Yemen’s Houthis rebels have warned of further attacks against Saudi Arabia’s airports and oil installations following a strike on the headquarters complex of state-owned energy company Saudi Aramco in Dhahran. The threat has heightened concerns about regional security and the safety of infrastructure vital to international energy supplies.
The attack took place on Tuesday as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces intensified. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed that a fire broke out in an administrative building at the Aramco complex. The ministry said emergency measures were taken and that no deaths or injuries had been reported. However, a source familiar with the incident told Reuters that a ballistic missile struck the complex, damaging an office tower.
The Houthis subsequently claimed responsibility for attacks involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones directed at Saudi energy facilities in Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in the capital. They did not specify when all the reported strikes occurred.
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The group described the facilities it threatened as legitimate targets, presenting its actions as retaliation for Saudi-led military operations in Yemen. Its latest warning signals the possibility of further attacks on strategically important Saudi infrastructure.
RISING TENSIONS THREATEN REGIONAL SECURITY AND OIL SUPPLIES
Saudi Arabia has faced a wider series of Houthi attacks in recent days, including a deadly strike on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday. The airport has been closed until October 17, and airlines have cancelled flights to the kingdom, according to Reuters.
Saudi-led forces have also carried out strikes against Houthi-controlled locations in Yemen, including oil storage facilities. The exchange of attacks has intensified a conflict that had experienced a period of relative calm under a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022.
The latest confrontation carries significant economic implications because Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s major oil producers. Damage to energy infrastructure or disruption to transport routes could unsettle oil markets, particularly if the attacks expand to production facilities, refineries or export terminals.
Although the reported fire at Aramco’s administrative building was described by Saudi authorities as limited, the incident highlights the vulnerability of important energy facilities during periods of heightened regional conflict.
The violence is also adding to the difficulties facing Yemen, where years of conflict have weakened public services and restricted humanitarian assistance. Continued fighting could further endanger civilians and make aid deliveries more difficult.
With the Houthis threatening additional strikes and Saudi-led forces continuing their military campaign, the risk of further retaliation remains high.
