Houthi Drone Attacks Target Saudi Oil Infrastructure
The Iran-backed Houthi insurgents from Yemen announced on Monday that they conducted drone assaults on oil pumping stations linked to Saudi Arabia’s crucial East-West Pipeline. They also executed a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, shortly after the airport resumed limited flight operations following a prior Houthi missile attack.
This East-West Pipeline stretches roughly 750 miles, connecting the oil refineries in Abqaiq with the Red Sea port of Yanbu. It’s a key asset for Saudi Arabia, allowing the country to avoid the threats posed by Iranian terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz by facilitating oil transportation via the Red Sea.
Back in mid-September, the pipeline was targeted by the Houthis, which led to a safety shutdown lasting about two weeks. Afterward, operations resumed at nearly full capacity. However, there hasn’t been any immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabia’s state oil company, Aramco, about any damage to the pumping system.
The Houthis also claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile aimed at King Khalid International Airport. In response, the Saudi military coalition asserted that they intercepted the missile and destroyed two launchers located near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, which the Houthis have controlled since 2014.
According to the coalition, they managed to eliminate a total of four Houthi missile launchers on that Monday, along with a missile storage site and some underground tunnels.
The Houthis boasted about launching “dozens of ballistic missiles” towards Riyadh, insisting that the airport strike was successful.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree urged all airlines—international, regional, and domestic—along with passengers and employees, to avoid King Khalid Airport, labeling it unsafe and a legitimate military target for Houthi forces. He added that the “Saudi regime shall bear the consequences of any operations at the airport.”
Saree also claimed that Saudi warplanes conducted 56 airstrikes on targets in Yemen over the weekend, indicating all strikes were aimed at civilian sites.
Notably, King Khalid International Airport had just resumed limited operations after a Houthi attack on October 12 that resulted in 13 fatalities and over 300 injuries. Even though bystanders reported hearing explosions in Riyadh, Saudi authorities opted not to confirm any damage at the airport.
Due to the ongoing Houthi assaults on their airports, the Saudis have canceled several events and conferences. On Sunday, the organizers of the Dakar Rally, a renowned motor sports event, announced the race would be relocated from Saudi Arabia to a venue in Africa this year.
The Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), which organizes the rally, stated that the race would return to Saudi Arabia in 2027, coinciding with its 50th anniversary celebration.
