Houthis Claim Missile and Drone Attacks on Riyadh, Aramco Tower Damaged

Sanna (Terror Monitor) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in the capital, Riyadh, where a high-rise building belonging to state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco sustained damage on Sunday.

The attack damaged windows across several floors of the Aramco Tower, one of the prominent buildings in Riyadh’s financial district. Eyewitnesses told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the tower had been targeted, with two additional witnesses confirming visible damage to the building.

One eyewitness told AFP that they saw an object strike the building but could not identify the type of weapon involved.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that an administrative building belonging to Aramco in Riyadh had been subjected to an attempted attack. However, the ministry said the damage was caused by falling shrapnel and debris and described it as limited.

The ministry added that no one was killed or injured in the incident and that the relevant authorities had begun taking necessary measures.

Reuters also reported that its correspondent witnessed shattered windows across several floors of the Aramco Tower following the incident.

Houthis claim four military operations

In a statement issued in English, the Houthi movement's military spokesperson said its forces had carried out four military operations using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

The group said the targets included Riyadh’s financial district, the international airport, Aramco oil storage facilities and the eastern Saudi city of Abqaiq.

The Houthis described the attacks as a response to Saudi military operations in Yemen and said their forces had employed different types of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

However, Saudi authorities have not confirmed that the airport, oil storage facilities or Abqaiq were hit. The extent of the damage to the Aramco building has also been described differently by eyewitnesses and Saudi officials.

Saudi air defences intercept missiles

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched towards Riyadh on Sunday.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki also announced the interception of two cruise missiles in Riyadh and the southern region. An additional ballistic missile targeting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province was also intercepted, according to coalition statements reported by international media.

Multiple loud explosions were heard in Riyadh early Sunday after Saudi Civil Defence issued an early-warning alert about a potential threat in the region. Authorities subsequently announced that the danger had passed.

The coalition also said it had destroyed two missile launchers in Yemen’s northern Saada province.

According to Reuters, the attacks came amid an escalating exchange of strikes between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with the group increasingly targeting Saudi airports, ports and energy infrastructure.