Riyadh's King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) was targeted, with the Aramco tower sustaining damage, according to multiple eyewitness accounts on Sunday. The incident follows an announcement by the Saudi-led coalition that it had intercepted missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
One witness confirmed that the Aramco tower within KAFD was hit, with two others corroborating damage to the building. The King Abdullah Financial District, a prominent symbol of Saudi Arabia's economic and social reforms, features numerous glass skyscrapers, upscale retail establishments, and green spaces. An attack on this district would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict with the Houthis. The area also includes residential housing and a major metro station, typically experiencing heavy commuter traffic during morning hours.
Damage was observed across multiple floors of the Aramco tower, with shattered glass and visible damage to its facade, another witness reported. This attack occurred hours after the Saudi Ministry of Education announced the resumption of in-person schooling in Riyadh, following a period of remote learning necessitated by previous strikes.
The coalition spokesperson, Turki al-Malki, stated on Sunday morning via social media that air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired by the "Houthi terrorist militia" towards Riyadh, with audible explosions heard in the Saudi capital. The Kingdom has been seeking assistance from allies amidst frequent attacks from the Houthis, who recently captured significant areas along the Red Sea coast from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.
In related developments, multiple Yemeni officials have informed AFP that thousands of Syrian troops are slated for deployment to Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with some having already arrived. The United Nations reports that over 1,600 people have perished and more than 300,000 have been displaced since the resumption of fighting in Yemen.
The fragile truce that had been in effect since 2022 collapsed in July. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have engaged in retaliatory strikes, with the Houthis targeting Saudi airports, energy infrastructure, and military sites. The Houthis, who seized the Yemeni capital Sanaa in 2014, have escalated their actions following the breakdown of the truce, including a declared maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and attacks on its shipping, territory, and oil facilities.
