Flames and thick black smoke rose above Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, prompting the government to issue air-raid alerts to residents overnight, cautioning them of potential aerial attacks.
Explosions were reported in the capital, with firefighters working to extinguish a blaze at a fuel tank bearing the logo of Saudi oil giant Aramco near King Khalid International Airport. This is the first time such alerts have been issued for Riyadh since fighting with Iran-backed Houthis from neighbouring Yemen escalated in July.
Hours after the alerts, residents reported further explosions echoing across parts of the city. Tracking website FlightRadar24 indicated “major problems” at the airport, which is now listed under its maximum disruption index.
“One resident told AFP that they could see black smoke and fire toward the airport while requesting anonymity. The Saudi civil defence force had sent alerts not just to Riyadh but also to Jeddah and other cities, including Yanbu, a crucial industrial port housing key oil facilities.
An all-clear was issued shortly after, but residents were advised against gathering in crowds.
On Friday, the UN Security Council condemned ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, noting their impact on civilian and energy infrastructure, which have resulted in injuries, including among women and children. They also condemned the Houthi military offensive in Yemen that has displaced nearly 105,000 people, according to the International Organization for Migration.
The council’s members called for “practical cooperation” to prevent the Houthis from acquiring arms and military support, insisting that all countries enforce the UN arms embargo against the group.
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the group had thwarted “criminal attempts” in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a, blaming Saudi Arabia and promising retaliation. They also accused the Saudi air force of carrying out numerous airstrikes against them in recent days.
The Houthis have recently seized control of key Red Sea islands and captured strategic locations in the Bab al-Mandab strait, raising concerns over a potential new oil supply crisis.
