Aramco Building Targeted in Riyadh
The Saudi energy ministry said on Sunday that an administrative building belonging to Saudi Aramco in Riyadh was subjected to an attempted attack. Eyewitnesses told AFP that the skyscraper sustained damage.
The ministry said falling shrapnel caused minor damage to the building. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Aramco facilities and infrastructure have been repeatedly struck by the Houthis rebels in Yemen in recent months. Tankers, refineries, storage areas, and the company headquarters have all been targeted by the group.
Location of the Attack
An eyewitness told AFP that the Aramco tower in KAFD, or the King Abdullah Financial District, was targeted. Two other witnesses confirmed seeing damage to the building.
KAFD is known for its glass skyscrapers, high-end retail outlets, and green spaces. It is home to some of the kingdom's biggest companies and international firms like Goldman Sachs. The Public Investment Fund and the Saudi stock exchange are also located in the district.
The area also has residential housing and a large metro station with heavy traffic during the morning rush hour.
Loud Explosions Heard
The attack came hours after the education ministry announced the return of in-person schooling in Riyadh after weeks of remote learning.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said in a Sunday morning social media post that air defences intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi terrorist militia towards Riyadh. Loud explosions were heard in the Saudi capital.
The kingdom has been pressing allies for help as it comes under daily fire from the Houthis, who recently seized swathes of the Red Sea coastline from the Yemeni government.
Pakistan's Defence Ties with Saudi Arabia
Islamabad has condemned Houthi attacks multiple times, calling them a grave violation of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty. Pakistan and Riyadh have signed two defence pacts.
The first is the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The second is the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, which also includes Turkiye.
Under the Makkah Defence Alliance, Pakistani, Saudi, and Turkish leaders met in Riyadh and agreed to deploy military forces and capabilities rapidly in the kingdom.
Pakistan's military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said in mid-October that Pakistan is providing "whatever support is needed" to defend Saudi Arabia. However, the ISPR director general clarified that the alliance has no offensive intent and is purely defensive.
Background on the Yemen Conflict
The Houthis seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014. A 2022 truce fell apart in July, and since then Saudi Arabia has traded blows with the Houthis, who have struck Saudi airports, energy infrastructure, and military sites.
A strike on Riyadh's international airport in October left 13 people dead. It was the worst attack on the kingdom since 2015.
The United Nations says more than 1,600 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced since fighting resumed in Yemen.
The fragile 2022 truce fell apart after the Houthis allowed an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa. Later, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and began hitting its ships, territory, and oil facilities. They also seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast.
Source: dawn