Key facts
- A Houthi strike hit Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran, damaging offices used by senior executives.
- The Saudi military intercepted ballistic missiles and drones targeting Riyadh and Dhahran.
- The Houthis vowed to continue targeting Saudi airports and oil infrastructure.
- A senior Houthi official indicated that diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire are underway.
- A cargo ship sank in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine.
Explosions were heard over Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday morning as fighting intensified between Saudi-backed forces and Iran's Houthi rebel allies. Offices belonging to senior executives with Saudi oil giant Aramco were hit in an overnight Houthi strike on the company’s headquarters in Dhahran, with the top three floors of a building used by top executives damaged. The office of the Aramco chief executive was among those hit, though there were no casualties reported.
The Saudi-led military coalition stated it intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Dhahran, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles and drones targeting Riyadh. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, calling them retaliation for "treacherous Saudi aggression" against Yemen. The rebels vowed to continue targeting Saudi Arabia's international airports and oil infrastructure in the coming days.
The escalation has rattled the region and global markets, increasing questions for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he is evaluating whether the U.S. should join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. The Houthis have threatened to target U.S. personnel and interests if strikes are ordered.
Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that a cargo ship sank in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine. The ship was reportedly carrying 2,500 containers.