A fire and thick smoke were observed near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This incident occurred following government air alerts to citizens regarding the possibility of airstrikes.
Details of the Incidents in Riyadh
On Saturday, after the Saudi government sent air alerts to residents of Riyadh, Jeddah, and other cities about potential airstrikes, explosions were heard in the capital. Firefighters were trying to extinguish a fire caused by a fuel tank bearing the logo of the Aramco oil company. This event marks the first time since the escalation of conflicts with Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen in July that alerts have been issued for Riyadh.
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Consequences and International Reactions
Following these incidents, residents reported hearing additional explosions in various parts of Riyadh. The flight tracking site FlightRadar24 reported serious issues at the airport and listed it among maximum disruptions. Despite declaring a safe status immediately after these incidents, residents were encouraged to avoid gathering in crowded areas.
The United Nations Security Council condemned the ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia in a statement. The statement referenced attacks that have impacted civilian and energy infrastructure and resulted in injuries to civilians, including women and children. The council also protested the military operations of the Houthis in Yemen, which have caused nearly 105,000 people to flee their homes.
Security Council members called for practical cooperation to prevent the Houthis from acquiring weapons, military training, funding, and other necessary military assistance for carrying out their attacks. They emphasized the need to enforce the UN arms embargo against this group.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, announced that the group has managed to neutralize several "criminal attempts" in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, holding Saudi Arabia responsible for these actions and threatening retaliation. The group also stated that the Saudi air force has carried out hundreds of airstrikes against them in recent days.
Recently, the Houthis took control of strategic islands in the Red Sea known as Greater and Lesser Hanish. Additionally, earlier this month, the group seized the port of Al-Mokha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns about the potential for a new crisis in global oil supply.
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