A building belonging to Saudi state-owned oil giant Aramco in Riyadh sustained minor damage after falling shrapnel struck it during an attack from Yemen on Sunday morning, amid escalating hostilities between the two countries, according to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy.
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Aramco tower damaged in Yemen attack on Riyadh
AFP reported that Yemen’s Armed Forces launched retaliatory strikes against Saudi Arabia following intensive Saudi attacks on Yemen a day earlier. Multiple eyewitnesses told the news agency that Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District was targeted, with one saying the intended target was “definitely the Saudi Aramco tower" in the area.
Deep Dive
What happened to the Saudi Aramco building in Riyadh?
How badly was the Aramco tower damaged, and were there any casualties?
Were the Houthis responsible for the attack on the Aramco tower?
Two other eyewitnesses also reported damage to the building belonging to the Saudi state-owned energy company.
{{/usCountry}}Two other eyewitnesses also reported damage to the building belonging to the Saudi state-owned energy company.
{{/usCountry}}France 24, citing AFP, reported that the Aramco Tower was targeted in a Houthi attack.
Unverified videos circulating on social media from the Saudi capital showed shattered windows and damage across multiple floors of the building.
Also Read | Saudi Aramco building in Riyadh damaged by falling debris after attempted attack, ministry says
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Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry and the state-backed Saudi Press Agency reported that an administrative building belonging to state-owned oil giant Aramco sustained minor damage after being struck by falling shrapnel. No casualties or injuries were reported.
Aramco’s main office in the Saudi capital is located in the King Abdullah Financial District, which has been operating under remote work orders for about a month.
Sunday’s incident comes amid a series of attacks targeting Aramco infrastructure in recent weeks, including its headquarters in Dhahran and the Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Province.
The incident could also mark the most significant attack on Riyadh since Houthi militants struck the city’s main airport last month, killing more than a dozen people, injuring hundreds and disrupting air traffic into and out of the kingdom.
The latest developments could put further pressure on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is seeking to keep his multi-trillion-dollar economic diversification programme on track amid near-daily Houthi attacks.
Meanwhile, Saudi-led forces said on Sunday that they had intercepted ballistic and cruise missiles launched towards Riyadh and thwarted attacks in the country’s southern and eastern regions.