Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missiles as Aramco Building Is Damaged in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has intercepted several missiles targeting its capital and other regions, while falling debris from the attempted attacks damaged a building belonging to state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco in Riyadh.

The incident occurred early Sunday, November 8, 2026, following reports of loud explosions in the Saudi capital and security alerts issued by the country’s Civil Defence authorities.

The damaged building is located in the King Abdullah Financial District, a major commercial and financial hub in Riyadh. Witnesses reported damage to windows across several floors of the structure.

Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry confirmed that falling shrapnel caused limited damage to the administrative building but stressed that no casualties were recorded.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels said its air defence systems intercepted ballistic and cruise missiles targeting Riyadh and other parts of the kingdom. It also reported intercepting another ballistic missile directed towards the country’s southern region.

The Houthis’ military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the operation, saying the group had targeted Riyadh’s financial district in retaliation for recent Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen.

The latest exchange follows Saudi airstrikes on Saturday near Sanaa, Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital. Houthi authorities reported that the attacks killed dozens of people, although the casualty figures have not been independently verified.

Meanwhile, the escalating regional tensions have raised fresh concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and energy infrastructure across the Middle East.

In a separate development, the United Arab Emirates said it had rescued 22 crew members after a cargo ship caught fire in the Sea of Oman. The rescued crew members, all of Arab nationalities, were reported to be in stable condition after receiving first aid.

The British maritime security organisation, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), also reported that a tanker caught fire approximately eight nautical miles northwest of Khasab, Oman. It was not immediately established whether the vessel was the same ship involved in the UAE rescue operation.

In Israel, President Isaac Herzog designated opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to form the country’s next government following consultations with political parties after the October 27 general election.

The decision represents another setback for outgoing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose political bloc failed to secure a parliamentary majority.

The developments come amid renewed hostilities involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, as well as wider regional tensions affecting energy supplies, international shipping and security across the Middle East.