Saudi Arabia said it intercepted incoming missiles targeting the kingdom’s capital and other regions on Sunday, with falling debris damaging a building belonging to the state-owned oil giant Aramco in Riyadh’s financial district.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said it rescued 22 crew members after a fire broke out aboard a cargo ship in the Sea of Oman, as risks to commercial shipping in the region remain high.
Aramco building in Riyadh damaged after missile interceptions
Witnesses in Riyadh said they heard a loud explosion Sunday morning and described damage across multiple floors of an Aramco building in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. Some floors appeared to be heavily damaged.
The witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.
The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles targeting Riyadh and other regions early Sunday, accusing the Houthis of launching the weapons.
The Saudi Energy Ministry said the attempted attack resulted in “falling shrapnel that caused minor damage to the building.” It added that there were no casualties.
The Saudi Centre for International Communication and Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated Press.
Also, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile overnight targeting Saudi Arabia’s southern region, which borders Yemen and has repeatedly come under Houthi attacks.
The latest developments follow Saudi airstrikes on Saturday near Sanaa, Yemen’s capital that is held by the Houthis. Houthi officials said the strikes killed at least 27 people.
The UAE rescues 22 crew members after a cargo ship fire in the Sea of Oman
The UAE National Guard said the crew members — all of Arab nationalities — were in stable condition after receiving first aid following a rescue when their cargo ship caught fire in the Sea of Oman.
The National Guard did not identify the vessel or specify the cause of the fire.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military organisation that monitors maritime security incidents, said Sunday that a tanker caught fire on Saturday about 8 nautical miles northwest of Khasab, Oman, prompting the evacuation of its crew.
The British organisation did not identify the vessel or say who targeted it. It was unclear whether it was the same ship whose crew the UAE had helped evacuate.
The incident comes as risks to commercial shipping in the region remain high. On Saturday, US forces disabled a St. Kitts-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, saying it had attempted to breach the US naval blockade of Iran. The blockade has been enforced in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil shipments.
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Aramco building damaged in Riyadh after Saudi Arabia intercepts incoming missile
