Smoke and flames were reported near Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport after air raid alerts were issued in the Saudi capital. A column of black smoke was visible near the airport, with residents reporting explosions and the sound of fire engines. According to AFP, a journalist observed firefighters attempting to extinguish flames from a burnt-out fuel tank belonging to Aramco, the state oil and gas company. FlightRadar24 reported major disruptions at the airport, including long delays and cancellations, with the site assigning the airport a maximum disruption index of 5.0.

The air raid alerts were the first issued in Riyadh since the recent escalation in the conflict with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Residents told AFP they heard explosions and saw smoke rising from the direction of the airport. One resident described the scene as 'black smoke and fire.' Saudi Civil Defence issued phone alerts overnight warning of potential danger before issuing an all-clear on Saturday morning. Saudi authorities have not commented on the incident or the origin of the threat.

The Houthi group, which is engaged in a civil war with Yemen's internationally recognised government, has recently seized control of the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island, a key gateway for Saudi oil exports. The group has accused Saudi Arabia of imposing a blockade on Houthi-controlled ports and airports, which they say has led to the naval blockade of the Red Sea. Saudi vessels have relied on this route for oil exports since the US and Israel's war with Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis have also accused Saudi Arabia of targeting Mecca, which they called a 'cowardly terrorist attack' on Islam's holy city. The group denied the accusation, calling it a 'worn-out lie.' The conflict has displaced over 112,000 people, according to the United Nations, with nearly 3,000 fleeing to Djibouti. The war in Yemen began in 2014 when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa, leading to a Saudi-led military intervention in 2015. A fragile truce reached in 2022 collapsed in July when the Houthis allowed an Iranian aircraft to land in Yemen.

The incident comes as the Houthis improve their defences in newly conquered territory along Yemen's Red Sea coastline, installing radar and digging tunnels, according to AFP. The group has reported carrying out retaliatory strikes against Saudi targets, including a drone strike on the US embassy in March. While the US has refused a Saudi request to strike the Houthis, it has approved a $24.3 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets to help Riyadh 'deter current and future threats.' The situation remains unresolved, with no official response from Saudi authorities and details on the origin of the threat still unclear.