Houthis Strike Oil Facility Near Riyadh as Yemen Conflict Escalates

The conflict in Yemen has escalated with the Houthi rebels claiming to have struck an oil facility near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital. The Houthis reported that they targeted an oil facility in Riyadh with ballistic missiles and drones, sparking fires at the sites. An AFP journalist witnessed flames and smoke rising from an Aramco facility south of Riyadh.

The fighting has intensified since July, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of coastal regions along the Bab al-Mandab strait. The Houthis have also struck multiple Saudi targets, including oil infrastructure, while announcing a naval blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.

The renewed conflict has worsened Yemen's humanitarian crisis, with three-quarters of the population unable to meet its basic food needs, according to the World Food Programme. The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, reported that Saudi Arabia had launched 94 strikes against areas under their control in the past 24 hours.