Saudi landmark closes offices, chopper pilots killed near Yemen

In response to escalating Houthi attacks, Riyadh's Kingdom Centre has mandated remote working for its office tenants, coinciding with the Saudi-led coalition's announcement of two pilot deaths near the Yemen border.

This decision follows a recent attack on Riyadh's international airport, prompting increased security measures, including remote learning for schools and the continuation of the airport's closure.

Amid these tensions, Egypt's parliament is considering support for Saudi Arabia, as the conflict with the Houthis, who have declared a maritime blockade on the kingdom, intensifies.

RIYADH, Oct 18 — Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre skyscraper ordered remote working for office tenants today following repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi-led coalition said two pilots were killed in a crash near the Yemen border.

The imposing, 99-storey landmark announced “mandatory” remote working until further notice. No reason was given for the order, but it comes a week after 13 people were killed in a major Houthi attack on Riyadh’s international airport.

The Saudi coalition’s decade-plus war with the Iran-backed Houthis has reignited during the US-Iran war, with regular attacks reported by both sides.

Tenants of the Kingdom Centre, which towers over central Riyadh, include financial services giant Merril Lynch, management consultancy McKinsey and the International Monetary Fund.

“Please be advised that remote working arrangements are mandatory for all office employees at Kingdom Centre, effective immediately and until further notice,” the building’s management said in an email seen by AFP.

“Kindly refrain from attending the offices during this period,” it added. The mall at the foot of the building remains open.

It comes as schools recently extended remote learning measures and Riyadh’s airport remains closed after last week’s attack.

The order came after the coalition announced the death of two helicopter pilots in Najran near the border with Yemen, blaming a “technical malfunction”, after the Houthis said they shot down an Apache helicopter in the area.

“An AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter belonging to the Ministry of National Guard crashed inside Saudi territory in Najran Region due to a technical malfunction,” coalition spokesman Turki Al-Malki said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.

“The accident resulted in the martyrdom of its aircrew, consisting of two officers.”

Late yesterday, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had “downed an Apache helicopter belonging to the Saudi enemy” in the same area.

After an uneasy, four-year truce, Yemen’s conflict has surged back to life and intensified when the group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month.

The Houthis have hit Saudi targets including tankers in the Red Sea, oil facilities and Riyadh’s King Khalid International airport.

The Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognised government has launched repeated air raids on Houthi territory.

The coalition said overnight it intercepted two drones in the Riyadh area and a third over the oil-rich Eastern Province. Saudi authorities had earlier issued a threat alert in the capital.

The coalition also said two ballistic missiles were intercepted in the kingdom’s south.

Yesterday, the Houthis reported that Saudi strikes killed 12 people in Yemen, including three children.

The Houthis have declared a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and captured territory around the Bab al-Mandab strait, the Red Sea chokepoint and vital export route for Saudi oil since Iran blockaded the Gulf’s Strait of Hormuz.

The Red Sea is a key shipping route, connecting Asia with Europe via Egypt’s Suez Canal.

Today, Egypt’s parliament will hold an emergency session after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi asked lawmakers to authorise support to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks.

Sisi said he was willing to “carry out any measure to protect” Saudi Arabia if its leaders requested it.

“I’m not talking about fighting anyone or attacking anyone,” he said yesterday. “We are speaking only about defence.” — AFP

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为应对胡塞武装不断升级的袭击，利雅得王国中心强制要求其办公租户远程办公，与此同时，沙特领导的联军宣布两名飞行员在也门边境附近丧生。

此前，利雅得国际机场遭到袭击，促使当局加强安保措施，包括学校远程学习和继续关闭机场。

在这些紧张局势下，埃及议会正在考虑支持沙特阿拉伯，因为与胡塞武装的冲突正在加剧，胡塞武装已宣布对沙特阿拉伯实施海上封锁。

利雅得，10 月 18 日——在胡塞武装多次袭击沙特阿拉伯之后，利雅得王国中心摩天大楼今天下令办公室租户远程办公。与此同时，沙特领导的联军表示，两名飞行员在也门边境附近的一次坠机事故中丧生。

这座气势恢宏的99层地标性建筑宣布，将实行“强制”远程办公，直至另行通知。大楼并未说明下达此命令的原因，但就在一周前，胡塞武装对利雅得国际机场发动了一次重大袭击，造成13人死亡。

在美伊战争期间，沙特领导的联军与伊朗支持的胡塞武装之间持续十多年的战争再次爆发，双方都报告了频繁的袭击事件。

王国中心耸立于利雅得市中心，其租户包括金融服务巨头美林证券、管理咨询公司麦肯锡和国际货币基金组织。

“请注意，王国中心所有办公室员工必须立即开始远程办公，直至另行通知，”该大楼的管理方在一封法新社看到的电子邮件中表示。

通知还补充道：“请在此期间不要前往办公室。”大楼楼下的商场照常营业。

此前，学校已延长远程学习措施，而利雅得机场在上周的袭击事件后仍然关闭。

在联军宣布两名直升机飞行员在靠近也门边境的纳季兰丧生，并将事故归咎于“技术故障”之后，联军下达了该命令。此前，胡塞武装称他们在该地区击落了一架阿帕奇直升机。

据沙特官方通讯社报道，联军发言人图尔基·阿尔-马尔基表示：“一架属于国民警卫队的AH-6i侦察直升机因技术故障在沙特纳季兰地区境内坠毁。”

“事故导致机上两名军官全部殉职。”

昨天晚些时候，胡塞武装发言人叶海亚·萨里表示，该组织在同一地区“击落了一架属于沙特敌人的阿帕奇直升机”。

在经历了四年不稳定的停火之后，也门冲突再次爆发，并在上个月该组织占领红海沿岸战略要地后愈演愈烈。

胡塞武装袭击了沙特阿拉伯的目标，包括红海的油轮、石油设施和利雅得的哈立德国王国际机场。

支持国际社会承认的政府的沙特领导的联军对胡塞武装控制区发动了多次空袭。

联军昨晚表示，他们在利雅得地区拦截了两架无人机，并在石油资源丰富的东部省份上空拦截了第三架。此前，沙特当局已在首都发布了威胁警报。

联军还表示，在沙特阿拉伯南部拦截了两枚弹道导弹。

昨天，胡塞武装报告称，沙特空袭在也门造成 12 人死亡，其中包括 3 名儿童。

自伊朗封锁波斯湾霍尔木兹海峡以来，胡塞武装宣布对沙特阿拉伯实施海上封锁，并占领了红海咽喉要道曼德海峡周边地区，该海峡是沙特石油的重要出口通道。

红海是重要的航运路线，通过埃及的苏伊士运河连接亚洲和欧洲。

今天，埃及议会将召开紧急会议，此前总统阿卜杜勒·法塔赫·塞西要求议员们授权支持沙特阿拉伯抵御胡塞武装的袭击。

塞西表示，如果沙特阿拉伯领导人提出要求，他愿意“采取任何措施保护”沙特阿拉伯。

“我说的不是要和任何人开战或攻击任何人，”他昨天说。“我们只谈自卫。”——法新社

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