Black smoke rises near Riyadh airport after Saudi alerts

Flames and a large plume of black smoke rose near Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday after Saudi authorities issued overnight phone alerts warning residents of aerial attacks. Firefighters were working to extinguish a burning fuel tank bearing the logo of Saudi oil company Aramco, while explosions were heard in the capital.

The alerts were also sent to residents of Jeddah and Yanbu, a major industrial port with critical oil facilities. The all-clear was issued shortly afterward, but residents were told not to gather in crowds.

Airport disruption and reports from residents

FlightRadar24 listed King Khalid International Airport under its maximum disruption index and reported “major problems” at the airport. Residents told Agence France-Presse that they heard what sounded like another round of explosions hours after the initial alert.

One resident told AFP that black smoke and fire could be seen in the direction of the airport. The person spoke anonymously.

Why the alerts matter

The overnight warning was the first time Saudi authorities had issued air raid alerts for Riyadh since fighting with the Iran-backed Houthis in neighbouring Yemen escalated in July. Read the context: New front in US-Iran war escalates as Houthis fire at Saudi oil facilities.

The UN Security Council condemned continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, saying previous attacks had affected civilian and energy infrastructure and injured civilians, including women and children. Its 15 members called for practical cooperation to prevent the group from obtaining arms, military training, financing and other military assistance, and urged all countries to enforce the UN arms embargo against the Houthis.

Houthi response and wider conflict

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had foiled unspecified “criminal attempts” in Sana’a, blamed Saudi Arabia and vowed a response. The group also said Saudi air forces had carried out hundreds of airstrikes against it in recent days.

The International Organization for Migration said nearly 105,000 people had fled their homes in Yemen. The Houthis have also said they seized Greater and Lesser Hanish in the Red Sea, while earlier this month they captured the port of Mokha and Perim island in the Bab al-Mandab strait.