Pakistan strongly condemns attempted Houthi attack on Saudi Aramco building

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned an attempted Houthi attack on a Saudi Aramco administrative building in Riyadh, saying the targeting of civilian facilities showed a “reckless disregard” for human life and regional security.

In a statement, the Foreign Office said no casualties were reported in the incident and demanded that the Houthis “immediately and unconditionally cease all attacks against Saudi Arabia”.

Pakistan also commended the vigilance and swift response of the Saudi authorities in confronting what it described as “unjustifiable and unprovoked aggression”.

“We stand resolutely with the leadership and people of the Kingdom and reaffirm our full support for all measures necessary to safeguard its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Foreign Office said.

“The security of Saudi Arabia is of paramount importance to Pakistan,” it added, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to the safety and well-being of the Saudi people.

The statement came a day after an attempted Houthi attack caused debris to strike Aramco Tower in Riyadh’s financial district, blowing out windows across several floors.

Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said the damage was limited and no casualties were reported, while the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted Houthi missiles over the capital.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack.

Earlier on Monday, Saudi civil defence authorities briefly raised an alert in Riyadh before announcing that the danger had passed.

The Houthis have stepped up missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, ports and oil facilities.

Hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi group resumed in July, opening another front in the wider Middle East conflict that followed US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February.

Saudi Arabia has since carried out airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, while the renewed fighting has effectively ended the UN-brokered truce that had largely halted hostilities between the two sides since 2022.