Yemen’s Houthi group has launched missile and drone attacks on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, targeting sites they described as sensitive, causing concern over the region’s stability. The strikes come amid increased hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi forces, with flames and thick smoke reported near King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital.
In response to the attacks, Saudi authorities issued air raid alerts to residents of Riyadh and several other cities, marking the first such warnings for the capital since the conflict with the Houthis intensified in July. Explosions were heard in Riyadh as emergency teams tackled a fire involving a fuel tank near the airport. The Saudi military coalition reported that its air defenses intercepted a missile heading for the capital, later lifting the alert.
The Houthis stated the attacks were retaliation for Saudi military operations in Yemen, claiming that Saudi forces have conducted numerous airstrikes against them in recent days. This escalation has prompted concerns over the safety of civilian and energy infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned these Houthi attacks, highlighting the risk to civilian and energy facilities, and urged actions to prevent the group from acquiring additional weapons and military aid. The conflict’s intensification also raises alarm over shipping and energy supplies in the Red Sea and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial international maritime route.
As regional tensions persist, involving Iran, the United States, and their allies, Washington has advised its citizens in the area to exercise increased caution, underscoring the broader impact of the ongoing conflict in Yemen.