Houthis Strike Riyadh Airport, Sparking Blaze Near Fuel Depot

Air raid sirens sounded twice in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, overnight between Friday and Saturday, marking the first such alarms in the city since the Houthi rebels' significant advances in Yemen and their control of the Bab al-Mandab strait. Saudi civil defense reported that the danger had passed with no reported casualties or damage. However, explosions were heard across the capital, and a fire was later seen near King Khalid International Airport, a major Middle Eastern hub. Reuters published a video showing smoke and flames near airport facilities, with witnesses telling AFP they saw black smoke and flames in the vicinity. A senior Houthi official, Hazam al-Assad, shared a report suggesting the fire involved an Aramco fuel depot, accusing Saudi Arabia of "playing with fire" against the Yemeni people through blockade and aggression.

The alarms also extended to the neighboring al-Kharj province, with the first sounding around 3:00 AM and the second at 5:20 AM local time. Earlier alerts were heard in the Farsan Islands, Yanbu, Taif, Jeddah, Khamis Mushait, Al-'Ula, Jazan, and Abha. The attack comes amid heightened tensions, including a recent drone attack on Mecca, which Saudi Arabia claims to have intercepted but called a "red line" violation, a claim the Houthis deny. The Houthis also deny launching an unmanned aerial vehicle toward Mecca, which is over 1,100 kilometers from the Yemeni border.

This escalation follows the Houthis' recent capture of key coastal areas in Yemen, strengthening their control over the Bab al-Mandab strait. Saudi Arabia has also faced attacks on its oil infrastructure, including a recent strike on the East-West pipeline feeding the Yanbu export terminal. The kingdom is reportedly seeking air defense assistance from allies like France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt due to dwindling interceptor missile supplies, exacerbated by U.S. inventory depletion from the war in Iran. The U.S. has reportedly met with Houthi representatives in Oman, where the Houthis allegedly pledged to avoid attacking American vessels in the Bab al-Mandab and committed to a ceasefire, while also stating they would not target Israeli or commercial ships, except those belonging to Saudi Arabia.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen has severe humanitarian consequences, with over 112,000 people displaced this month and urgent medical aid needed in Sanaa. Saudi warplanes, particularly F-15s from Khamis Mushait, have conducted numerous airstrikes in Yemen, with the Houthi military spokesperson claiming around 300 strikes this week.