Iran-backed Houthi forces have claimed six attacks on airports and oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, according to a statement from their spokesperson, Yahya Saree. The claims came despite a rare meeting of senior Saudi and Iranian officials in Tehran earlier this week.
At that meeting, the two sides agreed to resolve regional differences through dialogue. Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan also sent high-level representatives. Even so, Houthi forces have continued to launch missiles and drones at the kingdom and at Saudi-backed forces inside Yemen.
Houthi claims target oil refineries and airports
Saree said in a statement posted on X that the attacks hit vital commercial and military infrastructure, stretching from the east and west coasts to Riyadh and the southern region of Najran. He listed the following targets:
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- The Ras Tanura oil refinery, struck with a ballistic missile
- An Aramco facility in Abqaiq, struck with a missile
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, struck with multiple missiles
- King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, struck with a drone
- The Rabigh oil refinery, struck with a ballistic missile
- A Saudi military headquarters in the Najran region
There was no independent corroboration of the group’s claims.
Diplomacy meets renewed fighting along the border
The escalation came despite the week’s high-level diplomacy, which aimed to ease rising regional tensions, particularly the cross-border fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi Arabia. After the Tehran meeting concluded on Monday, participants agreed to keep talking about strengthening cooperation among the four countries, according to an official Iranian press release.
The meeting was hosted by Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei. It was attended by Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. The Saudi foreign ministry later stressed the importance of opening negotiation channels to prevent a return to military escalation.
Saudi-led coalition reports missile interceptions
The Houthi announcement on Thursday followed a statement from the Saudi-led coalition. Its spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, said air defences had intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired towards the capital. Saudi Civil Defence said shrapnel from the interception wounded one Saudi citizen in Riyadh and also damaged a house and a vehicle.
Warning alerts for incoming potential threats had been issued in Riyadh and al-Kharj governorates, and in Najran city, before the interceptions were announced. Earlier on Thursday, the internationally recognised Yemeni government called on the UN Security Council to take deterrent and punitive measures to stop Houthi attacks on Aden International Airport.
