Black smoke and flames were observed near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after Saudi authorities issued an overnight air raid alert.
Key facts
- •Saudi authorities issued an air raid alert for Riyadh, the first since fighting in Yemen intensified this month.
- •Firefighters were seen working on a burning fuel tank bearing the Aramco logo near the airport.
- •FlightRadar24 assigned the airport a Level 5 disruption rating, the highest on its index.
- •The Bab el-Mandeb strait, where Houthi rebels have recently expanded their presence, carries approximately 8.7% of global seaborne trade.
- •Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly contacted U.S. President Donald Trump twice last week to request U.S. military strikes against Houthi targets.
Black smoke and flames were visible near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday following an overnight air raid alert issued by Saudi Arabian authorities. Residents reported hearing explosions in the capital, and the flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 recorded major disruptions at the airport. Saudi officials have not issued a formal comment regarding the incident or the source of the threat.
By the numbers
Airport Disruptions and Resident Accounts
FlightRadar24 listed the airport under its maximum disruption index, noting a very high likelihood of delays and cancellations. Residents described hearing explosions and seeing fire in the direction of the airport, with some noting that the 'all-clear' signal from the civil defense agency took longer than expected. Firefighters were observed attempting to extinguish flames at a fuel tank marked with the logo of the oil company Aramco.
Regional Conflict Context
The incident follows recent escalations in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Tensions have risen following Saudi accusations that the Houthis targeted the holy city of Mecca, a claim the rebels have denied. In the broader conflict, Houthi forces have recently seized control of the Red Sea port of Mokha and Mayyun Island, tightening their position near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical maritime route for global trade.
Timeline
- WednesdaySaudi Arabia accused Houthi rebels of targeting the holy city of Mecca.
- Last weekHouthi rebels seized the Red Sea port of Mokha and Mayyun Island.
- MondayYemeni and Houthi officials claimed to have captured the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands.
- Saturday morningSaudi civil defense lifted the air raid alert after reports of explosions and smoke near the airport.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Taipei Times, Politico Europe.
