Yemen’s Houthi forces claimed that they hit “sensitive sites” in the Saudi capital on Saturday, as a plume of black smoke was seen coming from near Riyadh’s international airport.
In a video statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the Houthis carried out two military operations using missiles and drones in Riyadh, as well as on facilities of Saudi oil company Aramco in the port city of Yanbu. The Houthis said they were retaliating against Saudi attacks on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
Video verified by Reuters showed a large pillar of black smoke rising from the area of King Khalid International Airport. It also showed flames coming from the area, which appeared to be next to fuel tanks. Flights were delayed and canceled at the airport Saturday. The Houthis did not directly address what they targeted in Saudi Arabia.
As the Houthis escalated their attacks, Saudi Arabia’s civil defense agency sent national early warning alerts for Riyadh and Al-Kharj governorates overnight, advising residents to enter safe spaces, stay away from open areas and avoid crowds. They lifted the alerts by Saturday morning.
The Houthis have ramped up a ground offensive along the Red Sea coast over the last week, pushing Saudi-backed forces from strategic territory. For more than a decade, the Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels have sought to overthrow the Yemeni government backed by Saudi Arabia.
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