Four Missiles Intercepted Over Riyadh As Aramco Building Takes Debris Hit

Saudi Arabia reported the interception of four missiles over its capital and southern regions on Sunday. The defensive action resulted in debris falling on a building in Riyadh that belongs to the state-owned energy company Aramco. Officials confirmed that the incident caused minor damage but reported no casualties.

Witnesses in the King Abdullah Financial District described hearing a loud explosion during the morning hours. They noted visible damage on multiple floors of the Aramco structure, with some levels appearing heavily affected. The observers spoke on the condition of anonymity due to security concerns. The Saudi Energy Ministry characterized the impact as minor, attributing the structural issues to falling shrapnel from the intercepted weapons.

The Saudi-led coalition stated that its air defenses downed two ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles targeting Riyadh and other areas. The group accused the Houthis of launching the projectiles. Additionally, the coalition announced the interception of a separate ballistic missile overnight that targeted the southern region bordering Yemen. This area has faced repeated Houthi attacks in recent times. The Saudi Center for International Communication and Aramco did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the extent of the damage.

The missile defense operations followed Saudi airstrikes on Saturday near Sanaa, the Yemeni capital held by the Houthis. Houthi officials said those strikes killed at least 27 people. The sequence of events continues a pattern of regional escalation involving the Houthi movement and Saudi forces.

In the United Arab Emirates, the National Guard rescued 22 crew members from a cargo ship that caught fire in the Sea of Oman. All rescued individuals were of Arab nationality and remained in stable condition after receiving first aid. The National Guard did not identify the specific vessel or the cause of the blaze. A British military organization monitoring maritime security reported that a tanker caught fire on Saturday about 8 nautical miles northwest of Khasab, Oman. It remained unclear if this was the same ship involved in the UAE rescue operation.

Shipping risks in the region have increased as U.S. forces disabled a St. Kitts-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday. The U.S. military said the vessel attempted to breach a naval blockade of Iran. The blockade is enforced near the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. The Iranian military also reported late Saturday that two tankers struck mines in the Hormuz area and caught fire.

In political developments, Israeli President Isaac Herzog designated Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government late Saturday. Herzog made the decision after days of consultations with parties elected to parliament on Oct. 27. This move follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's loss of a parliamentary majority in an election that produced no clear winner. Eisenkot will begin negotiations with potential coalition partners after an official ceremony on Sunday.

Residents across the Middle East expressed mixed reactions to the Israeli leadership change. In Jerusalem, some citizens hoped for a government that would reverse Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul. Anny Soronow, a resident, said the country needs a new start. In the West Bank and Gaza, many Palestinians felt less optimistic about policy shifts. In Tehran, resident Ali Soroush stated that the enmity between Iran and Israel would likely continue.