On Oct 27–28 2026, Houthi militants launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery, the East-West oil pipeline, and King Khalid International Airport.
The strikes prompted civilian safety alerts, underscoring the danger of collateral damage to residents in affected cities.
Saudi air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh, causing shrapnel that wounded a Saudi citizen.
Egypt’s parliament approved defensive air-defense systems and aircraft for Saudi Arabia, barring ground troops.
Right
Steady Saudi output
Houthi militants attacked Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery, the East-West pipeline and King Khalid International Airport with missiles and drones on October 27–28 2026.
Despite the strikes, Saudi oil shipments stayed near wartime levels, demonstrating the kingdom’s ability to sustain output.
Saudi exports averaged 6.5 million barrels per day in October, matching September.
Brent crude futures rose to $115 a barrel as markets reacted to the Houthi attacks.
Blindspot
Egypt’s parliament voted to authorize President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to provide Saudi Arabia with defensive air-defence systems and aircraft, explicitly excluding ground troops.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Right-leaning coverage.
History
In January 1991 Iraq began firing Scud missiles at Saudi Arabia, launching 46 rockets between 18 January and 26 February that struck Dhahran and Riyadh and killed 28 U.S. soldiers. The 2026 Houthi missile and drone attacks on the Ras Tanura refinery and King Khalid Airport repeat this pattern of targeting Gulf oil infrastructure to pressure regional powers.
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Civilian safety alerts
On Oct 27–28 2026, Houthi militants launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura refinery, the East-West oil pipeline, and King Khalid International Airport.
The strikes prompted civilian safety alerts, underscoring the danger of collateral damage to residents in affected cities.
Saudi air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at Riyadh, causing shrapnel that wounded a Saudi citizen.
Egypt’s parliament approved defensive air-defense systems and aircraft for Saudi Arabia, barring ground troops.
