Houthis Claim Missile and Drone Strikes on Riyadh and Yanbu Amid Escalating Yemen Conflict

On Saturday evening, multiple explosions were reported in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Residents described hearing loud blasts that shook parts of the city. Shortly afterward, thick black smoke and flames were visible near King Khalid International Airport. Flight operations were disrupted for several hours, with numerous flights delayed or cancelled.

Saudi Arabia had issued emergency alerts overnight, warning residents of Riyadh about potential danger. These warnings came amid an escalation of attacks attributed to Yemen's Houthi rebels against the kingdom. Eyewitnesses and footage verified by the news agency AFP showed firefighters extinguishing a blaze on a fuel tank bearing the logo of state oil giant Aramco at a fuel depot near the airport.

Hours after the initial explosions, the Houthis said they had launched missiles and drones targeting 'sensitive' sites in Riyadh, as well as Aramco oil facilities in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. A spokesperson for the movement, Yahya Saree, described the strikes as retaliation for continued Saudi airstrikes on Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen. This marks the first documented instance of the rebel movement targeting the Saudi capital since the resumption of Yemen's civil war.

The current escalation follows a lightning offensive launched by the Houthis earlier in September, during which the rebels seized substantial territory in one of the world's poorest countries. This has put the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed Yemeni government increasingly on the defensive. Recent fighting between government forces and Houthi fighters reportedly killed 48 people within a short period.

The Iran-backed Houthi movement has controlled large swaths of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, for years. The conflict, which began in 2014, had eased somewhat in recent years but has intensified sharply in recent weeks. Saudi Arabia, which shares a border with Houthi-controlled territory, views the recent strikes on its capital and key energy infrastructure as a direct threat.

The European Union responded with a statement of solidarity with Saudi Arabia, condemning the Houthi strikes. A spokesperson for the EU's foreign affairs chief said the bloc was urging the Houthis to cease all military action. Riyadh also stated that a separate attack had targeted the holy city of Mecca, further heightening international concern.

The precise circumstances of the initial explosions in Riyadh remained unclear, as did the full extent of damage to the targeted facilities. Independent confirmation of the number of projectiles launched or intercepted was not immediately available. It also remained unclear how effectively Saudi air defense systems were able to intercept the incoming missiles and drones.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an already strained global economy, further pressured by nearly seven months of conflict between the United States and Iran. Attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure have historically had the potential to affect global energy markets, given the kingdom's position as one of the world's largest oil exporters. Observers are now watching closely whether further attacks will follow and how Riyadh and its international partners will respond.