HighIII Kinetic Conflicts & Defence13 October 2026, Tuesday

Houthis strike Aramco building in Dhahran, heart of Saudi oil

Saudi Arabia's energy ministry says the Houthis targeted Aramco's management building in Dhahran on 13 October, causing a limited fire and no injuries. The attack came hours after the Saudi-led coalition struck a Yemen Petroleum Company station in Sanaa.

Location: DHAHRAN

According to Al Jazeera on 13 October, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree declared oil sites legitimate targets the same day and urged workers and nearby civilians to evacuate. The warning covered Aramco's Dhahran headquarters, King Khalid International Airport and an Aramco-linked refinery in Riyadh. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said the al-Sabah central station in Sanaa and underground fuel depots were being used to store missiles and drones; Saudi strikes also hit storage tanks at Ras Isa port and an oil station in Hodeidah.

A Reuters report cited by InvestingLive says six sources heard explosions in Dhahran; one said a building had been hit and four said an evacuation order had been issued. Iran International reports that the US Embassy in Riyadh has made staff use of the airport subject to special permission, and King Khalid Airport is closed until 17 October. Al Jazeera says at least 13 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the 10 October attack on Riyadh's airport; a Bloomberg report carried by Rigzone puts the death toll at at least 16.

Talay assessment

Bottom line

The Houthi–Saudi conflict has shifted from airports to energy infrastructure, and both sides are now hitting each other's oil facilities. The Dhahran strike did little physical damage and Brent fell 0.9% on 13 October, so the market is not yet pricing lost exports. After the 13 October warning, the next risk is not a management building but crude processing plants and export infrastructure on the Saudi east coast.

Likely effects

Oil risk premiumNegativeWeeks
By declaring Aramco sites legitimate targets, the Houthis add the Saudi east coast to the attack map alongside Hormuz; the risk premium on the futures curve stays sensitive to damage reports.
Regional aviationNegativeWeeks
King Khalid Airport's closure until 17 October and airport restrictions on US staff freeze business and investment traffic in Riyadh.
Yemen fuel supplyNegativeWeeks
Strikes on Sanaa's central Sabah fuel station and the Ras Isa tanks lengthen fuel queues in Houthi areas; the Yemen Petroleum Company says its depots are empty.

Possibilities, ranked

1
Tit-for-tat energy strikes continue55%
The Houthis keep firing missiles and drones at Saudi facilities and the coalition keeps hitting Yemen's fuel infrastructure; damage stays limited.
Watch: Saudi energy ministry attack statements and reports on east-coast export terminals
2
Processing plant hit30%
A processing plant or export terminal is hit, exports are disrupted for days and Brent jumps.
Watch: An Aramco force majeure or loading-delay announcement
3
Mediated de-escalation15%
Attacks pause through a regional mediator, and airports reopen.
Watch: The reopening date of King Khalid Airport after 17 October

Probabilities are calibrated judgement based on the sources, not measurement, and are revised as new information arrives. Not investment advice.

Market reaction

Indicators affected

Brent December futures (13 Oct)▲ −0.9%
King Khalid Airport closure▼ until 17 Oct

Historical context