A large plume of smoke and fire was seen rising near a Saudi Aramco facility in Riyadh on Saturday, according to a witness who spoke to Reuters. The incident was reported amid heightened tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces.

There was no immediate confirmation from Saudi authorities regarding the fire, while Aramco had not immediately responded to requests for comment. The available reports did not establish the cause of the fire or indicate whether the Aramco facility itself had been damaged.

The incident comes against the backdrop of escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who have intensified attacks involving Saudi cities and energy infrastructure. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday’s fire, and no official statement linking the incident to an attack had been issued.

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The latest incident follows claims by the Houthis last week that they had targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu using missiles and drones. Saudi Arabia said at the time that its forces had intercepted six ballistic missiles launched towards the Taif and Yanbu areas, but it did not report damage to Aramco facilities.

The developments add to concerns surrounding Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure as regional tensions continue. Riyadh is a major centre for Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, while Aramco operates key energy facilities across the kingdom. However, details about Saturday’s fire, including its cause, the extent of any damage and whether there were casualties, remained unclear in the initial reports.

The incident was reported on October 3, with witnesses observing the smoke and flames near the Aramco facility. Further information is expected from Saudi authorities or Aramco as officials assess the situation and determine the circumstances surrounding the fire.

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