Saudi Aramco Headquarters Hit as Houthi Attacks Escalate

Saudi Aramco's administrative headquarters in Dharan, eastern Saudi Arabia, came under attack by Iranian-aligned Houthis on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, marking an escalation in the ongoing Saudi-Houthi conflict. Initial reports indicated minor fire at the site, but Saudi Arabia persistently intercepted and destroyed missiles aimed at Dharan and Riyadh.

Major General Turki Al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition restoring legitimacy in Yemen, confirmed that a Houthi missile launched toward Dhahran was successfully intercepted and destroyed.

The Saudi-led coalition has also neutralized missiles targeting Riyadh and the southern region of Saudi Arabia, according to the official Saudi news agency. These attacks and attempted assaults on Saudi cities and Aramco's administrative building suggest a heightened Houthi offensive following recent deadly strikes on the Riyadh international airport.

The conflict is intensifying as a Saudi-led force seeks to regain control of most of Yemen's Red Sea coast and the critical Bab el-Mandeb Strait, vital for Saudi Arabia's oil exports to Asia.

On July 1, the Houthis vowed to disrupt Saudi shipments while permitting other maritime traffic through Bab el-Mandeb. Amidst these developments, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, sought to reassure markets on Monday that the Kingdom's energy supply remains robust. He emphasized the resilience of the kingdom during the WPC Energy Congress, stating that energy security is measured by the ability to maintain, repair, reroute, substitute, and recover, particularly under pressure.

Oil prices surged above $106 per barrel in Asian trading on Wednesday after Iranian officials briefed Reuters that their forces plan to escalate strikes on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, employing novel tactics.