Houthi Rebels: "Saudi Aramco, Airports Hit" ... 'Davos of the Desert' Postponed After All

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claims
"We carried out six high-intensity military operations"
As Houthi attacks continue
Saudi Arabia puts FII on hold

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they had retaliated by striking key Saudi facilities, including major oil installations, international airports and military bases. As the Houthi offensive continues to intensify, Saudi Arabia has decided to abruptly postpone the Future Investment Initiative (FII), which had been scheduled for later this month.

According to local media, including the Yemen Press Agency, on Oct. 19 (local time), Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the group had “successfully carried out six high-intensity military operations using multiple ballistic and cruise missiles and drones.” He said the strikes were “retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s brutal aggression, which has launched more than 200 airstrikes over the past 48 hours on areas including Sanaa, the capital of Yemen.”

AFP Yonhap News

Many of the targets the rebels claimed to have hit were reportedly facilities belonging to Saudi state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco. Saree said the group had struck Aramco twice, causing large fires. He also stressed that it had hit the Shaybah oil field, a major oil production complex near the border with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Saree further said the group had heavily targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as well as Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the Yemeni border and the area around Khamis Mushait Air Base. He added that the attack paralyzed air traffic at Abha Airport, destroyed the air base and struck Saudi Arabia’s radar network.

With Houthi attacks continuing day after day, Saudi Arabia has put on hold the FII, a global investment forum known as the “Davos in the Desert.” Maha Al Saud, CEO of the FII Institute, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the 10th edition, scheduled for Oct. 26-29, would be postponed until next year. The FII is an event where Saudi Arabia invites global investors, business leaders and heads of state to promote its post-oil economic diversification projects and attract foreign investment in sectors such as tourism and sports.

Al Saud said the decision was “an unavoidable one, made to ensure that we can fully deliver the scale and quality of the event our participants expect,” adding that a new date would be announced soon.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and others had been scheduled to attend this year’s FII, but their participation will not go ahead. According to Reuters, participants reportedly conveyed that they were reluctant to attend due to safety concerns.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.