The Houthis claimed an attack on the financial district of Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Sunday. Eyewitnesses reported that damage was inflicted on a tower belonging to the oil giant Aramco.
Number of attacks on Aramco facilities
Aramco's facilities and infrastructure have repeatedly been targeted by Houthi attacks in recent months. This group has frequently attacked tankers, refineries, and storage areas of the company. An eyewitness referred to a report, saying: "The Aramco tower in the King Abdullah financial district has been targeted." Two other witnesses also confirmed that damage was inflicted on this building.
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Rising tensions in Yemen
The ceasefire in 2022, which had ended the prolonged conflicts in Yemen, collapsed in July, and since then Saudi Arabia has been exchanging fire with the Houthis. This group has attacked Saudi airports, energy infrastructure, and military sites. The Houthis, with Iranian support, seized Yemen's capital, Sana'a, in 2014, and a year later, a Saudi-led coalition entered the war to support the Yemeni government.
The Houthis stated in a statement that "the armed forces of Yemen, with God's help, carried out four qualitative military operations using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones," and the targets of these operations included the financial district, Riyadh airport, and Aramco's oil storage tanks.
An eyewitness in the Aramco tower area also said he witnessed a projectile hitting the building, but did not specify the type of projectile. The King Abdullah financial district is one of the most prominent symbols of Saudi Arabia's economic and social plans, featuring glass skyscrapers and luxury shopping centers.
This attack is considered a serious escalation by the Houthis, especially since this area also includes residential buildings and a metro station with heavy traffic during peak hours. An expert stated: "This attack damages the credibility of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 program as much as it does Aramco itself."
The Saudi Ministry of Energy stated in a statement that "an office building belonging to Aramco in Riyadh was targeted in an unsuccessful attack today," adding: "This incident resulted in debris falling and minor damage to the building, with no casualties or fatalities reported."
The Saudi Ministry of Interior has repeatedly warned residents to refrain from filming and sharing images related to drones and missiles. This attack occurred just hours after the Saudi Ministry of Education announced the return to in-person education after weeks of remote learning.
The spokesman for the military coalition, Turki al-Maliki, announced in a social media post that "air defense intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards Riyadh. However, loud explosions were heard in the Saudi capital."
Saudi Arabia is seeking help from its allies, as it is targeted daily by Houthi attacks. Thousands of Syrian soldiers are preparing to be deployed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with some already stationed in these areas.
The United Nations has emphasized that since the resumption of hostilities in Yemen, more than 1,600 people have been killed and over 300,000 displaced.
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