Saudi Arabia issues air raid alert in Riyadh, explosions heard

Early Saturday morning, Riyadh's citizens were warned of a hostile aerial threat and instructed to remain indoors. An AFP correspondent on the scene later reported hearing explosions following the issuance of the air raid alert by Saudi authorities. This marked the first direct impact on the city since the Yemeni conflict escalated in July.

The message, received just before 3am, urged residents to stay indoors due to a hostile aerial threat. AFP journalists confirmed the sound of two explosions before the alert was canceled by Saudi Arabia's civil defense agency half an hour later. The Houthis, who control most of Yemen's populated areas, recently launched an offensive to seize the entire Red Sea coast, including the crucial Bab al-Mandab strait.

This control has resulted in a blockade of Saudi Arabia's oil exports, causing a decline in shipments via the strait, according to Kpler figures. The UN reported that the renewed fighting had displaced over 112,000 people, with an additional 3,000 seeking refuge in Djibouti.