Riyadh: Saudi Arabia lifted emergency warnings in the capital Riyadh and the nearby city of Al Kharj on Saturday after explosions were heard during the early hours, as tensions with Yemen’s Houthi group continued to rise.
Saudi Civil Defence issued warnings through the national early warning system, telling residents in Riyadh and Al Kharj about a potential danger and advising them to remain indoors and follow official safety instructions. Authorities later announced that the danger had passed.
Residents in Riyadh received a warning describing the situation as a hostile aerial threat. A Reuters journalist in the capital reported hearing two loud explosions.
The exact cause of the explosions has not been confirmed by Saudi authorities. There was also no immediate official explanation of what prompted the warnings. No casualties or damage had been reported in Riyadh after the alerts were lifted.
Flames and a large column of black smoke were also seen near Riyadh’s main airport on Saturday. The cause of the fire and smoke remained unclear, and the Saudi government media office had not immediately commented on the incident.
There was no confirmed information that the airport itself was struck. Saudi authorities also did not confirm that a Houthi missile or drone caused the explosions or the smoke seen near the airport.
The warnings came amid a sharp escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen. The latest alerts were the first in Riyadh since the current escalation with the Houthis began in July, although the capital had received some alerts earlier this year after the start of the US Iran war.
The Houthis have launched attacks towards Saudi Arabia since announcing a naval blockade against the kingdom in July. The group has also targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, raising concerns about international shipping and energy supplies.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had prevented what he described as criminal attempts in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital. He blamed Saudi Arabia and said the group would respond. His statement did not establish responsibility for the events in Riyadh, and Saudi authorities had not immediately responded to the claim.
The Riyadh warnings followed several other alerts across Saudi Arabia. On Friday, Civil Defence issued warnings in areas including Jeddah, Taif, Khamis Mushait and Al Ula. Earlier in the week, alerts were also issued in several other parts of the kingdom.
The wider escalation has already caused casualties inside Saudi Arabia. On September 17, Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted Houthi drone fell in Taif. One Yemeni resident was killed and two people were injured, according to Saudi Civil Defence. The debris also damaged vehicles and buildings.
The United Nations Security Council on Friday condemned continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including attacks affecting civilian and energy infrastructure that have caused civilian injuries. The council also condemned the wider military escalation in Yemen and attacks and threats affecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The escalation has also raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab el Mandeb Strait.
For now, the immediate situation in Riyadh has eased, with Saudi Civil Defence declaring the danger over. However, the cause of the explosions and the large smoke plume near the airport remains unclear.
The latest events come as attacks and warnings have spread to several parts of Saudi Arabia, while key questions about the specific threat to Riyadh remain unanswered.