Saudi-led coalition dismisses ‘misleading’ Houthi claim of Riyadh attack

What the report says

The Saudi-led coalition has rejected Houthi claims that the Iran-aligned Yemeni armed group carried out ballistic missile and drone attacks on an Aramco oil facility near Riyadh. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki described the allegations as misleading, saying the Houthis were trying to shift attention from battlefield losses and rising anger among their supporters, according to remarks carried by Saudi media and reported by Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera said the exchange came amid intensifying fighting in Yemen between Houthi forces and fighters backing the internationally recognised government. A spokesperson for the government’s forces said they had carried out hundreds of strikes against Houthi positions and claimed heavy rebel casualties, while the coalition said it launched further operations against Houthi reinforcements on fronts near Taiz and Tor al-Baha.

The report places the latest claims within a wider war that has dragged on since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014. It also notes that a fragile 2022 truce collapsed in July, contributing to renewed fighting and the displacement of large numbers of civilians. In broader context, the conflict has repeatedly threatened shipping routes and infrastructure in Yemen and neighboring states, making any claim of attacks near Riyadh significant for regional security and energy markets.