Riyadh: Yemen's Houthi group has claimed it carried out attacks against Saudi Arabia's East West crude oil pumping stations and Riyadh airport, Reuters reported on Sunday, as the Saudi led coalition announced the interception of a ballistic missile launched towards the capital.
Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed the reported attacks on the oil infrastructure or the airport. No independent confirmation confirmed damage, casualties, or disruption to oil operations.
The Saudi led coalition, which has conducted military operations against the Houthis in Yemen, said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh. The coalition also reported destroying two ballistic missile launchers in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, including one it said had been used to launch the missile towards Riyadh.
The reports did not establish whether the claimed attacks on the pumping stations and airport were part of the same operation as the intercepted missile.
Oil infrastructure and regional context
The East West Pipeline transports crude oil from Saudi Arabia's eastern production areas to facilities on the Red Sea coast. The route lets the kingdom export oil without relying entirely on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, making its pumping stations key to Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure.
Any confirmed disruption to these facilities could affect oil transportation and export operations. However, no verified evidence currently shows that the latest claimed attacks damaged the pipeline or interrupted supplies.
The developments follow a series of missile and drone attacks involving the Houthis and Saudi Arabia. On Sunday, Saudi authorities reported intercepting projectiles over Riyadh and southern areas, while civil defence officials issued and subsequently lifted emergency warnings.
The latest claims also come shortly after flights resumed at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 25 following a two week closure linked to earlier attacks. Operations had resumed on a limited basis, with many flights still cancelled.
The confrontation forms part of renewed fighting involving the Houthis and the Saudi backed government in Yemen, against the backdrop of the wider regional conflict involving Iran and the US.
The Houthis have targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities and other infrastructure in recent weeks, while coalition forces have reported intercepting missiles and drones launched from Yemen.
As of the latest Reuters report on October 26, Saudi Arabia had not confirmed that the East West pumping stations or Riyadh airport were struck in the latest claimed operation. The extent of any damage and its potential effect on energy supplies and airport operations therefore remain unverified.
