Loud Explosions Rock Sanaa as Flames and Smoke Rise from Aramco Facility Near Riyadh

Loud explosions were heard in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on Saturday, as the Houthis reported airstrikes in the area by Saudi forces. [1] Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-affiliated media outlet, reported "Saudi aggression" against the capital, without providing details on the targets or casualties. [1] The channel had earlier reported missile strikes on the telecommunications network in the north-western governorate of Saada, a Houthi stronghold. [1]

Explosions Reported in Sanaa

Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi enemy aircraft hit Sanaa with 26 strikes. [3] Two correspondents in Sanaa reported hearing loud explosions and seeing warplanes firing missiles on the city. [3] The channel had earlier reported missile strikes on the telecommunications network in Yemen's northwestern governorate of Saada, one of the group's strongholds. [3] Saudi Arabia bombed the Yemeni capital on Thursday night for the first time since renewed fighting broke out between the two sides in July, the Houthis claimed. [1] There was no comment from Saudi authorities on Houthi claims. [4]

Fire at Aramco Facility Near Riyadh

Flames and smoke rise from an Aramco facility south of Riyadh. — Source: thenewarab

Flames and smoke were seen rising from a facility belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco south of the kingdom's capital Riyadh on Saturday, an AFP journalist said. [2] The journalist reported seeing fire engines attempting to extinguish a blaze at the energy giant's Riyadh refinery, located south of the capital, while ambulances and police vehicles were stationed near the facility. [2] A large plume of smoke and fire was seen rising in the vicinity of an Aramco facility, a witness told Reuters. [5] The circumstances remained unclear but in recent weeks Aramco, majority-owned by the Saudi state, has come under attack from the Houthi group targeting the kingdom as part of the war in Yemen where Riyadh is backing the internationally recognised government. [2] Both the Houthis and Saudi authorities had yet to comment on the incident. [2] There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities about the fire. [5] Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment. [5]

Background to Renewed Fighting

After several years of calm, Yemen was plunged back into civil war in July. [1] It is pitting the Iran-backed Houthis, who control most of north-west Yemen, against the country’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by neighbouring Saudi Arabia. [1] Hostilities were reignited after four years of a fragile truce when Iran sent a plane to Sanaa carrying a Houthi delegation. [1] The flight did not seek authorisation from Saudi Arabia, contravening a practice in place for a decade. [1] Riyadh retaliated with strikes on Sanaa airport, and in response the Houthis attacked Saudi territory for the first time since 2022. [1] Since then, fighting has intensified with the Houthis launching a lightning offensive which saw them seize control of coastal regions along the strategic Bab al-Mandab strait. [1] They have also struck multiple Saudi targets including oil infrastructure and the capital Riyadh while also announcing a naval blockade on Saudi ships in the Red Sea. [1] The foes have traded strikes since the Houthis seized all of Yemen's Red Sea coast and took control of the Bab al-Mandab strait in a lightning offensive. [3]

Battle for Taiz and Casualties

Explosions rock Yemeni capital Sanaa after reported Saudi airstrikes. — Source: france24

Fighting in recent days has centred on Taiz, where 80 combatants in the conflict were reported dead on Friday by sources on both sides. [1] The Houthis reported 55 of their fighters had been killed while government sources told AFP that 26 troops had died. [3] The battle for Taiz is taking place on several fronts, including highlands overlooking coastal areas recently seized by the Houthis. [3] While the Houthis have conquered swathes of territory, they have yet to wrest control of Taiz city, which is Yemen's third-largest after Sanaa and Aden. [3] The Houthis also on Friday said Saudi Arabia had launched 94 strikes against areas under their control in the past 24 hours. [3] Saudi authorities meanwhile reported a Houthi projectile had damaged a school in the city of Najran near the Yemen border. [3]

Humanitarian Impact

The renewed fighting has worsened the already appalling humanitarian conditions in Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, with the World Food Programme warning on Friday that three-quarters of the population was unable to meet its basic food needs. [3]

Diplomatic and International Reactions

Saudi Arabia has reportedly requested help from the United States, a call so far rebuffed by US President Donald Trump. [1] On Saturday US media outlet Axios reported that top cabinet members in the Trump administration met the day before to discuss Yemen as well as the Iran conflict, citing three US officials. [3] The meeting was not officially announced. [3] Though Saudi officials and the Houthis have not yet commented on the refinery fire, the Iran-backed group has in recent weeks launched attacks on oil facilities in the kingdom as part of the war in Yemen where Riyadh backs the internationally recognised government. [3]

What to watch next: The Houthis said last week they had attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu with missiles and drones, while Saudi Arabia said at the time that it had intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis towards Taif and the Yanbu area, but did not report damage to Aramco facilities.