English
A Saudi Aramco administrative building in Riyadh sustained damage from falling debris on Sunday after the Saudi-led coalition intercepted two Houthi missiles fired toward the capital. Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed the incident but said no injuries or fatalities occurred.
A Reuters witness at the scene observed blown-out windows across several floors of the Aramco Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District. The ministry described the damage as limited. Aramco did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and the Houthis issued no immediate statement.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Missiles Intercepted Over Riyadh
Earlier on Sunday, residents heard multiple loud booms across Riyadh. Shortly before, Saudi Civil Defense issued an early-warning alert about a potential threat in the region. Authorities later announced the danger had passed.
The Saudi-led coalition subsequently confirmed it intercepted and destroyed two cruise missiles. One targeted Riyadh, while the other headed toward the kingdom’s southern region. The coalition has been fighting Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces for years.
Also on Sunday, Saudi Civil Defense issued and later lifted warnings across several areas of the oil-rich Eastern Province, including Dhahran, home to Saudi Aramco’s headquarters. The Eastern Province holds the majority of Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas reserves. Aramco’s headquarters suffered extensive damage in a separate attack in October.
Escalating Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
The Houthis have significantly increased missile and drone strikes on Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities since fighting resumed in July. These attacks represent another front in the broader Middle East conflict, which reignited following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
In response, Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets inside Yemen. The day before Sunday’s attack, Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry said Saudi airstrikes killed at least 33 people near Sanaa. Saudi authorities said they were investigating the claim.
Furthermore, a Houthi attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10 killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi officials.
Background to the Conflict
The renewed hostilities have effectively shattered a UN-brokered truce reached in 2022. That agreement had largely halted fighting between the two sides. However, the ceasefire has collapsed as both sides returned to open conflict.
Saudi Arabia first led a coalition of Arab states into Yemen in 2015. The goal was to restore the internationally recognized government after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa. A decade later, the conflict continues to destabilize the region and threaten critical energy infrastructure across the Arabian Peninsula.
