A Saudi Aramco administrative tower in Riyadh was damaged by falling debris following an attempted attack on Sunday, the kingdom's Energy Ministry said. The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two Houthi missiles fired toward the capital. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
A Reuters witness saw blown-out windows across several floors of the Aramco Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the King Abdullah Financial District. The ministry described the damage as limited.
Multiple loud booms were heard in Riyadh earlier on Sunday, shortly after Saudi Civil Defense issued an early-warning alert of a potential threat. Authorities later announced the danger had passed.
The Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, said it had intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles in Riyadh and the kingdom's southern region. There was no immediate statement from the Houthis.
Earlier on Sunday, Saudi Civil Defense issued and later lifted warnings in several areas of the oil-rich Eastern Province, including Dhahran, home to the headquarters of state oil giant Saudi Aramco. The Eastern Province holds most of the kingdom's oil and gas reserves.
The latest escalation comes a day after Yemen's Houthi-run health ministry said Saudi airstrikes killed at least 33 people near Sanaa. Saudi authorities said they were investigating.
The renewed hostilities have shattered a 2022 UN-brokered truce that had largely halted fighting between the two sides. The Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities since fighting resumed in July. The fighting became another front in the wider Middle East war that reignited following US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February. Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Saudi Aramco's headquarters suffered extensive damage in an attack in October. An attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Oct. 10 killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The attack on a Saudi Aramco facility in the capital underscores the Houthis' ability to strike high-value targets despite coalition air defenses, raising questions about the security of critical energy infrastructure.
- The escalation shatters what remains of the 2022 UN-brokered truce, pushing Yemen further into a regional conflict that now involves Iran, the US and Israel.
- Civilian casualties on both sides, the airport attack last month that killed 13 and the 33 reported killed near Sanaa, deepen the humanitarian toll and complicate any return to negotiations.
Background
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. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 largely halted fighting between the two sides, but hostilities resumed in July. The conflict has become intertwined with the wider Middle East war that followed US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February.
Key Perspectives
Saudi Energy Ministry: said the attack caused limited damage to an administrative building from falling debris, with no injuries or fatalities.
Saudi-led coalition: said it intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles fired by Yemen's Houthis towards Riyadh.
Yemen's Houthi-run health ministry: said Saudi airstrikes killed at least 33 people near Sanaa on Saturday.
Saudi authorities: said they were investigating the reported deaths near Sanaa.
What to Watch
- Whether the Houthis claim responsibility for Sunday's attack and what weapons they used, especially if cruise missiles breached air defenses.
- The Saudi coalition's next military response, particularly whether it intensifies airstrikes on Houthi-held areas.
- Any shift in Saudi diplomatic posture, including whether Riyadh seeks renewed UN mediation or escalates its campaign.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAn Aramco building in Riyadh was damaged by falling debris after an attempted attack.US Top News and Analysis: “An administrative building belonging to state oil giant Saudi Aramco in Riyadh was damaged by falling debris following an attempted attack on Sunday”
- SupportedThe Energy Ministry said the building was damaged and that no injuries or fatalities were reported.US Top News and Analysis: “with no injuries or fatalities reported, the kingdom's Energy Ministry said.”
- SupportedThe Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two Houthi missiles fired toward Riyadh.US Top News and Analysis: “the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two missiles fired by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis towards Riyadh.”
- SupportedThe coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles in Riyadh and the kingdom's southern region.US Top News and Analysis: “The Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the Houthis subsequently said it had intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles in Riyadh and the kingdom's southern region.”
- SupportedA Reuters witness saw blown-out windows across several floors of the Aramco Tower.US Top News and Analysis: “A Reuters witness saw blown-out windows across several floors of the Aramco Tower”
- SupportedThe Energy Ministry described the damage as limited.US Top News and Analysis: “the ministry said caused limited damage”
- SupportedMultiple loud booms were heard in Riyadh earlier on Sunday.US Top News and Analysis: “Multiple loud booms were heard in Riyadh earlier on Sunday, a Reuters witness said”
- SupportedSaudi Civil Defense issued and later lifted warnings in several areas of the Eastern Province, including Dhahran.US Top News and Analysis: “Saudi Civil Defense issued and later lifted warnings in several areas of the oil-rich Eastern Province, including Dhahran”
- SupportedThe Houthi-run health ministry said Saudi airstrikes killed at least 33 people near Sanaa a day earlier.US Top News and Analysis: “The latest escalation comes a day after Yemen's Houthi-run health ministry said Saudi airstrikes killed at least 33 people near Sanaa.”
- SupportedThe renewed hostilities shattered a 2022 UN-brokered truce that had largely halted fighting between the sides.US Top News and Analysis: “The renewed hostilities have shattered a 2022 UN-brokered truce that had largely halted fighting between the two sides.”
- SupportedAn attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Oct. 10 killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.US Top News and Analysis: “An attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Oct. 10 killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.”