Houthis claim missile attacks on Riyadh; fire disrupts airport

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility on Saturday for ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and energy facilities on the Red Sea coast, marking an escalation in fighting that prompted the first air-raid alerts in Riyadh since tensions intensified in July. Saudi Arabia's air defense systems confirmed interception of a ballistic missile aimed at the capital, while additional attempts to target the cities of Yanbu, Taif, Bish, and Farasan were also reported as intercepted by Saudi authorities. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya al-Sarea stated the attacks used "a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones" and targeted "sensitive sites" in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu, claiming the strikes were in response to Saudi attempts to target the Houthi-held capital Sanaa.

Hours after the air-raid alerts, a fire erupted near King Khalid International Airport in northeastern Riyadh, visible as a large column of black smoke rising from an Aramco fuel tank. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, and the airport was listed at maximum disruption level on FlightRadar24, with over 270 flights delayed and some cancellations reported. Saudi authorities stated there were no casualties or damage from the attacks and did not provide comment on the cause of the airport fire. The disruption lasted several hours before operations returned to normal, though the relationship between the fire and the military strikes remained unclear and unconfirmed by officials.

The incident marks a significant escalation in the Yemen conflict, where Houthi forces have recently seized control of strategic Red Sea territory including the port city of Mokha and islands at the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, key shipping chokepoints for global oil supplies. The Houthis have declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in retaliation for what they describe as a Saudi blockade of Houthi-controlled areas in northwestern Yemen. Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of conducting 300 airstrikes across Yemen over the preceding week, while the Houthis deny responsibility for some attacks and claim Saudi warplanes have intensified their own campaign. Fighting between the two sides reportedly claimed 48 lives on Saturday, with the International Organization for Migration reporting over 104,000 people displaced by recent combat.