Houthi strike damages Aramco headquarters in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, officials say

Iran-backed Houthi rebels hit the headquarters of Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco in an overnight strike, two regional officials said on Wednesday. The attack in Dhahran damaged the offices of the chief executive and other senior staff. The officials said the top three floors were affected. They spoke anonymously as they lacked media clearance.

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Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said a limited fire broke out at the Aramco building on Tuesday night. Aramco did not immediately answer a request for comment. The Houthis had earlier warned they were targeting Dhahran with a ballistic missile. The strike again showed the rebels can reach high-profile sites inside the kingdom.

Houthi strikes and Saudi air defences in Riyadh and Dhahran

On Wednesday, Saudi civil defence in Riyadh said debris from an intercepted strike injured one person. State news agency SPA published images of a damaged building and a vehicle. A large cylindrical object, believed to be missile debris, appeared lodged in the vehicle’s bonnet. Alerts for incoming missiles also sounded around Riyadh.

The Saudi-led coalition said air defences intercepted several threats aimed at multiple cities. It reported stopping two Houthi drones, four cruise missiles, and one ballistic missile targeting Riyadh. It also said it intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Dhahran. A cruise missile aimed at Al-Kharj was also reported intercepted.

Smoke seen near sensitive Saudi sites in recent days has unsettled the region and global markets. The situation also added pressure on US President Donald Trump. Trump has said Trump is evaluating whether the US should join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. The attacks are described as part of the latest front in the Iran war.

Houthi retaliation claims and Yemen conflict around Sanaa and Taiz

The Houthis said the strikes were retaliation for "treacherous Saudi aggression\" against Sanaa and other areas. Saudi Arabia backs forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government. Those forces began a major military offensive a week and a half ago. The rebel-run Health Ministry reported two dead in Yemen on Tuesday and blamed the Saudis.

The Houthis have often targeted Saudi airports, military sites, and oil infrastructure. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit multiple times in the past week. Those strikes killed at least 18 people and wounded more than 300 others. The disruption has affected aviation across the kingdom, with many flights impacted.

More than 3,000 scheduled departures across Saudi airports were cancelled or listed as not operating in the past week. Aviation analytics firm Cirium provided the figure. The rebels also warned of more attacks on airports and oil facilities. Analysts say the Houthis are a strong armed proxy of Iran, while also pursuing goals.

Houthi diplomatic outreach and ceasefire mediation via Oman, Russia and China

A senior Houthi official told The Associated Press that regional and global powers reached out to stop attacks. Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, from the Houthis political bureau, said Oman sought talks. Al-Bukhaiti said Russia and China also tried via Iran. \"Were welcoming any mediation that leads to an end of the war and the blockade between Sanaa and Riyadh,\" he said.

\"Were ready for a comprehensive end of the war and the blockade from both sides, not just a temporary ceasefire.\" The outreach came as fighting intensified in several areas. Aid agencies have raised alarms about access and safety. The conflict has again pulled attention to Yemen’s humanitarian and security crises.

Yemen casualties and aid access as Taiz roads close and fuel runs low

The International Committee of the Red Cross reported a sharp rise in combat casualties along Yemen’s front lines. It cited Marib, the Red Sea coast, and the besieged city of Taiz. The World Food Program said it can no longer reach more than 600,000 people needing aid. Main roads into Yemen’s third-largest city were closed amid rebel attacks.

Clashes continued on Taiz’s outskirts, with overnight bombardment also reported. Residents said supplies of fuel and food were shrinking. A Taiz resident, speaking anonymously, said long queues formed outside shops. Public transport became less available due to fuel shortages. The resident said loud blasts disrupted sleep, while downtown Taiz was not shelled.

On Wednesday, schools in Taiz were ordered closed for a month. Separately, Saudi strikes hit oil sites in Houthi-held areas, officials said. The Houthi-run Health Ministry said two people died in an airstrike on Tuesday. The strike hit an oil facility near Ras Isa port in Hodeida province. The coalition also attacked another oil facility in Sanaa.

Saudi interceptors, Houthi missiles and new oil targets in Yemen

The escalation highlighted Saudi Arabia’s challenge in stopping missiles and drones, regional officials said. Saudi Arabia has sought added help from allies like the United States. Regional officials said the kingdom is running low on interceptors. Experts said defending a territory about three times the size of Texas makes full interception unrealistic.

Experts said the Houthis have an arsenal reaching well over 1,000 miles, or 1,600 kilometres. Some warheads can change direction midflight, they said. Ahmed Nagi of the International Crisis Group said striking fuel storage in Houthi areas marked a new phase. \"The Houthis are betting on pressure, while the Saudis are betting on time,\" Nagi said.

The fighting has revived Yemen’s civil war after four years of relative calm. In Sanaa, fear rose after Saudi-led strikes on Tuesday, residents said. \"Theres a huge fear,\" said one resident, Umm Shadi, adding that many people stayed home. Separately, UN envoy Hans Grundberg said UN staffer Sami al-Kalabi was freed after detention since June 2024.

Grundberg said the release followed the World Food Program’s announcement last week about another freed worker. The Houthis still hold 71 UN workers, according to the envoy. Families say detainees are held for months without charges. The workers are accused of spying for the West or Israel, claims families deny, as the conflict and cross-border attacks continue.

With inputs from PTI