Saudi oil giant Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran suffered extensive damage in Tuesday’s Yemeni military operation, with a fire spreading across several floors and continuing to burn into the early hours of Wednesday, a report reveals. 

Three people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday that the blaze had caused extensive damage to the building.

Sources said a fire started on the ninth floor of the ​south wing ​of the office block, and spread between the sixth and 10th floors. A fourth source said some functions had been shifted to the company’s global offices.

The building’s top three floors, including the office of Aramco CEO Amin Nasser, were severely damaged, with parts of the ceiling caving in and windows and doors blown out. Despite the damage, operations at the complex continued normally, although some employees were asked to work from home, Reuters reported.

The Yemeni army announced in a statement on Wednesday that its military units had launched an operation targeting Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport and an Aramco oil refinery in Riyadh.

The statement said the operation involved a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones.

It noted that the strikes hit their designated targets accurately and caused destruction and fires at the targeted sites.

Yemen’s Army targets Aramco facilities, Riyadh airport with missiles and drones

Yemen’s Armed Forces say a special military operation deep inside Saudi Arabia, targeting three strategic sites with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The Yemeni military also warned of operations deep inside Saudi Arabia within the next few days, stressing that forthcoming attacks would target Saudi airports and oil installations.

The statement said the consequences of war on Yemen would be severe for the Riyadh regime.

The Yemeni armed forces urged international companies, civilians and employees at the targeted airports and facilities to stay away from the sites and evacuate them immediately, declaring them legitimate targets.

On July 20, the Sana’a government announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia in response to "an unjust and oppressive siege" on Yemen for almost 12 years.

Subsequently, the Yemeni armed forces have reported a series of successful operations that have targeted vessels associated with Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea.

In March 2015, Saudi Arabia and its allies imposed a blockade on Yemen, initiating a comprehensive military offensive that received military, political, and logistical assistance from the United States and several Western countries.

Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis have lost their lives; however, Saudi Arabia has failed to achieve its primary goal of reestablishing a puppet regime that serves its interests.