Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry said an Aramco administrative building in Dhahran, in the Eastern Province, was targeted on Tuesday evening, 13 October 2026, causing a limited fire. It said the relevant authorities had dealt with the incident and taken the necessary measures, with no injuries or deaths reported.
Aramco building evacuated as source of impact investigated
Repeated explosions were heard around Aramco's headquarters in Dhahran, while sources said an order had been issued to evacuate the building after the fire broke out. A source with direct knowledge of the incident said the building had been hit, but it was not immediately clear whether this was caused by a direct strike or falling fragments from an air-interception operation.
Informed sources said Aramco employees had been instructed to work from home on Wednesday, following the incident and the measures taken inside the administrative headquarters. The Energy Ministry did not disclose the type of projectile used to target the building.
Coalition announces interception of missiles and drones
At the same time, the coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile launched towards Dhahran, explaining that fragments from the interception had fallen in a residential area and that specialist teams had begun dealing with the site. It also announced the interception of another ballistic missile launched towards Haradh, attributing the launch of both missiles to Yemen's Houthi group. The coalition had earlier announced the interception of three drones north of Riyadh.
In a later update, it said it had intercepted and destroyed four cruise missiles and two drones targeting the Riyadh region and the southern region, after initially announcing the interception of three cruise missiles before a fourth missile was detected near the capital. The attacks followed a coalition operation in Yemen which it said had targeted capabilities used by the Houthi group to threaten Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the southern Red Sea and maritime routes.
The operation was preceded by a warning for residents to evacuate the site of the Yemeni Oil Company's central Al-Sabahah station in Sanaa, while Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree vowed to respond to any attack targeting the Yemeni capital.
