Smoke Rises Near Riyadh Airport as Houthis Claim Attack on Capital
Explosions were heard in the Saudi capital of Riyadh as the Houthis claimed drone and missile attacks, prompting rare air raid alerts.
Yemen's Houthis announced that they targeted sensitive locations in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, with missiles and drones. This statement came hours after thick black smoke rose near King Khalid International Airport and the Saudi government sent out rare air raid alerts.
Fire and Smoke Near Riyadh Airport
On Saturday, flames and a large plume of black smoke were visible over the Riyadh airport, while firefighters battled to extinguish a burning fuel tank bearing the logo of the Saudi oil company Aramco near the facility.
Residents reported hearing sounds resembling explosions in parts of the capital even hours after the warning messages sent by authorities.
Rare Air Raid Alert From the Saudi Government
The Saudi government sent air raid alerts to citizens via text messages for Riyadh for the first time since clashes escalated in July.
Civil defense forces delivered warning messages late Friday to residents in other cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah, and Yanbu.
Military Intervention and Airport Disruptions
The military coalition fighting the Houthis announced that air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed a missile fired toward Riyadh by the Yemeni group.
According to the flight tracking website FlightRadar24, major disruptions occurred at the airport, and the facility was placed in the maximum disruption index.
UN Security Council Reaction and Regional Tensions
The UN Security Council condemned the Houthis' ongoing attacks against Saudi Arabia and called for practical cooperation to prevent the group from acquiring weapons.
Regional tensions have also spilled over into southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, where military activity and casualties have been reported.