Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen said they carried out a coordinated strike on Saturday targeting the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and an energy facility along the Red Sea. Saudi officials said their air defenses intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh and confirmed a brief disruption to flights at the capital's international airport after smoke was seen rising from a nearby fuel tank.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sariyya claimed the group used "a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones" to attack "sensitive locations" in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in the coastal city of Yanbu. He described the attack as retaliation for Saudi attacks on Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen. Previously, he accused the Saudi military of carrying out nearly 300 attacks in Yemen last week.
Spokespeople for the Saudi-led coalition said air defenses also intercepted threats against several other cities, including Bish, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu, and described the actions as efforts to protect civilians. Saudi Civil Defense issued an overnight alert warning residents of danger in Riyadh and other areas, later declaring all was well on Saturday morning. Residents reported hearing explosions and shaking windows, and at least one witness said firefighters were seen extinguishing a blaze at a burned-out Aramco fuel tank near King Khalid International Airport.
Flight tracking site FlightRadar24 reported delays and cancellations at Riyadh's airport amid the chaos. The US State Department issued a travel advisory urging Americans in the Middle East to be cautious and prepared for flight cancellations and other disruptions, and to reconsider traveling to or from the region. The department warned that the fighting, in which Iran-backed Houthis are targeting civilian infrastructure, could escalate rapidly.
The attacks come amid escalating conflict in Yemen, where Houthi rebels are locked in a long-running civil war with the internationally recognized government backed by Saudi Arabia. In recent months, the Houthis have increasingly attacked cross-border targets, including airports and energy infrastructure within Saudi Arabia. They also claimed to have shot down a Saudi fighter jet over Yemen this week.
On the ground in Yemen, the fighting has taken heavy toll. An unverified AFP report, citing sources on both sides, said 48 people were killed in clashes on Saturday—31 Houthi fighters and 17 soldiers with the Saudi-backed government. The International Organization for Migration reported that more than 104,796 people have been displaced due to the recent escalation of hostilities.
The maritime aspect of the fighting has also increased. The Houthis have seized strategic coastal positions, including the port city of Mokha and Perim Island, near a major shipping lane used by Saudi vessels to reach Asian and European markets. The group says its naval actions are in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's blockade of ports and airports in Houthi-controlled areas. These blockades have made the Red Sea route even more crucial for Saudi oil exports, especially since tensions in the region have closed the Strait of Hormuz to some shipping.
The larger geopolitical backdrop further complicates the situation. The Houthis are supported by Iran, and their operations exacerbate regional instability linked to hostilities between Iran, Saudi Arabia, the US, and other actors. International markets and institutions are watching closely: Investment bank JPMorgan has warned investors that it finds it difficult to predict how oil prices will react, saying it cannot reliably predict the end of the fighting.
As the situation remains volatile, authorities in the region are keeping people and travelers on alert. Saudi officials have insisted they have successfully repelled many threats, while Houthi leaders have vowed to continue attacks in response to the assault on their territory. With the number of casualties and reports of deaths on both sides rising, the risk of a major escalation – and further disruptions to civilian lives and energy supplies – remains.
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