Houthis Strike Aramco and Saudi Airports Amid Escalating Tensions

The Houthi militant group in Yemen has escalated tensions in the Middle East with renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure, including facilities operated by state-owned oil giant Aramco. The group launched three separate strikes using ballistic missiles and drones, according to spokesperson Yahya Sare’e. One attack targeted the Aramco refinery in Rabigh, causing a fire, while others hit key sites such as King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Abha Airport, and the East-West pipeline.

Though the latest attack did not disrupt oil flows, analysts from ING Bank warn that the pipeline remains vulnerable. The incident follows a previous attack in September that crippled multiple pumping sites, temporarily halting crude oil loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The Houthis also issued a warning to international airlines, stating that Saudi airspace has become an operational zone for their forces.

The escalation coincides with a military offensive launched by Yemen’s internationally recognized government to reclaim Houthi-controlled territories. The Houthis have held Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and much of the western coastline along the Bab al-Mandeb Strait for over a decade. The strait, a vital maritime corridor, connects the Red Sea and Suez Canal to the Gulf of Aden, making it a crucial route for global trade.

In response to the attacks, Saudi Arabia is exploring a strategic defense partnership with the United States and has formed a coalition with Turkey and Pakistan under the Mecca Defence Alliance. The alliance aims to activate collective deterrence measures against the Houthis, according to Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman.