In brief

• Debris from missiles aimed at Riyadh's financial district damaged an Aramco administrative building on Sunday.
• Saudi forces said they intercepted two ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis, with no casualties reported.
• The attack followed Saudi air strikes near Sanaa that reportedly killed at least 33 people.

Attack on the financial district

Debris from missiles fired at Riyadh's financial district damaged an administrative building run by Saudi Aramco on Sunday, the Saudi Energy Ministry said, according to state television (Saudi-Arabien - Gebäude des saudischen Ölkonzerns Aramco bei Huthi-Angriff beschädigt – Deutschlandfunk). The ministry reported only minor damage and no casualties.

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia, which is fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels, said it had shot down two ballistic missiles that were approaching the capital's financial district (Atak rakietowy na Rijad. Odłamki pocisków uderzyły w budynek Saudi Aramco – Rzeczpospolita) (Middle East live: Riyadh's financial district targeted following deadly Saudi strikes in Yemen – France 24). Saudi military officials said the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, launched them. Residents reported several loud blasts across the city.

The damaged building is the Aramco tower in King Abdullah Financial District, which was struck by falling wreckage. Bloomberg, cited by Business Insider Polska, described the attack as likely the most serious attempt on Riyadh since a series of strikes on the city's airport in October (Atak na biura Saudi Aramco w Rijadzie. "Najpoważniejszy od miesięcy" – Business Insider Polska).

Wider escalation

The attack came a day after Saudi air strikes in Yemen killed at least 33 people near Sanaa, according to reports. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi territory in recent weeks, including Riyadh's international airport, ports and oil industry facilities.

The strike marks a further escalation of the Yemen conflict, which has increasingly reached the Saudi capital. Oil infrastructure and the financial district are now both within reach of Houthi missiles, raising questions about the protection of key economic sites.

Key figures

• Ballistic missiles intercepted in Riyadh: 2
• People killed in Saudi air strikes near Sanaa the previous day: at least 33