Riyadh: Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed on Saturday that they launched missiles and drones at targets in Saudi Arabia, including “sensitive” sites in Riyadh and an Aramco facility in the Red Sea city of Yanbu.
Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh. Authorities had earlier issued alerts warning residents of possible aerial attacks before giving an all-clear.
Video and photographs showed a large plume of black smoke and flames near King Khalid International Airport, with what appeared to be fuel tanks visible in the area.
The exact cause of the fire was not immediately established, and there was no independent confirmation that Houthi weapons struck the reported sites.
The Saudi-led coalition said it had also thwarted attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in Yanbu, Taif, Baysh and Farasan. No casualties or major damage were reported from the intercepted Riyadh missile.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had carried out two operations using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones, claiming they caused major fires. The Houthis said the attacks were in retaliation for Saudi strikes in Yemen.
The escalation has raised concerns over energy supplies and Red Sea shipping, with the Houthis also targeting Saudi cities, infrastructure and vessels.
Turkey has offered possible military support to Saudi Arabia, while Iran has called for an end to the Saudi-Houthi conflict. The UN Security Council has condemned the Houthi attacks.
