Houthis Claim Aramco Dhahran HQ Strike, Vow More Attacks

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Wednesday took responsibility for the attack on Saudi Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran, which was struck on Tuesday night. They pledged further strikes on Saudi airports and oil sites. The Saudi energy ministry reported a limited fire and no casualties.

The Houthis had warned of the attack in advance. As JFeed reported on Tuesday, they issued evacuation warnings for Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and for King Khalid International Airport. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been working through US mediators to secure Saudi permission for Israeli strikes on the group.

The same report covered travel to the kingdom. The US State Department raised its Saudi travel advisory to Level 3, "Reconsider Travel," and placed the areas bordering Yemen at Level 4, "Do Not Travel." Etihad Airways said it would cancel flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until October 19.

In Wednesday's claim, the Houthis said they fired ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Aramco facilities in Dhahran, at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and at an Aramco refinery in the capital. The group did not say when the launches took place.

According to the energy ministry, the strike hit an administrative building in the headquarters complex. Authorities responded late on Tuesday and took the required measures. The ministry said no one was killed or injured.

Other accounts described heavier damage. A company source told Reuters that a ballistic missile struck an office tower in the complex and damaged its top three floors. That source and two others familiar with the incident said the tower was on fire. Ynet reported that it was still unclear whether the building took a direct missile hit or was damaged by interception debris.

The Houthis called on "international shipping companies," civilians and workers to leave Saudi airports and oil facilities. The group declared those sites legitimate military targets and said it is retaliating for Riyadh's support of Yemeni government forces.

On Wednesday, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh. Several loud booms were heard in the capital.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the Houthis obtained components from Chinese suppliers to build their own version of Iran's Kheibar Shekan ballistic missile. The report drew on research by Conflict Armament Research.