Houthi missile strikes Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran

A ballistic missile hit the headquarters complex of Saudi Aramco in Dhahran late Tuesday, setting a fire in an administrative building, according to Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry. It was the most direct blow yet to the backbone of the kingdom's economy since fighting with Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis flared again. The ministry said authorities responded and took the necessary measures, and that no one was hurt or killed.japantimes+2

A company source told Reuters that a ballistic missile struck an office tower in the complex and damaged its top three floors. The source and two other people familiar with the matter said the building was on fire. Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the matter, reported that the fire was later put out, and that it was not clear whether the damage came from a direct hit or from debris of intercepted projectiles. The Saudi-led coalition said fragments of a missile it had intercepted over Dhahran fell on a residential area.gmanetwork+3

Evacuations and debris in Riyadh

Four sources told Reuters that an evacuation order had been issued for the building, and staff were told to work from home on Wednesday. The complex houses a major operations center that oversees Aramco's onshore and offshore rigs, pipelines, refineries and export terminals.jpost+2

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense said debris from two intercepted Houthi missiles injured two women, a man and a child, and damaged 15 homes. The coalition also reported interceptions of ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles over Riyadh and the southern Wadi al-Dawasir area.delta-optimist+1

Strikes on Sanaa preceded the attack

Earlier, the coalition struck the Yemen Petroleum Company's Sabaha station, a fuel depot on a hill west of Sanaa. In a rare step, it had first told civilians to leave the area. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki accused the Houthis of storing missiles and drones in the site's underground fuel depots. The oil company said the tanks there were empty. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree had warned of a "firm and painful" response and named Aramco's Dhahran headquarters and a Riyadh refinery as possible targets.gmanetwork+2

Before the Aramco strike, the Saudi cabinet warned that the Houthis would "face consequences" for their repeated attacks.delta-optimist

A widening war

For a week the Houthis have fired missiles and drones at Saudi targets. A strike on Saturday at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said more than 3,120 flights scheduled to leave Saudi airports since Oct. 8 have been canceled. The fighting reignited after the Houthis advanced toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. That route has become more important since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in February. Washington has given intelligence and planning support but has not carried out strikes itself.gmanetwork+1

"It may be a warning — or it may be a sign of things to come," said Adam Baron of New America.delta-optimist