Houthis claim attack on Saudi capital after smoke seen rising near Riyadh airport

Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks on the Saudi capital Riyadh and energy facilities along the Red Sea coast. Around Riyadh's international airport, a column of black smoke was observed, signaling fuel tank explosions. This was the first time residents received an air raid alert since recent Houthi escalation.

Houthi spokesman Yahya al-Sarea stated that large numbers of ballistic and cruise missiles and drones targeted sensitive sites in Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu. He also accused Saudi Arabia of 300 strikes across Yemen in the past week. The civil war between the Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia, resulted in 48 deaths on Saturday, with the Houthis claiming 31 deaths and government forces reporting 17 losses.

The International Organization for Migration reported over 104,796 people displaced due to the conflict. Recent Houthi gains, like control of the strategic port city of Mokha and Perim Island, have impacted Saudi oil exports, and analysts are uncertain about the impact on oil prices.