Air raid alerts sound over Riyadh as Houthi strikes disrupt Saudi capital for first time since escalation

Riyadh residents received their first air raid alerts since the escalation with Yemen's Houthis, as smoke rose near King Khalid International Airport and flights were delayed or cancelled.

• Saudi Civil Defence issued overnight phone alerts warning of danger in Riyadh and other regions, then declared an all-clear on Saturday morning after explosions were heard in the capital.
• A fuel tank belonging to state oil company Aramco caught fire near Riyadh airport, with firefighters working to extinguish the flames.
• Houthi military spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said Saudi Arabia carried out 300 strikes across Yemen in the past week and warned reported attacks on Sanaa would not go unanswered.
• The UN Security Council condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including those affecting civilian and energy infrastructure.
• Authorities also issued air-raid warnings for residents of Jeddah and Yanbu, a major industrial port, alongside the Riyadh alerts.
• The UN Security Council called for enforcement of the arms embargo against the Houthis in condemning their attacks.
• Reuters reported no official Saudi government comment on the incident as of Saturday, beyond the civil defence emergency alerts.
• Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for missile attacks on the Saudi capital and an Aramco facility in Yanbu, according to Reuters.
• Houthi spokesman Yahya al-Sarea said the attacks used ballistic and cruise missiles and drones as retaliation for Saudi airstrikes.
• Al-Sarea denied the group targeted Mecca, said operations do not target civilians, and blamed Saudi air defenses for damage from missile debris.
• Al-Sarea said Saudi jets conducted 732 strikes in Yemen and vowed to continue attacks until a full halt of airstrikes and lifting of the blockade.
• The Saudi-led coalition said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired toward Riyadh on Saturday, calling the group's targeting of civilians systematic stubbornness.