Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital after flames, black smoke seen near Riyadh airport

Houthis Claim Attacks on Saudi Capital as Fire Seen Near Riyadh Airport

Theindiapostdaily.com – Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital after flames and thick black smoke were seen near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Yemen’s Houthi movement said it launched missiles and drones at locations in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the operations used ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones. He described the alleged targets in Riyadh as “sensitive” sites and said a separate operation focused on Aramco facilities in Yanbu, a major Red Sea oil and industrial hub.

Saudi authorities had not confirmed the Houthi account when the claims emerged. The reported incidents raised fresh concerns about risks to aviation, energy infrastructure and shipping routes as the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis intensified.

Warning issued for Riyadh and Al-Kharj

Shortly before 3 a.m., authorities warned residents in Riyadh and nearby Al-Kharj of a hostile aerial threat and urged them to remain indoors. Saudi Civil Defence later said the danger had passed.

Residents in several parts of Riyadh reported hearing booms after the alert. Two explosions were heard before the warning was lifted around 30 minutes later. It was the first aerial-threat notification in the capital since the latest phase of Houthi-related fighting intensified in July.

Dark smoke was seen near King Khalid International Airport, while flames appeared behind what looked like fuel-storage tanks. Firefighters worked to contain a blaze involving a tank at a depot near the airport bearing the Aramco logo.

Air traffic at Riyadh airport was temporarily disrupted before operations began returning towards normal. The episode showed how quickly a reported attack or aerial threat can affect civilian transport in Saudi Arabia’s largest urban centre.

Houthis describe alleged targets in Riyadh and Yanbu

In its statement, the group said the first operation targeted locations in Riyadh and the second targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu. The Houthis did not identify the specific Riyadh sites they said were struck.

“The first targeted sensitive sites in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and the second targeted Aramco facilities in Yanbu,” Saree said.

The Houthis said the attacks were a response to what they described as Saudi attempts to strike Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes against Houthi-held areas, while the group has accused Riyadh of launching hundreds of attacks on its positions.

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi targets at a time of heightened regional concern over the security of cities, airports, oil facilities and maritime routes. Riyadh and Yanbu are strategically important because of their population, transport links and role in the kingdom’s energy network.

Why Yanbu is important

Yanbu is a key Saudi oil-export and industrial city on the Red Sea. Any threat to infrastructure there can attract wider attention because energy supplies from the Gulf are closely watched by governments, traders and shipping companies.

The Houthis have declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and have also targeted Saudi-linked ships in the Red Sea. Their actions have placed shipping lanes alongside airports, cities and energy installations among the areas affected by the escalating conflict.

The latest confrontation follows a rapid Houthi offensive in Yemen, where the group has taken control of large parts of the Red Sea coastline and increased pressure on the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran wanted the Saudi-Houthi war to end and believed Yemen’s side also wanted a settlement with Riyadh. The United Nations has said that more than 112,000 people have been displaced by the renewed fighting.

FAQ: What should travellers in Riyadh know?

Was Riyadh airport closed? Air traffic was temporarily disrupted, but movements began returning towards normal. Travellers should check directly with their airline and airport authorities before leaving for the airport.

Did Saudi authorities confirm the Houthi claims? Saudi authorities had not confirmed the Houthi account when the statement was released. Reports of claimed targets should be treated separately from official confirmation.

Why are Yanbu facilities significant? Yanbu is an important Red Sea oil and industrial centre. Disruption or threats there can heighten concerns over Saudi energy infrastructure and regional shipping.

Houthis claim attacks on Saudi locations amid continuing uncertainty over the scale of the reported incidents and the potential for further escalation.