New Delhi: An administrative building at Saudi Aramco’s headquarters complex in Dhahran was attacked on Tuesday, triggering a fire as fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels intensified. The incident came amid Saudi-led coalition airstrikes around Sanaa and renewed Houthi missile threats, raising concerns over energy infrastructure, civilian safety and shipping through the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the attack caused a limited fire, with no casualties reported. A company source told Reuters that a ballistic missile struck an office tower inside the complex, damaging its upper three floors, although the ministry did not independently confirm those details.
The complex houses a major operations centre overseeing Aramco’s oilfields, pipelines, refineries and export terminals. Authorities have not announced any disruption to oil production or
The attack followed Saudi-led coalition operations against Houthi-held areas near Sanaa. The coalition had earlier ordered civilians to evacuate the Yemen petroleum company’s al-Subaha central station and surrounding storage facilities.
Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television reported strikes on the facility. The coalition said its operation sought to weaken Houthi capabilities used to threaten Saudi Arabia, Yemen and international waterways.
Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree warned that attacks on Sanaa would provoke a “harsh and painful” response, identifying Saudi Aramco installations among potential targets. As RNA Media reported on Tuesday, the coalition’s evacuation warning preceded explosions reported around the Yemeni capital.
Saudi Arabia’s cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, warned that the Houthis would face consequences for repeated attacks on the kingdom. The government said it would not tolerate threats to Saudi security or maritime navigation through the Red Sea.
Saudi civil defence said debris from two intercepted Houthi cruise missiles fell on residential areas in Riyadh on Tuesday, injuring four people, including a child, and damaging 15 homes.
The incident was separate from the Dhahran attack and the earlier strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, where an October 10 attack killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300.
The airport attacks have disrupted international aviation. More than 3,120 scheduled departures from Saudi airports since October 8 were cancelled or listed as not operating, representing approximately 41 per cent of departures, according to aviation analytics firm cirium, cited by the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, fighting has intensified around Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz. Yemen’s interior ministry said Houthi attacks killed six people and injured 18 over the preceding day, while government-backed forces continued operations against rebel positions.
The renewed conflict follows Houthi territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast towards Bab al-Mandab. Saudi-backed forces have regained some areas near the strait, although Houthi positions remain nearby.
Bab al-Mandab connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a key shipping passage between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal. Insecurity there, alongside restrictions affecting the separate Strait of Hormuz, presents additional risks to international energy shipments and maritime trade.
Iran has offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The United States has provided intelligence and planning support to Saudi-led operations but has not directly joined the renewed strikes against the rebels, according to the Associated Press.
No ceasefire agreement has been announced as military operations and missile threats continue.