RIYADH – As fighting intensifies in war-torn Yemen, fresh tensions are gripping Saudi Arabia after Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed major missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco oil facilities, Riyadh International Airport and military bases.
Saudi Arabia faces fresh security scare after Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have launched coordinated military operations targeting some of the kingdom’s most sensitive locations, including Riyadh’s international airport, Saudi Aramco oil facilities and military installations.
The dramatic claims come amid a sharp escalation in the Yemen conflict, where at least 25 people have reportedly been killed and around 30 others injured in airstrikes near the capital, Sanaa. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the operations through a statement on social media platform X, claiming that ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones were deployed against Saudi targets.
The group described the offensive as retaliation for a wave of Saudi airstrikes across Yemen. However, Saudi authorities have yet to officially confirm the alleged attacks, while reports of damage to airports, oil infrastructure and military bases remain unverified.
Riyadh Airport, Aramco Oil Facilities Attack
One of key strikes were reported King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, one of Saudi Arabia’s most important aviation facilities. Saree alleged that the first military operation targeted the airport alongside Aramco oil storage tanks and a distillation tower in the area. He insisted that the operation had achieved its objectives.
The group then claimed responsibility for another attack on Aramco’s facilities in Khurais, a major oil-producing region in eastern Saudi Arabia. A third operation allegedly struck Pumping Station No. 8 in the Dawadmi region, adding another critical energy installation to the list of reported targets.
While Houthis were announcing their operations, a security warning in Saudi Arabia’s southern Najran region added to concerns over the reported escalation. Saudi Civil Defense authorities issued an alert over a possible threat before announcing approximately 10 minutes later that the danger had passed.
The warning attracted particular attention because Najran was among the locations the Houthis claimed to have targeted. Despite the alert, Saudi officials have not confirmed whether any missiles or drones struck the alleged targets or whether infrastructure sustained damage.
The reported offensive followed allegations of an intense Saudi military campaign inside Yemen. Yahya Saree claimed that Saudi forces had carried out 105 air and missile strikes within 24 hours, hitting multiple areas across the country. According to the Houthi spokesperson, the attacks were concentrated in Sanaa, Al-Jawf, Taiz, Amran, Hajjah, Saada, Marib and Lahj.
He alleged that Saudi fighter aircraft, including F-15s and Typhoons, operated from military airbases in Khamis Mushait and Taif, while missiles were launched from Najran and Jizan.
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Houthis further accused Saudi Arabia of inflicting heavy civilian casualties, claiming that women and children were among the worst affected. Saree also asserted that the total number of Saudi air and missile strikes since the latest escalation began had reached 4,369.
Away from the missile warnings and military announcements, civilians in Yemen are facing the devastating consequences of the escalating conflict. At least 25 people were reportedly killed and approximately 30 others wounded when airstrikes struck residential homes in the Al-Sharia area near Sanaa.
The situation remains volatile inside Yemen, where government troops and Houthi fighters are also locked in renewed confrontations. Yemen’s internationally recognized government announced that its forces had successfully prevented Houthi military movements along the northern front of Marib province.
According to government military officials, troops operating under the Seventh Military Region intercepted Houthi activities and struck positions near the frontline. The military claimed that several pieces of equipment were destroyed and groups of Houthi fighters were neutralized during the operations. The confrontation shows widening military pressure facing Yemen as fighting continues alongside the reported cross-border escalation.
Despite growing tensions and mounting reports of civilian casualties, the Houthi leadership has signaled that it has no immediate intention of halting its offensive. Yahya warned that military operations could continue deeper inside Saudi territory, with installations associated with Saudi military personnel and officials potentially facing further attacks.
He declared that the organization would respond to blockades with blockades and escalation with further escalation, signaling a potentially prolonged confrontation. The warning suggests that the Houthis intend to expand military pressure beyond battlefield positions in Yemen and toward Saudi Arabia’s strategic infrastructure.
The alleged targeting of Saudi Aramco’s oil installations has added an economic dimension to the escalating confrontation. As one of the world’s largest energy companies, Aramco is central to Saudi Arabia’s economy and plays a significant role in global oil supplies.
