A large column of black smoke was reported near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport after Saudi Arabia issued overnight security alerts warning residents of a potential aerial threat.
Images from the area showed thick smoke rising near the airport, while flames were also seen behind what appeared to be fuel storage tanks.
The incident caused major disruption at the airport, with several flights reportedly cancelled or delayed. The airport was placed under the highest level of disruption, indicating significant delays and multiple cancellations.
Saudi authorities issued emergency alerts to residents in Riyadh and the nearby city of Al-Kharj before lifting the warnings on Saturday morning.
Residents reported hearing explosions and loud booms before the all-clear was announced. Some also reported windows shaking during the incident.
Saudi authorities have not publicly identified the source of the threat or provided details about what caused the smoke.
The incident marks the first reported threat to the Saudi capital since renewed fighting involving Yemen’s Houthi movement escalated in July. Riyadh has faced several security alerts since the start of the wider US-Iran conflict, but the latest incident represents a significant escalation involving the capital.
The development comes days after Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of targeting Makkah, a claim that was rejected by the group.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, have intensified attacks targeting Saudi interests since announcing a naval blockade against the kingdom in July.
The attacks have raised concerns over the security of regional oil supplies and shipping through Bab al-Mandab, a key maritime route for Gulf exports. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has also remained disrupted.
The group has said its maritime restrictions do not threaten general commercial shipping, while maintaining that Saudi vessels are subject to its operations.
The Houthis have also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out hundreds of airstrikes against positions in areas under their control and have vowed to respond to attacks.
The United Nations Security Council has condemned continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes affecting civilian and energy infrastructure, as well as the wider military escalation in Yemen.
The United States has also approved a major military aircraft sale to Saudi Arabia as part of efforts to strengthen the kingdom’s ability to respond to current and future security threats.
The latest escalation comes as the Houthis strengthen defensive positions along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the reported installation of radar systems and construction of tunnels.
Renewed fighting in Yemen has displaced more than 112,000 people, while thousands more have crossed the sea to Djibouti.
The Yemen conflict began in 2014 after the Houthis seized control of Sanaa and other areas, prompting a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015.
A fragile truce reached in 2022 collapsed in July following renewed tensions over control of Yemeni airspace and the movement of aircraft into Yemen.
