Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed they launched missiles and drones at “sensitive” sites in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Saturday, after flames and a huge plume of black smoke were seen near the city’s main airport.
The claim came after Saudi authorities issued overnight alerts warning of a potential aerial threat in Riyadh and the nearby city of Al-Kharj. A Reuters journalist in Riyadh also reported hearing explosions before an all-clear was issued on Saturday morning.
Reuters footage and photographs showed thick black smoke rising near the airport, with flames visible behind what appeared to be fuel tanks. The exact cause of the fire was initially unclear.
The Houthis did not specify which sites in Riyadh were targeted. They also claimed to have attacked a Saudi Aramco facility in Yanbu, a major oil export hub on the Red Sea, saying the strikes were carried out in response to an attack in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a missile launched towards Riyadh. It also said attacks targeting civilians in Bish, Farasan, Taif and Yanbu had been thwarted, although it did not provide details of any damage.
Saturday’s claim appeared to mark the first reported Houthi strike on Riyadh since the latest escalation with Saudi Arabia began in July. The Houthis have since launched repeated attacks targeting Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping.
The escalation has added a new front to the wider Middle East conflict, raising concerns over Saudi energy infrastructure and global oil supplies as both the Red Sea route and Strait of Hormuz face disruption.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saudi Arabia could have military needs because of the Houthi attacks and that Turkey was prepared to provide support under its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran wanted the fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis to end and believed Yemenis also wanted a settlement with Riyadh.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure, as well as the group’s military escalation in Yemen.
