Saudi Arabia reported on Wednesday that a Houthi attack on an Aramco administrative building in Dhahran caused a "limited fire" but no casualties, as the Yemeni rebel group continued its campaign against the kingdom. The incident came hours after debris from two intercepted missiles wounded four people in the capital Riyadh and damaged 15 homes, according to the Saudi civil defence agency.
The attacks mark an escalation in the long-running conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, who have recently targeted Saudi airports and energy infrastructure. On Tuesday, the coalition carried out strikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Dhamar and Saada, hitting facilities used to "supply the war effort," according to coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki. The strikes were a response to the deadliest attack on Saudi soil since 2015, when a missile strike on Riyadh's international airport on Saturday killed 13 people and suspended operations.
Witnesses in Riyadh described moments of fear as projectiles streaked across the sky. One resident, walking along a major avenue, said he saw "a projectile cutting across the sky" above a mall, leaving "a yellowish trail of light followed by a trail of smoke. Then, we heard an explosion." He added that people were calm but scared, all looking upward. Further explosions were reported in the capital on Wednesday.
The Houthis have threatened to target Riyadh's international airport, a refinery, and an Aramco facility in Dammam if the coalition continued its strikes. They have also called on civilians to avoid these sites. In response, several countries, including France, have issued travel warnings advising their citizens to avoid airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
US weighs intervention
US President Donald Trump, who had previously ordered strikes on the Houthis a year ago, said on his Truth Social platform that "the Houthis are behaving very badly" and accused them of acting "probably at the behest of Iran." He wrote, "I thought they learned their lesson a year ago when we bombed the hell out of them," and blamed Tehran for the renewed attacks, calling Iran "a failing nation, with no navy, no airforce, the world's worst economy, and 301% Inflation." He added that the Houthis were "purposefully trying to drive up Oil Prices, probably prior to the US elections — not nice."
The Houthis warned the US against intervention. Mohammed Al Bukhaiti, a member of the group's political bureau, said they would target American interests in the region if the US became involved. He stated that the campaign against Saudi targets was meant to send a message to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "that he can no longer wage aggression against Yemen from a safe position."
The Saudi cabinet, led by the crown prince, vowed on Tuesday that it "will not allow its security or freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait to be threatened." The coalition has been supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government against the Houthis since 2015, in a war that has created a dire humanitarian crisis.
The renewed fighting is also worsening health conditions in Yemen. The World Health Organization reported on Tuesday that suspected cholera cases have tripled in three weeks, straining hospitals already dealing with war casualties.
The escalation comes as European nations watch the situation closely, particularly given the impact on energy prices and maritime security. The EU's Red Sea mission has struggled to secure reinforcements as Houthi attacks intensify, and the bloc has been cautious about direct involvement. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to destabilise the region, with implications for global oil markets and the safety of international shipping lanes.
