The Saudi Aramco headquarters located in the city of Dhahran in eastern Saudi Arabia was affected by a missile attack from the Houthis of Yemen on Tuesday. This attack resulted in a fire in part of the complex, which was quickly extinguished. However, no specific details regarding the extent of the damage are available, and it is unclear whether the fire was caused by the impact of the missiles or by debris from intercepted missiles.
Widespread Impact on Oil Infrastructure
The attack on Dhahran is just one of a series of missile strikes by the Houthis on various cities in Saudi Arabia. According to the Saudi-led coalition, the missiles also targeted several other cities, including the capital, Riyadh. Additionally, debris from intercepted missiles fell into part of a residential area in Dhahran.
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Human and Economic Consequences
These attacks are part of a broader wave of assaults on Saudi infrastructure in recent days, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people and injuring hundreds. These attacks followed a warning from the Saudi coalition to residents near an oil region in the Houthi capital, Sana'a, urging them to evacuate the area for their safety.
Other oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia has also been damaged in these conflicts. For example, a refinery in Jazan has been shut down following a previous attack, and a key oil export port on the Red Sea coast has also been targeted. A pipeline that is the main route for Aramco's oil to global markets was temporarily shut down last month due to an attack from Iraq.
Dhahran's Status and Economic Importance
Dhahran, located on the shores of the Persian Gulf in Saudi Arabia, is at the heart of the country's oil economy. This city is home to Aramco, a specialized university in petroleum engineering, and a large airbase. The largest oil fields in Saudi Arabia are located in the deserts of the Eastern Province and in the Persian Gulf, making these attacks potentially have significant economic and security implications for the country.
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