Saudi authorities briefly warn of ‘aerial threat’ in Riyadh

On Monday, Saudi authorities issued a brief warning to residents in Riyadh's capital about an aerial threat. The alert came a day after an attack on the city's business district. The message instructed people to remain calm, stay indoors or in a safe location away from windows and doors, and follow the instructions of Civil Defence before the warning was lifted minutes later.

Since October, Saudi Arabia has been facing nearly daily assaults from the Houthis. The group's campaign intensified after they ousted Riyadh-backed government forces from the Red Sea coast. On Sunday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for attacks on Riyadh's business district, where witnesses reported damage to a skyscraper owned by Saudi oil giant Aramco.

Saudi authorities confirmed that the building had been subjected to an attempted attack. Aramco facilities have been repeatedly targeted by the Houthis, with tankers, refineries, storage areas, and the company headquarters all coming under attack in recent months.

A 2022 truce that had paused the fighting in Yemen's ongoing conflict collapsed in July. Since then, Saudi Arabia has been engaged in conflicts with the Houthis, who have struck Saudi airports, military sites, and energy infrastructure.