Riyadh Airport: Explosion, black smoke and flight disruptions after Saudi Arabia warns of ‘enemy air threat’ amid Houthi attacks | Today’s news
A large plume of black smoke was visible near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday (19 September) after explosions were heard in the Saudi capital, hours after authorities issued warnings of a possible air threat.
Reuters reported that a huge column of black smoke was rising near the airport, with airport freeways, terminal buildings and other facilities visible in the foreground. Flames were also seen rising from the back of what appeared to be fuel tanks.
An AFP journalist at the scene reported seeing firefighters trying to put out a burnt-out fuel tank bearing the logo of Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco.
Saudi authorities did not immediately say what caused the smoke or explosions.
Flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 has reported “severe issues” at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, placing the airport under the highest fault index. It was reported that flights faced cancellations and delays.
Saudi Arabia issues warning of ‘hostile aerial threat’.
Saudi Arabia’s civil defense sent out emergency telephone alerts to residents overnight, warning of a possible airstrike in Riyadh and the eastern city of Al-Kharj.
A Reuters journalist in Riyadh’s Olaya neighborhood heard the explosions before the all-clear. AFP journalists also reported hearing two explosions after residents were alerted shortly before 3 a.m.
“The area is under enemy air threat,” the warning message said, according to AFP.
Saudi authorities did not identify the source of the threat or say whether any incoming missile or drone was intercepted.
The alert marked the first such warning for Riyadh since the latest escalation involving Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group in July.
The Houthis are stepping up their attacks on Saudi Arabia
The incident comes at a time of escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, including the country’s capital, Sanaa.
The Houthis have been launching attacks on Saudi targets since they announced a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. Their attacks targeted Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping in the Red Sea.
The escalation has raised concerns about global oil supplies and maritime trade, particularly as the Red Sea route provides an important alternative route for exports from the Persian Gulf, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had thwarted what he described as “criminal attempts” in Sana’a. He blamed Saudi Arabia and promised retaliation.
The Houthis also accused the Saudi air force of carrying out hundreds of strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in recent days.
The UN Security Council condemns the Houthi attacks
The UN Security Council on Friday condemned the Houthis’ continued attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting civilian and energy infrastructure.
The council said the attacks, which have injured civilians, including women and children, risk widening the conflict and threaten maritime security and international trade.
It also condemned the Houthis’ military escalation in Yemen and called for practical cooperation to prevent the group from obtaining weapons, military training, funding and other aid used to carry out attacks.
Saudi Arabia is trying to limit the Houthi advance
The latest attacks come as the Houthis have rapidly expanded their territorial control in Yemen, including areas along the Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia has carried out dozens of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas, but has failed to halt the group’s advance. Riyadh has also asked the United States for help, although Washington has reportedly rejected Saudi Arabia’s request to strike the Houthis.
The US State Department on Thursday approved the $24.3 billion sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, saying the deal will help Riyadh fend off current and future threats.
Read also | What the $24.3 billion US-Saudi F-35 deal means for the Middle East
Red Sea shipping and Saudi oil exports under pressure
The Houthi advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast has raised concerns about the Bab al-Mandab strait, the main maritime junction linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The group says ships from Saudi Arabia are its primary targets.
Data from maritime tracking firm Kpler showed Saudi oil exports through the Bab al-Mandab had fallen since July, although five loaded Saudi ships passed through the waterway in the last week cited by AFP.
The renewed fighting has also worsened the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. The United Nations said more than 112,000 people had been displaced, while nearly 3,000 others had fled across the sea to Djibouti.
The latest escalation follows the collapse in July of a fragile ceasefire that has largely contained the Saudi-Houthi conflict since 2022.
Read also | Houthi drone near Makkah: What does this mean for the Makkah-led Pact?
