Dhahran, Oct 14 (V7N)- Yemen’s Houthi group has attacked an administrative building belonging to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant Aramco in the eastern city of Dhahran, hours after a Saudi-led coalition reportedly struck an oil facility in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
The building caught fire in Tuesday’s attack, but no casualties were reported, according to Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said authorities were working to bring the blaze under control. Officials did not immediately disclose what weapon was used.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Houthis warned workers and civilians near Saudi oil facilities to evacuate, describing the sites as “legitimate targets.” The warning followed an evacuation order issued by the Saudi-led coalition for civilians near the Al-Sabah central oil facility operated by the Yemeni Oil Company in Sanaa.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Sari warned that any attack on Sanaa would trigger a “harsh and painful” response against Riyadh. Explosions were subsequently heard in the Yemeni capital.
Houthi-affiliated media outlets reported that the coalition had carried out an airstrike on the Al-Sabah facility. Al Jazeera also reported strikes on oil storage tanks at the port of Ras Issa and an oil facility in Houthi-controlled Hodeidah province.
Saudi-led coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki accused the Houthis of using oil facilities and underground fuel depots to store missiles and drones.
The Yemeni Oil Company had previously said its oil storage facilities were empty, arguing that an attack would not affect national oil reserves or fuel supplies for the public. Nevertheless, witnesses reported long queues at some petrol stations in Sanaa as residents feared possible shortages.
Following reports of the explosions, Sari said Houthi fighters were engaged in clashes with Saudi-backed forces in Sanaa. In a statement posted on social media platform X, he warned that facilities covered by evacuation orders would be targeted if the Saudi-led coalition attacked the capital.
Meanwhile, evacuation warnings were issued for several locations in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Aramco’s headquarters, King Khalid International Airport and an Aramco-related refinery.
SPA reported that Saudi air defences intercepted missiles heading towards Riyadh. A spokesman for the Saudi Civil Defense Department said two missiles were destroyed in the air, while falling debris injured four people and damaged 15 houses.
Saudi Arabia has faced a series of attacks in recent days. According to the supplied reports, an attack near Riyadh airport on Saturday, October 10, killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300. Another missile struck the airport area on Sunday, reportedly killing one person and injuring 11 others.
Several international airlines, including Air France-KLM, Air India, Etihad, Lufthansa, Delta, Gulf Air and Qatar Airways, have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries following the successive attacks.
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted three drones north of Riyadh on Tuesday, as attacks on airports and oil facilities heightened concerns over the widening regional conflict involving the United States, Iran and neighbouring countries.
Saudi Arabia’s cabinet warned the Houthis that they would “face consequences” for their attacks, SPA reported following a meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
US President Donald Trump also criticised the Houthis, saying the group was “behaving very badly.” He added that he might ask Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to cooperate in protecting Saudi Arabia’s interests.
“President Erdogan, I think he will do whatever I ask,” Trump said.
END/SMA/AJ
