Huthis Claim Attacks on Riyadh Airport and Saudi Aramco Facilities

Yemen's Huthi rebels have claimed a series of attacks on various civilian, energy and military targets in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and state-owned Aramco facilities. The rebels said the attacks were in response to Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen. Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the rebels carried out four operations involving ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, against targets in Saudi territory.

The first operation targeted Riyadh's airport, Aramco's oil storage tanks and the city's financial center. Saree claimed the attacks were "direct and precise" and caused significant damage. Earlier, the Saudi Energy Ministry reported that an administrative building at Aramco in Riyadh was targeted, resulting in debris falling on the building. The ministry stated that the damage was minor and there were no casualties.

The Saudi-led military coalition reported intercepting at least five ballistic missiles launched against the kingdom. Saree also claimed that the Huthis attacked Aramco facilities in the city of Abqaiq, east of Riyadh, as well as Saudi troop concentrations in Yemen's Al-Jawf province and in the provinces of Marib and Lahj. The Huthi spokesman said these attacks were a response to Saudi-led coalition airstrikes that killed 33 civilians east of Yemen's capital, Sana, on Saturday.

The Huthi attacks on civilian infrastructure, including energy and airport targets, have intensified amid a military offensive by Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia to regain territory controlled by the rebels. Regional organizations and several Arab countries have condemned the Huthi attacks and called for urgent UN Security Council action, citing the risk to global energy supplies.

The Arab Parliament warned that the repeated attacks on civilian and oil infrastructure threaten regional stability and global energy security. They urged the UN Security Council to take action to contain the aggression and hold those responsible accountable. Bahrain's Foreign Ministry also appealed to the UN to take decisive measures against the aggressors and their sponsors, emphasizing Riyadh's right to self-defense.

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem al-Budaiwi, described the attacks as "cowardly terrorist acts" and warned that a lack of international firmness against the Huthis would only foment destabilization in the Middle East. Qatar, Egypt and Jordan also condemned the attacks, classifying the launch of ballistic missiles against urban areas and economic installations as a "flagrant violation of international law" and Saudi sovereignty.

The ongoing conflict between the Huthis and the Saudi-led coalition has resulted in significant humanitarian and economic costs. The international community remains concerned about the escalation of violence and its impact on regional stability and global energy markets. The UN Security Council has yet to take concrete action in response to the Huthi attacks, but diplomatic efforts are underway to de-escalate the situation.

Key points

• The Huthi rebels claim their attacks on Saudi Arabia were in response to Saudi-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen that killed 33 civilians.
• The Arab Parliament and other regional organizations have called for urgent UN Security Council action to contain the aggression and hold those responsible accountable.
• The Huthi attacks have intensified amid a military offensive by Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia to regain territory controlled by the rebels.