Thick plumes of black smoke rose near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, following overnight warnings of an aerial threat. The incident comes amidst a significant escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen.
Saudi authorities issued an air raid alert earlier in the morning, marking the first such warning since fighting intensified in neighboring Yemen this month. A message received by residents before 3:00 a.m. cautioned of a “hostile aerial threat” and urged citizens to remain indoors and avoid gathering or filming.
News agency AFP reported hearing two explosions prior to the alert being lifted approximately thirty minutes later. Similarly, Reuters journalists observed large clouds of black smoke rising from areas near a highway adjacent to the airport terminal. Footage published by Reuters showed the smoke billowing from what appears to be a fuel storage area.
No immediate reports of casualties or structural damage have been released. Saudi officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the explosions or the origin of the threat, though they previously stated they had intercepted incoming Houthi missiles and drones.
The disruption affected flight operations, with tracking website FlightRadar24 listing King Khalid International Airport under its maximum disruption index. Warnings were also issued for the nearby city of Al-Kharj.
These events occur against a backdrop of deteriorating security, just days after Riyadh accused the Houthis of targeting Mecca—an accusation the group denied, labeling it a “worn-out lie.” The 2022 truce between the two sides collapsed in July after the Houthis permitted an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa, defying Saudi control over Yemeni airspace. In response, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and have reported dozens of Saudi airstrikes during their recent offensive to secure coastal areas near the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical global shipping route.
Wait, so no casualties but smoke and explosions right next to an airport? The lack of clear confirmation is worrying.
That’s terrifying. Living this close to active conflict zones is unimaginable stress for the residents.