Yemen's Houthis say they have attacked Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure and its capital's airport — but Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the attacks. The claims, made on Monday 26 October, mark a sharp escalation in a conflict that is already putting pressure on world oil supplies.
What the Houthis claim
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on X that the group targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh with a ballistic missile and carried out drone attacks on pumping stations along Saudi Arabia's East-West crude oil pipeline. The Houthis made similar claims on Saturday, saying they had targeted the pipeline, an Aramco facility in Yanbu and the Rabigh refinery — again with no Saudi confirmation.
What the Saudi-led coalition says
The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed two ballistic missile launchers in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, including one used to fire a missile towards Riyadh that it said was intercepted. Saudi Civil Defence had earlier issued a danger alert for Riyadh. In a later statement, the coalition said its operation had destroyed five tunnels used to store ballistic missiles, four launchers and a missile depot.
Why the pipeline matters
The East-West pipeline is one of Saudi Arabia's most important oil routes. Operated by state oil giant Aramco, it runs about 1,200 kilometres from Abqaiq in the east to Yanbu on the Red Sea coast, giving Saudi oil an overland alternative to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely shut by the wider war.
The wider picture
Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport resumed operations at two terminals on Sunday after an attack claimed by the Houthis earlier in October killed 13 people — described as the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade. The new claims come on the same day officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are meeting Iranian officials in Tehran to discuss regional de-escalation. Readers should note: the Houthi attacks are claims, not confirmed strikes, and this post will be updated if Saudi authorities confirm or deny damage.
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