Houthi attack on Riyadh

A column of black smoke was seen near Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, hours after Saudi Civil Defence sent overnight phone alerts warning of danger in the capital and other regions and urging residents to stay indoors - the first such alert since the recent escalation with the Iran-backed Houthis in neighbouring Yemen. Residents told AFP they heard what sounded like a round of explosions echoing across the city; an AFP journalist saw firefighters working to put out a burnt-out fuel tank belonging to the state oil company Aramco. FlightRadar24 reported long delays and cancellations at the airport. An all-clear was issued on Saturday morning.

As it ran

19 September 2026

• Smoke seen near Riyadh airport after air raid alerts in Saudi capital BBC News
• Houthis claim attack on Saudi capital after smoke seen rising near Riyadh airport BBC News
• Houthis claim attacks on Saudi capital, after flames seen near Riyadh airport South China Morning Post
• Houthis say they targeted Saudi capital with ballistic missiles BBC News