Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed that they launched large-scale missile and drone attacks targeting facilities of the state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, eastern Saudi Arabia, and the international airport in the capital city of Riyadh.

In a statement issued by a spokesperson on the 14th local time, the Houthi rebels stated, "This was part of a retaliatory and deterrence operation against Saudi Arabia's brutal aggression, which has carried out 2,281 airstrikes and missile attacks targeting the (Yemeni) capital Sana'a and liberated areas."

The Houthis explained that multiple ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones were mobilized in this attack.

The statement claimed, "We precisely struck and caused destruction and fires at Aramco facilities in Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and Aramco oil refineries."

The statement also warned, "Operations targeting airports and oil facilities deep within Saudi territory will continue over the coming days," and urged, "As these facilities have become legitimate targets, international shipping companies, civilians, and workers should immediately evacuate the area."

The rebels emphasized, "We will maintain the formula of 'siege for siege and escalation for escalation' and target the enemy's military build-up until Saudi aggression ceases and the blockade against Yemen is completely lifted."

Earlier, the Saudi Civil Defense issued and subsequently lifted alerts for Riyadh and Al-Kharj, located southeast of the Riyadh province.

Residents in Riyadh continued to report hearing loud explosions.

Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition and the Saudi Ministry of Defense, stated via social media X that they "intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthi rebels targeting Riyadh."

The Saudi state news agency, citing the Civil Defense, reported that debris fell in Riyadh during the interception of the ballistic missile, injuring one Arab resident and causing minor property damage to one house and a vehicle.

(Photo: Yonhap News)