Riyadh on alert as Saudi Arabia issues air raid warning amid Houthi attacks

Saudi Arabia issued an air raid alert in Riyadh early Saturday, warning residents of a potential hostile aerial threat as attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement intensified. The alert was later lifted after Saudi Civil Defence said the immediate danger had passed.

The warning covered Riyadh and nearby Al-Kharj, east of the capital. Residents were told to remain indoors while the alert was active.

Explosions heard after warning

A Reuters journalist in Riyadh's Olaya district reported hearing two loud booms following the alert. AFP journalists also reported hearing two explosions after residents received the warning shortly before 3 am local time.

The alert was lifted around 30 minutes later. Authorities did not immediately say what had triggered it.

The warnings were the first issued for Riyadh since the Houthis stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia amid the renewed fighting in Yemen.

Houthi attacks raise regional tensions

The Riyadh alert came against the backdrop of a sharp escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The group has intensified attacks involving Saudi cities and energy infrastructure, while Saudi and Yemeni forces have carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions.

Hours before the Riyadh warning, a Houthi military spokesperson said the group had thwarted unspecified "criminal attempts" in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, blamed Saudi Arabia and threatened a response. Reuters reported that there was no immediate response from the Saudi government's media office to the statement.

The conflict has also affected the Red Sea, with Houthi forces making gains along Yemen's coast and increasing pressure around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Yemen faces growing humanitarian crisis

The renewed fighting has displaced at least 112,000 people inside Yemen, according to the UN migration agency. Nearly 3,000 people have also fled the country by sea for Djibouti, with many travelling in overcrowded boats with limited food and water.

The latest Riyadh alert therefore comes as fighting continues to spread across Saudi-Yemeni borders, adding to security concerns and the worsening humanitarian situation in Yemen.