Smoke Reported Near Riyadh Airport After Saudi Arabia Issues All-Clear
A large column of black smoke was seen near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday after explosions were heard in the Saudi capital and authorities issued overnight warnings about a potential aerial threat.
The incident occurred amid a fresh escalation involving Yemen’s Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia. Saudi civil defence authorities later issued an all-clear after warning residents in Riyadh and nearby Al-Kharj to remain indoors.
Explosions Heard Across Riyadh
Saudi authorities sent emergency alerts to residents during the early hours of Saturday, warning of a possible danger in Riyadh and Al-Kharj.
One alert received by residents shortly before 3am said the area was facing a hostile aerial threat and advised people to stay inside.
AFP journalists reported hearing two explosions in Riyadh, while a Reuters journalist in the Olaya area also reported hearing loud booms.
A resident in northern Riyadh told AFP that an alarm was followed by shaking windows, describing the experience as frightening. Another resident in central Riyadh said the delayed all-clear increased anxiety.
Saudi civil defence later lifted the warning around half an hour after the explosions were reported.
Smoke Seen Near King Khalid International Airport
Reuters footage and photographs showed a large plume of black smoke rising near the airport area. The airport highway, terminal building and other facilities could be seen in the foreground.
Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 reported significant disruption at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, including delays and cancellations.
The airport was placed at the service’s highest disruption level of 5.0, indicating major operational problems involving lengthy delays and multiple cancelled flights.
Saudi Arabia’s government media office had not immediately responded to questions regarding the source of the smoke or the overnight warnings.
Riyadh Incident Follows Tensions With Houthis
The latest incident comes during an escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis. Riyadh has previously issued alerts in the capital this year following the start of the US-Iran conflict, but the report said Saturday’s warning was the first since tensions with the Houthis intensified in July.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of targeting Makkah, describing the reported incident as a terrorist attack. The Houthis rejected the accusation and called it false.
The Houthi movement controls large parts of northern Yemen and some of the country’s most populated areas.
Houthi Attacks Raise Maritime Security Concerns
Since announcing a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in July, the Houthis have carried out attacks targeting Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea.
The developments have raised concerns about international trade and energy supplies because the Bab al-Mandab Strait is an important maritime route for Gulf exports.
The Houthis have said their restrictions do not represent a general threat to shipping in the area, while maintaining that Saudi vessels are subject to their actions.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had prevented what he described as unspecified criminal attempts in Sanaa. He blamed Saudi Arabia and warned that the group would respond.
The Houthis also claim that the Saudi Air Force has carried out hundreds of strikes against their positions in recent days.
UN Condemns Houthi Attacks
The United Nations Security Council condemned continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia in a statement issued Friday.
The council said the attacks had affected civilian and energy infrastructure and resulted in injuries to civilians, including women and children. It also criticised the group’s military escalation inside Yemen.
The latest fighting has also created a humanitarian impact. The United Nations said more than 112,000 people had been displaced, while nearly 3,000 others crossed the sea to Djibouti.
US Approves Major Fighter Jet Sale to Saudi Arabia
The Riyadh incident comes amid wider security developments in the region.
According to the report, the United States declined a Saudi request last week to carry out strikes against the Houthis.
However, Washington later approved a potential $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The US State Department said the proposed sale would help the kingdom deter current and future threats.
The Houthis have also been strengthening their defensive positions along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline after expanding their territorial control. AFP reported that members of the group said they had installed radar systems and constructed tunnels in the newly captured areas.
Yemen Conflict Enters Another Difficult Phase
The conflict in Yemen began in 2014, when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa and other areas.
Saudi Arabia subsequently led a military intervention in March 2015 in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
A fragile truce reached in 2022 remained in place for several years before breaking down in July amid renewed tensions, including a dispute over Yemen’s airspace and the landing of an Iranian aircraft in the country.
The latest developments have once again raised concerns about security in Yemen, the Red Sea and surrounding maritime routes, as well as their potential impact on regional stability and global energy supplies.
