Saudi Arabia is experiencing a surge in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement, prompting the energy company Aramco to evacuate staff from its headquarters in Dhahran and leading the United States to order the departure of non-emergency diplomatic personnel and their families from the kingdom. The escalation has affected both aviation and energy infrastructure, with multiple casualties and disruptions reported over the past weeks.
The most recent incidents include a deadly attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Wednesday evening, which left two people dead—a Saudi citizen and an Indian national—and injured eight others, including two Indian nationals. Despite the attack, airport operations resumed shortly after, with air traffic returning to normal. Separately, falling debris from an intercepted drone near Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield killed a Filipino and a Nepali worker, while injuring an Indian and a Pakistani. Oilfield operations continued without interruption.
Following these incidents, Aramco instructed remaining staff at its Dhahran headquarters to evacuate and work remotely, marking the first such evacuation since the escalation of the conflict. Some non-essential employees had been working from home since an earlier Houthi attack struck the complex last week, causing fire damage to the operations center. The company has not publicly commented on the evacuation’s specific reasons, though sources familiar with the situation confirmed the directive. Residential areas within the headquarters complex were reportedly not evacuated.
The recent surge in attacks has coincided with a breakdown of a 2022 UN-brokered truce, which had largely limited cross-border hostilities between Saudi-led coalition forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthis. The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for recent strikes on Aramco facilities in Yanbu, a Red Sea city, and on the Saudi defense ministry in Riyadh, though Saudi authorities have not confirmed these latter attacks. Saudi air defenses reported intercepting drones over Riyadh and Islam’s holy city Madinah, near Yanbu.
The conflict has also impacted global markets, with oil prices rising to their highest levels since May amid concerns over supply disruptions. Saudi Arabia’s stock benchmark index declined by 2.5% following Aramco’s evacuation announcement.
In response to the Houthi attacks, Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes targeting Houthi missile launcher sites in Yemen. The Houthis have reported significant casualties resulting from Saudi strikes since mid-July, which also saw the group impose a naval blockade and seize strategic locations by advancing on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime chokepoint.
Meanwhile, India condemned attacks on Saudi civilian and energy infrastructure and is providing assistance to families affected by the Dammam airport strike. The Houthis announced efforts to rescue 14 Indians from a boat attacked near Jabal Zuqar island, attributing the attack to Saudi forces, although Riyadh has not responded to this claim.
The intensification of hostilities highlights the fragile security situation in the region and the broader implications for energy supplies and international diplomacy.