Flames, smoke at Aramco facility south of Saudi capital
Flames and smoke were observed at a Saudi Aramco facility south of Riyadh, raising concerns amid ongoing regional tensions. The incident follows a series of recent attacks by Houthi rebels targeting Saudi infrastructure.
Why it matters
Attacks on major oil infrastructure can significantly impact global energy markets and escalate regional conflicts.
Flames and smoke were seen rising from a facility belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco south of the kingdom’s capital Riyadh on Saturday (October 3, 2026), an AFP journalist said.
The circumstances remained unclear but in recent weeks Aramco, majority-owned by the Saudi state, has come under attack from the Houthi group targeting the kingdom as part of the war in Yemen where Riyadh is backing the internationally recognised government.
Aramco remains the flagship company of the Saudi economy and one of the largest firms in the world by market capitalisation.
Last month, the Houthis said that they launched strikes targeting “sensitive sites” in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in the kingdom’s port city of Yanbu.
In August they also targeted an airport and a facility belonging to Aramco in Saudi Arabia’s southern Najran region.
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