Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles targeting Riyadh, Aramco building damaged by debris

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted incoming missiles targeting the kingdoms capital and other regions on Sunday with falling debris damaging a building belonging to the stateowned oil giant Aramco in Riyadhs financial districtMeanwhile the United Arab Emirates said it rescued 22 crew members after a fire broke out aboard a cargo ship in the Sea of Oman as risks to commercial shipping in the region remain highAramco building in Riyadh damaged after missile interceptionsWitnesses in Riyadh said they heard a loud explosion Sunday morning and described damage across multiple floors of an Aramco building in the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh Some floors appeared to be heavily damagedThe witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concernsThe Saudiled coalition said its air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles targeting Riyadh and other regions early Sunday accusing the Houthis of launching the weaponsThe Saudi Energy Ministry said the attempted attack resulted in falling shrapnel that caused minor damage to the building It added that there were no casualtiesThe Saudi Centre for International Communication and Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Associated PressAlso the Saudiled coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile overnight targeting Saudi Arabias southern region which borders Yemen and has repeatedly come under Houthi attacksThe latest developments follow Saudi airstrikes on Saturday near Sanaa Yemens capital that is held by the Houthis Houthi officials said the strikes killed at least 27 peopleThe UAE rescues 22 crew members after a cargo ship fire in the Sea of OmanThe UAE National Guard said the crew members all of Arab nationalities were in stable condition after receiving first aid following a rescue when their cargo ship caught fire in the Sea of OmanThe National Guard did not identify the vessel or specify the cause of the fireThe United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations a British military organisation that monitors maritime security incidents said Sunday that a tanker caught fire on Saturday about 8 nautical miles northwest of Khasab Oman prompting the evacuation of its crewThe British organisation did not identify the vessel or say who targeted it It was unclear whether it was the same ship whose crew the UAE had helped evacuateThe incident comes as risks to commercial shipping in the region remain high On Saturday US forces disabled a St Kittsflagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman saying it had attempted to breach the US naval blockade of Iran The blockade has been enforced in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz a crucial waterway for global oil shipmentsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever