Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed an attack on Saudi Aramco’s tower in Riyadh’s financial district. Saudi Arabia says the building took minor damage from falling shrapnel and no one was hurt. Saudi air defences said they shot down two ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday, 8 November.
01. Key takeaways
- The Houthis claimed the attack on Sunday, 8 November. They said they fired missiles and drones at Saudi targets.
- Witnesses told AFP they saw damage on several floors of the Aramco tower in the King Abdullah Financial District, with glass shattered.
- Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said the damage was minor and there were no injuries or deaths.
- The Saudi-led coalition said it shot down two ballistic missiles and destroyed launchers in Saada and Sanaa.
A skyscraper belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco was damaged in Riyadh on Sunday. Yemen’s Houthis claimed the attack.
Witnesses told AFP they saw damage on several floors of the Aramco tower in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). Glass was shattered. Part of the tower’s front was damaged. One witness said they saw a projectile hit the building.
Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry gave a different account. It said an administrative building belonging to Aramco was the target of an “attempted attack”. Falling shrapnel caused minor damage, it said. “No injuries or fatalities reported, thankfully.”
The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences stopped two ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday. It also said it destroyed missile launchers in Saada and Sanaa, in Yemen.
02. What the Houthis said
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group carried out four military operations with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. The targets he listed included the financial district, Riyadh airport, Aramco oil storage tanks and the eastern Saudi city of Abqaiq. A separate Saudi statement put the number of operations at six.
The attack is part of a wider rise in fighting. The Houthis have stepped up strikes on Saudi airports, ports and oil sites in recent months. The group is backed by Iran. Saudi civil defence said on Monday, 9 November, that the danger in Riyadh had passed, minutes after raising an alert.
| What | Detail |
|---|---|
| Attack | Early hours, Sunday 8 Nov 2026 |
| Target | Aramco tower, King Abdullah Financial District, Riyadh |
| Claimed by | Yemen’s Houthi movement (Yahya Saree) |
| Damage | Witnesses: several floors, shattered glass. Ministry: minor damage from shrapnel |
| Casualties | None reported |
| Intercepts | Two ballistic missiles shot down, coalition says |
03. FAQs
Who are the Houthis?
A Yemeni armed group backed by Iran. They have fought Saudi Arabia for years and have hit Saudi oil sites before.
Was anyone hurt?
No. Saudi Arabia says there were no injuries or deaths.
Why does this matter?
Aramco is the world’s largest oil exporter. Attacks on its sites raise fears about oil supply and the wider war in the region.
Sources: Dawn / AFP (9 Nov), The Jerusalem Post (9 Nov), Malay Mail / AFP (9 Nov).
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