A fire and black smoke were observed on Saturday near Riyadh International Airport, as the Houthi movement from Yemen announced that it had carried out attacks on targets in the Saudi capital and coastal oil facilities.
Details of Houthi Attacks
Firefighters managed to extinguish a fire in a fuel tank with the logo of Saudi Arabia's major oil company, Aramco, at a fuel depot near the airport. Images shared online show a column of black smoke rising above the airport buildings.
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In recent weeks, the Houthi movement from Yemen, supported by Iran, has launched rapid and extensive attacks, taking control of large areas in one of the poorest countries in the world. This has put the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, in a difficult position.
Saudi Response and Security Situation
Saudi Arabia has responded with numerous airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas but has been unable to stop their advances. Yahya Saree, the military spokesman for the Houthis, stated that Yemeni armed forces carried out two successful military operations using ballistic missiles and drones, the first targeting sensitive sites in Riyadh and the second targeting Aramco facilities in Yanbu.
After an airstrike warning was issued last night, hours later, residents of Riyadh reported hearing explosions in various parts of the capital. The flight tracking website, FlightRadar24, reported "major issues" at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
This is the first time such attacks pose a serious threat to the Saudi capital, adding further pressure on the global economy, which is already suffering due to seven months of war between the United States and Iran.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has reported that renewed fighting has displaced over 112,000 people, with nearly 3,000 fleeing towards Djibouti. The war in Yemen began in 2014, and recently, with new Houthi captures along the Red Sea coast, global concerns have increased.
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