The new details contrast with an earlier statement from Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry saying an administrative building in Dhahran was targeted and suffered a limited fire with no casualties. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility Wednesday for an overnight barrage of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones targeting the Dhahran headquarters, Aramco's Riyadh refinery and King Khalid International Airport, and vowed further strikes on Saudi oil installations and airports in the coming days.
The Houthi barrage followed Saudi airstrikes Tuesday on Yemen Petroleum Company fuel facilities in Sanaa, Ras Issa and Hodeidah, as well as a Houthi warning that hitting Sanaa's oil depot would trigger retaliation against the three Saudi sites. In Riyadh, debris from two intercepted Houthi cruise missiles injured four people and damaged 15 homes, Saudi Civil Defense said. Saudi equities slipped Wednesday after the attack, while Brent crude futures rose 0.8% to $106.58 a barrel in Asian trading and West Texas Intermediate gained 0.9% to $94.94.