World · India Bureau
Houthi missiles strike Saudi Aramco HQ as Yemen tensions flare
Yemeni Houthi forces have launched a missile attack on Saudi Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran, marking an escalation in regional hostilities. The strike triggered a limited fire at the oil giant's office complex, though no casualties were reported.
LSN India ·
The Houthi attack targeted an administrative facility operated by Saudi Aramco, the state-owned petroleum company, in the eastern Saudi city of Dhahran on Tuesday. According to Saudi Arabia's energy ministry, the incoming missiles caused a fire within the complex that was subsequently contained, with emergency response teams quickly bringing the situation under control.
The incident represents a notable escalation in cross-border operations between Yemen-based Houthi forces and Saudi Arabia, which has led a military coalition conducting operations in Yemen since 2015. The Houthis, backed by Iran, have repeatedly threatened Saudi Arabia's critical energy infrastructure, viewing the kingdom's involvement in Yemen's civil conflict as justification for strikes against strategic targets.
Saudi Aramco, one of the world's largest oil producers, operates extensive facilities throughout the kingdom's Eastern Province. The company did not immediately issue a separate statement regarding production impacts or damage assessments beyond the energy ministry's initial report of limited fire damage and no injuries.
The attack underscores persistent security concerns affecting Saudi Arabia's energy sector amid the broader Yemen conflict, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis and regional instability affecting shipping lanes and global oil markets.