Yemen's Houthis claimed on Sunday to have attacked the financial district of Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh. Eyewitnesses reported that damage was inflicted on one of the skyscrapers belonging to the oil company Aramco. This event reflects the intensification of tensions in the long-standing conflict in Yemen, which has escalated following the collapse of the 2022 ceasefire in July.
Details of the Attack on Aramco Tower
According to eyewitnesses, the Aramco Tower in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) was targeted, and two others confirmed that damage was done to the building. The Houthis stated in a statement that "Yemeni armed forces conducted four qualitative military operations using a number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones," which included targets such as the financial district, Riyadh airport, and Aramco's oil tanks.
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Witnesses in the Aramco Tower area reported that a projectile hit the building, but its type was not specified. The Aramco Tower is one of the symbols of Saudi Arabia's economic and social reform program, featuring glass skyscrapers, luxury shops, and green spaces.
Political and Economic Consequences
Analysts believe that this attack could damage the credibility of Saudi Arabia's "Vision 2030" program. Andreas Krieg, a risk consultancy expert in London, stated: "This attack undermines the credibility of Saudi Arabia's economic program and increases the political costs of the Yemen war." He added that this action could increase demand for military escalation in Saudi Arabia and weaken the perception that Riyadh can establish deterrence with its air power.
The Saudi Ministry of Energy stated in a statement that "an office building belonging to Aramco in Riyadh was targeted" and fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported. This incident occurred hours after the Saudi Ministry of Education announced a return to in-person classes after weeks of remote learning in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia announced that its forces had destroyed "two ballistic missile launchers" in northern Yemen, which they claimed were used by the Houthis in this attack on Riyadh. There are also reports of thousands of Syrian forces being deployed to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Iran has condemned these attacks, deeming them a blatant violation of international human rights and calling for an immediate return to dialogue. The United Nations has also reported that over 1,600 people have been killed in these conflicts and more than 300,000 have been displaced.
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