Houthi attacks on Riyadh escalate as Saudi coalition intercepts missile
Yemen's Houthi forces have claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes on what they described as sensitive sites in the Saudi capital Riyadh, hours after flames and a large plume of smoke were seen near the city's main airport. The Saudi-led military coalition said its air defences intercepted a missile fired toward the capital early Saturday local time.
The attack marks a significant escalation in the conflict between the Iran-aligned Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which has intensified since the Houthis declared a naval blockade against Riyadh in July. Video and photographs circulating on social media showed a huge pillar of black smoke rising near the airport area, with flames visible behind what appeared to be fuel tanks.
What did the Houthis target in Saudi Arabia?
The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, did not specify which sites in Riyadh they intended to strike. However, the group said it also attacked an Aramco facility in the Red Sea city of Yanbu, a key Saudi oil export hub. The operation was described as a response to an attack in the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
The Saudi-led coalition said its air defences destroyed a missile fired toward Riyadh early on Saturday. In a statement, the coalition also reported foiling attacks targeting civilians in the southwestern cities of Bish and Farasan, the western city of Taif, and Yanbu on the Red Sea coast. It did not confirm whether any damage occurred.
Why did Saudi Arabia issue alerts in Riyadh?
Saudi civil defence sent mobile phone alerts overnight warning of potential aerial attack danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj, east of the capital, before issuing an all-clear on Saturday morning. These were the first such alerts since the escalation with the Houthis began in July, although similar warnings had been issued earlier this year following the start of the US-Iran war.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the north, have been launching attacks against Saudi cities, energy infrastructure and shipping. The strikes pose new threats to global oil supplies and put at risk the Red Sea route for Gulf exports while traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded.
Could Türkiye provide military support to Saudi Arabia?
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Saudi Arabia may have military needs due to the ongoing Houthi attacks, and Türkiye was ready to help under a trilateral defence pact that also includes Pakistan. Fidan told broadcaster NTV that Saudi needs could include technical issues, though the nature of potential support remains unclear.
The trilateral agreement, signed last month, stipulates that an armed attack on any of the three countries would be regarded as an attack on all of them.
What is the broader context of the Houthi-Saudi conflict?
The fighting has developed as a new theatre of conflict in the wider war that began with US and Israeli strikes against Iran at the end of February. US President Donald Trump has rebuffed Saudi requests for direct US military intervention against the Houthis.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had foiled unspecified criminal attempts in Sanaa, blaming Saudi Arabia and vowing a response. The Houthis, who seized Yemen's entire Red Sea coast in a lightning advance this month, say the Saudi Air Force has conducted hundreds of airstrikes against them in recent days.
Is Iran seeking to end the conflict?
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Al Jazeera that Tehran wanted the war between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis to end, adding that he believed Yemenis also sought a settlement with Saudi Arabia. Rezaei said Iran had conveyed conditions to mediators for re-engaging in stalled negotiations with the United States, including ending the war on all fronts.
Consultations were continuing with Qatari and Pakistani mediators, and Tehran was awaiting a response from Trump, Rezaei said.