Multiple explosions rock Saudi capital Riyadh; Aramco building damaged
What's the story
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, was rocked by multiple explosions after the country's Civil Defence issued an early warning. Witnesses reported damage to a building of oil giant Saudi Aramco in the city's financial district. The attacks were claimed by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, who claimed responsibility for targeting Saudi oil facilities and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Attack details
Houthi military spokesperson details attacks on Saudi Arabia
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree detailed the attacks, saying six military operations were carried out against strategic installations across Saudi Arabia.
The first operation targeted King Khalid International Airport, oil storage tanks, and an Aramco distillation tower in Riyadh.
Other targets included Aramco facilities in Khurais and Pumping Station No. 8 in the Dawadmi area.
The fourth operation hit a National Guard camp in Najran while the fifth targeted troop positions east of Al-Jawf Governorate.
Casualties reported
Saree claims several Saudi military personnel casualties
Saree claimed that these operations resulted in several casualties among Saudi military personnel, although these claims remain unverified.
In a separate post on X, the Houthi spokesperson alleged that Saudi Arabia had launched 105 airstrikes and missile attacks on Yemen in the last 24 hours.
These strikes targeted areas such as Sanaa, Al-Jawf, Taiz, Amran, Hajjah, Saada, Marib, and Lahj.
Diplomatic plea
Yemen calls on Lebanon to stop Hezbollah's support to Houthis
Yemen's internationally recognized government has called on Lebanon to coordinate efforts to stop Hezbollah's alleged military assistance to the Houthi militia.
Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba urged cooperation between security and intelligence agencies of both countries.
The renewed fighting has ended a United Nations-brokered truce from 2022, which had largely stopped attacks between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthis.
Humanitarian crisis
Over 200,000 people displaced since fighting resumed
The escalation of the conflict has intensified the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The International Organization for Migration said over 200,000 people have been displaced since fighting resumed.
The renewed hostilities are part of a larger US-Iran conflict and have brought back the 12-year war in Yemen.
This has left the Arab world's poorest country deeply fragmented and in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.