Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missiles Targeting Riyadh as Israel Taps Rival for Government
Saudi Arabia foils missile attacks on Riyadh, damaging an Aramco building, while Israel tasks Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government after elections.
POLICY WIRE — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi air defenses successfully neutralized multiple missiles aimed at the capital city and other provinces on Sunday. The resulting debris from the interceptions caused structural damage to a facility owned by the energy giant Aramco located within Riyadh’s financial district.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries followed the incident. While the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have not officially claimed responsibility for this specific strike, they have a history of executing similar aerial attacks against the Kingdom.
The Saudi-led coalition reported that it intercepted two ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles early in the morning, specifically blaming the Houthis for the ballistic launches. The Saudi energy ministry noted that the falling shrapnel caused only minor damage to the Aramco building and emphasized that everyone survived.
Local witnesses in the King Abdullah Financial District described hearing massive explosions and observing that several floors of the Aramco building sustained heavy damage or shattered exterior glass. These individuals requested anonymity due to safety and security concerns.
Additionally, the coalition stated it shot down a ballistic missile overnight in the southern region of Saudi Arabia, which borders Yemen. This escalation follows Saudi airstrikes conducted Saturday near the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa, where local officials claimed at least 27 fatalities.
In separate maritime news, the United Arab Emirates National Guard rescued 22 crew members from a fire that broke out on a cargo vessel in the Sea of Oman. All rescued individuals are of Arab nationalities and are reportedly in stable condition after receiving initial medical care.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations noted that a tanker caught fire on Saturday roughly 8 nautical miles northwest of Khasab. The incident occurs during a period of extreme risk for commercial vessels in the region, as U.S. forces recently disabled a ship flagged in Kitts for attempting to bypass a naval blockade. Meanwhile, the Iranian military reported that two tankers struck mines in the Hormuz area without specifying the vessels.
In Israel, President Isaac Herzog has designated former military chief Gadi Eisenkot to lead the effort of forming the next government. This move represents a significant political challenge for the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the October 27 elections which left no party with a clear majority.
Eisenkot has a six-week window to navigate complex negotiations and build a coalition in a nation still deeply fractured by the events of October 7 and the ongoing conflict.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
