Saudi authorities briefly warn of ‘aerial threat’ in Riyadh

On Monday, Saudi authorities issued a brief warning to residents of Riyadh, the capital city, about an aerial threat. The alert, which instructed people to remain indoors and follow the advice of Civil Defence, was lifted shortly after. This warning came a day after an attack on a business district in Riyadh, during which a skyscraper belonging to the Saudi oil company Aramco was reportedly damaged.

Since October, Saudi Arabia has been under near-daily assault from Houthi forces. The intensified campaign against Riyadh-backed forces ensued following the Houthis' seizure of positions along the Red Sea coast. On Sunday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting Aramco facilities in Riyadh, causing damage to a skyscraper. The company's infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted by the group in recent months, including oil tankers, refineries, storage areas, and the company headquarters.

In July, a 2022 truce that had temporarily halted the conflict in Yemen collapsed. Since then, Saudi Arabia has engaged in a series of clashes with the Houthis, who have also attacked Saudi airports, military installations, and energy infrastructure.