Fire and explosions near Riyadh's international airport have caused flight cancellations and delays, as Saudi authorities issued an air raid alert hours after the incident. The disruption follows an overnight alert due to intensified fighting in neighboring Yemen, marking the first such warning since the conflict resumed.
Residents reported hearing explosions and seeing black smoke near the airport, with firefighters responding to a blaze at a fuel depot emblazoned with Aramco's logo. The Saudi civil defense agency lifted the alert half an hour later, though the origin of the threat remains unidentified.
The incident comes days after Riyadh accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca, a claim the group denied. The conflict in Yemen, which has displaced over 112,000 people, continues to impact regional stability and global markets. Saudi Arabia faces challenges in countering the Houthis, who have launched retaliatory strikes against Saudi oil facilities and other strategic locations.
The Houthis claim they targeted 'sensitive sites' in Riyadh and Yanbu port, in retaliation for Saudi attacks on Sana'a. The renewed conflict threatens the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical shipping route, and has led to a maritime blockade by the rebels, further complicating the already volatile situation in the region.