Houthi militants attacked Saudi Arabia: claimed targets in Riyadh and Yanbu under fire

Houthi militants attacked Saudi Arabia: claimed targets in Riyadh and Yanbu under fire

Yemeni Houthis claimed an attack on "sensitive" facilities in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh with missiles and drones. Earlier, near the city’s main airport, flames and a large column of smoke were seen.

This was reported by Reuters.

During the night, Saudi authorities issued warnings about potential danger in the Riyadh area amid escalating Houthi attacks. Soon near the capital’s main airport, fire and thick black smoke were observed—flames appeared to be rising from fuel depots near the terminal.

The group did not specify a particular target in Riyadh itself, but said there was an attack also on a Aramco facility in the port city of Yanbu on the Red Sea — one of Saudi Arabia’s key oil export hubs. According to the Houthis, the attack was a response to the strike on the Yemeni capital Sana’a.

The military coalition opposing the Houthis said it had shot down one missile aimed at Riyadh, and thwarted attempted attacks on several other Saudi cities in the west and southwest of the country and in Yanbu. No damage was reported there.

The Houthis control a large part of Yemen and have been conducting attacks on Saudi Arabia since July, when they announced a naval blockade and began striking ships in the Red Sea. This presents a threat to global oil supplies, especially given that movement through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked.

Turkey said it stands ready to provide support to Saudi Arabia within a trilateral defense pact with Pakistan, though the exact form of assistance had not been specified yet.