Yemen's Houthis say they attacked Aramco facility in Riyadh with missiles, drones

Flames and smoke were observed emanating from a Saudi Aramco facility located south of Riyadh on Saturday, according to an AFP correspondent. The exact cause of the incident remained unknown, although the oil giant, which is majority-owned by the Saudi state, has been facing attacks by the Houthi group. This militia has been targeting various locations within the kingdom as part of the ongoing conflict in Yemen where Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognized government.

Aramco continues to serve as the cornerstone of the Saudi economy and ranks among the largest corporations globally by market capitalization.

In the previous month, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for launching strikes against "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and Aramco facilities situated in Yanbu, a port city in the kingdom. In August, the militia also targeted an airport and another Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia's southern Najran region. Prior to these events, in July, the Houthi rebels announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, which involved attacking Saudi tankers in the Red Sea and raised concerns about Riyadh's capacity to export substantial quantities of crude oil to international markets.

Yemen, a nation plagued by poverty, has been grappling with a civil war that has persisted for over a decade. On Saturday, correspondents based in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa reported hearing loud explosions in the city. Additionally, the Houthi rebels reported air strikes conducted by Saudi-backed government forces in the region.