A missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck the executive headquarters of Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant, Saudi Aramco, on Tuesday, triggering a fire and heightening tensions across the region, according to Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the strike hit an administrative building within the complex. Emergency crews brought the blaze under control, and no casualties were reported. Authorities said the damage was limited and operations continued following the incident. Aramco had not immediately commented on the attack.
The strike came amid a series of Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure and airports, alongside fresh Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen.
Oil Facilities and Airports Face Growing Threats
The attack followed a warning by Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree urging civilians and workers to evacuate Saudi oil facilities. The warning came after the Saudi-led coalition called on civilians to leave the Yemeni Oil Company’s al-Sabah central station in Houthi-controlled Sanaa ahead of planned military operations.
According to reports, earlier Houthi attacks had forced the shutdown of the Jazan refinery and targeted a key oil export terminal on the Red Sea. An Aramco pipeline used to transport crude oil to international markets was also temporarily shut following an earlier attack launched from Iraq.
Dhahran is a major centre of Saudi Arabia’s petroleum industry, housing Aramco’s headquarters alongside important energy infrastructure and military installations.
The Houthis have also expanded their attacks to aviation infrastructure. Recent missile and drone strikes have targeted airports across Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Reports indicated that at least 18 people had been killed and hundreds injured in attacks over recent days.
Saudi authorities also reported intercepting three Houthi drones north of Riyadh on Tuesday.
Saudi-Led Airstrikes Target Yemen
The escalation has continued with fresh airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition inside Yemen. Explosions were reported in Sanaa after coalition aircraft targeted the al-Sabah oil facility. Houthi-affiliated media also reported strikes on Ras Isa port, oil storage facilities and fuel infrastructure in Hodeidah province.
Saree warned that any Saudi strike on Sanaa would trigger a forceful response targeting Riyadh and other strategic facilities across the kingdom.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, warned that the Houthis would face consequences for attacks on civilian infrastructure, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Energy Security in Focus
The latest developments have raised concerns over the security of Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure and the potential disruption of regional energy supplies. Repeated attacks on refineries, export terminals and pipelines could affect oil transportation and complicate efforts to maintain stable supplies to international markets.
With attacks and retaliatory strikes continuing, the risk of further escalation remains a concern for regional security and global energy markets.
