Latest Developments in the Saudi-Yemen War: From Strikes on Sanaa to an Explosion Near Aramco

Saudi airstrikes on Yemen have intensified, and reports of missile and drone attacks by Yemeni forces on targets deep inside Saudi territory have added new dimensions to the conflict, as mutual threats against oil infrastructure and airports rise. Among the key developments: the targeting of Aramco's administrative building in Dhahran, reported explosions in Al-Kharj, the suspension of Qatar Airways flights to Riyadh and Dammam, and the deployment of British air defense equipment to Saudi Arabia. These are among the most important developments of this...

Ambassador Arjan - International Group: The developments in the Saudi-Yemen war in the military and political axes are followed by intensifying attacks, increasing mutual warnings and posing threats against the vital infrastructures of both sides. Simultaneously with the continuation of the air attacks of the Saudi coalition on various areas of Yemen, reports of missile and drone attacks by the Yemeni armed forces on targets in Saudi Arabia have been published. In the meantime, oil installations, airports and military centers have become the focus of mutual threats, and the arrival of British military equipment in Saudi Arabia has also added to the external dimensions of this confrontation.

A) Saudi air attacks on different areas of Yemen

▪️ Attacks on Hodeidah and Imran: Saudi coalition fighters targeted areas such as Kamran Island and Al-Qanaws sector in Hodeidah province and Harf Sufyan sector in Imran province.

▪️ Bombing of oil facilities in Sana'a: Saudi warplanes bombed the facilities of the Yemen Oil Company in the west of Sana'a. News sources reported hearing several explosions in Yemen's capital following these attacks.

Warning to evacuate the central station of the oil company: Before the attack, the Saudi coalition, by publishing a warning map, asked the citizens and civilians to evacuate the area of the central station of the Yemen oil company in Al Sabah area of Sana'a.

▪️ The reaction of the Yemeni government: The spokesman of the "Change and Construction" government of Yemen described the Saudi attack on the oil company's facilities in the west of Sana'a as a "full-scale war crime."

B) downing the Saudi drone in Saada

▪️ Yahya Saree, the spokesman of the Yemeni armed forces, announced the shooting down of an armed reconnaissance drone "Wing Long 2" belonging to Saudi Arabia in the skies of Saada province.

▪️ According to the spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces, this drone was targeted while carrying out what was called "hostile missions".

Also, initial reports of the downing of an attacking drone in the western areas of Sana'a were published, and the Yemeni media published pictures of the drone that they said had been shot down.

c) Drone attack on Riyadh and reports of missile attacks

▪️ Some Arab sources reported a drone attack on the east of Riyadh; An attack that the spokesman of the Saudi coalition also confirmed.

At the same time, news sources reported that an explosion was heard in Riyadh and a missile attack by Yemeni armed forces on this city.

▪️ Some unofficial sources also reported that Yemeni ballistic missiles were fired at targets in Saudi Arabia. The details of the number of missiles, the targets hit and the amount of possible damages of these attacks have not been fully clarified.

d) The explosion near the headquarters of Aramco in Dhahran

▪️ Ambassador Arjan, citing local sources, reported that a loud explosion was heard near the facilities and headquarters of the Aramco oil company in eastern Saudi Arabia.

▪️ The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that an office building belonging to Aramco in Dhahran city was attacked.

▪️ The media also reported the decision of the Saudi authorities to evacuate Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran.

▪️ Arabic media published pictures of smoke rising in Dhahran region. However, official details about the extent of damage and possible casualties of this attack have not been announced.

e) Al-Kharj explosions and reports about military targets

▪️ Arab sources reported the occurrence of massive explosions in the Saudi city of Al-Kharj.

Some sources claimed that a Yemeni cruise missile hit its target near this city; However, the details of this claim have not been independently verified.

Prince Sultan Air Base, one of the important military centers of Saudi Arabia, is located in the vicinity of Al-Kharj. The base has been mentioned in published reports, but there is not enough independent information to confirm that it was targeted in recent attacks.

The Saudi Civil Defense Organization issued warnings in Wadi Al-Dawasar and Al-Salil areas in the Riyadh region. Some sources have mentioned the presence of Saudi missile facilities in Al-Salil, but the direct connection of these warnings with the mentioned facilities is not clear.

In another development, Arab sources reported that several explosions were heard at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and at the city's refinery. These reports came after the Yemeni armed forces had previously threatened to target Saudi infrastructure in the event of an attack on Yemen's vital facilities. There are no official details about the extent of the possible damages of these explosions.

f) Mutual threat against oil facilities and airports

▪️ Yemen's warning about Aramco: The Yemeni armed forces announced that they consider Aramco's facilities as legitimate targets of their military operations due to their alleged role in supporting the Saudi coalition.

Request to evacuate oil facilities: Yemeni armed forces asked employees and civilians near Aramco-affiliated facilities to evacuate these places.

▪️ Warning about King Khalid Airport: The spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces announced that in case of the Saudi attack on Sana'a, the Aramco headquarters in Dammam, the King Khalid Airport and the Aramco refinery in Riyadh must be evacuated.

▪️ Warning of the Saudi coalition to the residents of Sana'a: The Saudi coalition also published a warning map and demanded the evacuation of the central station of the Yemen Oil Company in the Sabah area of Sana'a.

These mutual threats show that energy infrastructure and air transportation have become one of the main axes of conflict. Expanding attacks on these infrastructures can bring more risks to civilians in addition to increasing economic losses.

g) Publish images of drone attacks on ground fronts

▪️ The Yemeni armed forces published images of attacks on military gatherings and equipment of forces aligned with Saudi Arabia in different fronts.

In these images, the "Rojom" drone is introduced as one of the tools used in these attacks.

Also, Yemeni sources reported that the Al-Hanjar area, located at the western entrance of Taiz city, was withdrawn from the control of the Saudi aggressor forces. Independent details about the field situation in this area and the extent of changes in the Lines of Control have not been published.

h) Suspension of flights from Qatar to Saudi Arabia

▪️ Qatar Airways announced that it will suspend all its round-trip flights to Riyadh and Dammam airports until further notice.

Ahed Network also announced the suspension of flights at Jeddah International Airport; However, official details about the scope and duration of the suspension have not been released.

▪️ These developments occur in a situation where reports of missile and drone attacks have increased concerns about the security of air transportation in the region.

The suspension of Qatar flights to two important cities in Saudi Arabia and the reports of the suspension of flights in Jeddah, if continued, could affect passenger traffic and air communications in the region.