Flames and smoke seen at Aramco facility south of Riyadh: report

Flames and smoke were seen rising from an Aramco facility south of the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, an AFP journalist said.

The circumstances remain unclear. Both the Houthis and Saudi authorities have yet to comment on the incident.

What happened at the Aramco facility near Riyadh?

An AFP journalist saw fire engines trying to extinguish a blaze at Aramco's Riyadh refinery, south of the capital. Ambulances and police vehicles were stationed near the site.

No cause has been given for the fire. Aramco is majority-owned by the Saudi state and remains the flagship company of the Saudi economy, as well as one of the largest firms in the world by market capitalization.

Has Aramco come under attack from the Houthis?

In recent weeks, Aramco has come under attack from the Houthi group, which is targeting the kingdom as part of the war in Yemen. Riyadh backs the internationally recognized government in that conflict.

Last month, the Houthis said they launched strikes targeting "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in the port city of Yanbu. In August, they also targeted an airport and an Aramco facility in Saudi Arabia's southern Najran region.

What is the Houthi blockade of Saudi Arabia?

In July, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia. They hit Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, which raised questions about Riyadh's continued ability to deliver vast quantities of crude to international markets.

Yemen, one of the world's poorest nations, has been embroiled in more than a decade of civil war. On Saturday, loud explosions were heard in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, AFP correspondents in the city said, while the Houthis reported airstrikes in the area by Saudi-backed government forces.