Saudi Aramco HQ Targeted as Houthi and Saudi Forces Exchange Escalating Strikes

Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis have engaged in fresh strikes targeting energy infrastructure, with the Iran-backed group launching attacks on the Saudi capital and reportedly hitting the headquarters of Saudi state oil giant Aramco. An administrative building associated with Aramco in Dhahran, the Eastern Province city where the company is headquartered, was targeted, according to Saudi authorities. A limited fire resulted, though it remains unclear if this was due to a direct impact or falling debris. No injuries were reported from this incident. The Saudi-led coalition stated that it had successfully intercepted and destroyed three cruise missiles and two drones aimed at the Riyadh region and southern Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities reported that at least four individuals sustained injuries from falling debris. CNN has reached out to Aramco for a statement.

This marks the latest escalation between the two adversaries, following a week of significant Houthi missile and drone attacks that led to the closure of Riyadh’s main international airport. These strikes occurred just hours after Saudi Arabia attacked a key fuel depot on Tuesday, which the kingdom claims was being utilized by Houthi rebels to support their operations against Saudi airports and energy facilities, as well as maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Earlier, the Houthi-controlled Yemen Oil Company had asserted that the facility contained no petroleum products and that an attack would not impact fuel reserves or supplies. The Houthis reported that the strikes resulted in the deaths of two civilians and injuries to two others, although the Saudi-led coalition maintained that civilians had been warned to evacuate the area beforehand. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki stated, “This operation focused on neutralizing the capabilities the Houthi militia uses to threaten the kingdom, Yemen, the southern Red Sea and maritime corridors.”

Tuesday’s exchange of fire occurs amidst indications that the protracted conflict, which reignited this summer and intensified last month after a period of relative calm, is continuing to escalate. Earlier on Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition announced the interception of a ballistic missile directed towards its eastern province, and another aimed at Haradh, near the Yemeni border. They also reported intercepting three Houthi drones north of Riyadh. Concurrently, Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that Saudi-led coalition artillery fire in Saada province wounded three Yemenis and two African residents in the Baqim district. Later reports from the same outlet indicated that two civilians were killed and two others wounded by artillery fire on residential villages in the Shada border district of Sadaa, with additional reports of strikes in Sanaa and several other provinces. CNN has been unable to independently verify these reports.

The conflict has been escalating since the Houthis announced in July their intention to target Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and infrastructure within the kingdom, citing retaliation for a Saudi blockade on the Yemeni capital. These attacks have increased in recent days, including repeated strikes on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which resulted in 13 deaths and over 300 injuries on Saturday, marking the deadliest attack on Saudi Arabia in over a decade. The United States, United Kingdom, Spain, and Canada are among the nations that have issued warnings to their citizens against using the airport. In parallel, the US State Department expanded travel restrictions for US government personnel in the kingdom on Tuesday, requiring employees to obtain special authorization from the chief of mission to use any airport in Saudi Arabia.

The attacks have also highlighted vulnerabilities in the kingdom’s defense capabilities as it conducts its air campaign in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which is engaged in ground combat with the Houthis. On Tuesday, Yemeni government forces claimed to have made continued advances in their military operation, codenamed “Dawn of Yemen.” They reported conducting 2,200 strikes against Houthi positions in the past 24 hours, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 fighters and the destruction or disabling of over 440 military vehicles and other assets. CNN could not independently verify these figures. Meanwhile, the Houthis have vowed further attacks against economic and aviation targets within Saudi Arabia, warning that they would target Aramco facilities and King Khalid International Airport if Saudi forces persist in their attacks.