Saudi Arabia Warns of Aerial Threat Amid Airport Explosions Near Riyadh

Smoke and flames erupted near Riyadh's international airport today as reports of explosions shook the region. Saudi Arabia issued a warning of a hostile aerial threat and sent emergency alerts across the kingdom late Friday into early Saturday. Two residents in the capital claimed to see black smoke rising from the area around King Khalid International Airport. Photos captured thick plumes of smoke filling the city's sky.

Aircraft tracking website FlightRadar24 noted major issues at the travel hub, listing cancellations and delays. The site placed the airport on its maximum disruption index of 5.0, signaling severe problems with long waits and several flights grounded. This trouble followed an overnight air raid alert from Saudi authorities. It was the first such notice since fighting in neighboring Yemen grew worse this month.

Hours after that early morning warning, anonymous residents told AFP they heard what sounded like another round of explosions echoing through parts of the capital. No casualties or damage were reported once the alerts lifted. Authorities did not say what triggered the alarms or caused the audible blasts. They previously claimed to intercept incoming Houthi missiles and drones. Earlier in the week, the Houthis faced accusations for launching a drone toward Mecca.

Fears are now growing of a new global oil supply crisis after the rebel group seized the strategic islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish in the southern Red Sea following an attack on a Saudi pipeline. The Iran-backed group has fought a civil war against a Saudi-led coalition since 2014. The conflict pushed Saudi Arabia to shift its exports away from the Persian Gulf because Iranian attacks have stifled shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the gulf's only exit.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree dismissed Saudi claims that the group targeted Mecca after widespread condemnation. Our operations target its oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites, he said. Mecca is regarded as the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad and stands as the holiest city in Islam. Muslims who can afford it must make the pilgrimage there at least once in their lifetime, with millions traveling annually.

Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led Coalition Forces, condemned the attempted attack on X. He wrote: This hostile attempt will also remain a black mark in the record of violations by the extremist terrorist Houthi militia, as a deliberate act intended to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims. He vowed to take any necessary and deterrent measures against the group.

The U.N.'s most powerful body stated late Friday that the Houthis' military escalation, attacks and threats risk further expanding the conflict, threatening maritime security and international trade. They warned this undermines regional and international efforts to secure peace in Yemen. Continued escalation would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation there. The council's 15 members called for practical cooperation to prevent the Iran-backed Houthis from acquiring arms, military training, financing and other military-related assistance needed for their attacks. They stressed that all countries must enforce the U.N.

Iran tightened its grip on dissent by imposing a strict arms embargo targeting the rebel group, while state television delivered grim news about another life lost to the regime's security apparatus. On Saturday, officials announced that Hossein Pedram was put to death following his conviction for spying on behalf of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. The report claimed Pedram handed over classified details regarding sensitive military installations located in Isfahan province. Authorities did not explain how he managed to obtain this secret data. He reportedly walked into custody after those very sites, which included missile bases, were struck during the twelve-day air war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran back in June of last year. This spike in state-sanctioned killings has sent shockwaves through human rights organizations globally, sparking a fresh wave of international outrage over Tehran's brutal crackdown on its own citizens.