Thunderstorms, hail and strong winds forecast across Saudi Arabia Tuesday

RIYADH, Nov 10 — Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, which is crucial for circumventing the Strait of Hormuz, was targeted in an attack yesterday but operations remained unimpeded, according to official media. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the pipeline, situated in the Medina region of western Saudi Arabia, experienced a "limited fire" that was promptly extinguished.

No injuries or fatalities were reported, and the pipeline's functioning was unaffected. The source did not specify the entity responsible for the attack, but Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been repeatedly targeting Saudi oil infrastructure using drones and missiles. The East-West pipeline has gained greater importance during the ongoing Middle East conflict as Iran attempts to block the primary route for Gulf energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier, Saudi authorities alerted Riyadh residents of a "hostile aerial threat," following an attack on a skyscraper belonging to oil giant Aramco that shook the capital's business area. The alert was lifted shortly after. Saudi Arabia has endured near-daily strikes from the Houthis for weeks following the collapse of a truce in their protracted conflict in July.

This evening, parents were informed that Riyadh's schools would revert to online classes as part of precautionary measures, with students having only returned to the classroom for two days after weeks of remote learning. The Houthis, who govern significant portions of Yemen, Saudi Arabia's southern and economically disadvantaged region, did not announce a new attack on Riyadh yesterday.

However, they reported a Saudi strike on Hodeida airport on the Red Sea, which has been inactive for some time. The Saudi-led coalition combating the Houthis claimed to have destroyed three facilities producing missile components and fuel, but did not specify the locations. The Houthis' Almasirah television also reported 44 fatalities, including over 20 children, from Saudi strikes on a village in Sanaa province during the weekend.

On Sunday, the Houthis claimed attacks on Riyadh's business district, where Aramco Tower was reportedly damaged. Saudi authorities stated that the building sustained minor damage from falling shrapnel after an "attempted attack." The Houthis have persistently targeted Aramco tankers, refineries, storage facilities, and the company's headquarters.

The Saudi-led coalition initially initiated hostilities with the Houthis in March 2015, shortly after the group took control of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, ousting the internationally recognized government.