Missiles Hit Aramco HQ

Yemen's Houthi group struck an administrative building of Saudi Arabia's state oil company, Saudi Aramco, in Dhahran, Eastern Province, on Tuesday night (13/10/2026). Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry reported the attack triggered a limited fire, with no deaths or injuries.

The targeted building houses the office of Aramco's chief executive as well as its oil-supply planning and scheduling department. Sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal said the top three floors of the building were damaged and parts of the roof collapsed after fire spread across multiple floors. Aramco itself has not commented.

According to an Energy Ministry official who spoke to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), authorities responded to the fire caused by the Tuesday night attack and confirmed there were no reports of injuries or fatalities.

Houthis Strike Aramco HQ in Dhahran, Limited Fire Reported
Illustration of an Aramco facility. (Source: HMAP)

Houthi Claim and Retaliation

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said his forces had carried out a 'high-precision military operation' targeting Aramco in Dhahran, in addition to attacks on Riyadh airport and an oil refinery in the capital. He warned that similar attacks would continue in the coming days.

The Saudi-led coalition responded with airstrikes on the al-Sabaha fuel depot of the Yemen Petroleum Company in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital held by the Houthis. The coalition also claimed to have intercepted four cruise missiles and two drones fired toward Riyadh and the southern region, as well as ballistic missiles aimed at Dhahran and Haradh.

Escalation and Oil Prices

The attack comes amid an escalating conflict. Over the past week, Houthi attacks on Riyadh's international airport killed at least 13 people and hit Saudi Arabia's travel industry in the middle of conference season, including the Future Investment Initiative (FII) investment forum scheduled for October 26.

The tensions are also keeping world oil prices elevated: Brent crude has held at or above USD100 per barrel for more than a month, adding to global inflationary pressure.

Trump said Washington would hold off on further strikes against Iran until after the US midterm elections, less than three weeks away. What happens once Election Day has passed remains anyone's guess.