DID Press: Israel’s Channel 14 television network has claimed that damage to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company, Saudi Aramco, is significantly greater than officially acknowledged, alleging that Saudi authorities are withholding information about the extent of the destruction.
The report comes amid an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, against strategic sites in Saudi Arabia. However, the claims about the full extent of the damage to Aramco facilities have not been independently verified.
Some Arab media outlets have also described the attacks on Saudi infrastructure as severe, reporting that Riyadh has not publicly disclosed the full extent of the fires and damage allegedly caused by the strikes.
Some analysts suggest that limiting the release of information about damage to energy infrastructure could be intended to prevent public alarm and reduce the risk of sharp fluctuations in energy markets. The extent to which this explains Saudi Arabia’s public communications has not been independently established.
The reports come amid a broader escalation in hostilities. The Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Saudi airports and Aramco facilities. Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has faced repeated attacks and flight disruptions, while several countries have issued security warnings to their citizens amid the deteriorating situation.