Amid escalating military tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement, an eyewitness reported seeing a large cloud of smoke and flames rising near a facility belonging to Saudi Aramco in Riyadh on Saturday, according to Reuters. Various Arab and
international media outlets circulated videos and satellite imagery showing a massive fire breaking out in the city. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have not yet issued any official confirmation regarding the incident, and Aramco has not responded immediately to requests for comment
from the news agency. No party has claimed responsibility for the blaze so far; however, Houthi political bureau member Hezam al-Asad posted on the X platform following the events, stating: Capital for capital.. and whose capital is made of oil,
should not ignite fires in the capitals of others. This development comes amid intensifying hostilities between Riyadh and the Yemeni group. The Houthis stated last week that they targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu using drones and missiles. For its part,
Saudi Arabia announced at the time that it intercepted six ballistic missiles launched toward Taif and Yanbu, without mentioning any damage to Aramco facilities.
