Houthi Tensions Spark Concerns Over Saudi Energy Infrastructure Security

A large plume of smoke and flames was seen near an Aramco facility in Riyadh on Saturday, raising concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure.

The incident comes as tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement escalate. The Houthis have increasingly targeted Saudi territory and energy-related infrastructure with missiles and drones.

Last week, the Houthis launched attacks against Aramco facilities in Yanbu, a major industrial and oil hub on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast. Saudi authorities said they intercepted six ballistic missiles launched toward the Taif and Yanbu areas, but there was no report of damage to Aramco facilities.

The cause of the fire near the Riyadh facility was not immediately clear, and there was no indication whether it was linked to an attack. There was also no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident.