Houthi attack damages Saudi Aramco tower in Riyadh

Kingdom's energy ministry says damage to Aramco Tower was limited and no injuries or fatalities were reported RIYADH: Saudi Aramco's corporate office in Riyadh's financial district sustained damage on Sunday after debris from an attempted missile attack struck the building, blowing out windows across several floors. Saudi Arabia's energy ministry said the damage to Aramco Tower was limited and no injuries or fatalities were reported. The ministry did not identify those responsible, although Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted Houthi missiles over Riyadh early on Sunday and also intercepted a missile targeting the Eastern Province, home to most of Saudi Arabia's oil and gas reserves. The coalition said it had destroyed ballistic missile launchers in Yemen's Saada and Sanaa regions that were used in the attacks. The latest strikes come amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have intensified attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, ports and airports in recent weeks. Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran also sustained extensive damage in an attack last month. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Riyadh's international airport was among Sunday's targets, although Saudi authorities did not confirm the claim. An earlier strike on the airport in October killed 13 people and injured more than 300. The renewed fighting intensified after Houthi forces advanced towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in September, threatening a major shipping route amid the wider US-Israeli war with Iran. Saudi Arabia has responded with air strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. The Houthi-run health ministry said at least 40 people were killed in Saudi strikes near Sanaa on Saturday, while Saudi authorities said they were investigating the reports. The escalation comes as Riyadh seeks international assistance to strengthen its defences. Britain announced in October that it would deploy fighter jets on defensive missions to help protect Saudi cities from Houthi attacks. Diplomatic efforts have also continued, with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye meeting Iranian representatives in Tehran last month under the Mecca defence pact framework. Iran subsequently said discussions with Riyadh were continuing over potential regional security arrangements that would exclude foreign military involvement. Meanwhile, several Saudi government agencies resumed office operations on Sunday, while many schools reopened for in-person classes after weeks of remote learning prompted by earlier attacks.