Thick columns of black smoke were observed rising from the vicinity of Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday, hours after civil defense authorities in the Saudi capital issued emergency air raid alerts. The notification marked the first time residents have been urged to seek shelter since hostilities intensified between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi militants in neighboring Yemen.
King Khalid International Airport experienced significant disruptions, with flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicating widespread cancellations and long delays. Eyewitnesses and an AFP journalist described seeing firefighters attempting to extinguish flames from a burnt-out fuel tank belonging to state-owned energy giant Aramco. While one report suggested a fuel depot had been set ablaze, Saudi officials have not yet released any formal statement regarding the incident.
The Saudi Civil Defence issued overnight phone alerts warning of potential threats across Riyadh and other regions, lifting the all-clear status by Saturday morning. Several residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported hearing a series of explosions echoing through the capital shortly after the warnings were issued. One witness told AFP, “In the direction of the airport we saw black smoke and fire.”
Tensions have escalated sharply following Houthi claims that they repelled Saudi airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, last Friday. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya al-Sarea accused Saudi Arabia of conducting 300 strikes across Yemen in the past week and characterized the attacks on Sanaa as bearing the signatures of Islamic State operations. He warned that the incidents would face retaliation.
The conflict has expanded strategically, with the Houthis recently taking control of the port city of Mokha and Perim Island, a critical gateway for shipping routes used by Gulf states to export to Asia and Europe. The group stated that the naval blockade was a response to Saudi closures of ports and airports in northwestern Yemen, which have historically been vital for Saudi oil exports following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war between the US, Israel, and Iran.
Why did this happen overnight? Did the warnings come too late for people to get to shelters in time?
Black smoke near the airport and cancelled flights. The ripple effects on global travel are already happening.
First air raid alerts in Riyadh? This is a massive escalation. Hope everyone nearby stays safe.