Saudi civil defense sends all-clear after alerts issued for capital Riyadh

Civil defense officials in Saudi Arabia issued an "all-clear" on Saturday following multiple alerts signaling potential danger in the capital, Riyadh, and the city of Al-Kharj, according to a report. The alerts were the first for the capital since the Houthis, a group aligned with Iran, intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia in Yemen.

A Reuters journalist reported hearing two explosions in Riyadh's Olaya area. This comes hours after the Houthis claimed to have thwarted unspecified criminal activities in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, while blaming Saudi Arabia and declaring a response. The Saudi government has not yet responded to the Houthis' statement. The Houthis control much of northern Yemen and have launched attacks against Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade in July.

They have targeted Saudi vessels in the Red Sea, and have claimed that the Saudi Air Force has conducted hundreds of airstrikes in recent days. The UN Security Council condemned the continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including assaults on civilian and energy infrastructure, resulting in injuries to civilians, including women and children. The Security Council also condemned Houthi military escalation in Yemen.