RIYADH — A large plume of black smoke and flames were visible near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday morning, following a night of urgent warnings regarding potential aerial attacks on the Saudi capital.
According to Reuters, video and photographs captured the heavy smoke rising behind what appeared to be fuel storage tanks, with the airport’s main terminal and highway in the foreground. Residents in Riyadh’s Olaya district also reported hearing loud booms.
The incident occurred shortly after Saudi civil defense authorities sent overnight phone alerts to residents in Riyadh and the eastern city of Al-Kharj, warning of potential danger from aerial strikes. An “all-clear” message was later issued on Saturday morning. The Saudi government’s media office has not yet issued an official comment regarding the smoke or the overnight alerts.
Escalating Regional Tensions
These alerts mark the first of their kind in the capital since July, when hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group escalated significantly.
The Houthis, who control large portions of Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have been launching continuous strikes against Saudi cities, energy infrastructure, and shipping vessels in the Red Sea since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned of retaliation, claiming the group had foiled unspecified “criminal attempts” by Saudi Arabia in Sanaa. The Houthi group, which recently seized Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, claims the Saudi Air Force has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against them in recent days.
International Condemnation
The escalating violence has drawn sharp criticism from the international community. On Friday, the UN Security Council issued a statement condemning the Houthi military escalation and their continued strikes on the Kingdom. The Council strongly condemned attacks that impact civilian and energy infrastructure, noting that the strikes have resulted in injuries to civilians, including women and children.
The ongoing attacks raise significant concerns over global oil supplies, as they threaten the primary alternative Red Sea route for Gulf exports while the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.