Saudi landmark closes offices after repeated Houthi attacks

Riyadh's Kingdom Centre skyscraper has ordered its office tenants to work remotely due to repeated attacks by the Houthis. The 99-storey landmark announced the mandatory remote working arrangement effective immediately, with no specific reason provided. The building's management urged tenants to refrain from attending offices until further notice.

High-profile tenants include financial services giant Merrill Lynch, management consultancy McKinsey, and the International Monetary Fund. The Saudi coalition's decade-long war with Iran-backed Houthis has intensified in the wake of the US-Iran conflict, with regular attacks reported on both sides. The Kingdom Centre, located in central Riyadh, houses several major companies.

Schools recently extended remote learning measures, and Riyadh's airport remains closed following a Houthi attack last week. The order comes after the coalition announced the death of two helicopter pilots blamed on a technical malfunction, though the Houthis claimed they shot down an Apache helicopter in the area. The ongoing Yemen conflict has resurfaced with renewed intensity, as the Houthis seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast and targeted Saudi interests, including tankers in the Red Sea and oil facilities.

The Saudi-led coalition has responded with air raids on Houthi territory, intercepting drones and missiles in the process. The Houthis have retaliated, claiming Saudi strikes killed 12 people in Yemen, including children. Egypt's parliament is set to hold an emergency session on Sunday to discuss support for Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks.