Houthi Claims of Riyadh Attack Spark Denial
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have targeted an Aramco facility in Riyadh using ballistic missiles and drones, according to a statement from Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, [aljazeera.com] reported. The group described the strikes as “precise and direct,” citing fires at the site. A large plume of smoke was visible near an Aramco facility in Riyadh on Saturday, [yahoo.com] noted.
Saudi-Led Coalition Denies Targeting of Riyadh
Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s government, called the Houthi claims “misleading” in remarks carried by Saudi media, [aljazeera.com] reported. The coalition denied any attack on Riyadh, focusing instead on its own operations against Houthi forces. On Sunday, the coalition reported 97 “precise targeting operations” against Houthi reinforcements, [yahoo.com] stated.
Escalating Conflict in Yemen
The Saudi-led coalition’s operations targeted 260 Houthi fighters and 44 military vehicles on the Tor al-Baha front and Taiz axis, according to Colonel Majed Abdullah al-Nazili, a Yemen government forces spokesman. [aljazeera.com] The fighting has intensified since a 2022 truce collapsed in July, [yahoo.com] added. In mid-September, the Houthis seized the port city of Mocha and strategic islands in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical route for global oil shipments.
Recent Attacks on Saudi Infrastructure
The Houthis previously claimed attacks on Aramco facilities in Yanbu, a Red Sea port, and a power station in Medina. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting six ballistic missiles near Taif and Yanbu without damage to Aramco sites, [yahoo.com] noted.
Humanitarian Impact of the Conflict
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced since fighting resumed in Yemen, [aljazeera.com] reported. The war, which began in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, has caused widespread destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis. The conflict involves Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and a Saudi-backed Yemeni government, with regional and global implications.
Saudi Authorities Deny Houthi Claims of Attack Damage
Did the attack on Riyadh cause significant damage?
Saudi authorities have not confirmed damage to Aramco facilities, calling the Houthi claims “misleading.” [aljazeera.com] No official reports of casualties or infrastructure damage have been released.
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