World · Sri Lanka Bureau
Saudi Arabia blames Houthi attacks for Aramco fire, Riyadh blast
Saudi Arabian authorities have attributed a fire at an oil facility and explosions in the capital to attacks by Houthi militants, with reports indicating four people were wounded in the incidents.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Saudi Arabia has held the Yemen-based Houthi movement responsible for a fire that broke out at a Saudi Aramco facility and separate explosions that struck Riyadh on Monday. The incidents resulted in at least four injuries, according to official statements from the kingdom.
The fire at the Aramco installation was attributed directly to Houthi attacks, while the explosions in the Saudi capital were similarly linked to militant operations. The incidents mark the latest in a series of cross-border attacks that have targeted critical infrastructure and populated areas in the kingdom.
The Houthi movement, backed by Iran, has conducted numerous drone and missile strikes against Saudi Arabia over recent years as part of the ongoing conflict in Yemen. The militant group has previously claimed responsibility for similar attacks targeting the oil-rich nation's energy infrastructure and civilian areas.
Saudi Arabia has maintained an active air defense system and has repeatedly intercepted Houthi projectiles over the past several years. However, some attacks have penetrated air defenses, causing damage to both military and civilian targets across the kingdom.
The incidents underscore the persistent security challenges facing Saudi Arabia amid regional tensions and the humanitarian crisis in neighboring Yemen, where the Houthis control densely populated areas including the capital Sanaa.