Missiles Over Riyadh Cause Damage as Iran Reports Tanker Fire Near Hormuz

Shrapnel from two ballistic missiles shot down over Riyadh caused material damage in the Saudi capital on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Saudi officials said the debris came from Houthi missiles launched from Yemen. The Saudi‑led coalition also reported intercepting three more Houthi missiles and four drones during the same day. The Houthis claimed they had hit the Ras Tanura oil refinery and two military transport aircraft at Najran airport, but those attacks have not been independently verified. In a separate development, Iran announced that an oil tanker caught fire after striking mines in waters east of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Hormuz authority said it would take action against a shipping company involved, without naming the firm. The incident contributed to a 1 % drop in global oil prices. Diplomatic talks in Moscow included the ruler of Qatar and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who discussed the war and the situation in the strait. Meanwhile, Iranian diplomat Abbas Araghchi told Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi that Islamic countries and the international community must act against what he called the genocide and expansionism of the Israeli regime and halt aggressive U.S. actions.

Context

The Houthi group has been firing missiles into Saudi Arabia as part of the wider Yemen conflict. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage through which about a fifth of the world’s oil passes, making any disruption there a concern for global markets.