Houthis struck Saudi oil giant Aramco's headquarters overnight, regional officials say

CAIRO (AP) — Two regional officials say offices belonging to senior executives with Saudi oil giant Aramco were hit in an overnight Houthi strike on the company’s headquarters, in the latest demonstration of the Iran-backed rebels’ ability to attack high-profile targets even after issuing warnings that they would do so.The officials said the top three floors in a building used by top executives were damaged. One official said the office of the company’s chief executive was among those hit. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.The Houthis earlier said they targeted Dhahran, which hosts the headquarters, with a ballistic missile.Earlier Wednesday, new explosions were heard in the Saudi capital, residents said, as blame again quickly fell on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen.A Houthi official told The Associated Press that powers including Russia and China had reached out to the rebels in search of a ceasefire deal.The sight of smoke rising from some of Saudi Arabia’s most sensitive facilities in recent days has rattled the region and global markets while increasing questions for President Donald Trump, who has said he is evaluating whether the U.S.

should join Saudi strikes against the Houthis.In the latest attacks, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting the Houthis said it intercepted a ballistic missile targeting Dhahran; cruise and ballistic missiles and drones targeting the capital, Riyadh; and a cruise missile targeting Al-Kharj, home to Prince Sultan Air Base and the state-owned Military Industries Corporation.The Houthis called the latest attacks retaliation for “treacherous Saudi aggression” against the rebel-held Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other areas. Separately, the rebel-run Health Ministry reported two dead in attacks in Yemen on Tuesday and blamed the Saudis.The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi airports, military facilities and oil infrastructure in the latest front in the Iran war. One of the Riyadh residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety, lives in northern Riyadh, where King Khalid International Airport — targeted multiple times in the past week with strikes that have killed at least 18 people and hurt over 300 more — is located.The Houthis, hardened by years of civil war, have emerged as Iran'…

There were no casualties.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with the media. The Houthis earlier said they targeted Dhahran, which hosts the headquarters, with a ballistic missile.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.New explosions were heard in the Saudi capital, residents said Wednesday, as blame again quickly fell on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen.

A Houthi official told The Associated Press that powers including Russia and China had reached out to the rebels in search of a ceasefire deal.The sight of smoke rising from some of Saudi Arabia’s most sensitive facilities in recent days has rattled the region and global markets while increasing questions for President Donald Trump, who has said he is evaluating whether the U.S. Houthi rebels have struck the headquarters of Saudi oil giant Aramco, damaging offices of senior executives, according to two regional officials.