Riyadh on alert after explosions, with diplomats told to shelter in place

Riyadh issued an alert on October 8 after a series of explosions shook the Saudi capital, prompting diplomats to take shelter in their respective embassies and international schools to implement safety measures. The blasts came hours after the Houthis in Yemen, bordering Saudi Arabia, claimed responsibility for an attack on the kingdom that included the capital's international airport.

Since beginning a major offensive against the Saudi-backed government in Yemen, Iran-backed Houthis have launched a wave of attacks on the country. Despite a counter-offensive, both Saudi Arabia and Yemeni forces have struggled to contain the fighters' advances. Diplomats in Riyadh were instructed to remain in their embassies, and international schools sent students to the basement for safety.

One parent reported feeling "completely distraught" upon hearing the news. The interior ministry has warned residents against sharing unauthorized information about the incidents. Flights at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport were delayed or canceled, and some companies have evacuated staff from the King Abdullah Financial District.

The conflict in Yemen, which began in February, has displaced over 200,000 people since July, according to UN data. The latest explosions followed claims by the Houthis of attacks on two international airports, killing an Egyptian, an Algerian, and a Sudanese national, while wounding 36 others.