.
In the context of the Yemen conflict, Saudi Arabia has resumed military operations aimed at bolstering the internationally recognized government against Houthi forces, which have made territorial advances in recent weeks. The situation continues to evolve as international stakeholders monitor the conflict’s impact on regional stability and global energy supplies.
