Houthis Claim Aramco HQ Strike, Vow More Attacks on Saudi Airports and Oil Facilities
RIYADH: Yemen’s Houthis vowed on Wednesday to press ahead with attacks on airports and oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, a day after claiming a Houthi attack on Aramco headquarters that sources said caused extensive damage. The threat marks a sharp escalation in a conflict that has already killed 13 people at Riyadh airport this week.
The Iran-aligned group said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Aramco facilities in the eastern city of Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and an Aramco refinery in the Saudi capital. It did not say when the launches took place.
In a broad warning, the Houthis urged “international shipping companies”, civilians and workers to evacuate airports and oil installations, which they declared legitimate military targets.
Houthi attack on Aramco headquarters in Dhahran
Tuesday night’s strike on Aramco’s base in Dhahran caused a fire that spread across several floors, three people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The Saudi energy ministry described the damage as a limited fire and said there were no injuries or deaths.
Operations at Aramco were continuing normally, with employees working from home, according to two of the sources. The company did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
The Houthis described the threatened locations as legitimate targets and framed their campaign as retaliation for Saudi strikes on Yemen. The group says it has been hitting back at the kingdom’s backing of Yemeni government forces in a Yemen war that restarted last month, a conflict reignited by the wider United States-Iran confrontation in the Gulf. The threats follow a pattern of escalating warnings, with the group vowing a swift response earlier this week if outside powers intervened.
Missile intercepted over Riyadh
The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis towards Riyadh on Wednesday. Several loud booms were heard across the Saudi capital during the day.
Saudi authorities issued an alert for a possible aerial threat over Riyadh on Wednesday morning. Witnesses said the warning was later lifted, though officials offered no immediate explanation for the explosions residents heard.
The escalation follows a widening pattern of Houthi strikes over the past week. On Saturday, an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 13 people, the deadliest single incident in the current round of fighting.
What this means for Pakistan
Pakistan has moved quickly to stand by Saudi Arabia as the attacks intensified. Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi security at the United Nations Security Council earlier this month, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the Houthi attacks as “totally unacceptable” on Wednesday, as Feature Pakistan reported.
The stakes for Pakistan are direct. Millions of Pakistani expatriates live and work in Saudi Arabia, many of them employed at airports, construction sites and energy installations, the very facilities the Houthis have now declared targets. Remittances from the kingdom remain a lifeline for Pakistan’s economy, so any disruption to Saudi airports or oil infrastructure carries consequences well beyond the Gulf.
The conflict has also begun to spill into sport. The Saudi Pro League has postponed three fixtures, including a match featuring Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, as reported here.
A conflict with no off-ramp in sight
The fighting has dealt a blow to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans to transform the kingdom’s economy and reduce its reliance on oil. Each new strike raises questions about the security of the infrastructure those plans depend on.
For now, neither side shows signs of stepping back. The Houthis promise more attacks, the coalition promises interceptions, and civilians in both countries sit in the middle. Wednesday’s developments suggest the coming days will bring more of the same.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Houthis claim on Wednesday?
The group claimed it struck Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran and launched missiles and drones at Aramco facilities, Riyadh airport and an Aramco refinery. It vowed further attacks on Saudi airports and oil installations.
How did Saudi Arabia respond?
The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh on Wednesday. The energy ministry said the Aramco HQ strike caused only a limited fire with no casualties.
Why does this matter for Pakistan?
Pakistan has publicly backed Saudi security at the UN and through its foreign minister. Millions of Pakistanis work in the kingdom, and remittances from Saudi Arabia are vital to Pakistan’s economy.
*Source: Reuters reporting via Dawn, October 14, 2026.*
